February 27, 2019: Of course its 2019 already and I haven't written in a year! I'll just have to wing this while implementing my notes and of course rewriting my notes too. And yes, Tsuna still has the difficulty referring to himself as Lambo so from time to time he will refer to himself as Tsuna. Also Im rusty so do forgive me.

And oh, events that isn't mentioned happened just the same as canon. But, urghhh I'm so excited to get out of canon territory already.

June 9, 2019: Have added minimal changes on first and last scene of this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn so no suing.

Chapter Three: A hypocrite with a bleeding heart

Staring at the ginger-haired in front of him, looking constipated while staring at the crater he not-so accidentally created. Lambo forced himself to look the usual because right in front of him was no other than, Irie Shoichi, the would-be Millefiore A rank captain, the person that would bring them to the future-that-could-have-been and Byakuran's best friend when the marshmallow-loving fellow had his screw fixed by Yuni.

But Yuni would die. She would sacrifice herself for the greater good. And Tsuna hated himself once more for he was a coward, for letting a young girl take that burden. If he did nothing, the same tragedy, that future full of loss would occur. Yes, they would benefit from it, but at what cost?

Tsuna could stop that. He knew he could. But the consequence wouldn't be good. Byakuran wouldn't be saved from his madness. He would continue destroying every world he got his hands on and never be satisfied, as what he looked for was unattainable. The albino would continue descending to madness and someone had to stop him then limit his destructive powers. Tsuna had no other choice but to leave the bazooka here—

A hand clutched his own, her blinding smile and his playful grin and Tsuna could see his happy smile reflected on their eyes and they were all so happy then Reborn di—

Tsuna almost sniffled but he managed to sniff in vain at the last second as he continued his act, acting bossy around Shoichi-kun even if he felt cold with guilty conscience knowing that he was damning Yu–the future Sky Arcobaleno by not doing anything.

How long is he going to keep doing this?

Lambo continued his daily act, then he saw that one day; Fuuta appeared.

The afro haired child was acting the same, and when he felt that he was floating, he immediately realized that Fuuta was in the room. His shoulder tensed because Mukuro would appear soon.

Mukuro would use the bloody twin to threaten Kyoko and Haru. He would need to play his part with a worried heart because even if Mukuro would be a friend, Haru and Kyoko and even his mother would be endangered at first. He had to protect them.

It was an easy task, since even if he acted as the crybaby Lambo, Lambo's teenage self would be the one saving them, he just had to play the part of playing the clueless slightly annoying kid without looking like it and make sure that he was present during those situation before he use the ten-year bazooka.

Easily said than done when right now he was more worried at the fact that Fuuta might blow his cover.

Just as the sudden epiphany that Mukuro would appear and when he heard that Fuuta was making a ranking. Lambo visibly tensed and he didn't know why he was worried for the ranking that Fuuta would make. Tsuna knew in his previous life that Fuuta would rank Lambo as the most annoying Mafioso but he wasn't the real Lambo and it made him worry that Fuuta would say differently. Maybe he shouldn't ask but that would be suspicious and un-Lambo-like. All that was left was to delay asking the inevitable at the exact moment the rain started.

Tsuna could do this.

"I-pin's Pinzu Time Bomb is rank 36 out of 816 big special attacks. It's a pretty high ranking."

Lambo maintained his curious and slightly envious expression thrown at I-pin as he floated up in the air. He chanted that Fuuta should take longer on his ranking and he knew it would be Lambo that would be ranked not him. Still, it didn't make his irrational worries vanish.

"Gyoza Fist is rank 116 out of 520 in mid-range special attacks. I-pin is Rank 3 in the person with the most promise in the future. You're super hopeful."

Fuuta continued and he listened to that ranking, he need to delay his question for few precious seconds. Tsuna was still wondering why he had the feeling that Fuuta wouldn't say the exact words he did in his previous life but he didn't have to time to think for that. Later, he would incredulously think it was hyper-intuition at work but it shouldn't be possible. Tsuna hoped it were just an irrational worry.

"Hey,"

Fuuta was still ranking I-pin. Tsuna noticed that Reborn's interest was on I-pin and it was because he knew that the hitman could and would try to integrate the assassin under Tsunayoshi's reign. That damned opportunist, he thought rather fondly.

"Hey," Lambo repeated for the second time, his voice the usual annoying pitch.

The ranking child still ignored but his act must continue. Lambo showed his annoyance by raising his voice a little higher.

"Hey!" He repeated for the third time.

His thoughts were on different matter. Like delaying the inevitable ranking of Lambo at the same time, the rain started.

"Hey," Lambo repeated for the fourth time, his voice filled with impatience not for Fuuta's attention but of the rain that hadn't come yet.

Why is the rain not coming yet?

"Hey," Finally the fifth time.

Ready or not the show must start. Now.

"What about Lambo-san?"

He asked with excited-filled voice and tone. Inwardly he froze, it was a good thing that he already used the term Lambo-san in addressing to himself instead of I because he didn't know what would be the result if he did.

Lambo was ignored.

Good.

He started asking in an excited tone, repeating the question four times and as he repeated those words, he started moving his arms and legs in an excitable motion. His earlier worry was there but overlaid with curiosity. Tsuna wanted to squash his curiosity because Reborn would hear everything and that would set the hitman.

Tsuna chanted in his mind for the rain to start now, to wash away his irrational worries with each drop.

"Do one for Lambo-san, too!"

"Hurry,"

Tsuna didn't mean for Fuuta to hurry with his ranking but for the rain to start pouring already but no one knew that aside from him.

"Hurry!"

He repeated once again, with Lambo's hand waving in excitable manner near Fuuta's face. The soft-spoken kid before him looked at him in daze and as Fuuta opened his mouth for the ranking that would surely come out from the ranking prince, his heart beat fast than normal.

"Lambo is absolutely, the most…"

Lambo interrupted the child before him without actually looking like it.

"Absolutely, the most?" He asked with a very excited and hopeful tone, wishing for the same line from his previous life instead of something different.

Please rain already.

Fuuta continued where he left off with dazed eyes.

And then Tsuna felt his world shatter in miniscule bits. He felt his mind turned into a mush. There was static on his ears, it felt like it had momentarily shut down and he was rebooting. Tsuna didn't want to believe what he heard but he heard it loud and clear. It wasn't even raining, there wasn't any excuse available. Thus, he just acted like a petrified stone at first, hoping that with Hayato's arrival and the sudden pouring rain. Everyone would think that somewhere in the middle, Fuuta's ranking was all nonsense. After all, no one knew when exactly it started to rain.

Then he was acting in an irritated puffed up tone, "Lambo-san doesn't understand what Lambo's ranking meant!"

Of course, Tsuna knew. However, for the truth to be spoken… just like that. It hurts.

"Lambo is absolutely, the most... youngest person that sacrificed himself for his family in a heartbeat."

Tsuna continued acting with an aching heart and holding back the urge to weep.

The fiasco with Fuuta's ranking was forgotten when everyone was busy fending off the Mafioso's that were after the ranking prince. No one suspected a thing and didn't think twice of the ranking, though he was rightfully wary of Fuuta's ranking when dinner started. However, Tsunayoshi wanted no ranking to take place during dinner and as long as Lambo didn't ask for ranking, Fuuta wouldn't.

Overall, it was a relief.

He could still plan, or in this case go along with the situation until Mukuro started his. Tsuna knew that it was manipulating on his part, making things happen just like in his memories. But if he acted differently, there would be unknown risk and the possibility that it would make the situation worse was there.

He didn't want to change things differently because Fuuta's ranking of Lambo was already different. He didn't want to know the repercussion of any more deviation due to his action.

Their daily life continued with the overabundance of chaos from Reborn and everyone else that was not Tsunayoshi. It temporarily relaxed his tense shoulders and his grin easier to appear. Everyone seemed to forget Fuuta's ranking of Lambo. Tsuna internally heaved a sigh of relief because he got out of one accident unharmed. However, Tsuna was no fool, everyone didn't include his tutor. He still could feel Reborn observing and analysing every action he took. It was unnerving but he couldn't freak out as the charade must continue.

He hoped that something would catch the hitman's attention elsewhere or he might slip.

They smuggled their way inside the cruise ship to Mafia Land because it was fun that way and when Tsunayoshi saw, it was chaotic to say the least. Reborn was having a field day creating chaos even after they arrived there but without Reborn and Tsunayoshi's presence, he can take a short breather then start on planning to ask Fuuta for another ranking.

Tsuna knew he shouldn't but it was somewhat of a lead. The way Fuuta worded Lambo's ranking was different, as if Lambo had already sacrificed himself which… he could admit was a possibility but he needed more. It might lead him a way for Lambo's return. Maybe a concrete sign that Lambo would return one day.

That's why in all reckless glory when it was only him and Fuuta playing on the sand, and of course other strangers, he took a new step and threw his need for secrecy.

"Hey, Fuuta." Lambo started imploringly with childish delight as he stopped building his grape-shape sand to peer before the other child.

I-pin, Haru, Bianchi and his mother wasn't in ear shot but still visible to their eyes. Around them, there were other children and adults, playing with the sand or playing beach volleyball.

Fuuta blinked owlishly at him before tilting his head sideways. His hand paused on his creation of sand castle. He must be curious why Lambo had stop with his sculpture but Fuuta had the decency not to ask and instead waited. There were still people chatters and rambunctious laughter around them and Tsuna knew that they wouldn't hear his words amidst the noise and they would dismiss anything strange happening.

"Hey, Fuuta, I-pink is ranked third in the person with most promise in the future right what about Lambo-san?"

Fuuta blinked once again, definitely taken aback from a ranking of days ago but he still stood up with a reluctant verbal agreement. Tsuna knew he was almost acting unlike Lambo this very moment, but he couldn't think of how he could ask that question without acting out of character. That's why he asked in a roundabout way of what he wanted, and mouth set with impatience as if expecting that his ranking would be higher than his rival, I-pin. Hopefully, he pulled out a Lambo-like action despite his un-Lambo like question.

The gravity around them raised and Fuuta's eyes glazed and looked up, sands, toys and him floating within the immediate vicinity. Tsuna stared at the boy with fake curiosity reflecting in his eyes.

"This is Fuuta. I can hear you Ranking Star."

Tsuna's heart constricted, the last time he asked for Lambo's ranking was the first time they met and he had the same feeling back then. He had to wait for a new ranking and not to act rashly if he heard it.

"Lambo is not on the ranking of the person with the most promise in the future. Very unfortunate."

Fuuta stopped ranking and things slowly fall back into place. Tsuna bit the inside of his cheek at the negative ranking for Lambo.

Lambo crossed his arms childishly and a pout displayed on his face. "You were wrong about Dame-Tsuna's ranking so mine is wrong too!" Before his eyes lit like a bulb then continued with his chatter, "Lambo must be ranked number 1 on the most powerful hitmen because Lambo-san will beat Reborn! Gyahahaha! Lambo is the best hitman in the world!"

Fuuta only nodded half-heartedly, face exasperated yet gaze were fond. Knowing that when Lambo started about beating Reborn, the afro-wearing child wouldn't shut up, he continued where he stopped on his sand castle.

On the other hand, Tsuna didn't want to entertain the possibility that Lambo wouldn't return but Fuuta's ranking was pointing otherwise.

No, he wouldn't lose hope. Lambo would return.

"Please live in my place until–"

"Tsuna-san, please, we–"

Two voices overlap, the child-like of Lambo and a familiar small feminine one.

Tsuna couldn't hear the rest of the words being said, but something akin to revelation dance on his mind. Slowly, everything vanished and darkness remained, leaving him empty and numb. Suddenly, he was dragged downward by something on his feet then he was screaming voicelessly; trashing his hands upward for anything to hold onto. Pain soon flared on his very being, felt nerves rack his body, and something warred inside him a push and pull burning pain. It felt like he was being torn apart and fixed repeatedly. He thought he was screaming too but he wasn't sure of anything anymore now. Finally, sudden numbness and the feeling of weightlessness dulled him to his core. It left him disoriented and utterly confused.

Then there was light behind his eyelids –he didn't know he closed them. His sight was blurred but he could see a light but it was small then it was getting bigger and brighter. There was a tunnel of light then he gasped awake.

Tsuna abruptly stopped from his afternoon nap, Fuuta and I-pin who was also sleeping beside him didn't shift from their position. He couldn't help but clutch his hand to his chest as he take a breather to calm down and when he did he loosened his hold then focused on his dream.

Someone else talked to him, and the feminine voice, it was… it was Yuni wasn't it?

And the words, he only caught the first few words. It wasn't enough. It was barely enough. He didn't know what she want to say. He just knew it was supposed to be important and he had no way of knowing. But the word we it was too broad and he wouldn't be able to connect it with anything without circumstantial evidence. What was she saying? Who were that we she was referring? Does it… Does it pertain to the Arcobaleno?

Tsuna closed his eyes.

Arcobaleno. It was Reborn and the others including Lal was called. A glorified group with a tragic ending.

They… didn't tell him or anyone about the Arcobaleno curse, always remaining tight-lipped about it. Only that all seven of them were cursed as an infant as a result. And he think it was the reason they were tight-lipped about it, because they were ashamed, humiliated and their pride stepped on. They were adults, the best on their fields then they turned to an infant. But no one knew what was really an Arcobaleno, why they were turned to babies in the first place, why Yuni and Aria wasn't a baby. Even when they started dying one by one from the curse or another. And… Reborn was the first to go. Nothing was the same anymore then finally Yuni... followed on their footstep.

This… this is no good.

He returned on his previous sleeping place and curled. Tsuna knew he should still think of important things, to not get side-track with memories, to formulate a theory instead, but he was not over the death of his tutor. It still tore his heart and right now, it still hurts.

It took him a minute before Tsuna forcefully shook his head. He shouldn't get emotional, maybe later, but right now, he needed to think. Because he had a feeling, that what Yuni was saying was the truth of the Arcobaleno.

He had no way of knowing the validity of it but he had a good hunch that he was up to something this time.

Meanwhile, ten years from now, present Irie Shoichi met Byakuran for the first time after an accident with the bazooka he never gotten to return. At the same day but afternoon just when the sun hadn't set fully yet, Fuuta disappeared. Mukuro was in town.

A/N: Rubs hand, finally I get to finish this chapter. Kindly leave a review/comment on your way out!