Disclaimer: Why must Sarkura admit every bloody chapter that she does not own Katekyo Hitman! Reborn! It's heartbreaking!
Previously on Dimension Traveler: Nera bumps into Yamamoto Takeshi, meets Reborn, almost gets bitten to death, becomes mean, something about after school clubs, obtains a book and finally Mochida has a new haircut then gets beaten up by Nera.
edit: fixing mistakes
edit: I keep editing the chapters... Sigh why am I never content with it?
Target 2: Dying will bullet unusable.
It had been a few days now since Mochida's demise by Tsuna's hands and also the boy had been lying about those photos thank goddess, otherwise the town would have a murder on the loose. Tsuna had gained quite the popularity and some who steered clear of him. Nera walked pass Tsuna in the morning where they changed their shoes to the indoor slippers, he had a strange smile before it morphed into a grin- most likely thinking being in dying will mode more often wouldn't hurt him.
How wrong he was.
All of Nera's scrapes except for the large gash on her knee was healed completely. No more limping! She trailed ahead slowly back to day dreaming. Occasionally other students would greet her and she would reply in that fake happy tone plus smile before drifting again. Speaking of again, that book was in her skirt pocket. She had once tried to leave without but immediately went straight back to her room to retrieve it. Nera concluded that whatever was happening to her was for a reason and decided not to fight it, after all she wanted answers not more questions.
Not too far behind her was a member of the boys volleyball team that was pleading with Tsuna to join in the game after school. She sweat-dropped at Tsuna's arrogant tone when he finally agreed. Before she knew it the same guy who had pleaded with Tsuna, grabbed her shoulder and spun her around. One of her fans.
'Great. Fake smile time.'
"A-Ah sempai! That startled me, is there something you need?" Nera stuttered and gave one of her cute smiles.
He blushed slightly, "Hime-sama, please help the volleyball team! Even though it is for boys we have been told you can beat anyone in terms of strength."
'Who in bloody hell told you that?'
The volleyball member pleaded on his knees, treating Nera like a fragile doll... again. And they was attracting quite the crowd. She was never one to refuse someone in need but honestly, she did not want to join.
'I haven't played volleyball in a while, there's no way Masu-kun would suggest me- then maybe Reborn set this up.'
She smiled gently. "I would love to help but I don't know anything about volleyball." Nera twitched at the glint in the other's eyes.
"Volleyball is easy! We can practice a little after school before the match."
'But I don't have my sports kit with me.'
She was about to make that excuse when a red bag hit her in the back of her head, knocking her black framed glasses off. Nera gasped and dropped down quickly trying to find her glasses with her hands, her eyesight was extremely terrible. CRUNCH! She whirled around on the spot to face the sound she heard, her hands trying to feel the floor.
"H-Hiee! I'm sorry Nightogayo-san!"
Did Tsuna just bloody step on her beloved glasses?
She saw a brown blob near her place a now broken thing in her hand, the lenses cracked and frame totally out of shape. Yes. He totally stepped on them.
'How is a lightweight like Tsuna breaking my belongings?'
Now Nera was not completely useless without her lenses. She could (try to) kick ass and run, however, her only form of clear sight vanished. Not being able to at least read the board is very frustrating. Nera would had thrown a tantrum (even if she was technically 23 years of age now) had it not been for the bell starting homeroom. She gingerly pulled out her glasses case and put the thing inside, covering it with the lens wipe cloth.
'Rest in peace. You have done me a great service.'
She grabbed her school bag and stood up. The red bag was shoved into her arms. Right, like it belonged to her, but it did look familiar. The volleyball member told Nera that he would persuade her again at lunch break. She glared at Tsuna's retreating back, him all too aware of the consequences of his actions and disappeared quickly to his seat.
'This is the second time he's annoyed me.'
Lunch break. That red bag, turns out it was her sports kit, how convenient- nah, it was Reborn's influence. There wasn't much she could do when Masumune found out class 1-A wanted her to join the volleyball team temporarily. He had immediately questioned their judgement. She cut him short and agreed to be a temporary substitute and gave Masumune the evil eyes. Sure Nera had strength that could rival the force of a t-rex but like the infamous dinosaur she had an extreme weakness.
"Hiee" Screamed an obviously frightened boy- Tsuna, another ball flew pass centimetres from his face.
The volleyball team and Tsuna were trying to coach Nera and it was immediate why Masumune had tried to save their lives. That's right. Another ball zoomed pass the captain's head. Nera has zero control what so ever over her strength. She tried hard to remember how to serve, the ball was held loosely in her palm with the other hand in a tight fist. She nailed the ball with her fist and it went over the net, but the ball kept going higher and higher till it hit the ceiling, leaving a smudge mark before falling down the earth again. Nera sighed, going off to the bench... Feeling miserable.
'Ah yeah. I never had much great control in sports except karate and archery... Even then I still suck.'
"Hime-sama! Don't give up. Fighting!" The volleyball team crowded around her and told her encouragements smiling.
"You really are strong, you made the ball hit the ceiling so many times! That's an impressive feat you know."
Nera fake smiled and jumped up. "Yosh! Thanks everyone, I will try again." She idly wondered if Gokudera was watching them. Nera hoped that Reborn had said nothing about her, she was not trust worthy but she wanted to stay alive thank you.
The hour went by with Nera slamming the ball with more ease, the match was in 15 minutes. Everyone was worn out, there was a building excitement in their eyes for the up coming battle against class 1-A, although Tsuna had dread falling in the pit of his gut. Nera in particular was in pieces- her old life there would be no bruises on her arm thanks to some painful karate, admittedly her hands would be numb from hitting the ball and currently those hands was bright red.
"Ah Hime-sama, we'll bandage those arms and hands." He muttered to himself how brave the princess was.
'I just realised but not many can say my last name every well. Are they calling me Hime to get away with not being able to say Nightingale?'
Tsuna looked at Nera from a distance (with good reason too) the other day, how had she known that he would get a home tutor? Unless she was part o-o-of the MAFIA! She scary enough, that innocent face was just a disguise for the demon underneath! But, even if she was part of the Mafia she never made fun of him or bullied him (he was not going to be Vongola Decimo). What if she was an assassin trying to make him trust her? If she's not an assassin, what was the real Nera? She was no doubt a mystery like pandora's box. She was someone who made Tsuna question, if there was any purpose or motive to her personality switches.
"Okay short break! Everyone you got 10 minites!"
The team dispersed, Tsuna himself going somewhere, a few minutes later Tsuna was seen pulled along by Kyoko. There are already a large number of students in the gym and they enthusiastically greeted Tsuna, praising him and cheering him on. There was even banners with his name on it. Tsuna looked around bewildered and joined up with his team. He was sweating slightly with a knowing guilt that he wasn't as good as they was making him out to be.
One of the volleyball boys placed a hand on her left shoulder and she smiled at him. Tsuna thought wisely and concluded, Nera did not like being touched- if the twitches in her muscles screaming to punch the lights out of the boy was anything to go by.
"Tsuna..." He continued to stare. "Oi! Tsuna! Anyone home in there?"
The captain waved his hand in front of Tsuna's pale face. Tsuna jumped. "Hiee!" He stopped and composed himself of what dignity he had left. "Ah, sorry. Did you say something?"
The captain quirked an eye at Tsuna's odd behavior having never seen the brunet make such a serious expression, but brushed it off. "The match is starting."
The teams got in place, classmates on either side of the court to watch. Masumune stood a little pale seeing Nera stand with a burning determination to win. He taunted her regardless.
"Nera! Try to hit the ball somewhere, preferably not the ceiling." He laughed.
Had he been watching her practise? Masumune seemed to have lost out one detail, Nera was not wearing her glasses. Every hit will hurt him more than her, that is if she nailed him with the ball. The teacher called out. "Cut the chatter. Okay? Start!"
The whistle was blown and Nera narrowed her eyes glinting dangerously. She was serving and she hit the ball as softly as she could. The ball went over the net, higher and higher- it looked liked it would hit the ceiling and go out of bounds. No, she smirked at the confident look on Masumune's face. The ball slammed hard on the back line of the court.
Masumune glanced at the ball rolling away, his captain speechless. "H-How can a newbie do a drop-shot serve?" He called out to no one in particular. "Yeah! I'm being fired up!"
The two teams battled like no one's business, but there was thing letting everyone down on class 1-A. Sawada Tsunayoshi. Several hard balls was punched his way more frequently, seeming the other team had marked him a weaker player. Not surprising since Tsuna would get hit or miss the ball with every hard hit. Everyone cheering for Tsuna stared thinking and making comments like if it was really the same Tsuna who beat Mochida. Tsuna had a face that said I know I'm useless without the dying will bullet. Tsuna misjudged the angle and the ball slammed into his gut, he gasped and flopped to the floor. He winched as he got up again. Nera could tell Tsuna was not a happy bunny at the moment.
The captain snapped at Tsuna. "Tsuna, do you even want to play!"
The others joined in with their own remarks. "Get it together!"
"We're playing seriously!"
"You're holding us down!"
"You really are no good Tsuna, after all!"
Tsuna made another face that said I can't do this anymore.
Nera said nothing. He was giving up and it was making Nera angry, but of course she retained it in and released it out on the ball. Masumune realised this and made sure he returned it. The ball made a large blister on his arm. Masumune's return ball was going Tsuna's way, it looked like it would hit in an unpleasant place, in a rare act of mercy Nera moved in front of Tsuna before he could react, the ball hit Nera in the stomach having no more time to deflect. She dropped to her knees with sharp pains in her stomach and knee.
The whistle blew. "End of the first set!"
The scores was class 1-A had 14 points while class 1-B had 21.
The team checked on Nera to see if she was okay. They glared at Tsuna making him sweat. "Um can I say something?" His hand scratched the back of his head. "I actually twisted my leg during the duel with Mochida. It started to hurt again."
The team instantly gave him a softer glaze with understanding. "Huh, seriously? No wonder why you've been off."
"Can I go to the nurse's room?" Tsuna asked as neutral as he could.
One of the player mumbled. "Well, we'll only have 5 people."
"Oh well." The captain smiled at Tsuna. "Yeah go on."
Tsuna tried to conceal his happiness at running away, to the other members it would seem like he was thankful but Nera knew better. Nera checked her own bruises, she poked it expecting the painful reaction.
'Ow...'
Just as Tsuna was leaving it seemed that he noticed everyone's brutally battered state and he frowned. Internally Nera's chibi was cheering.
"Hey Sawada-sempai, hurry up and go." Nera said making everyone realise Tsuna was still there. "Sit out the rest if you have to."
He muttered back. "Okay. Later." The spectator students muttered about Tsuna leaving again- Kyoko looking worried.
'Nice Tsuna, Kyoko is interested!'
If it was in another situation Nera would become chibi fan-girl Nera, any girl who worries for you is a good sign, right!~ She smiled not worried at all with Tsuna's return to the game. Nera stretched feeling her legs numbing, not a good sign. Her knee which had yet to heal and her practicing her karate again was having a massive toll on her body. She really needed to learn her limitations, she just hoped like her old life her body could heal itself to a brand new state over a few hours of rest.
There was a few looks of surprise when Tsuna came back, the team looking most pleased. In Tsuna's eyes even if no one could see it was a will burning strong and it was growing. Nera looked away sharply when a reflection hit her eyes. The team got into position suddenly Tsuna fell on his butt with a yelp. "Gah! I'm hit!"
The captain looked in alarm. "What's wrong Tsuna!"
Tsuna looked at his legs puzzled. "Huh? What? Nothing's happening? What's going on?" He muttered. "But there are holes in my trousers, what was that?" He stood up looking at his hands still baffled.
The whistle went, the other team preparing for an attack. The captain yelled an instruction. "Here it comes Tsuna, block!"
"Okay!" Using as much power as he could, Tsuna jumped. The ball rebounding off his arm. Everyone stared. Tsuna had quite the jump ability.
'I swear he blocks the ball... with his erm crown jewels?'
The match went on with a rawr, Tsuna blocking the ball very effectively now.
'Ah what the heck. Blocking is good but you can't win if you don't attack for points.'
A ball that Tsuna had missed was travel fast for a point. Nera wouldn't allow it.
"Hime-sama dive!" The captain yelled yet another command.
She dived for it and saved it, her team not letting her efforts go to waste, smashed the ball to victory. They celebrating another point but Nera didn't stand up, her team mates helped her up and Nera winched.
'Looks like I can no longer push this body.'
When she had dived for the ball her knee gave way and she landed awkwardly which twisted her ankle.
"Hime-sama, don't worry we can finish this set, there is only about 10 minutes left. Have a rest."
It was the nice way of saying that you could not go on further. They was right. She reluctantly sat down on the bench and checked on her knee and ankle. It was swelling. The match was close even without Nera, neither team was letting down and for that she was proud.
To pass the past few minutes, Nera flicked though the pages in the small book which Reborn had sent her. The writing was in a different language- Italian. It was hard to understand but she could make out the world Arcobaleno, her necklace felt like it was burning her skin. The book belonged to her, she could feel it. When she wanted to read the content of the book, dark ink on the yellow pages would disappear and reappear at her will. Strange book, on the first page it had many random doodles at the borders, but... what intrigued her was the signature with a sentence in English at the bottom: To whom it may concern.
'This book belongs to... a past me.'
The signature was exactly the same as her own in her past life. Nera. Another thought struck her, Reborn had given this book to her; there was something different from the story that she knew of Katekyo Hitman Reborn and she was involved.
The match was won by her class. The game ended with everyone cheering, it had been intense and thrilling. No one would had guessed it but the hardest hits Nera dished out, Masumune returned and vice-versa. Masumune went over to her, his arms throbbed painfully; he tried to help Nera stand but in the end they fell down. Masumune was shorter than her by about 10cm it was awkward trying to help her stand anyway.
"I'm sorry Masu-kun." Nera muttered.
He faced her, clearly heard her. "It's alright, it was fun."
Masumune was much better off than Nera, at least he could walk. She couldn't feel anything. In the end she was limping... Again. But this with more pain- walking home steadily. Masumune offered to help her but shooed him off since he was still injured badly. Nera would had laughed at how hysterical her Mama became at the state she was in, if not losing conscious as soon as she was in her house.
Tuna*Star*Fish
Nera couldn't see much since there was nothing to see in the darkness; she was weightless almost as if floating. She was cold inside yet outside she was burning, there was waves of cool breezes passing by her making the burn intensify and coldness more mind numbing. Nera let a breath out she had not realise she was holding to see air bubbles rise.
'Water!'
Nera breathed in water and choked. She began to panic having never learned to swim in her old life (despite her efforts) developed a fear of water- a fear of drowning. Mama heard crashes from her daughter's bedroom and saw Nera thrashing around on her bed erratically. No matter what Mama did she could not wake Nera up, even slapping her did nothing. Truly at a lost Mama called the school that Nera was terribly ill and couldn't attend tomorrow.
An invisible force warped around Nera and pulled her quickly; her body could feel the pressure against the water, not a moment later she broke out and skidded roughly on dry land. Nera rolled to her side and coughed aggressively with water spitting out her lungs. A warm hand patted her back strongly, then it changed to a gentle rub for as long as Nera was recovering.
When Nera thought she was feeling better she glanced up at the person helping her, she questioned her sanity- the person was a splitting image of an older version of herself. The lady in question did not have blue or black or brown eyes, they was a strange cloudy grey which suggested she was blind and if the the lady was in deed another Nera she wasn't surprised.
'Everywhere I go, I am blind. My old life, this life and this woman if she is me.'
"Hello Nera, you must be confused right now." Of course, anyone would be. "Come, I have much to tell you."
A little distance away was a round table with different coloured chairs, the table was covered by a black table cloth, upon the table top was a beautiful multicoloured tea set and an array of one bite cakes and other sweet treats. They both sat down and noticed immediately the other's chair changed to white and did her own.
"My name is Nera Roselle Nightingale." Nera said watching for any reaction from her lookalike.
"I'm Nera Rosslyn you may call me Rosslyn. You are a reincarnation of me." Nera stared dumbly at the lady, Rosslyn. "I am the jailor of a dangerous, almost infinite power. And in turn that means you too."
"Okay."
Rosslyn stared unblinkingly back.
'I refuse to lose to myself!'
Silence, neither said a word for a moment both not backing down to the staring contest.
Rosslyn smirked mischievously and took Nera's glasses off before she could react, it forced Nera to blink her eyes rapidly not able to handle the change in light angles so suddenly. And yes it does make you dizzy and it can make your eyes hurt like something hot was placed into the eyes. Nera shook her head and laughed, that was definitely something she would had done to win.
"Hey Rosslyn, why am I here?" The vague question had so many meanings.
She sighed, "where to start. I needed to talk to you about my job. So many things to explain." Rosslyn picked up a cup and sipped some tea. "The necklace is a device to link you and your other selves which are sealed in books. We can only talk in your dreams or when you are unconscious, basically never lose that necklace or the book."
Nera still looked conflicted it had answered only one of her questions and of course Rosslyn knew this all too well. "We are being hunted by someone and rather mercilessly. There are many reasons for it, after all this is not the first time; this someone however is crafty and so far has taken me- us by surprise, from kidnapping, drugging us, pretended to be our friend or protector... The list goes on."
'Am I weak or something?'
Nera shifted in her seat not one bit frightened, she was worried. "Then that means I am the next to be hunted by this person?"
"No... Not exactly." Rosslyn's expression and body language turned grim. "You are our last hope of freedom."
"What! Why? You make it sound as if I am the last..." Nera was making a face of horror. "I am the last person with access to this infinite power aren't I?"
"Yes. Once you have been taken, this someone will exploit and abuse our power but what is more pressing is our responsibility for having this power." There was a true sadness which radiated and hummed gently from Rosslyn. "We have mode called Eradicator, this is when one has lost complete control over their power. We will berserk and take as much dying will flames from anything and everyone till we are stable again."
"Eradicators leave nothing behind." Rosslyn looked up at the blue sky as sighed. "Well, I think this is enough for one day yes? And I believe it is time for you to awaken."
"Yeah, see you tomorrow night then."
Nera closed her eyes to the peaceful world around her and opened them again. The dull white ceiling and cream walls, covered with some posters. Her room. The door opened slowly, Mama had obviously been crying with Papa behind her trying to comfort her.
"Mama, Papa?"
Mama jerked and rushed to Nera, hugging her fiercely. "Oh my sweet darling! Mama was so worried."
"I'm sorry." She patted Mama's head softly.
"Let's go downstairs and watch a movie alright?" Papa said also patting Mama's hair.
'Papa was home, usually he would work around the clock because his job demanded him so, Mama would whine sometimes but I knew deep down she did not mind it. And I didn't either, in my old life my parents was forced into the marriage and hated each other. The family was divided they never did anything fun together and Nera refused to go on holiday with them. Nothing good ever came out of it. Only wasted money and bad memories.'
Nera glanced at the time, it was 5 in the afternoon. School was definitely over. She climbed out of Mama's grasp and ran down the stairs yelling, "Dibs on sweet popcorn!"
Papa and Mama looked at each other and laughed lightly heading down the stairs to join the movie marathon with their beloved daughter.
Author Note: Hello minna. While I was writing the last paragraph on my phone I forgot to save it, a while later I closed the app and... Several paragraphs was deleted. If it's not obvious I am beating myself over it. Having to rewrite a scene which was fine is not fun. No. T-T
