A gunshot pierced the air.

"Kyouko!" Tsuna tried reaching towards the falling girl, but no matter how much he ran, the distance never got smaller.

His vision changed. He was facing the men who had killed her. Who had killed his light in the darkness. They deserved to die. They deserved to-

And suddenly the men weren't standing anymore. They were lying on the floor.

Wounded. Dismembered.

Dead.

And his figure was soaked in red.

"It's all your fault." A familiar voice said, accusing, broken, hateful. "All of it." Tsuna found his tongue frozen in place as he turned his head around to look at the source of he voice. There, lying on the ground, limbs bent at impossible angles and staring right at him with empty, glassy eyes, was Kyouko.

"You killed them. They could have had friends, families, a future."

Tsuna's heart grew heavy.

"And you took all that away."

His legs gave out from underneath him.

"You killed them. And you didn't even save me."

The blood on the ground started creeping towards him, trying to engulf him.

"You killed me."

The blood reached his shoulders, his neck, his mouth, his nose and he couldn't breath.

"You're a murderer, Tsuna-kun."

His world went black and the last thing he remembered was drowning in a sea of blood.

He awoke with a start, panting and dripping with sweat. His heart was beating erratically as he tried to orientate himself. Where was he? He looked around at the room, his room. He shoulders sagged in relief at this realization but it did nothing to calm him.

One shaky hand touched his face, pulling back so he could see it. It was wet. For a moment, the tears weren't clear but crimson coloured and they were everywhere and they soaked into his skin and-

Choking on air, Tsuna blinked reflexively. The red was gone. There was nothing on his hand but clear, salty tears. Then the nausea hit. He quickly grabbed the bucket standing beside his bed and emptied his stomach, which had already been empty to begin with. It was an unpleasant feeling at best, even with the glass of water taken afterwards to cleanse his mouth.

He released a shuddering breath and leaned back on the wall. It had been three days since That Night, and still, the nightmares haunted him, blaming him, twisting him, breaking him. He'd considered just staying awake, but that had proved impossible for him,whose body was used to regular sleep.

In the end, he just had to bear with it and hope that they would go away soon.

A choked sob escaped him. He tried to suppress it, somewhat unsuccessfully.

"It's been three days." He didn't even have the energy to be startled by his tutor's sudden appearance, looking at him from hollow, bloodshot eyes. "Why are you still here?"

Tsuna didn't deign that with a response, choosing instead to let his gaze wander. Reborn let out a frustrated goal. Was this really his student? The boy who had faced the Earth Flames, the Vindice and the Mare Sky Guardian and prevailed every single time? This broken, fragile child? He snorted unamusedly. Well, if he wouldn't get past this on his own, Reborn would help him along.

"Snap out of it, Dame-Tsuna!" That got his attention. "How long do you plan to stay here? How long are you planning on moping around in your room and feeling sorry for yourself while your Famiglia needs you? While your Guardians need you?" And by Guardians, they both knew, he meant the Sun specifically.

Something flickered in Tsuna's eyes. It was enough to err him on. "You have a responsibility, Tsuna. Both as their Boss and as their Sky. You can't simply drop everything on a whim."

Something vaguely resembling a frown appeared on the boy's forehead and he responded mostly out of habit. "I'm not the Bo-"

"Yes, you are!" Reborn bit out rather harshly. The stress was getting to him and he was losing his cool. Something akin to guilt (but not quite) was eating at him and he'd been cursing Nono from dawn to dusk ever seen he'd been summoned back to Italy for the yearly report and then come back, only to find out that everything had gone to hell and his student was in a deep state of depression.

"Whether you like it or not, you are the last possible heir, you have been trained for the position for the last three years, you don't have any means of escape since the whole thing is already public, including the Inheritance Ceremony fiasco. Hell, your Guardians have long since agreed." His tone then turned darker, deadlier, and the flicker in Tsuna's eyes became stronger. "You don't have an option , Tsuna. Once you're involved in the Mafia, you can't escape."

"But... I... those men... Kyouko-chan..." the last part was spoken in naught but a pained whisper.

"People die. This is the Mafia. Death is as rare as bread. There isn't much you can do about it." If he was already revealing the true colours of their world to the boy, might as well go all the way. After all, these were the basics. Without them, his life expectancy would be ridiculously low.

"But I... what I did... I don't... I..." he sobbed, but managed to hold on to any last scraps of composure left in him "I killed them, Reborn. Every one of them. Because... because they killed Kyouko-chan."

Reborn sighed. It was time for the boy to get this straight, or he would be crippled in the future. "Death and killing, they both come with the job. If you don't get this in your head, you will never be able to lead the Vongola, let alone practically the entire Italian Mafia as Capo di tutti Capi.

"You once said you would change the Mafia for the better, but you can't do that with pretty words and empty promises. Your enemies will not hesitate to kill you, nor will they hesitate to harm or mercilessly kill your family, friends or anyone you come in contact with. So you can't either. When you enter the underworld, you will have to steel your heart. If you want to protect the ones you love, you will have to sacrifice a part of yourself." He paused for a moment, the continued. "When the time comes that you have to choose between an ally and an enemy life, your choice has to be clear."

Silence hung in the air as Tsuna processed his tutor's words through the slowly dissipating haze and turmoil in his mind. And came to a conclusion.

Sawada Tsunayoshi, by nature, was not whiny, nor did he complain much.

His mother could attest to that. His teachers could too. Heck, even his former bullies could. Anyone who spent even slightly more time with him (or even just watched him more) than the average stranger was bound to notice his utter refusal of voicing any and all negative thoughts about anything whatsoever.

So, of course, it came as no surprise when the spies the Vongola had stationed in Namimori to watch over their last heir had noticed this little fact too. A little fact which was later written in their reports. The reports which would, years later, land into the hands of none other than the best hitman in the world.

Having this title, of course, meant that he knew how to do his job. He'd long ago learned that studying his target (his personality, habits, likes, dislikes, intelligence levels, skills, etc.) was the first and biggest step towards a successful hit. Now, the Vongola heir wasn't a target per se, but if he was going to spend years of his life shaping him into an outstanding Boss, he might as well get to know said trainee. After all, Reborn hated surprises. Therefore, he memorized the reports.

When the fated day finally came for Reborn to introduce himself (and the boy's fate) to the Sawadas, Tsunayoshi (or Dame-Tsuna, since he found sadistic pleasure in embarrassing his students for the headache they would cause him) had been more than a little disgruntled. What Reborn didn't know however, due to the fact that, contrary to popular belief, he could not, in fact, read minds, was that, inside, he had been a raging storm of anger, panic, confusion and worry, all masked under a façade of incompetent flailing and useless rejection.

Tsuna wasn't dumb. He knew that everything said by the sanity-defying infant had been the truth. He could feel it. But even so, he couldn't allow it. Sure, he was scared out of his wits (it was the Mafia, for Kami's sake!), but his mother would be involved and he couldn't allow that.

So he vehemently rejected the idea. He dragged his feet in training, complained at every given opportunity, hoping to outwhine his tutor's patience, and fled any situation that would give the not-baby a glimpse of the person he could actually be, all in the hopes that he would snap, think him a hopeless case (it helped that he was neither athletically nor academically inclined) and leave to look for some long lost , distantly related heir. Too bad he himself already fit into that category. When it became clear, though, that Reborn would not be leaving any time soon, he'd started giving in, resigning himself to the idea.

That was, until he started involving other people.

Gokudera Hayato had not been that big of a deal. The boy was already involved in the Mafia and wouldn't be getting out. The deal was already sealed. However, when Yamamoto Takeshi, an innocent, cheerful, normal baseball player was pulled into the whole mess, Tsuna's whiny persona had returned with a vengeance.

Needless to say, this had Reborn very frustrated. The reports hadn't mentioned this type of behaviour at all. In fact, they had stated the complete opposite. So why oh why was his student acting like this?

Needing an outlet for his frustration, he'd upped Tsuna's training manifold and in many painful ways. Far more than his other student. A fact Tsuna had found out about months later when sharing torture anecdotes with Dino.

But still, Tsuna wouldn't give in, still hoping to drive his tutor mad even after a whole year. Even after he'd unconsciously started relaxing into the idea once again but still refused to acknowledge it, smothering the thought in denial.

Even with the threat of Mukuro hanging over their heads he had not relented until the very end, and even then, only for a short while. In fact, seeing his friends hurt had only strengthened his notion.

And then Xanxus had come, and he'd had no choice but to show his true resolve, even while he was still hoping to evade this whole Ring mess without endangering his precious friends.

After that, most of his whines and complaints had been half-hearted at best, because deep down, he knew there was no such thing as escape anymore. Even while his heart still desperately hoped that the darkness would only suck him in, his mind knew he would be dragging everyone with him, whether they liked it or not. Still, it was a fact he'd never accepted.

Not until reality had slapped him in the face. Hard.

He couldn't protect anyone like this, with one foot in and one foot out. It just wasn't going to work. That had become painfully evident three days ago. If he wanted to protect everyone, he'd have to choose a side and 'out' was already a far away dream. So 'in' it was. And he'd take anyone willing to follow him into darkness with him. Because he couldn't push them away. Not now, or it would destroy him.

There was no use in denying it anymore. That would only lead to pain and suffering for him and those around him. No, it was time to let go of the mask once and for all and accept the fate he'd been dreading, welcome it even. After all, he'd promised Primo he'd destroy the Vongola. He was still planning on rebuilding it from scratch and returning it to it's former purpose.

He would make sure that those precious to him were safe, even if he had to tread a path of shadows to do it.

As Tsuna looked out the window, some time after Reborn left the room, his eyes were no longer deadened and hollow. They were blazing with grim determination.

He was Sawada Tsunayoshi, descendant of Primo, and the Sky Guardian of the clam, Vongola Decimo.

It had taken him another day to finish gathering his wits and get himself under control. Reborn was right. His family needed him right now, he couldn't afford to waver. Even so, the next few days were spent preparing, both mentally and emotionally, to finish what he started and to finally say goodbye.

He'd visited the Sasagawas out of concern for Ryohei and to apologize to the parents, deeply and from the bottom of his heart, for involving Kyouko in a dangerous situation and not protecting her until the very end. It had been painful, extremely so, but it had to be done, if only to ease the heavy sense of guilt in his heart.

But he had been taken completely by surprise when Ryohei, not as blindingly bright as before but still Ryohei, had declared him his little brother and the two adults had forgiven him with watery, understanding smiles. Tsuna, while deeply struck, couldn't imagine the pain this family was going through after losing a daughter and sister, and yet they had forgiven him.

Not only that, they had given him the right to join the family-only funeral tradition of the Sasagawas: each family member, on the day of the funeral, would leave a flower between the hands of the diseased, forming a bouquet as a goodbye present before the lid of the coffin was closed. A small, detached part of him found it poetic. The rest of him was overwhelmed. These people wanted to include him into such an intimate gesture. They were calling him family and welcoming him with open arms.

He felt privileged, special, and so incredibly relieved that he'd left the house in a hurry after profoundly thanking them and almost hadn't made it to his own home in time. The moment the door closed, the dam broke and salty tears slid down his cheeks, of mixed joy and grief.

Haru felt numb.

She'd been like this for days on end and couldn't possibly remember why. Until an invitation to Sasagawa Kyouko's funeral came in the mail one morning and all the memories she'd suppressed came back crashing down on her (that she was dead her beast friend was dead dead dead) and she couldn't take them.

Still even if she couldn't suppress them anymore (they were burned into her mind by now), she still numbed herself. Because the pain was too much.

She was alone again.

The friendless freak.

Alone.

So she spent her days numb. Not thinking, not feeling, just following through with her routine as a week passed and the funeral came around.

Her parents didn't come with her. Of course they didn't. They hadn't even noticed that their daughter was acting oddly. Besides, they were too busy for something as frivolous as the funeral of their child's only friend. Haru was sure that she was supposed to feel something at this point. Disappointment, maybe betrayal or anger, but she couldn't bring herself to care.

Throughout the funeral, her face remained blank. Even after she caught sight of Tsuna-san, the butterflies in her stomach that usually accompanied this event oddly absent, as he approached the coffin and placed a delicate pink rose among a few other white flowers of different kinds over Kyouko, she did not change.

When the proceedings were over with and the coffin buried, she prepared to leave, only to stumble slightly when someone lightly bumped into her.

"Sorry." said a distinctly familiar voice. But when she lifted her eyes to look into the just as familiar green eyes, it was not the usual annoyance that she found there but some kind of resignation and grim acceptance.

The silver haired teen bent down to pick up the the handbag that she had let fall and handed it to her. She nodded in a grateful gesture, her face still blank, and walked out of the cemetery and towards her house.

Standing before the locked front door, she opened her bag, intent on finding her keys, and stood stock still.

There, inside the bag, were two envelopes that hadn't been there a few hours ago. Slowly, she took them out to examine them – and her breath caught in her throat. The symbol on the first one, all gold and intricate, was one she would never be able to forget: a bullet with two muskets on either side and a winged clam. The same symbol that decorated Tsuna-san's ring.

The crest of the Vongola.

Wanting to stall, she took the the key from her handbag and opened the door in a hurry, immediately closing it after her and bolting up the stairs to her room.

When she deemed it safe enough, she decided to look at the second envelope. It was plain and white, a bit smaller than the first one. On the back stood a simple: To: Miura Haru

She opened that one first and began to read.

Dear Haru,

I'm truly sorry for what happened. It was entirely my fault and there's nothing I could ever do to lift that guilt. But it has taught me a lesson.

I know this is bit sudden, but I have decided to never let anything like that happen ever again. The other letter that came with this one is an invitation into my famiglia. If you accept, you will be part of the Vongola and under our protection.

However, it also comes with some responsibilities and the Mafia itself is not a forgiving place, so I would completely understand if you refused. You could simply cut all ties with me and change your last name, maybe move out of the country to be sure. We'll take care of everything if it comes to that, so you don't need to worry.

Either way, I won't let any of my precious people come to harm. That includes you.

Again, I know this must be sudden and you're probably still coping with the whole situation as we all are and I'm sorry, but it would be best for both my nerves and your safety if you replied as soon as possible.

Please think about it,

Sawada Tsunayoshi, Vongola Decimo

P.S.: Please burn this letter after you have read it. Thank you.

Haru stared for a while and let her gaze drift to the first envelope.

An invitation?

Into the Vongola?

Did... did Tsuna-san really care that much about her? He had called her one of his precious people.

So she wasn't alone?

And she could leave?

With him?

And with all the other wonderful, colourful people around him?

Haru felt tears gathering in her eyes as the numbness receded. But what crashed trough her wasn't only the heartbreaking pain she'd feared. No, there was more that kept it at bay. So much more.

She was wanted.

And she could leave.

There would be no sleep for Miura Haru tonight. Her thoughts had claimed her for the next few hours.

In the grey not-dark of dusk, Ryohei made his way back to the cemetery. Tsuna still hadn't left the grave's side.

His eyebrows creased with worry and left-over grief as he called out to the brunet in an uncharacteristically faint voice. "Sawada-"

"Call me Tsuna."

"Huh?"

The boy looked up from the gravestone to pierce him with his warm, chocolate gaze. "You said I'm your otouto now, right? Then... please call me Tsuna."

Ryohei was speechless for a moment, before a small spot of warmth appeared in his chest and he gave a slight smile. "Ok, Tsuna."

The other smiled back before looking back to the gravestone. "Say, onii-san..."

Ryohei looked at him, urging him to continue.

Tsuna's gaze shifted to the sky above, seemingly trying to decide what to say, and his voice was a whisper, yet it was still firm. "...I talked to Reborn. He told me where 'they' are."

Ryohei sucked in a sharp breath. He didn't need to ask who 'they' were. Them. The men who had killed his precious sister. His attention was now completely on Tsuna, who looked back at him, this time with intense, determined – dangerous – orange eyes. "Do you want to avenge her? Kyouko-chan?"

And in that moment, the older teen saw it. This boy in front of him was not the same bright Sky as before. He was still a Sky, still harmonious and accepting and all-encompassing, yet he was different... darker, in a sense. This Sky was a night sky. Not a black, bottomless night. No, it had a moon (which was gone now, whispered his mind) and countless bright stars to support it, keep it from drowning the world in darkness.

And the offer he'd just been given was a thing of the night. Revenge for the beautiful, shining moon that had been the sky's light in times of darkness.

No, the sun had no business in things of the night.

Shaking his head, he declined the offer and Tsuna's eyes looked at him with understanding. He nodded once and walked to the entrance of the cemetery, leaving his Sun to ponder by his sister's grave.

AN:

hmm, it came out less angsty than I thought it would be. yay! and yes, I know I'm overusing the sky metaphor but it sort of fits. kyouko is his light in the darkness and her brother is the sun so why not make her the moon? and the stars pretty much means everyone who cares for tsuna. and no, when i say night i don't mean the Night Flames.

...or do I?

Mwahahahaha.

ahem, I hope you enjoyed the chappie.