A/N: Hey everyone! This is the revised version of the original Forgotten Flame. I put my reasoning for restarting in the last chapter of the first version if you're wondering. Hope this one turns out well ^-^" Enjoy~
"So this is the famous Vongola the Tenth...I'm disappointed."
Tsuna groaned underneath the boot of his enemy and glared upward, his orange eyes blazing, but said nothing.
"You'd think a boss would at least be capable of protecting his own family. Or rather, a boss's guardians would be able to do their jobs." Tsuna's attacker looked around disappointedly. The young mafia boss followed his gaze to his friends, bleeding and unconscious on the ground around him.
The pain of guilt stabbed at his heart. Dammit all...after all those times...I'm still not strong enough to protect them in the end...
"Well, I suppose it can't be helped. You're just children after all." The man's easygoing voice, coupled with a sadistic smirk, nearly gave Tsuna enough anger to lunge. But he still couldn't muster enough energy to move.
A grin spread across the man's face. "Allow me to ease your pain."
Tsuna watched, helpless, as it appeared again. That damn black and blue flame. He didn't want to be killed by a man he barely knew with some unknown element.
But it looked like that's exactly what would happen.
I'm sorry, everyone...were Tsuna's thoughts as the black and blue fire around the man's fist neared his face. He closed his eyes, bracing himself for the blow.
A blow that never came.
He snapped his eyes open upon hearing the sound of a kick being firmly sent to his attacker's stomach, which sent him tumbling back. "Tch," the man said. "You again."
Tsuna, his head now free to move, barely managed to peer up at the figure standing before him, clad in the same black and blue flame. Silver hair flowed in the small breeze. "Are you alright?" A girl's voice asked him.
"Y-Yeah..." He mumbled in response. "Thank you..."
His rescuer nodded but never turned around, so Tsuna had no clue who this girl was. He watched as she took out what appeared to be daggers, and lit them with her flame.
"Wait!" He said desperately. "He's dangerous! Don't fight him!" The girl paid no attention to his words and charged directly ahead. Her daggers made contact with the man's metallic gloves, and then everything went blank.
Tsuna's eyes rushed open, his breathing somewhat ragged, the sound of steel on steel still ringing in his ears. He looked around in bewilderment as he saw the mess of his bedroom. A dream...?
"What the hell was that about?" An all too familiar voice asked him.
"Oh, Reborn," Tsuna said. "Good morning..."
The Arcobaleno ignored their usual morning exchange. "Your dream, Tsuna. What was that?"
Tsuna sweat dropped. "Well, I'm not really - wait, you can see my dreams?!"
"Of course. I can read minds after all."
"Even so -"
"Never mind that, answer my question."
The brunette was slightly taken aback at the edge in Reborn's voice. He nodded and continued. "Ah, well...you saw what happened anyway right? I can't really piece together what happened, but...everyone was wounded...and then that girl saved me, and there was that weird flame, too..."
He met his tutor's eyes. "What does it all mean?"
"You probably just ate something weird again, Dame-Tsuna," the hitman replied smoothly. "Now get up, breakfast is ready."
"W-Wait a second, you're just dismissing it like that?!" Tsuna cried.
"It was just a weird dream," he replied, more to himself than to his student.
-Later-
"I'm bored," Tsuna grumbled as he lay on his bed. It was Saturday, so there was no class, and now the young boss had nothing to do. "We could do some training," Reborn offered, pulling out his gun.
"N-No thanks!" Tsuna said quickly, waving his hands in a disarming gesture. "Hmph." Reborn reluctantly put his gun away. "Why don't you go hang out with Gokudera and Yamamoto? Bonding with your family is important."
"That's true...I'll go call them." Tsuna started to get up.
"Actually, why don't you go to Yamamoto's?" Reborn suggested. "We could all get sushi. I'll call everyone up."
"Oh," Tsuna said as the hitman was already walking away. "Um, I'll go take a bath and get dressed then?" He called after him. Reborn said nothing and kept walking.
Tsuna scratched his head. Reborn's been acting weird since this morning...he shook his head and went to the bathroom.
When he'd finished getting ready, Tsuna walked to Yamamoto's, still pondering over what his dream might have meant. "Well, if Reborn says it's nothing, then it's nothing...right?"
Meanwhile, said hitman was standing outside an apartment door. He knocked and listened as he heard footsteps heading toward the door, then the click of multiple locks unlocking.
"Oh, Reborn-san," Gokudera said. "What brings you here?" He looked around. "Isn't the Tenth with you?"
"Tsuna headed to Yamamoto's already," Reborn replied. "More importantly...we need to talk." Gokudera's eyes widened, then he nodded and stepped aside, letting the Arcobaleno enter.
Reborn told him the events of Tsuna's dream, and the Storm Guardian listened intently. When he had finished, the boy had an uneasy look in his eyes.
"And...you're sure it was her, Reborn-san?"
"Yeah, I saw it myself. There's no mistaking it."
"But, they've never met, and I've never mentioned her to anyone!"
Reborn looked out the window. "In any event, something tells me her appearance in Tsuna's dream is no coincidence."
"Yeah..."
There was tense silence for a while.
"Well, that can wait," Reborn said, hopping down from his seat. "Let's go get some sushi! Everyone's waiting."
"Right..."
-Italy, Varia HQ-
"Voooooiiii!" Squalo yelled, entering the dining hall where everyone but Xanxus was. "Where's the brat?!" "The frog magician? He's right there," Bel answered, chucking a knife into said illusionist's frog hat. "Bel-senpai, your knives are as distasteful as ever," Fran said in his monotonous voice. "And even then your blades are sharper than your wit."
"Bastard," Bel mumbled, revealing more knives. "Not that brat!" Squalo yelled again. "The other one!"
"Oh, her," The prince murmured. "Who knows? Probably training, as usual." "She'll get sick if she keeps working so hard, poor thing," Lussuria commented.
"Tch. She'll be fine," Squalo said. "I wouldn't let her be a part of us if she couldn't handle a little cold every now and again."
Outside, a girl with silver hair sneezed. "Huh...are people talking about me behind my back again?" She raised an eyebrow at the dining hall window. "Oh well..."
She returned her attention to her training partner, who was currently beat up, face first in the dirt ground. "Oi, are you dead?"
No response.
She heaved a sigh. "Not another one..." She took out a small communication device from her Varia coat. "I need medics here. ASAP. Yeah...sorry about that. Thanks." She put it away and eyed the blood on the daggers in either hand. Maybe I should train solo from now on...
"VOOOOIIIIII!" The Varia captain yelled at her. She turned around, a bored look in her eyes. "Please don't be so loud. What is it?"
"Don't kill them so quickly, brat! Finding recruits is hard these days!"
"I don't think he's dead..." She muttered sheepishly.
"Well he sure looks dead, dammit!"
"Then get me better training partners."
"VOI, ARE YOU PICKING A FIGHT BRAT?!"
"No...? Anyway, did you need something?"
"Tch. The Ninth wants to see you."
The girl's eyes widened. "Why?" "Hell if I know," Squalo answered. He turned and began walking back inside. "There's a car waiting out front. Get going."
"Ok..." The girl walked, somewhat confused, to where the car was parked. When was the last time the Ninth checked on me...?
The car pulled up to the Vongola Mansion. The driver opened her door, and the girl made her way inside. An escort came and greeted her at the door. "Ah, Mitsumi-sama! The Ninth has been waiting for you. Please, right this way."
She nodded and followed. Her escort knocked when they finally arrived at the Ninth's office door. "Enter," the gentle old man's voice said. He opened the door for her, then shut it behind her after she entered.
The Ninth turned around in his chair and smiled. "Ah, Mitsumi-chan! Thank you for coming."
The girl, Mitsumi, simply bowed in reply. "How may I help you today, Ninth?"
"Ah, yes..." The Ninth rested his chin on his hands. "I wanted to have a small discussion with you. Please, if you would have a seat." Mitsumi nodded somewhat hesitantly and sat down in front of the desk.
"Ah...if this is about the injuries I've inflicted on my partners, I truly apologize...I did not mean for them to be hurt so severely," she said in an embarrassed tone, bowing her head.
The Ninth smiled warmly. "Indeed, you've landed quite a few of your comrades in the hospital." She bowed another time. "A-Apologies, sir."
A small frown crossed the Ninth's face. Though I suppose it can't be helped, with your abilities...
He shook himself mentally and smiled. "As long as it was not intentional. We're working on setting up a separate training facility for you, to make it easier." "I see. Thank you."
Uncomfortable silence.
"I...take it this was not what you wanted to discuss with me, sir?"
"Well...no, I suppose not." The old boss awkwardly scratched his head. "I wonder, are you happy being a member of the Varia?"
Shock flickered in the girl's eyes, but disappeared quickly. "I was placed there because of my ability to kill efficiently. My happiness would be of no consequence to my performance."
"Your performance is not my concern. I want to know if you're happy," the Ninth said in a steady voice.
Mitsumi hesitated. "I haven't really considered it, sir. But I think I can safely say I'm quite content with my current situation."
He nodded thoughtfully. "Very well then. But please, let me know if you feel any different."
She nodded. "Thank you for your concern, sir." With that, she stood and headed for the door. When she placed her hand on the door handle, he said, "Oh, I almost forgot."
Mitsumi turned to look at him. "Yes?"
"Your brother called earlier today. I told him I'd let you know. There's a phone outside, if you like." Mitsumi's eyes widened. "...I see. I'll go get back to him then. Thank you."
She slowly turned back around and exited the office. One of the Ninth's guardians emerged from behind a bookshelf. "Well, appears she's doing well. For the most part anyway."
The Ninth shook his head sadly. "That girl..." His guardian raised an eyebrow as his boss's eyes became distant.
"How long ago was the last time she smiled at anyone?"
A sad silence came over the room, as his guardian could not answer his question. Two words came from him in response.
"Too long."
Outside, Mitsumi found herself staring at the phone. It'd been forever since she'd seen her brother, let alone speak with him.
Finally, she slowly lifted the phone and dialed the number.
"Hello?"
Mitsumi's voice got caught in her throat upon hearing him.
"Is someone there?"
I can't do this.
She hung up and shuddered as a weird feeling came over her. There was no point for her to revisit a reminder of her past, as much as she sometimes wished...
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath refusing to let her memories get the better of her. You aren't the person you were then. Remember that.
-Namimori, Japan-
Gokudera was sitting with Tsuna and the others at Yamamoto's restaurant. "Who was that, Gokudera?" Yamamoto asked as the Storm Guardian put his phone away.
"Tch, I dunno. No one said anything. Probably some kid making a bunch of prank calls."
"Oh, I see..."
Gokudera looked out the window, his eyebrows slightly furrowed. Where is she?
Reborn watched him from a distance, lost in his own thoughts. He took a small sip of his drink. "Tsuna...your dream had better not mean anything."
A/N: Well. That was certainly...different lol. Let me know what you think so far! My readers' opinions are very important to me.
Stay tuned for the next update!