Disclaimer: I do not own KHR.
Summary: When Tsuna's pride - his family - shattered, there really weren't anymore reasons for him to be the all-encompassing Sky. But when he was given another chance, to protect them once more, he didn't hesitate - even if it's in another parallel world where he is no longer Vongola Decimo but his twin brother, his Elements no longer his but his brother's... and Vongola is falling (quite literally in terms of ranks).
Tick-tock, tick-tock.
The rhythmic ticking of the clock that hung on the dull white wall went undisturbed. There was a sense of loneliness to it, as if it was missing a companion that could match its tune.
...ep ...
When it hands struck twelve -
...ep ... be
- another rhythm joined.
... eep... beep... beep.
Slowly, but resiliently, trying to match its pace with the second hand. There was a certain ring to the clock when the beeping was coming back strong, bring a sense of joy to the timepiece because its companion has returned.
In the dreadfully dreary room that has only have occasional visitors of nurses and doctors, a glimmer of flame flickered into life, but it was even faster in the act of disappearing; however, it was brighter than any fire existed if someone were to catch a sight of it.
Long, slow breaths filled lungs that were once empty -
Wheeze, cough!
- A strain cough escaped cracking lips and he felt pain in his lungs. The internal organs may be functioning again, but they were beyond able to support another breath if nothing was done.
Actions must be done, and quick.
Invisible licks of flames suddenly seeped into the body and soothe the pain the body was feeling. Harmony of the Sky, barely reined in control, managed to supported the poorly developed system.
Slowly, but surely, the breathing became stable, the heart was beating stronger than it has been since he was born.
Trembling hands reached up to his face, feeling the bandages over his own eyes that once had been lost.
With a clench and a pull, the gauze was ripped down.
Eyelids slowly pulled themselves up, revealing dull sunset-orange eyes coming into focus. In another a second, a spark of life lit within those orbs, one that was a great contrast to the previous brown long ago.
.
.
.
.
On the night of October 13, he who should have been recorded as deceased at 11:58pm, breathed a different tune at the struck of midnight on October 14.
Karma, he thought wryly as he gazed out the window and into the night sky filled with boundless stars in his new, but weakened body.
It really was bad karma for him to continue living, but he just couldn't let it go until he made things right.
After he had accept his ancestor's - no, more of a second father really - offer, his soul has been integrated into the recently deceased Sawada Tsunayoshi of this parallel world.
He clutched the bandages that he removed from his face.
He couldn't help the overwhelming guilt threatening to torn him apart as memories that didn't belong to him surfaced. I'm replacing the Tsunayoshi of this world. The older twin brother of Sawada Ienari... Primo told me that he is training to become Vongola Decimo in this world...
Guilt, happiness, relieve, grievance, all conflicting emotions bubbled inside his throat when he thought of those who were once his guardians now standing by the sides of an unfamiliar short-haired blonde with chestnut brown eyes.
(They won't recognize you anyway, the little evil voice in his head taunted.)
At least it's not me. He reasoned, clutching his head as he curls into a fetal position. They'll live this time. I'll make sure they will.
He loosen over his thoughts and felt something under his hospital gown. He pulled out a chain with a golden pocket watch - the one that Primo returned to him.
(He remembered taking a page out of Giotto's book and passed on the same sentiment to his guardians. He wasn't sure how Giotto retrieved it though...)
He clicked it open and saw the hands stuck forever a twelve. Time will stay frozen huh...
.
.
.
"A... parallel world...?" Tsuna slowly repeated.
"... Yes." Giotto confirmed. His eyes closed momentarily. "Your soul will be transferred into the body of your parallel self."
Tsuna frowned. "But what of the other me?"
"He is..." The Vongola Primo took a paused before opening his eyes to show glassy sunset orange. "... dying."
"I... I see..." Tsuna didn't know what else to say about that. Should he pity his other self? Sad? Sorry? Tsuna didn't have the right to do any of those when he didn't know his other self, but it still sadden him to hear the news of another death coming soon.
"Tsuna."
The brunet's head jerked up at the gentle tone and his gaze was met with a golden pocket watch, with the engravings of 'Vongola Famiglia' on the cover, swinging like a pendulum in front of him.
"What...?"
"Your hour has already been engraved the moment you left your world. The hands will stay frozen during your time in the parallel world, to keep your soul in place until something is changed." He took Tsuna's hand and place the watch on the open palm.
"I will warn you right now, a miracle doesn't last forever."
Tsuna blinked as he slowly examined the scratches on the watch sustained through the test of time, yet it was still in good condition. He clicked it open, the sight of a Sky flame similar to his entered his vision.
"Isn't this..."
"... Keep it on you at all times." Giotto chuckled softly. "I can't leave my dear son alone at times like this, can I?"
"And I cannot be there physically... so the watch will take my place." Vongola Decimo blinked owlishly as the other ruffled the his head like a father would.
"This is all I can do. What your choice may be in that world will affect your existence as a whole."
Giotto then cracked a lopsided grin, one that can diffuse any kind of tension in the air and bring everyone together in both heart and mind; the solemnity behind his eyes was replaced with twinkling mirth. "So... ready to meet your brother?"
"... Ehhhhhh?!"
.
.
.
My choice huh... He looked intently at the watch and close his eyes after a minute. Until... something is changed...
He heaved a sigh in the stretched silence and put the item back under his gown, and looked out the window again. His sunset orange eyes betraying the broken doll within him for his experience... and for the challenges to come.
I'm going to have to see them again. He thought once more with half-lidded eyes.
Am I allowed to? They won't - they won't even remem... no. They're not the same people.
It should be alright.
... Right? It can't be that hard to do. Just... just treat them... like- like strangers... Strangers with achingly familiar faces.
Tsuna stayed awake the whole night, his own thoughts haunting him until the click of the door brought him back to reality.
By that time, it was already morning.
Ando Kori expected the usual routine. Wake up, go to work, go home, sleep, and repeat (with all the daily necessities of course). Mind you, she loved being a nurse. She got to know her patients and even make friends. Some of her charges were more... unresponsive - she refused to think they're in a coma - yet \it just made her care all the more.
She was used to that routine.
So when it was time to check up on one of the few unresponsive patients she was assigned to in Namimori General Hospital, she was prepared to talk with thin air.
"Good morning Sa... wa... da... kun...?" The chirpy nurse trailed off.
She blinked. And blinked again. Then, just to be extra sure, she rubbed her eyes and blinked once more to see if her imagination was playing with her.
Nope. She was definitely seeing a sixteen-year old boy with gravity-defying brown hair sitting up and looking out the window with a listless gaze.
It was a strange sight, really. The way the boy held himself straight exudes undeniable strength and confidence. He didn't look as fragile as he should have been - wasn't he fighting with his deteriorating health this whole time?
... and wasn't his sight taken from him in the accident that put him in his vegetated state?
As if registering her presence, the supposed-unresponsive boy craned his neck towards her. If those sunset-orange eyes (Is that really the color of his eyes...?) didn't show clear confusion, silently asking who she was, then she didn't know what was.
There was also that hint of wistful sadness in them - of what, she did not know - and a level of wisdom that shouldn't even belong to such a young boy who hasn't stepped out of this building for -
She shook her head when she realized that she has been dazed for too long.
A surge of happiness immediately overcame her after seeing the lifeless boy that she has been looking after finally waking up. She never liked seeing people sleeping like they're on the brink of death-but-not-quite.
It was like seeing them fighting endlessly to survive. And almost eternal war against the grasp of Death.
"Hello there!" Putting on the brightest smile filled with pleasant surprise, she quickly approached the teen and pulled him into a big hug. She could feel him tense up in her arms so she quickly released him to avoid giving him unnecessary shock. That wouldn't do them any good.
"I'm surprised to see you awake, but it's a happy occasion that you finally opened your eyes!"
The boy blinked once, then slowly nodded as if he could barely comprehended her words. There was still confusion swimming in his eyes, she noted, and she had this feeling that he was silently asking about his situation.
"This is so wonderful!" Kori smiled yet again, hoping that would ease the tension in the boy's shoulder - was it because she was a stranger? "I'll call up Doctor Akio for you. He'll need to examine you but he can answer any questions you may have, is that okay?"
It took him another while, but he answered with another nod. She found it a bit strange that he hasn't spoken a word, but she filed it away as the teen being lost beyond words.
After all, he has been in a coma for seven years before finally waking up.
I know that sounds... unrealistic and most people don't have that long of a patience before "pulling the plug"... but there has been patients who had slept for longer. (I searched online haha...) And this is anime (and KHR), anything is possible!