III

By the time Yuki arrived at the future, she was greeted by the heavy rain. Although she wore a black cape with a hood, she didn't wear the hood. The sky was so dark by the clouds and the gloomy rain showered heavily as she stared at the sky. Before she walked in the woods, she covered head with the hoods.

"What's wrong, Giannini?" the future Gokudera asked as he heard the alarm. "An intruder just infiltrated the base. It's at hatch A". Then, Gokudera, Ryohei, almost all combatants were heading to the hatch. As they arrived they saw a person wore a long cape with a hood.

"Who are you? What do you want with us?" future Tsuna finally made an appearance. They drew their weapons out, but they put down their weapons as they saw the person took off the hood.

"Yuki-san!" all of the sudden, I-pin and Chrome tackled Yuki and hugged her. "I… I thought you're gone" Tsuna quavered.

"I'm sorry to say this, but she isn't this era Yuki" Shoichi appeared. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you about my visit. It's a sudden matter, so…" Yuki said.

"She's Yuki from 10 years ago. I can't blame you for mistook her as her future self. You haven't changed one bit, Yuki. Anyway, why don't we save this reunion for later? You're soaking wet" Bianchi said and so, she escorted her to the onsen. And Yuki spent her few months in the future.

…

"Yuki? May I come in?"Tsuna knocked the door, but there was no answer. Curiously, he went inside and he saw Yuki was in front of a laptop and wore an earpiece.

"Oh, sorry, Tsuna. I didn't hear you" she finally snapped from what she was doing. Tsuna took a peek at her laptop and saw a video of Giotto with a woman. "Isn't that Vongola primo? What is that? And who's that woman?" he wondered.

For his answer, Yuki told everything she knew to Tsuna and also about her relationship with him. "So, are you saying she's dangerous? Is that why you skip meals?" Tsuna asked in somewhat fretful face.

"Kyoko-chan and Haru came here every day just to cook your meal. They always put the meals outside the door. You haven't eat anything since two days ago and I'm guessing you haven't slept well either"

"I can't take my eyes off this monitor. Not until I figured—Hey! Where are you taking me?" Yuki yelled as she was carried by Tsuna on his shoulder like a sand bag. Without saying anything, Tsuna took her to the zoo.

"What's wrong with you, Tsuna? Are you out of your mind?" the usually calm Yuki got raged. "You need a time off. You have to eat something and be entertained by these animals. You like animals, don't you?"

"That doesn't have anything to do with this! I'm leaving!" she was about to leave, but Tsuna grabbed her hand from behind and spoke to her ear, "You're hurting yourself. Every time you saw him with her, your heart is torn to pieces" then, he turned her hand so that she could face him.

"You feel that he deserves to be with her, because from the start, she's meant to be with him and you feel responsible for separating them since you already separated them before. Since primo and Hibari-san is not here, I'll be responsible of your life here"

His plan worked, at least that's what he thought. He successfully made her surrender to him. "You're different" she voiced as she touched her food.

"From what?" he asked. "From my era Tsuna"

"Your… Tsuna?" he blushed.

"My Tsuna? Didn't you hear me? I said my era Tsuna. Tsuna is a wimpy boy and not smart, but he stands for his Family and willing to do anything for them. And you… you're somehow become more dependable and adult-like. Although there's a part of you that's still the same Tsuna I know"

"Is that bad?" he asked agitatedly.

Yuki shook her head and answered, "No, every part of you is fine. I like all of them, even your wimpy side. Because I like you, Tsuna" she put her sweet smile which made him felt more bashful. After they ate their meal, Tsuna and Yuki were walking at the streets. Then, Tsuna decided to buy her a crepe. But just a few second he turned his sight away from her, she had already gone.

Tsuna looked for Yuki in almost every place, but she was nowhere to be found. Suddenly, he remembered one place and he headed there. Tsuna could only hope that she wasn't there, at the place where she's not supposed to be. But as he arrived, his fear became reality.

"You're not supposed to be here" Tsuna said, panting. "Tell me" Yuki spoke as she stared thoughtfully at her future form being caged in a water tank and her hands were cuffed, "Did I… kill anyone?"

"No, you didn't. Before you could kill anyone, I did something to you. Something that made you sleeps forever and caged you in this place, forever. I'm…"

"This is never your fault. It's always been my destiny to end my future in any way there is to be. No matter what I do or what people do... I could never have a longer life"

"You… don't tell me the reason you want primo to be with that woman because… someday in short time, you'll die?" he asked with a quivering tone and eyes.

"If that means you can't have a happy future, isn't it better to tell him?"

"Only you who know what future is waiting for Chronos Yuki. Of all possibilities, there's never been any good future for me. I only live for a short time. I'm afraid I won't reach adulthood. Many times I tried to end my life, but the grim reaper itself seems to hate me"

Upon saying so, she looked at Tsuna with a comforting but with a slight painful smile and said "But someday, there will be a time where the grim reaper came for me. So, please keep this a secret from anyone"

Tsuna could feel the pain words from her very lips, and also the face she shown. Even Tsuna never knew her future, it's as if she was never been given a second chance to do something right with her life, unlike anyone who was given a chance to make things right with their life. Despite knowing all along she had that kind of future, she kept trying to make people happy and smile for them instead of her own.

He could feel the sadness and pain from what she said. He hugged her spontaneously and spoke "I won't let you have that kind of future. I… no, my past self will make sure of that"

Yuki widened her eyes as she heard those warm and comforting words from him. Then slowly, her eyes became more wane and narrow as the eyes quivered and glossy, as if she was touched by those words and his warm hug.

"I won't let you get involved with me, Tsuna… or I'll drive you to your death"

…

After discovering the truth and after that moment, Tsuna and Yuki went back to the base, but as she saw the monitor, it drove the horror out of her. "What is it, Yuki?" Tsuna wondered. Tsuna was shocked also by the sight he saw. Then, Yuki ran outside.

"Wait! You're not seriously planning to save them, are you?"

"This act of default is my fault. I have to do something" upon saying so, she ran again, but Tsuna said, "You might end up dead. Is that what you want to do in your remaining time? Your time is ticking"

"If I can save their lives, I don't care how much time I've spent" and after she spoke that sentence, she disappeared, leaving the puzzled Tsuna.

"Why didn't you say those words? She and this era Yuki are the same person" Shoichi appeared.

"You know the law. If I say it, it'll make the condition worst. I just… have to hide the fact that I fall in love with her"

…

The dawn was dyed with a color of scarlet and it was supposed to be beautiful and it was something that Giotto and Shinko should see. But fate had planned something else. The scarlet sky was no longer a beauty as Shinko started to go rage and attacked Giotto and the rest.

Shinko laughed hysterically as she wiped the floor out of them. "What's wrong, Giotto? Are you planning to leave me again?" she grinned.

"I knew it. You're really the reincarnation of Nadeshiko. But why…" Giotto furrowed his eyes. "Men… never understand a woman's feelings, even his own wife" she pissed.

"That day… you left me for a girl. I always known you loved someone else more than me, but I keep believing that you'd never leave me for her. But I was wrong. You left me, Giotto! You left me pregnant…"

"I guess I should be honest" Giotto stood up, fighting the injury he had.

"I never meant to leave you pregnant. I loved you, I really did. But the only reason I married you was because for the future generations that will carry the name of Vongola. After Yuki left me, I swore not to love anyone or marry anyone, but I had to for my future generations needs to carry the burden of Vongola" he explained bravely and with conviction.

"So you pick her than me?" she asked in shaken voice and darken face. "Good. I won't have any regrets finishing my revenge" her presence suddenly became more vicious and dashed towards Giotto.

Acting fast, Giotto dodged her attack, but she knew it all along. She turned her direction towards him and shot him. The impact of the shot made Giotto moved backwards. As the bullets hit his organ, he held his stomach while blood dripped from his mouth.

"Your friends are unconscious. They can't help you. So, what would you do now, Giotto?" she smirked evilly.

Shinko was so ferocious and lust for revenge. She gave the man she once loved no chance to catch a breath. As she was going to go for it again, suddenly, something showed up in front Giotto and punched her stomach.

"You… where were you all this time?" Giotto surprised.

"You don't look very worried. Of course you don't. You're too busy spending your time with Shinko" she gazed him.

"I guess you have learned your lesson now" she turned her head back to Shinko who was glaring at her like a psycho. "This has nothing to do with you!" Shinko dashed and was going to punch her, but Yuki blocked it with her sword.

"How on earth it doesn't have anything to do with me? I'm the reason he left you. I'm the cause of your revenge" she sharply glared at Shinko, and by listening to what she said, Shinko got more furious. She backed away and changed her weapon to two swords.

"Ah, so you're expert at that. Just like me" Yuki spoke but somehow in a pleased tone. Shinko charged in to Yuki as she swung her swords, but Yuki managed to block it with her one sword. Shinko flipped her body upwards and tried to kick her from above, but Yuki saw that coming and she backed away before it hit her.

Shinko kept charging her and swords kept clashing to one another. Yuki didn't strike her one bit. In fact, she let Shinko assaulted her over and over that they have circled around as the process continued. Shinko was very fast, but Yuki was fast as well.

Slowly, Shinko got tired and halted her relentless attacks with a hard breathing. "How can you still keep your calm down? You don't look tired at all. Are you toying with me?"

"I've caught you"

Much to her and Giotto's surprise, symbols appeared on the ground, circling Shinko, and the circle linked to the symbols that trailed to Yuki and snaked her hand. The pebbles began to rise up and Yuki along with the symbols emitted a light as her hands were putted together with a triangular shape.

Shinko started to cry in pain, but Yuki didn't mind the agonizing scream, since she was used to it ever since her childhood. Then, Shinko started to open her mouth and a black cloud came out from her mouth, and as the cloud finally got out, Shinko collapsed.

"Tch. Just a little bit more I finally got my hands on her heart" the black cloud spoke in male voice. "Then, I shall eat your heart instead" the cloud flew to Yuki, but Giotto immediately blocked his way and bounced it away.

"What are you doing, Giotto? Step aside" as she touched his shoulder, a pain inside of her was getting in the way of that. She fell of not being able to stand up. She kept clenched her chest painfully and with a tortured expression.

"You're strong, but you're too stubborn to take care of your body. You can't fight it in your current state" he stared at her. Then, he turned his head back to the enemy and summoned his gauntlet.

"This time… it's my turn to protect you"

As she kept hanging her head down over the pain, she widened her eyes as she heard his statement. While she held on the pain, she kept staring Giotto as he fought to protect her. But the cloud was untouchable by him, so when it penetrated through his body, Giotto began to feel the crazy pain and as the result, he also wasn't able to stand up.

"You think you could protect her after being hurt like that? You can't even protect your previous wife" the cloud snuck its hand inside Giotto and he began to cry in pain.

"Stop it! You can have me but let him go!" Yuki called.

"Really? But I think I change my mind. I want to try his flesh once in a lifetime. But after I tortured him" the cloud spoke and kept penetrating its hand into Giotto.

Giotto kept cried in pain, but suddenly, he gripped its hand. "Don't you dare touch her…" he stared at the black cloud with a pale face and tired eyes, but with a sharp and stern gaze.

The cloud pulled its hand away and said, "Love… how sweet. But it's not good for my health. I'd better get this finish before I can get to hear another disgusting lovey statement"

The cloud was going to enter his body, although he knew that, he couldn't move his body. Suddenly, to their surprise, Yuki appeared right before them and sacrificed her own body to save him.

Giotto couldn't stop not to believe the sight he just saw. With his remaining strength, he crawled to her and held her body in his arms. At the same time, Tsuna and the others had woke up and as they saw Yuki on Giotto's arms, Tsuna asked, "Wha… when did Yuki get here?"

"What happened, Giotto-san?" Tsuna asked again.

Giotto didn't answer him. He just hugged her body in his arms with full of regrets and sadness. "I… I failed to protect her again… to prevent her sacrificing her own life" he spoke.

"No… not yet"

A voice suddenly spoke and to their surprise, it was Yuki. She summoned an odd-shaped gun and handed it over to Giotto.

"Do it" she trembled.

"No… I won't let you do this again" he said as he held the gun. Yuki knew his answer all along. Hearing his answer, she smiled sincerely and held his hand that was holding the gun, "Do this for me"

The snow princess gave her smile to her only loved one as a sign of a strong faith. She and Giotto stared at each other eyes. Then, she cupped his cheek gently as she looked into his eyes with a gentle eyes and smile. Giotto had no choice but to do what he feared the most.

Although he didn't want to obey that wish, judging from her eyes, he believed that she wouldn't leave him again. And as the wait gone longer, Giotto nodded in silence and put the handgun on her chest. Slowly, he triggered the gun and shot his only loved one to death.