A Step into the Past
Chapter 1
He knew that he was in a dream. An elaborated, detailed and extremely life-like dream. But it was still a dream nonetheless.
Yet as he watched the horrifying scene unfold in front of him, he could not bear longer.
No. It was simply too grotesque for his liking and understanding.
He lunged forward, screaming in terror whilst attempting to catch the falling figure from hitting the ground. But his attempt proved futile when his arms ghosted right through his ancestor. Watching the man crumple onto the vibrant, lush grass, his breath hitched.
He could only stare rooted on his spot, petrified he watched the blood spurting from the other's mouth, and was starting to form crimson pools on the grassy field.
This was not meant to be this way! Why is this happening?
Tears of helplessness overwhelmed his senses and the unfortunate teen felt his knees give way, stumbling backwards. Dazed, he almost missed the muffled agonizing cries that came soon after, followed by the sound of hurried footsteps in a distance.
"Please… Come quickly…." He whimpered softy, but froze when the barely conscious man seemed to have heard his voice and looked directly at him.
How was that possible?
"GIOTTO!" A man with crimson hair and a tattoo over the right side of his face burst out of a nearby bush and yelled in trepidation when his eyes met the sight of the bloodied, mutilated body of his boss. He desperately clawed the remaining between him and his friend. "OH FUCKING GOD! GIOTTO! HANG ON! DON'T YOU DARE DIE ON ME!"
The instant the man had shouted, Tsuna felt the scene in front of him fading. But, yet, the Vongola Primo's golden orbs were still remained locked on his. With his failing strength, the man reached out towards him.
"I am so sorry Tsuna…"
Then, the scene turned into swirling vapors of mist.
"HHHIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE!" A frightened scream tore though the Sawada residence as the future Vongola Decimo, Sawada Tsunayoshi, sat up abruptly on his bed, panting heavily with cold sweat trickling down his forehead. He looked around his room nervously as he desperately gulped down the cold, clear air to alleviate the remnants and affects of his nightmare.
Gripping the front of nightshirt, he shivered slightly before closing his eyes. Why did he have that dream? That had felt way too real! As he recalled how his ancestor had looked at him with his eyes filled with sorrow and pain and he had called him by his name, he felt goose pimples all over his skin. Did the dream meant something? How was that even possible that that man knew his name? Had he missed some important fact? Was there a missing piece of puzzle he was lacking of?
He shook his head and sighed. He was just being silly.
"My imagination is running wild…" The brunet murmured, running his fingers though his messy brown hair. It was just a normal dream. He was no precognitive psychic. Why would this mean anything significant?
How could someone who had died about a hundred years ago suddenly know his name? He pointed out to himself skeptically. That is as unlikely as… Reborn being nice to him, Gokudera being polite, Bianichi cooking edible food, Ryohei being not "extreme"… and the list went on.
Yet, who could blame him? His life had been built on inconsistency of life and literally impossible stuff. Another voice reasoned inside him. Mafia, talking babies with guns, fire on his head… Yes! Fire on his head! Tell that to anyone and take a good look at his or her reaction!
Rubbing his temples, he finally made up his mind. He was simply thinking too much he decided. How could his life become any more complicated?
But apparently, this thought was jinxed.
For at that exact moment, fate had ultimately decided to prove him really wrong and cast aside his faith on it. The heavy ring that hung around his neck seemingly began to resonate with an eerie glow and cast long shadows in his dimly lit room.
"What's happening?" Tsuna asked, forehead creasing in confusion, as he pulled the blanket closer to his petite figure. The glowing ring had now become suspended in mid-air, only tied down by the chain. Hesitantly, he reached out to grab it.
Dying-will flames blazed out instantly, blinding the owner for seconds before fading into nothingness as it sat innocently in the middle of his palm as it nothing had happened. Blinking, he looked around the room and jumped in fright.
A shadow was starting to form an arm's length away from the terrified boy. And when the shadow began to take shape of a man, his eyes widened in recognition as a translucent figure slowly materialized in front of him.
"Vongola Primo?" The brunet squeaked staring at his ancestor, mouth gaping as his brain tried to process this information. What in the world was the Primo doing here?
The said man impassively observed his descendent for a moment, and then spoke.
"Did you see the dream?" Primo softly asked. His voice was deep and yet held a commanding presence in it.
The stunned boy froze as all the thoughts fled from him. This was definitely NOT happening.
"Tsunayoshi?" Giotto tried again.
Tsuna jumped at the voice before nodded tersely. His caramel eyes focused at the stoic man, carefully watching for the other's response.
"Did that actually happen…?" Tsuna blurted, his voice slightly shaking with anxiety before covered his mouth horror when he realized what he had done.
The older man tilted his head, contemplating carefully on how to answer the question. "What do you think?" He finally asked.
"I… don't know…?"
"Then it's possible that it will happen, though it should not have…" Giotto replied, his voice sounding all serious and grave.
Tsuna stared at the handsome blond in confusion, not understanding the meaning behind the words. If he does not know the answer, it may happen?
The man smiled at the baffled boy. "Nothing in this world is foreseeable. It would solely be dependant on one's action. Don't you think so?"
"Perhaps…" The brunet replied doubtfully. "What are you trying to imply?"
"To put this in simpler terms, I am in need your help. An enemy is using a time machine to return to the past in order to assassinate me and prevent the founding of the Vongola." Giotto said, his face returning to the ever-neutral expression.
"Assassination! Are you serious?" The teenager squealed in alarm.
Giotto arched an eyebrow at the reaction. "The Vongola do have numerous amounts of enemies. Assassination attempts are a norm in my life," The Vongola Primo coolly stated.
The poor boy could only quake in terror. This was certainly a part that he would never want to get involved in.
"If it had been a normal situation, I would not have seek the help of you and would have dispose of them myself."
Tusna gawked. Why was he referring to the assassins like a pile of rubbish to be thrown out of the house?
"However, if there is an assassination from the future, then the odds would differ. The technology of the past…it pales in comparison to the future technology. Also, the fighting strengths of the past technology cannot even be compared to the strengths and the capabilities of the future technology, as you have experienced first-handed. Therefore, I request that you to go into the past to prevent the Vongola massacre from occurring…" Giotto concluded his request solemnly.
Tsuna gasped in horror as the whole entire situation began to dawn on him. "NO! Wait a minute! I CAN'T DO IT! IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO HELP YOU! WHY IS IT ME?" He shrieked at the blond, trying in every possible way to make his great-great-great grandfather understand that Tsuna was…well…No-good Tsuna…and No-good Tsuna wasn't capable of being the 'hero' in real life.
"This issue is stems from your generation, it also means it is your problem as well." The undeterred man pointed out.
"I… can't! I am too weak! I… just can't!" The boy protested fervently.
The Vongola Primo sighed and turned around so that the hysterical brunet could only see his cape. Disappointment seemed to seep out from him and a twang of guilt hit Tsuna. But, he couldn't do it! Seriously? He CAN'T!
"I will not force you to do this. However, do remember that your life and your friends' lives will be at stake too."
The browned haired boy blinked furiously. What did Don Primo mean? "Wha…what do you mean by that?"
"Do not regret your decision if you, your family and friends suddenly disappear. After all, my death would ultimately affect each generation after me. It is your choice..." Giotto replied.
Tsuna frowned and jumped off the bed. "I'd rather die before I would let my friends and family disappear and die! I may be No good-Tsuna…But I will never let that happen."
"Then, do we have an understanding?"
Emotions conflicted within Tsuna, but the answer was obvious. With determination, brunet slipped his Sky Vongola ring on his finger and clenched his hand as the ring burst into flame. "Yes, so shall it be."
A small smiled graced the lips of the Vongola Primo. "I knew you would not let me down. Thank you, Vongola Decimo… Prepare yourself well…"
With that, light surrounding Don Primo faded, once again leaving the Vongola Decimo in the empty bedroom.
Left alone, the teen contemplated apprehensively over his decision. He could feel the urge to scream, to cry, and to act like a five-year-old with a temper tantrum like what he would have done prior to meeting Reborn.
But he would not do so. He had to become stronger. If it meant protecting his friends and family, he would do it. Even if this would cost him his life.
They could not disappear. Not especially because of his careless, irresponsible actions that have brought them into this mess. That should never happen - no, correct that. That must never happen.
With that decision made, he stood up, slightly staggering. It was almost as if the weight he is feeling in his heart had transmitted into real life. It burden of the responsibility of all the lives he had cared about.
Slipping his ring back underneath his shirt, he stumbled down the narrow stairs to the kitchen with a heavy heart.
Voices and laughter filled the air as the children and adults settled down for the battle royale - breakfast. Tsuna slumped against the doorway and smiled weakly. This would be worth protecting; the laughter, the simple happiness, the normal lifestyle that had no ties whatsoever to the Mafia.
His eyes hunted for his target and settled on a certain infant hitman clothed in the usual, a black suit and an orange-striped fedora.
"Reborn."
The home tutor curiously looked up from the newspaper he was reading and took in Tsuna's unsettled expression.
"Mamma. I am going up to Tsuna's room and will not be joining you for breakfast after all."
Nana gave a little twirl and smiled. "Okay~! I just get you some coffee later!"
The baby nodded and without another word, he stood up and left the kitchen, signaling for his student to follow him back into the bedroom.
Once they were in the room, Reborn settled himself in his custom-made sofa and cross his leg.
"Shoot." He demanded.
Tsuna seated himself comfortably in front of the baby, took deep breath before narrating the situation to the infamous Mafioso. He was glad that Reborn did not interrupt him during his speech, for that made it easier for him to spill his thoughts and feelings about the crisis without hesitation. When he finished, he waited anxiously for the verdict and tried to read the Arcobaleno's expression. But as usual, the brunet failed miserably due to the fedora, which shadowed and concealed his eyes.
After a few nerve racking minutes, impatience overtook his sensibility. "Rebo…" His sentence was cut off with ferocious glare and he shut his globe instantly.
He bit his lips and waited. Finally Reborn nodded grimly at his incompetent student. "I understand. You'd be highly unlikely to receive any help in this mission. The risk of getting killed is dangerously high - not only that, but failure…its price and consequences would be immeasurable. I can only help you prepare, no-good Tsuna…The rest will up to you."
The last ray of hope in which the poor brunet had held in his heart had shattered into thousands of delicate shards. Somewhere in the corner of his mind, he had believed that his sadistic Spartan tutor could find a way to fish him out of this. But the false hope no longer held its claim and crestfallen boy could only stared at the wooden floorboard before he gently closed his eyes.
"I understand…" Tsuna's voice was barely audible.
The Sun Arcobaleno pulled his fedora down.
Tsuna need to learn to be more independent. He could not be there with the boy forever. But even if that was so, he felt it was still too early. His idiot student still-clearly had a long way to reach the point that Reborn could consider him prepared for anything. The Spartan Mafioso frowned. This crisis did not forebode well. But…still. All Reborn could do was pray that the teen would not break or fail this time.
A/N
Hi guys~! I am not too sure if this story will work out. So do give reviews and I would see if I am gonna continue this.
Yes, I am a G27 fan (and also a 1827, 182769, R27 and 7227), but i not sure if any romance will be in. Thanks for reading guys~!
Beta-ed by gracefulsunshine (She ROCKS! XD)
Reedited as at April 17, 2011