Disclaimer. KHR belong to its respective owner

The Parallel Worlds

A series of KHR one shots

By: LixNa

Uno

The Monochrome Life

That day, at the New Years Eve party under the light of grand chandeliers, I watched grandfather killed somebody. Right in front of me, he took that man's life, pulling the trigger without even batting an eyelashes, painted the marble floor with red. The reverberating sound of the gun numbed my ears and made me frozen in place. But, the rest of the party kept going on, ignoring it. They turned deaf ears to the loud noise it created. They blinded their eyes to the crimson pool on the floor, chatted as if nothing happened and disregard the dying man. To my eyes, the atmosphere was so thick to the point of insanity. It was suffocating.

"Don't let your guard down, Tsunayoshi-kun. It'll cost your life."

The man's knife clattered loudly and fell along with his blood. I gasped at that. He was an assassin, my mind told me. Grandfather looked at me sternly and I felt as if his sentence echoes through my brain.

"Don't let your guard down. Don't let your guard down. Don't let. Don't."

"Ever..."

-Page break-

"It's a beautiful night for the last night of this year."

The night sky made me remember a song from a distant past, song which was forgotten by the kids at this era, forgotten and lost in the development of civilization. Nevertheless, the words were swirling repeatedly inside my mind. As if begged not to be leave alone.

The stars tossed its light

In the darkness of night

The artificial light from our buzzing city and the maddening voice of the vehicles on the street were like music to me. In this already rotten city, the stars lost its light, covered by thick smokes. Countless grey buildings were replacing the soothing presence of the trees. Its grey paint stood tall and proud, scratching the dull monochrome sky.

The proud night lost its glory

The moonlight vanish completely

Like fireflies in the summer, I saw the artificial light danced around in the sky and tried to reach the nearest one. As if the sudden gesture meant harm, it fled away softly, softly, as soft as the flapping wings of a butterfly. Then, suddenly it soared to the sky before disappear behind the black layer of night sky.

"Be careful. It's dangerous."

When I heard the familiar voice, I took two steps forward, balancing my body in the edge of the building by stretching my hands in a style of a flying bird.

"You're worry too much." I replied.

I looked at the city under me. Here I was, standing on the rooftop of the highest building in town. Everything looked so tiny and vulnerable. It made me contemplate my live all this time. The town was so bright. But the fake light reminded me to my live, to my fake happy world.

-Page break-

In the mid-summer right after I reached seven, was the day I met 'her'. Even among the crowd of naïve kids, she stood out. Her innocence smile and laugh were pulling me. Soon I found my way right in front of her and spilling the first thing that came to mind.

"I'm Tsunayoshi."

She blinked twice and then smiling, a dazzling and bright smile, at me. Thankfully, it wasn't because of my foolish sudden introduction, at least I knew that. She was too kind to ignore me, too beautiful and too pure. However, most of all, she was completely on opposite side of me. Then, the angel voice could be heard from her, her mouth was uttering some syllable. Her broken English and the way her 'L' and 'R' pronounced gave me a faint idea of her nationality.

"Tsunayoshi-kun ka? Meet you. Happy. I'm-"

Our conversation continued and imprinted in my mind.

-Page break-

"Just for a reminder, take another step and you'll fall. Dame-Tsuna."

His voice brought me back from my little trip to the past. I didn't face him and kept looking at the city from above, on the rooftop of the highest building. I stood in the borderline between falling down and didn't, dice with the death. The idea thrilled me so much.

"I'll be fine, Reborn." I assured him after realizing he was still there.

Even though he never showed it, he was a little protective.

"Unfortunately, I'm not stupid enough to leave you alone."

"You're not?" I asked with a bit of humor in my voice, too bad he didn't buy it.

"Dame-Tsuna." He stressed my nickname before added. "You're too suicidal to be left alone, not to mention this is on top of a high building."

"Mou, Reborn…..I'll be fine."

"That's what you said to me last week before you jumped in front of that truck."

"Uh…It wasn't my fault?"

"…..."

"Aw come on, don't give me that look. I really have no idea a truck coming that time." I gave him a sheepish grin.

"I still haven't forget the sleeping pills incident, you know"

I just shrugged "The doctor's writing was too ugly. I just misread the prescription."

"Was that the reason for you to take ten of it?" His eyes narrowed at that. Even a stupid and a supposed to be retarded people would never take ten pills of a really strong sleeping medicine except if they either nut beyond saving or just want to see the other world. I was maybe, probably, possibly, presumably, could be categorized as the later. I sighed at that.

"I'm still alive. That's what important, right?" I told reborn with the defeat at my voice. But it looked like he didn't let it slide.

"How about the 'accidental' wrist cut?"

"It's like it said. 'Accident'."

"The drowned in the lake?"

"I don't know the lake that deep."

"Falling from the cliff?"

"I tripped."

"Almost getting killed by bike gang?"

"Hey! That's certainly not my fault! They're trying to mugged me, you know." I was getting pissed by the second. Maybe Reborn was my tutor, but he was still annoying.

"Yeah right, not your fault." He said it with so much sarcasm in his voice. I pouted at that.

"It's your duty to keep me away from danger anyway."

"Indeed, but I clearly can't keep you away from it if you constantly pull it." He was massaging the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb, suddenly looked much older than he supposed to be.

"You look like an old man." I pointed that out.

"Thanks to you."

A beat.

"And I'm not old." He added while pointing a gun to me. It alerted me immediately and I reflexively raised my hands.

"Hieee! Alright alright! You can stay! I shut my mouth! I shut it!"

"Good"

Once I was sure he put the gun back I allowed myself to breath. Damn Reborn. I turned back and watched the city again. After all, this was my last day in here. I managed to neglect it for two years. But there was no running away again this time. I needed to go back even if I didn't want to. They would force me go back anyway.

Back to that dreaded place, the very place which almost killed my emotions. It was thanks to her I managed to stay sane all this time. But now, without her, I doubt I could do it.

-Page break-

"Tsunayoshi!"

"Otou-san?"

Dad's booming voice called me from across the park. His voice filled with worry and a distinct fear. The kind of fear like when you thought you lost the only handle which kept you exist. It was so distinct, vague, unclear, but the fear was there. His instinct told him that.

"I told you to wait with the guards, right?"

He kneeled beside me and checked me from any kind of injuries.

"I'm sorry."

My eyes were too afraid to look straight at dad so I kept looking at the ground in shame. I had a reason for wandering around but it was too selfish. Guilt and shame ate me.

The guards were too boring. They didn't strike a conversation to him. Heck, they hardly talk at all. I bet talking to birds will be more interesting. At least they're chirping. I looked back at the colorful chirping birds. I envy them. Beside the birds, my surrounding was bleak. It lacked visual perceptual property corresponding in humans they called 'colors', the people, the bodyguards, even father. I closed my eyes and let my instinct guide me.

-Page break-

"Tsuna."

"Tsuna, wake up."

He opened his eyes only to be greeted by high ceiling of his room. The beautiful decoration of his ancient like room somehow only soured his mood.

"I'm back, huh." He thought while trying to get up.

"Tsuna!"

The bagging on his door got louder. He could hear another different person bagging his already damaged door.

"Jyuudaime! Are you alright?"

Yamamoto and Gokudera. It was time to begin the day, time to begin his duty. If he missed a single day, another dozens life would be added to the list. So, wake up already, Tsunayoshi. He scratched his head and walked toward the door. Smile, they said it suited him well.

-Page break-

If the universe should end, I'll make sure mine would be the first.

This wretched, false, and boring world.

-Page break-

"Good morning."

-Page break-

Let's paint this world, shall we?

to be continue

AN

I need beta (badly). Please help me (T _ T)