A Poor Man's Memory

ボンゴレの心

Boyudo


Tsuna awoke slowly. He must have fallen asleep whilst talking to Reborn, which seemed to him to have been just a moment ago. He certainly didn't remember falling asleep at all. Reborn was back in his usual sleeping area, in full pyjamas, a snot bubble rising and falling as he breathed.

Tsuna had never woken up before the tiny hitman before. That was just unheard of. Tsuna looked to see what time it was. 5 in the morning. Maybe he could leave early for school- School.

Kyoko-chan. What would he do? He certainly couldn't show his face after confessing to her. It wouldn't be embarrassment anymore, it would be shame that Tsuna would feel upon seeing her.

Tsuna had probably hurt Kyoko-chan by confessing his feelings to her. And Haru, was she okay? Tsuna could never forgive himself for hurting his friends, especially Kyoko-chan.

Tsuna still couldn't feel his flame. He was back to being Dame-Tsuna once again. He really couldn't go to school now...

"Baka-Tsuna" A voice interrupted his thoughts, it was Reborn, who was now fully dressed in his regular pristine black suit and fedora, even though Tsuna had only looked away for less than a minute.

"You're going to school. You still have your friends."

Reborn was right. He wasn't the same Dame-Tsuna that was alone for all those years. Maybe Yamamoto and Gokudera would still support him and stay by his side...

"They're your family, Baka-Tsuna." Reborn stated firmly, once again reading Tsuna's mind, "Whether you like it or not."

Tsuna nodded slowly in acceptance, but stopped and looked at Reborn hopelessly, but before he could say it, Reborn once again read his mind.

"Don't worry about Kyoko. I said I'd help you get your dying will back and I will. Let's go."

Tsuna nodded again, with a small smile tugging at his lips.

He still had his family.


A green field. Stretching far into the horizon. She turned around, to look across the lake, with countless trees forming a dense forest on the other side. She leaned up against one of the few trees on this side of the lake.

It was sunny, as always, in this world. It was all perception, after all.

"Kufufu..." A familiar laugh echoed, she didn't even bother to turn around. Mukuro-sama was the only other person here.

"My dear Chrome-chan..." Mukuro said slowly, as he appeared behind Chrome, clad in his usual white shirt, with the first few buttons opened up. "What troubles you so, that you thought to come to me?"

Mukuro gave a slow and playful grin, his mismatched eyes shining with amusement. He leaned in close to Chrome, his tall frame lowering itself to bring their eyes to the same level.

"I might have tried – if I so wished – to snatch away your heart, dear Chrome..." Mukuro drawled. His breath on Chrome's face, "But I feared, that perhaps, you may have given it away already..."

Chrome blushed slightly under Mukuro's amused gaze, but retained her serious demeanor.

"N-No..." Chrome interjected softly, "I haven't, Mukuro-sama."

"Oya?" Mukuro smirked, his red eye shining, "I see now, dear Chrome... You should know, that as my anchor, little of your being can be hidden from me..."

"We are, after all... But one..."

Chrome looked away with another shy blush, there truly was nothing she could hide from Mukuro-sama.

Even though her skills had increased, it was still a difficult task to protect one's mind, even for an illusionist like herself.

"Then again... Maybe the prize has gone to another?" Mukuro sighed playfully, "But... Who... Is... The... Victor?..." Mukuro finished slowly, his grin spreading.

"Kufufu... Is love not a joyful thing?..." Mukuro laughed, "But I see naught but misery in your demeanour..."

"Has the prize been damaged?..." Mukuro asked, his expression becoming more serious, "Who should we look to for blame? Hmm?..."

"No... M-Mukuro-sama" Chrome objected, "I'm just glad that he's h-happy."

"Kufufu... I see now. You speak of our beloved benefactor, Sawada Tsunayoshi?..." Mukuro grinned at his triumph, before straightening out his back, to look down at Chrome sadly, "He knows little of joy at this very moment..."

Chrome looked up at Mukuro in askance. Maybe she still had a chance...

"No... Dear Chrome, please." Mukuro smiled sadly, "His sights are set. Be glad for the happiness that will come to him. And to you. Don't strain the heart that I gave you anymore."

"B-Boss..." Chrome cried softly, a single tear slowly travelled down her left cheek. Boss was always so kind to her, even with all his weaknesses, he tried to protect others. Where would she find her happiness? Did she even deserve happiness? Her whole life had been cruel to her, what trouble would a little more heartache be?

"Don't be a fool, dear Chrome..." Mukuro interjected with a soft whisper, "I plan to let you keep my gift... This path is short and fragile, much like the humans who walk it. I have other lives in which to find love... Your heart was always bound for another. I'm sure that you will find them in time..."

"When that day comes, you can be your own person..."

Mukuro leaned back down slowly to the stunned Chrome and slowly, he leaned in and kissed her softly on her lips. She gasped in surprise, but Mukuro-sama was being gentle with her. He broke off the kiss after a short while and stood back up, giving her a sad smile, "Forgive me, my dear Nagi... Maybe, in another lifetime."

"Real love requires two, but... We are, after all... But one..." Mukuro finished as he closed his eyes sadly, before fading into mist, leaving Chrome alone in the dream world, once again...

What Mukuro-sama said, was it true? Would she find someone as kind as Boss? Chrome wiped away her tears and lay down on the warm grass of the field. She closed her eyes and for the first time, since becoming Mukuro-sama's anchor, she fell asleep to experience a true rest.


"Tenth!" Gokudera yelled, as he reached Tsuna with a smile.

'Someone's happy today...' Tsuna thought.

"Uh, hey Gokudera-kun! You seem cheerful today!" Tsuna greeted in turn. For some reason at Tsuna's statement, Gokudera turned a bright crimson as he blushed.

"Haha, fond memories, eh Gokudera!" Yamamoto asked with a laugh, giving Tsuna a wave in greeting as he walked up to the two.

"I don't know what the hell you're talking about, baseball nut!" Gokudera spluttered before looking away, glaring at the ground.

Tsuna looked at Yamamoto in confused askance, but he only shook his head with an expression that said 'later'. Tsuna continued to be confused as the three walked to school, until they crossed paths with a familiar energetic girl.

"Ha-hi?" Haru said as she nearly bumped into the group, "Oh sorry! Hey Yamamoto-san, Tsuna-san..."

Tsuna blinked in surprise. She seemed to be okay with seeing him, maybe she felt okay after Gokudera-kun went to com...fort... her... 'Wait a second!' Tsuna yelled inwardly in sudden realisation.

Gokudera and Haru were both avoiding eachother's gaze and blushing furiously.

"Don't give me a damn hello... Stupid woman..." Gokudera grumbled under his breath, but Haru heard his mumbling.

"That's because... 'Cause Haru doesn't give greetings to s-stupid octopus heads like you!" She squeaked, before looking away again.

"Maa, maa, you two, no need to fight. Besides all of us need to head to school!" Yamamoto grinned with a kind-hearted laugh.

"Ha-hi! Haru is going to be late!" Haru exclaimed, but before she could leave Tsuna suddenly broke the brief silence.

Tsuna looked up at Gokudera, his eyes showing a slightly sad, but accepting kindness. Gokudera was surprised at the sight, and looked down at his boss in anticipation.

"Gokudera-kun." Tsuna began softly, "You can be happy if you want to, you know?"

"And if you can make Haru happy too, then that's even better... As...As a boss, I have to make sure my friends- no, my family are happy. So, please Gokudera-kun, Haru, be happy for me... Okay?"

"Tenth..." Gokudera said in awe. The Tenth was so kind!

"You don't have to hide it either." Tsuna said with his back turned, before turning to look at them with soft eyes, "Don't worry, I'll be fine."


Reborn looked down at the scene, as he tilted his fedora down over his face, giving a huge, approving grin. It seemed that Tsuna had accepted his responsibilities, even without his dying will.

Maybe Reborn's suspicions were correct. The dying will flame that burst into life on Tsuna's forehead when he fell asleep last night was a sure sign. Maybe it really was the guiding hand of the Primo, leading his successor in the right direction.


A/N: I really enjoyed writing that dream world sequence between Chrome and Mukuro. I really love Mukuro as a character, and I asked one of you reviewers, (Chrome Nagi Dokuro (Thanks!)) for advice on possible Chrome pairings, and as was revealed in this chapter, she won't be paired with Mukuro, and not Tsuna either... Woooooo! I'm sure Miss Dokuro (The reviewer!) can tell who I've chosen... Well, at least out of the pairings we discussed. (I hope you'll enjoy how I develop that. :3)

Oh yeah, and sorry that this chapter was a little shorter, I wanted to end that part there...