A/N: I am happy to find that y'all support my decision to rewrite the whole thing. I promise I won't fail you guys and I will never stop writing this story. Now, I end my boring monolouge and unto the story.
Disclaimer: I do not own KHR!
Vongola X
Chapter 1: The Harmonizing Sky
Run. That was all that went through my mind as I sped past the shops in the dark of the night. Most of the people here had either already retired, leaving my pursuer and I alone in the twilight, or went indoors at the sight of the chase, not wanting to be caught in the crossfire. This wasn't the first time, though, that this happened, but something special must be stored within the ring wrapped around my finger, if my pursuer was this persistent.
I sneaked a glance at the object. It silver metal glinted in the darkness, reflecting what little light the lamps had. Then a gun popped. I stumbled and nearly faceplanted on the asphalt. Then another pop. I pushed myself upright and felt the bullet whiz past my cheek. A shiver ran down my spine at the close call. An inch closer and I would have an additional hole at the back of my head.
Alarm bells rang within my head and I spun, just in time to avoid an onslaught of bullets. What I didn't expect was the wave of orange flames that erupted from the ring, effectively shielding my body from the bullets that I hadn't managed to dodge. Time froze as every movement, every breath, stilled as everyone in the vicinity waited for each parties to make the first move. And then it happened.
Screams penetrated the silence. Arrows flew from one place to another. Sounds of bodies falling were heard from left to right. And one soothing voice have I heard before the darkness took me into oblivion.
"Leave it to us, Thief-san."
There is a unique person in the world
Warm sunlight peeked from the velvet curtain, acting as a spotlight to the figure hidden beneath the orange sheets. Brown hair popped out of the thick cloth and thin, rosy lips parted to give way to a yawn. Peach colored hands rubbed open the eyes, said body part opened to reveal the luscious chocolate color. Thin legs slipped out of the hiding and came to rest on the wooden floor.
The doe-like eyes drifted to the blinking numbers on the digital clock towards the school uniform hanging by the rack near the closet. A sigh escaped him as he walked towards the bathroom. He didn't feel like standing up from his bed at all. Absolutely not, for it is a peaceful morning with a relaxing weather.
But the weather did not do anything to calm the brunet's nerves. Not even the refreshing bath, nor even the mouthwatering aroma of his mother's cooking. It is, after all, his very first day of school.
For the past years of the brunet's life, he had been homeschooled. It was only by the end of last school year had he managed to persuade his parents to enter a school like a regular teen. But that was the problem, because he wasn't your everyday kid due to his... condition.
The brunet shook his head and chased the thought away. The only thing that matters was that he is going to a school like an ordinary kid.
"Tsu-kun, breakfast is ready!"
"Coming, okaa-san!"
But he couldn't help but feel it was like a calm before a storm.
Whom they call the harmonizing Sky
Chatters filled the air as one Sawada Tsunayoshi walked through the Namimori school grounds. He wasn't exactly a new face, since some had recognized him by his gravity-defying brown hair, but it didn't stop them from gossiping about the brunet. Rumor has it that he is a rich kid and lives in a secluded manner.
"Herbivores, go to your classrooms or I'll bite you to death." A chilling voice rang around the place.
The crowd dispersed in minutes with their tails between their legs. No one wanted to face the wrath of the prefect, Hibari Kyoya. All except one.
"What are you doing here, herbivore?" The frightening prefect asked the introverted brunet.
"A-Ano... okaa-san finally allowed me to go to school." Tsuna answered, fidgeting under the raven's stare.
"Hn." With one swift move, Hibari was gone in a blink of an eye.
Tsuna let out a small smile and trudged ahead. Maybe life as a student wouldn't be so bad.
He who unites the lost
Tsuna hummed to himself as he walked home from school. He had spent most of his free time with Hibari, enjoying the fine day and reading a book with one of his favorite people. All in all, it was a great first day of school. Though there was this one guy who managed to piss off Hibari, more so than others.
He had a set of unique silver hair and striking green eyes. Now that Tsuna thought about it, the silver-haired might have already broken every rule Hibari grounded repeatedly, the telltale signs of anger that appeared on the demon prefect's usually stoic face whenever the delinquent was around was a dead giveaway.
But his happy mood went downhill, when he stood in front of two, imposing metal gates that loomed over his small stature. Tsuna sighed as he let himself in and headed towards the white painted porch of the house, though it is more of a mansion rather than a house because of its immeasurable grandness. Then, he knocked softly door.
"Welcome back, young master." A butler in his old age bowed lowly.
"Hello, to you too, Claude-san." Tsuna gave a nod and a smile. As always, it lacked the brightness it once held, Claude noted.
Though not the first time the head butler had made the deduction, he still couldn't help but worry about his charge. He had been instructed to take care of the young master since he was just a baby being carried by his mother's arms.
"As much as I would love to stay and accompany you, young master, I still have other duties to attend to." Claude bowed once and waited to be dismissed.
"Ah, yes, please proceed to do those duties, but do call me Tsuna." The brunet chuckled.
"As you wish, young- or rather, Tsuna-san." Bowing low once more, the head butler spun on his heel as soon as he finished correcting himself.
Tsuna sighed and stood there until Claude's suit-cladded figure disappeared in one of the mansion's numerous hallways. He, himself, then turned to go to one place he knew no one would disturb him, his bedroom. He wanted to reflect on some topics before his tutor came barging through the front door, sometimes done quite literally.
His tutor, being the one who homeschooled the brunet in the past years, was almost like his confidant and his only friend besides Hibari. He was like an older brother he never had and Tsuna was positive that his tutor cared for him, even if his ways of showing it is very unorthodox.
Before Hibari and his tutor came, no one particularly cared about the brunet with Nana and the servants as an exception. He had always been alone and it was only because of the two that he managed not to fall into depression.
Tsuna sighed at the thought as he plopped down at the bed and laid down. He was so motionless that one would think he's dead, and if it wasn't for the rythmic movement of the brunet's chest, Reborn would've long since panicked when he opened his student's bedroom door.
Black, spiky hair popped out of its confines when the infamous fedora was removed from his head. Piercing black eyes roved around the simple room before resting on the unmoving figure of his student on the bed. A sigh escaped from the rosy lips as his long legs carried him over to the sleeping body on the bed. An apricot-colored hand reached out and shook the brunet awake.
"Tsuna, wake up." The raven's deep baritone voice spoke with rare gentleness.
"Mm... Reborn-nii?" An eye in the shade of brown peered towards the tall raven. "What time is it?"
"Not time for your nap, that's what. Now, go and change out of your uniform." Reborn nudged Tsuna's feet that dangled just above the floor.
A groan came from the brunet and the 16 year old raven just rolled his eyes. With a sly smirk on his handsome face, he walked silently out the bedroom door and down to the kitchen. Reborn emerged from the door with a bucket filled with liquid substance. Peering down towards his student's oblivious, peaceful face, he cackled evilly and brought forth the pail. Slowly he swung it back and-
Splash
"I'm awake, I'm awake!" Tsuna screamed when a splash of cold water, taking him away from the land of dreams.
"Nice to know you are." Reborn chuckled in amusement, setting down the pail that once had been the container of the water.
"The cold water was very unnecessary, Reborn-nii." Tsuna pouted, giving a weak glare which Reborn just became amused. "What time is it anyways?"
"You already asked that."
"You never answered it. Not properly anyways."
"Oh, since when did you get so cheeky?"
"Since I got influenced by you. Now, will you please answer my question, Reborn-nii?"
The said raven just stared at his seemingly innocent student, before grabbing the controller of the PS3 and threw it at Tsuna with such force the brunet actually fell onto his back. With a cunning smirk, Reborn narrowed his obsidian eyes with a glint of challenge lighting it up.
"I'll tell you..." Reborn's smirk grew wider when Tsuna's face lit up. Such a pity he will crush it down with just a few words. "... If you beat me in a game of Tekken."
Tsuna's face, true to Reborn's thoughts, evidently fell when he heard the word 'beat' from the raven's mouth. He was stupid enough to hope Reborn would tell the time to him straight out, but he wasn't that idiotic to take the bait set out for him.
He will be taking on Reborn Corvino, the guy who is prodigious in everything he does. Even if it's just a simple doing of the laundry, or cleaning of the house, he has the uncanny ability to make everything so perfect. But even if Reborn himself is quite the flawless man, he is still human, meaning that even if he is seemingly picture-perfect, he still has one major flaw. And that fault comes in the form of pride men only has. So, the question still stands.
Whose pride is Tsuna going to sacrifice; his or Reborn's?
Though, to be honest, he never really had pride, the brunet admitted to himself, or ego whichever you take it as. So, that was why Tsuna was holding the black controller tightly with his hand and clung to the thin, sadistic line that was growing in a rapid state as he thought over Reborn's defeat.
And he who shines bright for all
The time seven o'clock was met by the intense game between the two teens, both of whom was immersed completely in the game of Final Fantasy XIII. If it weren't for Claude, Reborn and Tsuna would still be playing and completely forget about dinner. Said butler was standing in a corner of the room, waiting for the chance to bring them out for dinner.
"Argh, one more time!" Reborn insisted when the screen flashed and declared Tsuna the winner.
"Reborn, we will miss Kaa-san's cooking if we continue." Tsuna sighed and shook his head in amusement. "Besides, no need to bruise your ego when they are already shattered in million pieces."
Tsuna bit his lip in an attempt to stifle his laughter. He may have done a very bad job at it, because Reborn pinned him with a glare that would make Hibari run for his money. Though, the suppoused threathening act served as the key to open the lock that sealed Tsuna's laughter into existence. The brunet had to admit that teasing the poor raven was way too tempting pass up, and it was high time that he turned tables around.
Reborn brushed past the laughing boy, muttering about cheeky brats, and Tsuna just followed him out while holding his stomach from too much laughter, though it was clear he was yet to calm down. Claude trailed behind the two, making sure everything was turned off, with a small smile on his aging face.
"Best to hurry up, young masters, lest the food gets cold." Claude sternly voiced out behind the pair.
"Why don't you go rest and take a chill pill, Claude-san?" Tsuna asked, and pouted. "Though, for the last time, call me Tsuna."
"Yes, Tsuna-san."
Nothing deterred the happy demeanor the brunet had, and it became contagious. Every servant suddenly got their mood uplifted when a certain joyous brunet dragged the certainly-not-joyous raven across the large hallway. The whole Sawada residence was bright and cheery, that even Reborn managed a smirk despite his unpleasant situation.
Nothing could have destroyed such delight in the household, though everyone would've said it too soon. As soon as Reborn heard the telltale signs of a call, he opened his ringing phone and answered, never registering the caller ID. The raven's world came crashing down as he heard the first word be spoken by the voice he knew all too well.
"Reborn, where are you? I do not appreciate tardiness from you, young man." A high, clipped tone sounded out from the speaker.
"Mamma..." Reborn whispered, black eyes widening in shock. "I'm... busy right now."
"No excuses, Reborn. Just know this is unbecoming of you as young heir." Reborn's mother scolded. "Come home now. We will be leaving shortly."
"Yes, Mamma." Reborn scowled at his mother, who doesn't seem like one right now.
"I am expecting you soon." Then she hung up, leaving a dumbfounded silence in the dining where Nana, Tsuna and him were eating.
"Reborn-nii... that was that about?" Tsuna asked after a few beats of silence.
"..." The raven in question just bit his lip.
"Reborn-nii?"
Reborn just stood up and ruffled the soft brown mop of hair he had come to love during the past years. Black eyes then peered down to Tsuna's angelic face and the brunet was gifted with a smile the raven never showed. A smile of happiness and joy, albeit a small one.
Tsuna happily returned it and hugged Reborn, knowing it was tine for him to leave. He will come back tomorrow anyways, the brunet thought to himself.
"Let's not get your Mamma waiting, Reborn-nii!" Tsuna exclaimed as he escorted the raven to the front door.
"Well, see you tomorrow, Dame-Tsuna." Reborn ruffled the brunet's hair once more, before leaving with a lazy wave.
Looking back to this day, Tsuna finally understood the meaning behind the smile. It wasn't a smile of the happiness and the joy of the moment, not at all.
Rather, it held the well-hidden the sadness and the guilt for it was the last time Reborn would see the brunet he had come to see as his younger brother.
In the face of eternal darkness
Tsuna closed his eyes as he tried to block out the screaming that had come to bring him further misery. Six days. Six days of no Reborn. Six days of being hopelessly lost in the haze of screams and trains of thoughts that goes all into circles.
Why did Reborn leave him? What was so important that he would leave his younger brother by choice without a word? Did he not trust him enough to tell him why? Why did the world loved to bring him down whenever he felt the happiest of his life?
Most of all, why did his father come to bring him further torture?
It was nearing midnight when Sawada Iemitsu came literally stumbling through the open door, his mind in a pure drunken state. This entrance, for it was very loud, woke up half of the residence, including Nana and Tsuna. That fact only served as a bad thing because when his two parents parted ways, it wasn't really under good circumstances.
At that time, his father wanted to bring him to Italy just like what he did to his older brother. That had been a devastating blow to the both of them, since they didn't now that the father-son duo would be staying there permanently.
"For the last time, Tsuna is not going to Italy!" Nana's voice filled with barely supressed anger shook out of the brunet's reverie. "How many times do I have to say it to you!?"
"He will go to Italy whether you want it or not." Iemitsu addressed to her calmly as if he was used to it. He probably is because they had this arguement more than Tsuna can count. "And I am asking you this time."
"WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE!? WE NEVER HEARD OF GIOTTO FOR FOUR YEARS!" Nana was screaming now. All the agony, distress, and the hurt was poured out. "FOUR YEARS OF NO CONTACT AND YOU SHOW UP HERE WITH YOUR DRUNKEN ASS, ASKING FOR MY PERMISSION TO BRING HIM TO THAT DAMN HELL!"
"And what is your answer?"
"NO, MY ANSWER IS NO! NOW, HELP ME AND GET OUT OF THIS PLACE BEFORE I CALL HIBARI OR THE POLICE! I DON'T WANT TO SEE YOUR BLONDE ASS HERE AGAIN!" The words were given more emphasis when Nana slammed a door in anger.
At this point in time, Tsuna just schooled his face and stared at the laptop and the medium-sized gadget sitting innocently on the bed in front of him. It seemed like he's pondering whether to use the gadgets or not to others, but in truth, he was thinking about committing suicide. Not really, but considering about what happened the last time he had played The Game...
Desperate times calls for desperate measures, Tsuna mused to himself, since he needed to get away from the happenings. And of course, that stupid cursive writing embossed on the white footrest of his bed that would surely bisect his skull into two if he continue to stare at it in boredom. After all, why try to read something when he clearly cannot make out a single letter from all those loops?
Tsuna just sighed and ran a hand through his chocolate brown locks. It promptly stood back up, much to his annoyance, and proceeded to open and boot his laptop specially made by the Vongola Corporation, a gift from his older brother. He moved the portable computer from his bed to his sidetable where he was positive it wouldn't catch fire, and unraveled the cord that would be connecting the helmet to the laptop, all the while waiting for the latter to come on.
Soon, a picture of a group of people flashed brilliantly on the screen and a smile appeared on the brunet's face, successfully breaking the cold exterior he had adopted earlier. He shook his head wryly and plugged the disentangled cord of the helmet to the headphone jack. He then clicked the small icon that served as a shortcut to the game Vongola X.
Total blackness covered the screen and a pink-haired girl with a black mask over her eyes appeared on the side. Tsuna watched as the Cervello moved with fluidity impossible to be seen on a digital character. The NPC was in-charge of looking over the data transfer of the game from the laptop to the helmet.
"The data transfer is complete. You may now play the game."
Tsuna removed the cord from headphone jack and closed the programs before shutting it down. He also separated the cable from the helmet and spun it in a circle once more. He turned on the gadget and light illuminated on the eye shield and the sides. He squinted from the brightness and closed his brown eyes to adjust. It was pretty dim in gus room despite the light given by his lampshade. With one deep breath, he put on the helmet and laid down. He waited for sleep to take over him and when it did, he watched as the darkness begun to fade.
"Welcome back, Oozora Cielo"
My name is Sawada Tsunayoshi, and I am known as Oozora Cielo, the most cunning and mysterious thief in the digital world of Vongola X.
And in the face of absolute darkness
A/N: Done, done and done owo I am starting on the next chapter soon since I don't want to leave you guys hanging. Though I bet you'll be pissed at me because of it. Now for more author-reader interaction!
Let us play a game. Whomever answers the question correctly will get a SNEAK PEEK OF THE NEXT CHAPTER. We shall do this every chapter I publish. For the question!
Question: What do you think is Tsuna's condition? Hints, though subtle, are there.
Good luck!
Keeper of the Flame