Welp, two updates in a day.

Reason being I am high on coffee like why did I ever drink an entire cup when I barely touch half? Second, I might not be free to update as frequently afterwards- since I am moving and all. Uni (as in the school, not character) is such a pain.

I chose the genre for this story wrongly. It should be fantasy, not humour. But there's still a hell lot of fluff, literally hahaha (in later chapters)

Path of Green and Path of Stone is a reference to a version of Little Red Riding Hood where it stated about the Path of Pins and Path of Needles.

"Why are you still following me?" Reborn turned, and Tsuna immediately ducked into the bushes for fear of a bullet burying into its face.

'E-Eh? I can't?'

"If you aren't going to kill me or eat me, there is no reason to follow me around." Reborn said, and continued on his way.

'But Reborn, you're the first person to tell me their name.' Tsuna whispered, as it trod cautiously behind Reborn's shadow.

"That isn't sufficient of a reason. Say, aren't there more of your kind out there?" The hitman asked, and then realised the lack of an answer a second later. He pulled Tsuna towards him and held it in place. The wolf squeaked (surprisingly) but did not put too much of a struggle.

"Aren't there more of your kind out there?" He repeated his question, louder.

'W-We d-don't t-talk m-much.' Tsuna stammered, tail between its legs and hands as a shield. 'S-Said t-that I am too w-weak for them.'

"They aren't exactly wrong." Reborn commented, and he saw the wolf curling up further. "It's cause you're too soft, and too big of a coward, Dame-Tsuna."

'Why do you call me that?!'

Reborn laughed and Tsuna watched him, every detail of his features; it registered them in his mind.

"Because you're Dame-Tsuna." The hitman then said, pulling his fedora a little further down, and resumed his leisured walk on the dirt path. The wolf continued to eye the figure curiously, yet not warily. Because Reborn, despite wearing almost entire black, seemed to glimmer under the sun rays.

Tsuna always wished that the path of green was longer.

'Reborn, you can't go there.' It said.

"Shut it." Reborn's voice was sharp and cold at the edge. Tsuna shuddered, but he still pressed on.

"Reborn, you really can't go there. Even most of us here, are not allowed into that part."

The path of green and brown now led to a path of stone and chilling winds. The trees were bare and grey; the undergrowth bore no life but the remnants of human bones. There were hushed feral whispers, that crept along the dead roots, croaking and cackling as they went about.

Reborn bothered not to answer the creature. There was a job to be done.

'Please. It is not safe territory. Let's just stay here. It'll be much safer. There are green and flowers-' It tugged the hem of Reborn's coat, begging quietly. Reborn pushed it away.

"Are you trying to lure me off the path?" The hitman raised his head to look at the shivering creature. Tsuna moved a few steps back, yet Reborn's stance still remained unwavering. The hitman pulled out his weapon, clicking, pushing a few bullets into the cold metal.

"You should know that when I came here, I had a job to do, not to grow all mushy with you."

Tsuna stared.

"Go. Now. You have one last chance." The hitman growled.

'B-But…'

The gun was now raised to aim at its head. It stumbled a little, body shaking even more, because it knew that the hitman would have no hesitation in pulling the trigger. Survival instincts called for it to run, and far.

Tsuna heeded it, diving into the bushes for coverage. It did not think, it kept running and running.

Reborn quickly pulled back the metal, when he saw that the wolf was gone.

"Now then, let me greet that big killing intent radiating from the inner depths." He gingerly petted his gecko which retreated into his breast pocket from his fedora.

"Dame-Tsuna, run like the wind; the further, the merrier. Here onwards is no place for you."

Its ears twitched a little. Its tail brushing away the fallen leaves. It finally stopped and it wondered why it ran in the first place.

It turned back.

'Why, how are you doing, wolf?'

It lifted its head to see a white fox, lazing upon a large rock. Magenta orbs locked onto him.

'Therein lies a far bigger monster than any of us here. Therein lies a creature none can tame. More powerful than any of us here. More powerful than many more. Even if he is strong for a human, he cannot match.'

The wolf casted its eyes on the shadows of the rock, clenching its fists.

'He will be led astray. He will be devoured. Like the fellow humans who've once tread its path.' The fox giggled, propping a white delicacy into its mouth.

'He won't die. Reborn won't die.' The wolf snarled.

'Ho?' The white creature stood up, far bigger than the wolf. 'You say I lie? You say I am wrong? But all of these I speak of becomes true.'

'Your prophecies will be wrong, Byakuran.' Tsuna said, fangs bearing. 'I'll go and get Reborn.'

'Attachment begets regret. Attachment begets foolish pride.' The fox narrowed its eyes. 'You are not strong. You are overestimating yourself. You will fail.'

'Attachment begets warmth. Detachment begets my regret. I will not run further. I am ashamed to run away from him. Mock me no more, Byakuran. Take your leave and I will take mine.' Tsuna's eyes flashed a dangerous orange.

The fox broke into laughter and disappeared as it came.

And then Tsuna ran, feeling heat flushing his cheeks, from both humiliation or anger; he did not know. He would just run.

The hitman paused.

How long had he been walking?

He felt the slight trembles of the gecko from his pocket.

Pulling out his weapon, he slowly threaded the dirt path, in which he also noticed, that it was getting less discernible over the passing seconds.

'Why have you come, human?'

"Just a common passer-by." Replied Reborn.

'A common passer-by does not hold a metal-arrow, talks with mirth and basks in the confidence of his so-reputed perfect aiming skills.'

"Thank you. It's an honoured to be complimented."

'You will find no honour once you stray off the path.' The deep wispy chuckle faded into the shrieking winds.

Reborn felt the rare furrow in between his eyebrows.

And then a gunshot.

Tsuna perked up its ears.

'Reborn!'

Without hesitation, it dashed into the path of stone, down the thorny roots of the trees.

Sorry for the cliff hanger, but the action drawing out next was long, so I cut it. Anyway, metal-arrow refers to gun. Mystical forest-y creatures don't exactly use guns haha.

A fox bigger than a wolf... pfffffft

Oh Tsuna, you little ball of warm fur.