Posted: November 5th, 2010
Updated: October 2nd, 2011
Chapter Words: 6306
Rating: T (Language, violence, death, dark themes)
Full Summary:It was a crash at an intersection. A mother and her last wish. But when all forces are doing their best to keep this wish unheard, unacted upon, and unfulfilled, what is Watanuki Kimihiro supposed to do with young child, Sawada Tsunayoshi? What brings Watanuki into the world of Mafia and Tsuna into a world of spirits, is never guzen...never coincidence. It can only be hitsuzen.

Warnings: Takes place before Katekyo Hitman Reborn and after Watanuki deals with the whole spider and eye mess, but before Himawari's episode. This story does not require a lot of knowledge of KHR I don't think, but you'll probably be confused if you haven't seen xxxHoLiC because it's going to be in Watanuki's POV. Might be a little OOC but I'll try not to. Will be AU later I think. I'm slow at updating.

Disclaimer: I do not own either Katekyo Hitman Reborn or xxxHoLiC. Christmas is only a month away though…this would be the perfect time to, you know, *cough* pull some strings and maybe gift me with ownership…. Don't sue!

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A Crossroads

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1. The Cut

Nana nodded and smiled into the phone, absentmindedly twisting the cord around her finger like a schoolgirl. "Yes, Papa…Don't worry, we're perfectly safe here…mmhm… We should be alright. I need to make a trip out for groceries and that new microwave after the old one broke, but afterwards we're fine with staying Namimori for some time... Didn't I tell you about that? Tsu-kun tried to microwave an egg." The mother smiled happily at something her husband said, sending a glance at the little boy playing on the floor a few feet away. "Tsu-kun misses you too. He hasn't dared go outside near Miss Komatsu's cute puppy since you left!" With a final giggle, Nana finished her goodbyes and hung up the phone. "Stay safe, Papa."

The next few minutes were spent preparing for a day out. As she headed for the bedroom, Tsunayoshi's head lifted up and tilted in a question. "Keep playing, Tsu-kun. Mama will be back to help you get ready in a few minutes." Nana glanced at the wide windows across the room, streaked with rain and letting in only the slightest bit of light, what with the weather. "You're going to need a big, thick rain jacket today, aren't you?" After that rhetorical question, Nana disappeared into the doorway and Tsunayoshi blinked, before switching his attention back to the stuffed kitten. His mother got him the plush tabby, and he definitely preferred it over the dinosaur figure his papa bought.

Inside the bedroom, Nana set about getting ready. Humming as she checked her reflection in the mirror and grabbed a thick coat and scarf for herself, Nana quickly ducked back out after a few minutes and called over to her son. "Tsu-kun! Come over here; let's put Tora-chan away in your room and I'll grab your coat." Stumbling up, Tsunayoshi nodded and might've whispered an 'ok', but he was always so shy. Soon, his tiny hands were clutching the hem of her skirt and they walked towards his room, just across from his parents'. Once the bright blue coat was located and Nana had turned to find Tora-chan safely set on the bed-stand, she hustled about getting Tsunayoshi all geared up for the heavy rain.

"Hmm…" After another look out the window, Nana nodded decisively. "Let's get a scarf on you, the rain must be a sign of an early fall." With hands on hips, Nana looked down at her cute, bundled-up son. "Tsu-kun, where did you put away that green scarf you wore Monday? Hmm…two days ago."

For a moment Tsunayoshi looked utterly lost, but then recognition lit up in his eyes. It was soon followed by a flush and her son was staring at the ground, shuffling his feet. "Ano... They, ah…school…." While the boy looked absolutely adorable when embarrassed, Nana couldn't help a sigh.

"You left it at school again, huh?" At the Tsunayoshi's continued, shamed silence, Nana shook her head and gave a gentle smile. Smoothly pulling her own thick, orange scarf off, she knelt down. "How about you wear Mama's for the day then, 'kay? Don't take it off, so you won't lose it. Then, Mama will be proud of Tsu-kun." With tender hands, she wrapped the warm scarf around her son's neck, smiling at the mismatched blue and orange of his outfit.

As for Tsunayoshi, he was smiling again now and after a little prompt from Nana, he squeaked, "T-thank you, Mama! T-Tsu-kun definitely won't lose it!" Nana's eyes slid shut in their own, joyful smile.

"I believe you!"

Hand in hand, they stepped out into the downpour under a bright blue umbrella, picturesque tranquility and peace surrounding them. Walking quietly along the streets, Nana was content with the world. Gradually, the pair slowed as they neared the bus stop, watching the rain fall from the cloudy skies as they waited.

When their transportation arrived, bright lights reflecting off of the many puddles, Nana lead Tsunayoshi towards the opening doors. Patiently helping her son up the tall steps, she was the epitome of a kind and gentle mother, and they, an even more ideal family, had there been the reassuring presence of the father. With soft eyes that shone with hope and blissful smiles that held no secrets, there was no doubt that they had bright prospects in store for them.

Yet, with perfection like this, there were only two ways for it to end. It might conclude peacefully and satisfactorily with a happily-ever-after, and that was exactly what everyone on that bus saw in their future.

Or, on the flip side, it would terminate in a shattering of dreams, in a web of lies, and in the darkness of demise.

Their destinies hung in the balance, threatening to snap at any moment and break any or all existing ties. But those same broken threads held a chance of drifting down until they made contact with another tie, and creating a new bond that would've never been possible otherwise. The deciding factor on that fateful flip of chance, the weight that rested on those fine threads… was it guzen? Coincidence?

Or was it Hitsuzen?

…Inevitability.

Boots swiftly slapped down on the wet pavement, echoed by the pitter-patter of the rain on his umbrella. Watanuki Kimihiro was jogging through the drizzle, a light grimace on his pale face. Although he had just left Cross Private School and that meant Kimihiro got to see Himawari, his usual subsequent enthusiasm was absent. Of course, Himawari was the light of his day, the apple of his eye, and nothing could overshadow her happiness…

"But…"

Kimihiro paused just for a moment and angrily frowned. "That Doumeki just had to ruin everything! Now I'm late to Yuuko-san's and I have to run in the rain!" Grumbling, Kimihiro quickened his pace, eyes sliding nervously to the side. "And I hate it when it rains like this…"

It was an absolute downpour. Raindrops fell in a cacophony of noise, drenching anyone without the proper protection—and a simple hood wasn't enough. Kimihiro shivered as he passed under the shade of a large autumn cherry tree, tightening his grip on his own umbrella. Stormy days like this always seemed dark and foreboding, even more so for him.

Kimihiro tensed when he glimpsed a flitting shadow from the corner of his eyes. Yet, even as his head began to turn, his mind started screaming at him, "Don't look!"

Still, his eyes landed on the familiar, writhing, ethereal creature and he immediately regretted giving the being the slightest bit of attention. Like a hound locked onto the slightest bit of fear, the wraith had captured his attention, if only for a moment, and now trailed behind the jogging teenager.

Fists clenched and footsteps hurried. 'Great. Just great.' Now, not only was he late, running in the rain, and in a bad mood, but he had run into the very thing he had been dreading.

A spirit.

Kimihiro was gradually speeding up, hoping he wouldn't do something stupid like slipping and falling. As if fate meant to mock his thoughts, he splashed into a puddle.

"…" Ignoring his now freezing feet, Kimihiro put in an extra burst of speed when he recognized the turn that would lead onto Yuuko's property. The chasing spirit behind him seemed to grow even larger and more intimidating, as if also sensing his hope and daring to crush it.

Kimihiro leapt off the sidewalk and ran across the empty street, once again glad for the lack of other residents in the area. Racing through the puddles carelessly since he was already wet, Watanuki allowed himself a small grin as he neared the wooden fence that marked Yuuko's property. He wasn't certain on the details, but malicious spirits always disappeared once he passed onto Yuuko's land. He was under the impression it was the work of powerful holy wards like the ones that surrounded Doumeki's temple storeroom.

But in spite of his rising optimism, his pursuer was steadily gaining. Just feet away from his sanctuary, Kimihiro let out a yelp when he felt the choking, smothering grip of the supernatural creature wrapped around his left leg. Terror forced the air out of his lungs, and Kimihiro urgently thrust his body forward, hand outstretched towards the wooden planks. His umbrella fell to the ground, hands strictly focused on reaching the boundary. Grasping through the air, Kimihiro gritted his teeth against the clawing, wanting sensation of the clutch on his leg.

Tiredly, Kimihiro thought, 'This is happening way too often. Well,' he rolled his eyes as he leaned forward a bit more, 'at least that means it'd be really pathetic if I died here.' With that final, dearly encouraging thought, Kimihiro fell forward to the ground and slammed his hand on the fence. Nostalgically, Kimihiro watched the specter shrink and then ultimately evaporate like mist. He could remember this same scene with startling clarity; less than a year ago, he had been in this same position and met Ichihara Yuuko, thereby altering his life forever.

After a few moments, the water began to seep into his uniform and Kimihiro stirred back into lucidity. He rapidly sat up, pulling a face at his mud covered hands. 'It's too bad today wasn't sunny like that day.' Ignoring the filth, he grabbed his dirt-smeared umbrella and hurried onto the gravel path that led to Yuuko's shop. It was quite a sight; to those that could see it that is. Surrounded on three sides by large, multi-story buildings, his manager's store and home was small and traditional, lending an eerie sense of mystery to the area.

Thinking of all this brought a muted smile to Kimihiro's lips. He shook his head as he entered the door, calling out, "Hello! I'm here!"

When no hung-over groan or overenthusiastic shout greeted him, he paused, suddenly worried. 'Did something happen?' The sound of pounding footsteps however, eased his worries.

"Watanuki!" Two joyous voices shouted out simultaneously. Barreling down the hallway were two eccentrically dressed girls. One had short, pink hair and an angel themed outfit. The other, in contrast, had lengthy blue hair and dressed in dark attire with devil wings. Even though he was double their height, Kimihiro still swayed dangerously when both leapt and hugged him in glee. "Yay! Watanuki is here! Watanuki is here!"

"Ahh! Why are you girls jumping on me? Oh and look now, Maru, Moro! Now I've got you all dirty." Kimihiro gently pried the girls off, belying his griping and groaning. Across the corner, a black, rabbit like creature popped up as well.

"Mokona surprises Watanuki! Mokona defeats all!" With that declaration, Mokona bounced up and smacked Kimihiro across the back of his head, eliciting a shout followed by an angry rant. As soon as the student hurriedly sent Maru and Moro off to the baths and kicked off his shoes, Kimihiro began chasing after the hyperactive creature, his volatile personality rearing its head.

As Kimihiro's long legs allowed him to gradually catch up to Mokona, the mokona visibly became nervous. "Ahh…Watanuki…you can stop now, you know!"

"I will most definitely not stop, you black manju-bun!" came the exasperated reply.

Sweat gathered at Mokona's brow. As he twisted around the hallway, hand sliding along the wall, Yuuko's reminder popped into Mokona's mind. "Ah! Watanuki! If you're anymore late, Yuuko will be annoyed! Furious!"

At that, Kimihiro hesitated. Yuuko was his employer and… 'Wait, that's right. Where is she?' Slowing down, Kimihiro glanced around, but he couldn't spot the lazy woman in any of the nearby rooms.

Mokona grinned and twirled around. Jumping on his shoulder, Mokona felt rewarded when Kimihiro's only reaction was a slight twitch. "Yup! If you're any later, Yuuko will add years to your payment! You'll never leave Yuuko's employment!"

Kimihiro's eyebrow twitched again and he had to forcefully restrain himself. "Don't test me like that when you know I already stopped! Anyway, where is Yuuko and what am I late to?"

"Namimori Shopping Center! Late to a meeting!" His answer came in the chant of Maru and Moro, now redressed in clean versions of the same outfits. He turned to find them beaming, holding a note between the two of them.

Kimihiro sighed. He'd been in Yuuko's service long enough now to know the drill. "Alright, let me see the note." At Mokona's soft snickers, he immediately felt his hair rise and suspiciously eyed the note. It was by Yuuko, right?

Thankfully, the note seemed quite normal once he unfolded it and read—squinted—through the witch's cursive script.

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Go to the Namimori Shopping Center on 26th Ave

next to the yummy western bakery. I'll be waiting and

if you're not there by 18:00, I'm adding to your debt.

~Yuuko

P.S. Bring sake, Watanuki! You'll need it~~~

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Kimihiro frowned, a steadily rising sense of disbelief in him. "Maru, Moro, what time is it right now?" He couldn't be quite certain how much time he wasted getting away from that spirit, but he had a good idea.

"Mmm…" After running to the kitchen, the closest room with a clock on the wall, they ran back, answering as they went. "16:56! It's almost 17:00!" At this point, Mokona was just laughing unrestrainedly and Kimihiro had an irresistible urge to yell at Yuuko right then and there.

"17:00 already? Dang it, how does Yuuko-san expect me to get all the way to Namimori in less than an hour, let alone figure out where the 26th Ave is?" His voice was high-pitched and just threatening to go on another rant. Irritated, he moved to throw the paper away, until he caught sight of another note written on the back.

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That means that if you waste time dancing in the rain,

you'll only have an hour to get here. Shame on you, Watanuki.

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"Argh! I was NOT dancing in the rain!" He slammed the note into the garbage before bad luck decided to produce another memo from Yuuko.

Even as Maru and Moro leaned in towards each other and started giggling, "Watanuki's moving funny! Watanuki's weird!" Mokona began to suggest conspiratorially,

"Let's slow Watanuki down even more! Then Yuuko will get really mad at him and make him cook something like…takenoko gohan, tonight!" Mokona grinned at the idea of Kimihiro running around trying to find bamboo shoots in this season.

"Yay! Let's eat takenoko gohan tonight!"

"NO!"

It was nearing an hour later when Kimihiro finally got off the train at Namimori station, both relieved and outright surprised that the train even had a stop in such a small town. Then again, Namimori didn't seem like the most normal of towns. While small, quiet, and fairly unknown, Namimori had a history of Yakuza at one point and more than a couple odd stories. With that in mind, Kimihiro sincerely hoped it didn't mean Namimori was any more supernaturally inclined than any other town.

As he walked through the rainy streets, clean umbrella in hand and a bottle of sake in his bag, Kimihiro noted the quiet of the town. On any other day, he was sure, the town would feel positively peaceful and welcoming. But what with his precious encounter with the spirit and general discontent with the day, Kimihiro simply felt uneasy. If only Yuuko had stayed at the store, he would've been happy with acknowledging the malicious spirit as the trouble the gloomy day had been foretelling, but no, now he was walking through unfamiliar Namimori and he just couldn't calm down.

Because something felt decidedly off.

Still, Yuuko was around here somewhere, and as much as he'd like to deny it, Yuuko always seemed to know everything. If she was meeting a client here, or simply felt like calling Kimihiro over, well, there was probably a reason, right? …Probably, right?

Instead of a breath of relief when Kimihiro caught sight of 20th Ave, his unease grew until his fingers were gripping the handle of his umbrella so tightly that they were stark white. With breaths coming out in mists, the teenager continued on until he finally came at 26th Ave, by now surrounded by a variety of brightly lit stores and departments. Squinting through his glasses, Kimihiro glanced in both directions before he decided to wander down right until he caught sight of the so-called 'yummy bakery'.

He passed by stores closed down in the rain, abandoned outdoor tables, and many a pedestrians hurrying to get out of the drizzle and into their warm homes. He couldn't help a shiver and a spike of envy, wishing he could be warming up right now in Yuuko's store, or perhaps his own apartment. At least he had an opportunity to change out of his wet clothes. Still, his employer was always so imperious, or rather, just bossy. Making him go out into the sticks on such a terrible day as this.

Kimihiro noticed more cars and pedestrians appearing along the streets than earlier, most likely because this seemed to be a large shopping district and it was nearing 18:00; a prime time for local stores to close early, if they didn't want to walk home in the drenching, dark night. Kimihiro seemed to attract a few looks, much to his discomfort. Whether it was because Namimori was such a small town that they recognized strangers, or more likely, simply because of Kimihiro's unfamiliar school uniform, it didn't matter. The glances made Kimihiro duck his head and walk faster, either way.

He never really liked attention, but why would he? He had lived a good deal of his life in solitude with the only attention he ever grabbed being the negative kind because of his unnatural perception of the world.

After five more minutes of walking along 26th, Kimihiro found himself losing patience. Quickly ducking into a nearby clothing store and folding his umbrella, he checked the time. With a grimace, he read 17:54. The boy nervously ran a hand through his ebony hair, wishing Yuuko had been more precise with her directions if she had wanted him to be on time.

Excusing himself to the nearby cashier, Kimihiro spun back around and jogged out of the story, keen blue eyes searching for a western styled bakery. He opened his umbrella back up, blocking his view for a moment. When it passed and his gaze landed on a rough, shady character not a few steps in front of him, Kimihiro's eyes widened. Attempting to avoid a collision, he paused and stepped back, but the stranger wasn't so quick. It was just a bump, but one Kimihiro immediately set to apologizing for.

"I'm very sorry, please excu…e-excuse me!" The student instantly bowed his head, but as he spoke, his eyes caught sight of a chilling glint of light. Voice faltering, Kimihiro did his best not to react to the sight of a gun hidden behind the other's coat. It wouldn't have been noticeable if he hadn't been so close or perhaps bowing, but as surreal as the situation seemed, Kimihiro couldn't kid himself.

Pulling himself back up, ramrod straight, Kimihiro tried to calmly finish the encounter so that he could walk away. There was no telling whether Kimihiro's speculations about the man were over presumptuous. Kimihiro worked on convincing himself. 'Maybe he was an undercover officer with a permit?' He glanced at the cold, hardened face that stared back. His heart was pumping so hard, so fast, that Kimihiro couldn't believe that no one had commented yet.

The gruff young man muttered, "It's fine; excuse me," and turned away, no doubt running off to do… Kimihiro gulped and tried not to think of it. With luck, the incident could be brushed under the rug and forgotten. Yet…Kimihiro hesitated. What if that was a criminal? If his silence led to someone else's death… Kimihiro bit his lip, and stepped forward.

Before Kimihiro could take any action, the woman next to him; that is, an elderly lady with apparently sharp eyes, seemed to notice the same thing as Kimihiro. Whether drawn to the gun-wielding man due to his odd dress or Kimihiro's stuttering, she had seen the gun and held none of the qualms Kimihiro possessed. Starting with her own stammer, then morphing into a screech, she shouted, "Tha-He has a gun! That foreign man!"

'Shit.' Judging by the alarmed look on the dubious man's face, he was thinking the same thing. Kimihiro tried to stay calm as the man—fast as lightning—spun around and ran off in the direction Kimihiro had originally been heading. The lady's scream had attracted numerous spectators and a few of them started panicking on their own, clearly recognizing the gunman as no law enforcer. Most of it was just wary and anxious mutterings as most of the crowd hastily backed away from the escapee, while some looked foolish enough to try and pick a fight.

Then again, Kimihiro probably looked like one of those reckless idiots right now. Without warning, he started chasing after the foreign-looking man, doing his best to stay inconspicuous. He was starting to sweat from the adrenaline of the situation, his mind going a mile a minute—most of it being self-berates or agitated predictions on the possible situations that could sprout up next. Still, he managed to maneuver past the disconcerted witnesses into the direction of the guy.

As the student slipped past one of the heftier bystanders, he skidded to a stop upon reaching a sizable intersection. Previously hidden away by the crowds, the crossroad seemed far busier that all the others. In the back of his mind, Kimihiro received the impression that it was a connection of all the most active and populated streets. His eyes quickly roved past various shops; an ice cream station, a Chinese restaurant, and a women's boutique were amongst them, but he could not catch sight of his target. Somehow, the stranger had found a way to blend in with an oblivious mob, and it didn't help that cars were constantly passing without pause.

Turning around, Kimihiro tried to return to the crosswalk that he had passed, and in the process, nearly tripped over a shop sign set up outside. The surprise stopped his heart for a moment and Kimihiro took deep breaths—he really was too tense. Then the store's specialty caught his eye and he lost all notion of calm.

It was bakery shop. Western.

He instantly twisted around, eyes searching for a tall, beautiful and conceited woman. He lunged forward through the crowds, muttering apologies as he tried to search for an answer to all the chaos. Yuuko was the one that called him here; he would not be surprised if this was all her doing. Catching a flash of light, he turned around with a muted feeling of dread. He recognized it as the same feeling he got when confronted with a particularly malicious spirit, but it wasn't quite the same. What was happening…?

His eyes searched for the source of this unease, but a bus slid up the street at that moment, and he couldn't see past it. The foreboding sensation spiked, sending a chill down Kimihiro's spine.

All of a sudden, his blue eyes shot to the left of the bus where a small, sleek black car was driving down the same road, towards the same intersection. The bus was slowing down in front of the red light, four lines of cars running back and forth in front of it. The black vehicle did not slow.

Kimihiro dazedly watched the cars drive past along the traffic circle, faces passing through his memory, not meant to stick. Yet, years later, he would be able to recall some of those carefree faces, blithely looking forward to another day and time. There were families, children, students, workers, and mothers.

But unlike the various other witnesses and grievers that would recall that day and describe their faces, the sounds, and the tears, Kimihiro's first illustration of the event would probably be on the shining, vivid red stop light, hanging right across from the bus.

Kimihiro never saw it turn green that day.

Under the ominous red glow, the pitch-black car charged towards the 26th Ave intersection and collided into the bus without a second's pause. An explosion of sound reverberated in the juncture; a cacophonous medley of shattering glass, screeching metal and terrified screams.

Witnesses shouted and scrambled away, some struck by shrapnel and flying glass. Kimihiro couldn't tear his gaze away, and thus he watched petrified as the bus was slammed forward into traffic, right in the middle of the busy intersection. He saw it happen before it actually did. Something between a horrified inference and a slowed down tragedy played in front of Kimihiro's eyes as cars tried to break or twist around the bus, sent forward from the violent impact.

It was a disaster of catastrophic proportions and one that Kimihiro would never be able to forget. Two more vehicles crashed directly into the disfigured bus while numerous slammed into other vehicles. His mouth dried as he watched the scene, snapping back to reality when he was nearly shoved to the ground.

Kimihiro stepped back, self-preservation telling him to back away or else risk getting run over. But past the background of shouting, wreckage and ruin, the scene itself was slowing down into the cold stagnancy that followed calamity. All the cars were stopped and people were rushing out, some calling the emergency numbers.

Then in the after wake of that jarring collision, the mangled bus turned over onto its side, falling onto the edge of another car before sliding onto the ground with clamor of noise. Kimihiro processed the motion rapidly, everything seeming to have happened so long ago, and yet, so slowly, so recent and raw.

People were crying and bleeding and while so many people called for help and sat next to their neighbors and friends, Kimihiro stood outside and did not know what to do. He could not hear the ambulance and in a show of strength, many of witnesses had gathered their courage and with the support of the rest, began treating and searching for the victims; each one undoubtedly someone that they had once been to school with, or passed in the grocery. Kimihiro hesitantly stepped forward; he wanted to help, but…

Then he spotted a scrabbled movement from inside the back end of the bus and swung his head that way. A survivor? He opened his mouth to shout or alert someone, and then froze as the figure stepped through the walls of the bus like they weren't there. Kimihiro's mouth snapped shut. A ghost.

The realization hit him like a cabinet of bricks. His stomach rebelled and Kimihiro dropped to his knees and threw up.

He was shaking. He was shaking so bad he could feel his teeth chatter even though he felt like he was burning up and he had to sit back because his arms couldn't support him on their own. His umbrella laid abandoned to the side and his hair stuck to his head, from both rain and sweat. When another shape formed in the cracked window of the bus, Kimihiro clenched his eyes shut and bowed his head, but then the shape cried.

Kimihiro held his breath.

There wasn't any doubt. The shape...the person was saying something. Was it actually…? Kimihiro unsteadily glanced around, but everyone else was occupied in one way or another. Hurriedly turning away from the devastation around him, Kimihiro stared back at the bus. If no one else could see or hear it, then it was undoubtedly a spirit. But if it was just luck…just bad luck that the backside of the bus was so utterly mangled that it was unbelievable that anyone could have survived….that no one checked, or perhaps no one could check…

Kimihiro inhaled erratically, then pulled himself up using the wall of the bakery store, leaving his bag and umbrella on the ground. He shakily walked towards the bus, morbidly/seriously hoping that a fire wouldn't start. They didn't need any more disasters.

He sidestepped victims and shrapnel, careful not to set his hand on anything sharp or bloody.

When he was feet away from the bus, an almost subdued sense of horror echoed in him. The bus truly was mangled beyond repair.

Stepping cautiously up, Kimihiro jumped when he saw the movement again. This time, he located it in the form of a weak hand that continuously hit the glass, trying to gain attention. Kimihiro held his breath for a moment and stared, then leapt into movement. He couldn't let someone simply die in there if he could make a difference.

Kimihiro turned and yelled for help, only gaining a few grim glances. Everyone was preoccupied with his or her own tragedies, or perhaps they did not believe the passengers truly had any chance of surviving. As crushed and beaten as the bus was… 'It's idiotic to think that everyone died…right…?' Kimihiro's hopes sank. But not everyone turned away. Some knew the schedules of their friends and family, and couldn't deny that they were on that bus at that time.

"P-Pl…" Kimihiro coughed, his voice cracked and shaking, the taste of bile still present. "Please help. Someone's still in there—alive!" He gestured towards the hand, still occasionally hitting the glass in a weak attempt to gain attention. Although scratched and most likely bruised, it looked small and petite, like a child's or a young woman's. For some reason, Kimihiro could no longer hear it call out or say anything.

Nonetheless, the people around him looked shocked and then determined. Kimihiro felt a wave of relief. Not just because this handful of scratched and tired people offered their assistance, but because it proved that the hand truly did belong to a human being and not a spiteful spirit intent on trickery.

They shouted, trying to speak to the person trapped inside under debris but victim either didn't hear or couldn't differentiate them from the rest of the noise in the area. Smashing through all the windows wouldn't work if the inside was clogged with wreckage and the emergency exits wouldn't open or were too damaged. Whenever the arm fell tired and stopped moving for a while, Kimihiro increasingly panicked. The group muttered and tried various strategies, but it would be a step backwards if they carelessly injured themselves in a hopeless rescue attempt.

There was little Kimihiro could offer in help. While Kimihiro wasn't exceedingly weak, he was nothing in comparison to a lump of twisted metal. If grown men couldn't make a difference, what could he do in this condition?

But he hated sitting around like this when someone was hurt.

Tense minutes passed and people were growing tremendously worried as sirens still didn't ring. Something else was wrong. They were all a sorry sight, drowned in the rain, surrounded by tears, and blood washing away.

Kimihiro bit his lip, trying to think over their options again. Was there some way to get into the bus that they were overlooking? He was startled out of his thought by a hand on his shoulder and looked up at one of the men that agreed to try to find a way into the bus. He looked bleak.

"I'm sorry; I know you were the one that called for help over here. But we can't see a way into the bus. We're going to have to wait for the emergency pros, and help those that we can save at the moment." The man turned and Kimihiro could see others already heading away, if sending the bus a few worried looks.

"No," the word slipped out of his mouth. But he understood in his own way.

The man looked sympathetic, yet all too weary. "I'm sorry, kid, if you have someone in there that you know. However…" The worn man turned towards another crash on the other side of the road, where the wounded were already pulled out and looked over. "…we do too. You should get out of here or at least stand back, kid; you're still young and you have a life to live." The man left after that concerned suggestion, clasping the student's shoulder for a second, before letting go.

Kimihiro shook and turned back towards the bus, and this time, he didn't hesitate.

Climbing the bus the same way some of the men had earlier, he found the grooves in the metals and did his best not to slip because of the rain. Eventually, Kimihiro settled on the top of the bus, drawing the attention of some observers. Nonetheless, he quickly found a broken window and slowly sidled over in a half crawl, half walk. He couldn't just leave, not when every second might be ticking away an innocent's life. That person down there probably thought no one noticed them, and that they would be left to die alone. At that thought, Kimihiro's expression tightened and his resolution locked in place.

Memories rose up, the sound of rushing currents and drowning rain—just like today's—washing out the rest of the noise. Damp fur, cold in his hands and overwhelming sense of… "...I…will also die like this, won't I? All alone…" Kimihiro sucked in a breath and shook his head, ignoring those words spoken more than a year ago. He had a crisis to focus on.

When he reached the empty window, bordered by broken glass, another memory popped up. Broken glass littering the floor and the scent of blood to keep him awake, set on his goal. Kimihiro brushed the damp hair out of his eyes and studied the window. He avoided as much glass as he could, but inevitably tore his uniform and winced at numerous scratches when he lowered himself through the small window and fell through into the bus. Someone outside shouted at that moment, but whether it was for the irresponsible teenager squeezing into the bus or something else entirely, Kimihiro wasn't going to stop.

Because the bus was on its side, Kimihiro fell all the way to window on the opposite wall. He clumsily attempted to catch himself along a seat or post, but he only managed to smack his head on a metal pole. He ended up landing on something relatively soft and moist. Holding his breath, Kimihiro did not look.

He did not want to see the bodies, immobile and silent, faces pulled into mockingly frozen expressions of horror and surprise. He did not want to see corpses, still and peaceful like they were merely sleeping. After all, Kimihiro could not pretend they were mere mannequins like he did weeks before because Watanuki Kimihiro wasn't as innocent as he used to be, weeks ago. He wasn't as innocent as he used to be one hour ago.

So Kimihiro opened the eyes that he didn't even realize he had closed and looked around in the murky darkness of the transit. He was glad for the darkness, because then the rain looked just as dark as the blood. But he could recognize the shape of bodies in the glow of the streetlights. It was not very packed bus—nowhere near the density he was used to—but it was not empty. Kimihiro could not wait for this horrible day to end, for the misfortune to just fall away under a sunny sky of light. When he took a closer look though, he could see that many of the injured were still breathing. It was a small reprieve.

Then, Kimihiro's eyes caught a motion and he carefully turned his head, prepared for both spirits and ghosts.

Thud. Pham. When he saw a tired fist hitting the window, his eyes followed the arm to pile of debris that buried it in place. Cautiously, Kimihiro drew closer, feeling sick every time he accidentally or simply couldn't avoid stepping on bodies—dead or alive. He had to routinely climb over seats and avoid smashed in sides and metal supports. He passed more than a few people he thought were still alive, if injured, but no one else was conscious.

When he was no more than a two seats away from the pile of debris, Kimihiro finally caught sight of the body that the arm belonged to. Tired, scared, and most of all, resigned brown eyes locked onto him, a soft, pleading whisper following. "Please…."

With sorrowful blue and gold eyes, Kimihiro took in the sight in front of him.

Collapsed under the window and buried under broken seats and metal remains was a young woman with an undeterminable length of brown hair. One arm was pinned to the wall by twisted and collapsed luggage rails, the hand set against the cracked glass. The other arm was pulling something small close to her body, protecting its head of brown hair. It did not appear to be moving.

"…please…" Because of her position, Kimihiro knew there was no way he could get the woman out on his own, but the other one… "…please…get my son out of here…"

Desperate brown eyes stared up at Kimihiro as she weakly turned the child in her hold towards Kimihiro. He was covered in a colorful rain-jacket with a bright, eye-catching orange scarf. The peaceful expression the tiny boy wore would have given him the appearance of being untouched, save for the clotted stain of blood that peeked out under his bangs.

"I'll gladly die…lose everything… he just…!" She coughed and Kimihiro moved forward, alarmed. "The only thing…"

"Please take Tsunayoshi… and keep him safe…don't let him die, he can't die!"

Sawada Nana lifted her head and looked Kimihiro straight in the eye with an unbelievable amount of ferocity. "If that can happen…if he can live his life and be happy…"

"That's my only wish."

EDIT (10.2.11): preschool - school. Tsuna - Tsunayoshi. Japanese words are italicized. Sorry if you got an alert.

A/N: It is a very nice feeling, writing 2000 words in one session. But well, more than once I've gotten the feeling that the chapter's a bit too gory…cough…At the time I'm writing this author's note, I haven't yet edited it, but don't worry, by the time YOU'RE read this, the chapter's been edited. So it's probably less gory than it was when I was writing this note. If that makes sense. Well, I was/am writing well into midnight so that's my excuse for bad quality writing.

Anyway, I'm doing this for NaNoWriMo, so hopefully faster updates than usual, if, worse quality. Vice and Versa is put on hold since it is more of a series of drabbles and I'll work on it in December, I promise!

So, this will be the longest author's note for the duration of this story hopefully, since I have a lot to say. This chapter turned out a lot gorier than I expected so uh, it shouldn't be any worse in the future… the story focuses on Tsuna and Watanuki's relationship. I call Watanuki 'Kimihiro' since Tsuna will call him that later and it's kind of weird to refer to the main character by last name. When I say Japanese names, it's lastname firstname. The emergency people are late on purpose. I have never been in an accident and I'm slightly sheltered, so things may be off. Please offer constructive criticism and review! I'd much appreciate it as writing is not my best strength. Hmm, anything else… I originally planned on a small scale car accident and Kimihiro simply being the first one to show up next to Nana, and then having Yuuko show up in this chapter. It did not happen. Especially when I realized Nana doesn't own a car. Bleh. Hmm….at this point I should have also edited in more rain references because the first time around when I wrote this chapter, I forgot it was raining. Oh and Yuuko's note had a cool font before I uploaded it to fanfiction . net… I'll post a link to a picture of it on my profile later.

All in all, hope you enjoyed reading and review your thoughts! Expect next chapter within a week, hopefully. Next chapter will be…about…uhm…. News report on the accident, Tsuna's situation, and Yuuko's thoughts. Doumeki might show up. Maybe.

-ShadowTacticianVI

P.S. Oh! I forgot the sake Kimihiro is supposed to bring…eh…at this point, it should be edited in. Is it fun or confusing to read about all the mistakes I made the first time around before I edited it and posted it for you lovely readers?