Ordinary World

Chapter One

by Asael

Tsuna realized later that he should have known something was wrong when Chrome collapsed.

It hadn't occurred to him, and Reborn hadn't said anything, but he still should have known. The only excuse he had was that he'd been nowhere near Chrome when she collapsed.

Things were quiet. It had been three years since Reborn showed up, since the beginning of everything. Tsuna had been enjoying a lull in his otherwise overly active life - not yet required to take his place as Vongola the Tenth, he was enjoying his first year of high school more or less the same way a normal boy would.

There had been no threats, nothing to fight against, for months. Yamamoto and Gokudera were always nearby in case anything went wrong, so Tsuna had had no need for his Mist Guardian. He hadn't thought about Chrome, or Mukuro for that matter, until he received a phone call from Italy informing him that one Chrome Dokuro had been admitted to the intensive care unit of a hospital in the countryside, all expenses to be billed to the Vongola family.

Of course he'd been worried. At first he'd been certain this was a sign of a new enemy, and the fact that Reborn would say nothing only made him more nervous. Tsuna wasn't the boy he'd once been, but he wasn't yet comfortable with his role in the mafia, either. The thought of facing some new enemy - fighting, seeing his friends get injured again - made his stomach hurt.

Then, three days after the phone call, Mukuro showed up on his doorstep.

He had nothing with him, no bags, not even an overcoat. His hair was longer than Tsuna remembered from their first meeting (the last time they'd met in person), and his face was drawn and pale. There was something off about him, but Tsuna couldn't quite place it. He wasn't even entirely sure whether Mukuro was real or an illusion, not until Mukuro spoke.

"Would you mind letting me in? It's cold out here."

It was a crisp April morning, the last gasp of winter, and Tsuna realized he could see Mukuro shivering, ever so slightly. He stepped back from the door, nervously gesturing Mukuro inside. The house was nearly empty, since his mother had gone shopping and taken her normal entourage along, but Reborn was there. He watched Mukuro come in while Tsuna looked between them nervously, hoping for a clue. Reborn didn't look surprised, and Mukuro didn't look inclined to attack or do anything dangerous. Something was going on.

He lead Mukuro to the kitchen, Reborn following along. It was warmest there, and he managed to fix Mukuro a cup of warm tea without spilling water on himself or staring at his new guest too much. Reborn hopped up on the chair opposite Mukuro, and there was silence in the kitchen until Tsuna couldn't take anymore.

He wanted to be forceful, demand that they tell him what was going on. They both obviously knew, and weren't volunteering the information, and Tsuna imagined putting his foot down and ordering them to tell him. He was the next Vongola head, after all!

But old habits died hard. He was barely able to force out, "So... um... what're you doing here?"

Mukuro smiled and Tsuna felt his cheeks go red. "You're the same as ever, Vongola." He wrapped his hands around the cup of tea, absorbing the warmth. He looked oddly delicate, a thought Tsuna never imagined he'd have. "I've been left to your tender mercies now that my previous captors no longer need to watch me."

"Huh...?" Tsuna looked to Reborn for answers, hating the confusion he felt.

"Look at him, Tsuna," Reborn said. "He's not a threat to them anymore."

Tsuna turned back to Mukuro, and suddenly it all made sense. What Reborn said, and why something about Mukuro seemed strange.

Both his eyes were blue.

He had missed it the first time, but now it was impossible not to see.

He looked at Reborn again, since he had absolutely no idea what else to do. This was Mukuro, there was no mistaking it. But... not quite. What had happened?

Reborn was expressionless. Instead, it was Mukuro who answered his question - or a question, at least.

"It's not real," he said. "But I'm afraid I'm incapable of removing the illusion." His smile was brittle, the anger lurking behind it an echo of how terrifying Mukuro could be.

Or maybe not. Because Tsuna was putting the pieces together. Beneath that blue eye was the red one Tsuna was familiar with. Beneath the illusion - the illusion that Mukuro couldn't break. Was that even possible? Mukuro was so strong, and Tsuna didn't think he would normally let such an insult stand.

Normally. But Mukuro was here, and in his actual body - Tsuna could tell that much. Those guys - creatures - whatever, the Vendice, would never have let him out. Rokudo Mukuro, walking free? Impossible.

Unless he was no longer a threat.

Tsuna saw Mukuro's eyes flicker away as realization dawned on him. He couldn't keep it from his face, and until he saw Mukuro's subtle reaction - the slight curl of a lip, the barest sign of disgust - he hadn't known he should. But of course Mukuro would hate to see Tsuna's sympathy for his weakness. He was proud, he would hate that from anyone.

"As you can see, I've been forced to rely on your kindness." Mukuro had a faint smile now, a protest that despite what had been done to him he would not lay down and be crushed. "Would you mind letting me stay for awhile?"

It was much easier than Tsuna thought. His mother, as always, welcomed one of Tsuna's 'friends' with open arms, clearing out the tiny office (really just a room full of old papers and dust) and finding a spare futon for Mukuro to sleep on.

The only person who might have objected to Mukuro's presence - Fuuta - had gone to Italy a few months ago on a request from the main family. The others didn't seem to care at all, either because they couldn't remember who Mukuro was (Lambo) or because they figured he was no threat (Bianchi).

Mukuro, for his part, had been as polite as could be expected of a guest. He was settled in the other room now, while the rest of the household slept and Tsuna quietly freaked out in his room.

Reborn sat on his bed, and as always, Tsuna couldn't read his expressions. It didn't matter at the moment, though. Tsuna was occupied with his own concerns, mainly why in the world this had happened, what he was supposed to do, and how Mukuro had gotten to Japan - and Tsuna's house - anyway.

Reborn finally spoke up when he heard that last question. "They brought him here. As your Mist Guardian, he is your responsibility. They may have taken his powers, but he still has the knowledge and the will to be dangerous if he chooses. You're expected to look after him now, Tsuna."

Tsuna blanched. "But how am I supposed to do that? And how do we even know it's true and not some kind of weird plan of Mukuro's?"

"What do you think?" Reborn said, looking at Tsuna, no clue to the right answer evident in his big black eyes.

"Well... I mean..." Tsuna fell silent for a moment, remembering Mukuro's unhealthy pallor and thin hands, the way he'd smiled. "I think he's telling the truth," Tsuna said, half-surprised at himself.

Reborn's lips quirked just a little. "You're getting better at this." He hopped down from the bed, coming to stand next to where Tsuna was sitting on the floor. "While you were talking to your mother, I called the Vongola base in Italy. They received word this morning from Vendice. What Mukuro said was true. His powers have been sealed... it's an experimental procedure intended for criminals who are dangerous even when imprisoned. Mukuro was chosen because of that, and also because he had our famiglia to be handed over to upon release." The smile left Reborn's lips, and he focused on Tsuna. "But I don't think it's really worth our time to watch over him."

"You don't think he's a threat to anyone anymore?" Tsuna asked, eyes wide. It was hard to imagine that, and he had a sinking feeling that was only intensified when Reborn shook his head.

"Mukuro is useless to us now. If he can't access his powers, he's no longer qualified to be the Vongola's Mist Guardian. And without his powers, Chrome is useless as well," Reborn said, not batting an eye. "While he might still be dangerous, there's no point in keeping an eye on him. It would only be a liability, and one of your friends might get hurt in the process."

"What do you mean?" Tsuna asked, though he thought he already knew the answer. He didn't like it.

"Mukuro has made a lot of enemies over the years," Reborn said. "When word gets out that he's helpless, they'll come to get their revenge. Do you really think he's someone that you should be protecting?"

Tsuna's mouth dropped open. It was what he had half-expected to hear, but still! "You think we should just let them kill him? Reborn! I can't do that, Mukuro may not be a great guy but that doesn't mean he deserves to be left to die!"

His cheeks flushed red when he realized how loud he'd gotten. He saw Reborn smile like he'd known exactly what Tsuna would say.

"All right, Tsuna. I'll make sure he stays somewhere where you and the others can keep an eye on him. But that's up to you, I won't step in if something happens." The baby checked his watch. "I'm going to go make a few calls." With that, he left the room.

Tsuna sighed a sigh of utter despair and let himself fall back to lay on the floor. He had no idea what to do.

His body was heavy and weak, he felt each ache all too clearly. Mukuro wasn't used to this anymore - paying attention to the needs of his real body. For all that he had hated being confined in the prison, it had also been useful. He could inhabit other bodies without worrying about his own. He'd been bound and chained, but he could ignore the insignificant pains and focus on Chrome, or walk in illusions.

Now he could do none of that. He lay on a thin futon in Sawada Tsunayoshi's home, breathing and feeling the way his body ached. Tendons and muscles stretching after so long - it was a wonder he was able to walk, talk, pretend to be a normal person.

The room was dark, and Mukuro was exhausted. He hadn't had a chance to rest since leaving the prison, and though it had only been two days, his body craved sleep and time to repair the damage that had been done. He needed to rest and regain the strength he'd lost while imprisoned.

But he couldn't sleep. He could feel his heart beating in his chest, and the hollow emptiness of his mind echoed around him. Mukuro was more cut off from the world now than he'd ever been in back in that tank, with his ability to reach out to Chrome, through Chrome, always tucked away in a corner of his mind.

Now he could not feel her, or anyone but himself. All he could feel was what the creatures crawling this dismal earth felt every day. The blood running through his veins, the breath filling his lungs. The disgusting fragility of the human body.

He imagined it must be even more difficult for Chrome, who was always faithful, always brave, and very aware of the delicacy of her existence.

Mukuro hadn't forgotten her, or Chikusa and Ken. He simply hadn't had any way to contact them. Until now.

He stood, unwilling to admit even to himself the effort it took, the aches that bloomed with each movement. It was not difficult to ignore the pain, that at least was something he could still do. He moved as if he were in no pain, hating the thought of someone seeing his weakness - even though there wasn't a soul there. Strength was useless if you lost it in private.

He made his way down the hall to the Tenth Vongola's room. Light spilled out from under the door, and so he knocked softly before pushing it open. Tsunayoshi was there, of course, looking at Mukuro with wide eyes (he'd always acted like prey, a rabbit suddenly thrust into a world of wolves - an herbivore, one part of his mind said, and he smiled), but the Arcobaleno was nowhere in sight.

Entering the room, Mukuro looked down at the Tenth Vongola sitting on the floor. He was so defenseless, Mukuro's smile grew just a tiny bit. If things were different, it would have been so easy to finally get that body he'd been after for so long - but that was simply not to be. Instead he was forced to depend on Sawada Tsunayoshi's kindness, which luckily for Mukuro he had an overabundance of.

"You- you can't sleep?" Tsuna said, stumbling over his words. He had changed from the boy Mukuro had met not so long ago, but he still didn't quite fulfill the picture of Mafia leadership some expected from him.

Mukuro didn't bother answering the question. "I have a request to make of you," he said, watching Tsuna's eyes get even wider when he heard those words. "Have Chrome moved here."

Confusion passed over Tsuna's face. "But - she's in the hospital. In Italy. Wouldn't it be really expensive to have her moved to Japan? And I bet the hospitals there are good. So why move her?"

"Who will protect her if someone attacks? Like me, she is your responsibility now. I can't help her if something happens - I won't even know," Mukuro said. He knew the idea of Chrome defenseless would play on Tsuna's emotions, and if she was moved to Japan, Chikusa and Ken would follow. Mukuro needed his allies, and this was the best way to bring them closer. "And you can afford it, Vongola. You're the heir to a mafia empire, you know."

Tsuna looked at the floor, unsure. "Reborn doesn't think I should protect you at all."

Mukuro didn't bother to stifle his laughter. "Oh, he's right. You really shouldn't."

He relished the look of shock Tsuna gave him and managed to ignore his body's desire to lean against the wall. His legs were weak, but his will was strong. He didn't waver an inch. To think of Rokudo Mukuro as someone who needed protecting... but now it was true. "It's not really worth it to protect me," Mukuro said. "I can no longer serve as your Mist Guardian, and surely being killed out of revenge would be a fitting end for one like me. But you won't let that happen, will you?"

"No," the Tenth Vongola said, and for a moment Mukuro could see why so many could believe in him. "I won't. You're not all bad, and this could be your chance for a normal life, Mukuro. I'm not going to let you be killed." He bit his lip and the illusion of strength was gone. "Besides, how do you know your powers are gone forever?"

Mukuro smiled just a little, this one genuine. Tsuna was one of the few people in the world who would say something like that about him. It wasn't true, of course, and he couldn't hold the same ideals that the boy did, but in a way he admired them. "I was told that if the seal was tampered with or removed, I would die. So unless it disappears on its own, you'll need to find a new illusionist." Not that such a warning mattered much - once Mukuro was recovered, he fully intended to make his own attempts to remove the seal, promise of death or not.

Tsuna bit his lip, not quite able to look Mukuro in the eye. It was fair enough - Mukuro wasn't quite able to look at himself in the mirror yet, either. "Okay. I'll find a way to get Chrome transferred somewhere close enough to visit. Maybe she'll recover and we won't need to find anyone new..."

It was possible, Mukuro thought. Chrome had a stronger will that most gave her credit for, and she could create her own organs if necessary, though she might need a push. "Thank you, Tsunayoshi. I appreciate that," he said, and smiled. "Now, I'll let you rest. Excuse me."

He slipped back out into the hallway, barely hearing Tsuna's faint "Good night". The walk down the hall back to his room seemed to stretch for a thousand miles, but when Mukuro finally reached his futon and was able to lay down, he relaxed for the first time since breathing fresh air again. The future was uncertain, and he wasn't safe here - or anywhere - but it was better than nothing. He'd done what he could for the ones who depended on him and who he could no longer protect.

Mukuro closed his eyes and let his aches and pains fade into the background. He could think about the rest of his problems later - there was always a way around these things. Always. For now, all he could do was gather his strength.

And so he did. Letting his exhaustion overwhelm him, this time Mukuro was asleep in seconds.