Duty
The Sky has always been curious – his tutor, the unfathomable Space itself, snorts and tells him he's an idiot.
Well, he's not too surprised by that.
He chances upon the Sun in his travels of his far-reaching kingdom. He asks him, Why do you shine so brightly, day after day? Even when the people are begging you to stop?
The Sun smiles at him and it is blinding. He replies, It is my EXTREME duty to do so.
The Sky is very much confused by this. Duty? What is this 'duty' you speak of?
Duty? I am EXTREMELY not sure. You will have to ask someone else, the Sun replies and runs off to kill off a few more towns.
The Sky continues on his journey, his tutor on top of him and scolding him, laughing all the while. You know what duty is, he says, you just haven't realized it.
He walks and runs and glides until he finds the Storm. He watches as the Storm rages upon the kingdom below his, and he questions, Why do you do such a thing, when the people of the Earth have done nothing to you?
The Storm pauses in his attacks and turns to him. They are the enemies, the Storm says blandly. I must defeat them all.
Why? The Sky asks. Why must you defeat them all?
There is no reason, he replies scornfully. They are the enemies, and that is all I need to know.
The Sky is saddened by this, even if he doesn't realize why. Tell me,then.Is that your duty?
Yes,the Storm replies. It is my duty – and will be so until the next generation is ready to take over.
The Storm takes his leave then and the Sky continuing on, meeting a spot of continuous Rain.
Hello, the Sky says carefully. What are you doing?
Hello, the Rain greets back cheerfully and the Sky lets out a sigh of relief. I am washing away everything.
You don't seem better than the Sun, the Sky remarks. You are washing away too much – you should tone it down a bit.
The Rain shakes his head, but his smile never drops.
I can't, the Rain says, it is my duty.
Tell me, then, the Sky says almost angrily. What is 'duty'?
It depends, the Rain replies vaguely and walks off, flooding another town.
The Cloud suddenly materializes next to the Sky and he jumps in surprise and backs away slowly, knowing of his reputation.
You help the Rain, do you not? The Sky looks at him in question and the Cloud glares.
He brings with him rainclouds, the Cloud says in disgust. They are weaklings, for traveling in groups. I am the Cloud – drifting alone, needing no one.
The Sky watches him sadly. Does it get lonely? he asks, wondering if the Cloud will murder him for asking.
Surprisingly enough, he is not killed on the spot.
…No.
There is a silence and the Sky hurries on to another question.
What is your duty, then?
The Cloud looks at him in almost-surprise and smirks. I protect from a distance.
What is duty?
The Cloud raises an eyebrow and the Sky flushes in embarrassment. Duty is not necessary, he answers and drifts off as the Sky wonders why can't anyone straight-out answer him.
The Sky ambles away and takes a step back when something flashes before him.
I am the Lightning, and I will rule the world! Do you have some candy?
The Sky is surprised by how young the Lightning is. He makes a mental note to talk to his tutor about appointing them too young.
Hello, he says gently. I am the Sky. I am sorry, but I don't have any candy with m e at the moment.
The Lightning stares at him for a moment with wide green eyes before bursting into tears and the Sky rushes to calm him before he destroys something.
It's alright, he soothes. What do you do? You are, after all, so important.
The Lightning straightens up and looks on with pride. My duty is to - well, something like taking the damage, but that's stupid.
The Sky is secretly ashamed of the fact that someone so young could know the meaning of duty but he, himself didn't know.
No, he chides, it is very brave.
The Lightning shrugs and zooms off, yelling at something in the distance for candy.
The Sky sighs and takes a step before finding himself shrouded in Mist.
Kufufu~ Someone laughs around him, but it was impossible to tell where. Little Sky, little Sky.Why would you ever be in a place as dangerous as this?
Are you the Mist? the Sky asks curiously. You are, aren't you?
The same laughs echoes around him. Yes, I am. What do you want?
The Sky perks up – it is his last chance to ask about what this 'duty' may mean.
What is 'duty'?
The Mist seems to ponder this. I confuse the enemies, he answers eventually. Like this.
When he speaks again, his voice is not of a man's, but a woman's – timid and shy as well, unlike his other voice.
It is nice to meet you, the other Mist murmurs. The Sky smiles.
It is nice to meet you, too, he says. But, why are there two of you?
He can tell the Mist – both of them – are smiling. To perform our duty, the female voice answers.
It is so much easier to confuse others when there are two of us, the male voice answers.
Will you tell me what duty is? he asks almost desperately.
Duties are different, for each and every person, the male Mist says. It may be similar, but never exactly the same.
The female Mist giggles and the Sky doesn't understand why – but girls and by extension, women, will always be strange and as unfathomable as his tutor's powers.
Duty is like an… obligation, she says hesitantly. It might not be something you want to do, but you do it anyways. But, for us – there is a movement in the mist and the Sky understand that she is gesturing towards his wide kingdom – it is something we hate yet love. Protecting, we love, but it hurts to kill by protecting.
What obligation is there to kill? The Sky is confused and sad.
Dark amusement pulses in the Mist. From you.
The Sky's eyes widen. How did I oblige people to kill?
The Mist shudders as a sigh rings around them. Ask your tutor, the male Mist says and the Mist suddenly disappeared, leaving a befuddled Sky.
The Sky continues roaming his kingdom, but he doesn't find another person in his path. A weight pushes on his head and he looks up in annoyance.
Reborn, he says (he is the one of the lucky few to know one of his tutor's name, even if this one was probably fake as well), why were the people I met obliged– he makes a face at the strange word – to kill?
Dame-Tsuna, Reborn sighs (Reborn is one of the few to know his name), they are your Guardians, your Family. They protect – by any means. It is their duty.
I learned what 'duty' means, Tsuna replies dully. But then, what is my duty?
Reborn sighs and the pressure on his head is lifted. You'll have to find out yourself, Tsuna.
So, the Sky thinks back to his encounters, wondering, What is my duty to them, when they so unselfishly do what they can for useless little him?
He has heard that many people dislike individuals in his… Family. The Sun was too bright (and EXTREME), the Storm was too violent, the Rain was washing away too much, the Cloud was both scary and violent, the Lightning was just a kid, and the Mists were… annoying. But really, he murmurs aloud, they aren't that bad.
Tsuna suddenly understands – he accepts them for who they are, and that is all they need from him.
Next time, he thinks with conviction, I will find out their names.
Somewhere off in his (much) larger kingdom, Reborn smirks.
Of course you will, Tsuna.
This was written on a whim. Also, is anyone else having problems with Doc Manager? It stuck all the italicized words together, which was a PAIN considering how many italicized words I had in this fic... I apologize for any mistakes made, please point them out so I may fix them.