Disclaimer: Katekyo Hitman Reborn! Isn´t mine, I only do this for entertainment.

Memory

Preface

If he looked closely, he could see the interesting mix of cultures that was beginning to seep into view. This, unwittingly, caused a strange pang in his stomach. It was not displeasure or nuisance, as other eyes revealed; it was rather a feeling of nostalgia, of pain that even if he tried could not remove it.

How many times had he asked himself about it? How many sleepless nights had he spent bitterly remembering what had happened in the end?

Regretful for not having been able to keep everyone together.

For the mistakes he had made.

For having failed everyone who had trusted him.

Had he done the right thing in abandoning everything? In leaving the country and start in another as if nothing had happened?

Another pang, an emotional wound that reopened a little. He knew that no matter how much time passed, it would never heal completely.

"Sawada-san?" He did a little jump; the sudden voice broke into his thoughts and pulled him back to reality "Are you ok? You don't have a good face"

"Nothing special, it's just a little stomachache. It will pass." He answered "I appreciate your concern" The man looked at him a moment before nodding his head, saying goodbye with a courtly bow and walking back toward his own home.

He sighed.

He had not even noticed the presence of this acquaintance until he had spoken and he supposed that was a little impolite on his part.

"Otosan, otosan!" changing the grin of fatigue to a warm smile almost instantly, he turned to the entrance of his home and saw a small child with blond hair running excitedly towards him.

"Yoshimune (1), why are you still awake?" He asked, containing a laugh at the big hug that his son gave him "Shouldn't you be already asleep?"

"Okasan said it was ok" the little boy replied, breaking the contact and looking at his father with sparkling eyes and an enthusiastic expression "That means that tonight you can tell me who they are!"

It felt like a bucket of cold water that suddenly, has thrown out without warning. He had hoped to at least, have the night to think what he was going to say.

Now that was not possible.

"Aki (2), dear. Did you have to give him permission to sleep late today?" He thought to himself.

"Otosan?" The child said doubtfully, not liking the sudden change on his father's face when he mentioned that. "Are you alright?"

"Are you sure you want to hear it now?" Without an answer at his son's question, he replied with other query "The story is very long and…"

"I doesn't matter if takes all night!" the child interrupted with excitedly "Of course it's an amazing story, all of them look very cool!"

There he was, without escape. Even less with the child's hopeful eyes begging to tell him who the people in the photo of his pocket watch were, what was the meaning of the legend "Grivro eterna amicizia" marked on the clock behind the picture, what was the shield that stood at the top and why the hands of the clock had stopped at the time 12:04.

Against his nature, he cursed under his breath the moment when Yoshimune had found him observing the clock with a strange smile and look (the child's own words, though he would define it rather as great longing and melancholy). He regretted that the boy had managed to see the photo and that he very naively agreed to give it to him for a small glance on the condition that he was extremely cautious with the device.

The bad thing was he still did not feel the courage to tell him everything. Perhaps he could tell him about the first encounters without any problem and even laugh at the jokes, but he was not sure he could talk about the last chapters of his story without breaking down.

However, he had promised it to his son and after so many promise he had broken, he did not want to add another to the list, however small it was.

At least, he would always continue to honor and fulfill the oath recorded in his small precious pocket watch.

So, Ieyasu Sawada, better known in Italy as Giotto Vongola, had to remember the most decisive, precious and now painful moments of his life.

Rebellions here and there, secret societies, conflicts and invasion.

Dead here, dead there.

The world was in chaos and anarchy, battles every day with abuse and poverty of the lower class. No matter how much "nationalist sentiment" it had, or how much efforts were made, it seemed the misery would not end, and indeed stormy waves continuously came in the form of despair to the needy.

It was in those moments when a child observed the misfortune around and his heart shrank; looked imploringly his grandmother, asking with his eyes if was something they could do to help the people. She always shook her head and requested him to keep walking.

People, get used to their environment, everyone said. That after a time everything that happens looks normal and daily, although such events or actions may mean something cruel or even bizarre to eyes more knowledgeable. Nevertheless, Giotto, who lived most of his childhood surrounded by evil, never managed to get over them but the opposite; a flame burning to help others grew inside his soul every day.

That small flame had been the beginning of everything.

It would grow so powerful and strong in a family that would be the number one in the world, but it founded with the innocent yearning to bring help to others. This had been the beginning of the Vongola Family.

(1) Sawada Yoshimune: This is the name of Giotto's son when the family tree is shown.

(2) Aki in Japanese means "autumn"; I think it is a pretty name for Giotto's wife.

Ciao everyone! First, I would like to thank you for reading this short prologue story.

What can I say? I love the first generation with all my being and their story is very interesting in my point of view (and heartbreaking, as far as I am concerned). It is a pity that Amano did not give us more of them in the manga, lucky there is the saga of inheritance in the anime.

Ending one of Fate Zero is the base for the title. The lyrics are very nice in my opinion and I think that both it and the music suit the First Generation.

This prologue is small, just an introduction to the story, but do not worry. I like chapters long enough to satisfy the interest without drying eyes. In addition, I wanted to put some of Giotto after leaving Italy and his life in Japan. Hey! Of all the fics of him here, I have only found one that does that, in fact, very nice.

I have to admit something. This fic is originally written in Spanish, still uploading on my profile. Therefore, if you want to know how will be it, you can go and look.

Let me finish with gratitude and if you see something is wrong writing, please feel free to correct it.

See you next chapter!

Atte. ElenaMisaScarlet