I think each length of each chapter is growing longer and longer...is that bad or good? =/ Thanks for all the favourites/reviews/follows this story got... I really appreciate it.

I do not own KHR. As per last week, reviews will be answered below. :)


The servant girl darted behind a marble column quickly as she heard foot steps, almost slipping and falling in her haste. The roar of the rushing rivers below her was distracting- how the castle dwellers dealt with the constant sound of water was beyond her.

As the heavy footsteps faded away, the girl left her hiding spot and continued to walk forward. The bridge was in front of her-the one and only bridge leading to the First Tower. The First Tower of Command and Governing.

She smirked to herself. The security here was too lax...even a big, fumbling giant could stumble past without the guards noticing anything. It was no surprise, considering the idiot who sat on the throne. Reaching the entrance to the bridge, she began her ascent.

But despite her hate for this place, she had admire the beauty of its stunning and elaborate white marble architecture.

The long, arched bridge spanning several meters was suspended over the chasm of rivers and waterfalls roaring underneath. It would make any person feel queasy-the only thing that stood between her and her death was a piece of stone, no matter how pretty that piece may be.

The girl wasn't scared, though-this wasn't her real body after all.

While she walked across, she noticed that a bridge sprouted from each of the Four Towers to the top floor of the castle...where she had slipped past the guard easily. As she thought- the security really was horrible, and the people more so. But! All that will change soon if everything goes according to plan...

As the girl neared the entrance to the First Tower, she could make out four guards positioned near the door.

This would be as easy as taking candy from a child.

"Halt! State your name and purpose." One of the guards- a young man by the looks of it- called. The girl smiled, and fixed her stare on him.

"Let me pass, sir...please?"

Within a few seconds, the young man had frozen and became completely still, the pupils of his eyes unfocused and turning black.

"Of...course..." His voice had turned mechanical, devoid of all emotion.

The other three guards stared at the girl in shock, and their hands immediately flew to their swords. Her smile melted away as she watched their reaction, leaving her childish face with an uncharacteristically cold expression.

"H-Her...her eyes!" One of the three remaining guards shouted in terror.

"I told you to let me pass, right?"

Within seconds, all four man were as still as statues, their minds trapped in an endless nightmare.

Leaving them in their own dreams, the girl walked past the unresponsive guards and entered through the doors of the First Tower.


"Um, so...about the-"

"-the recruitment," The man finished, glancing at his son with a disinterested expression. Surprised, Yamamoto nodded with a small, strained laugh. "Yea, that's it! I was wondering if-"

"If I would let you go."

Yamamoto laughed again. "Uh, yea. How did you know?"

His father carefully placed down the fish knife he had been holding. "Like I said before, I won't stop you if you decide to go. But if you do intend to leave, you must first tell me your reason." Tsuyoshi then paused and folded his arms, waiting.

"Well, I thought about it and...I do want to go."

Tsuyoshi nodded, his face a calm mask. Yamamoto bit his lip. It seemed as if his father really did expect an explanation. "I guess I want to...become...someone else?"

He winced inwardly as his father's expression shifted. That didn't really come out right. He tried again.

"What I mean is that...I will no longer have to live out my days in this town, growing old as a...a nobody, you know what I mean?"

Tsuyoshi's eyes narrowed, but it went unnoticed by Yamamoto, who was now warming up to the topic.

"I know it's tough out there, so maybe if I work hard during training, I can become someone...important, maybe even a...knight..." Yamamoto glanced at his dad, his face now hopeful. "Wouldn't that would make you prou-"

"Stop."

Confusion flickered through his face. "Huh? I-"

"If that's why, then you're better off taking over the shop now."

At that moment, Yamamoto couldn't seem to find the ability to speak. Blood rushed to his face, and he stood up from the chair with a loud clatter.

"W-What...Huh?" He managed to splutter out. Tsuyoshi gave his son a long, silent stare before heaving a sigh.

"If that's the reason why you want to risk your life on the battlefield, then you're mistaken. You won't get far with those selfish feelings." But before he could walk away, Yamamoto quickly lunged forward and grabbed his father's arm.

Tsuyoshi paused in his steps and turned. His son was wearing an expression of pure disbelief.

"Selfish? How? I don't get it!" He shouted, dropping his father's arm forcefully. "Why? Why are you so dead set against letting me live my own life?"

He knew that starting an argument wasn't going to change his father's mind, but Yamamoto didn't feel like being rational at the moment.

"Or maybe..." He started before he could stop himself, "You think I'm like mother? I'm not going to drop dead like she did. She only died because she listened to you!"

Silence followed after his heated words, and the air was quiet.

Blood pounding in his ears, Yamamoto turned away in a hurry. In the spur of the moment, he had said something he hadn't meant to say.

"...You may be right."

Eyes widening with shock, Yamamoto instantly looked up in surprise.

His father's face seemed older, and more defeated than before. Lines from years and years of hard work covered his brow, and there were dark circles under his eyes. Yamamoto swallowed, and dropped his eyes back to the floor.

"Yes, the reason I want to keep you close is because of her...she died for you, Takeshi."

Yamamoto's mind went blank, and time seemed to stop for the second time that day.

What...?

"For you to risk the life she gave you for such shallow reasons...I cannot allow it. This may be my greatest fault and weakness as a father, but I swore on my life-"

The boy still couldn't seem to find his words. A lightheaded numbness emptied his mind of thought.

"-That I would protect her sacrifice, and that I would protect you."

With those words, his father left the room.

Yamamoto, finally regaining control over his body, and sat down on a nearby chair. His legs felt weak, blood racing at a dizzying pace through his veins. A memory of a warm smile and a laughing, dark-haired woman filled his mind, and he closed his eyes.

"Takeshi! Come on, let's play some ball? I'll race you to the field!"

"Why, mother?" Yamamoto, now alone in the room, whispered softly to himself.

"I never knew..."


Blinking away his tears, Tsuna took another quick sip of the soup, and coughed again.

"It's...It's too spicy!"

The man in front of him chuckled lightly and stroked his long black braid. "You must learn to drink slowly and relax. Only then will you be able to truly enjoy the taste." He spoke in a soft, calming voice with a hint of a foreign accent.

Tsuna nodded uncomfortably, and set the bowl down on his lap carefully. "U-um...but why did you need to talk to me, sir?" He asked the question that had been stuck in his mind since he woke up here.

The man smiled gently, inclining his head. "There is no need for formalities, Tsunayoshi. You may call me Fon, if you wish."

Tsuna nodded hesitantly and took a wary look at his surroundings.

The small tent was cramped and filled with strange trinkets both big and small. There were many stout, round pots painted with pictures of women wearing long robes, and ones depicting gruesome war scenes. There were also piles of glistening gold jewellery, and furs of exotic animals Tsuna didn't know existed. All over the floor were little clay pots filled with strange powder and a burning stick of candle placed in the middle of each.

Smoke from the thin, lit candles coiled around the tent and clouded the air. It was burning Tsuna's eyes, and he was starting to feel dizzy from the overflowing scent filling his lungs. He tugged at the thick scarf around his neck, feeling too warm for his liking.

He had met Fon in the cramped alley when the man had appeared out of nowhere, scaring the living daylights out of the boy. Then, in the blink of an eye, Tsuna had found himself sitting in the tent, holding a bowl of soup.

Was it...magic? Tsuna glanced up at Fon nervously.

The man had been tapping something into the pipe he held in his hand. It was a long, delicate pipe, maybe as long as Tsuna's arm, and made of polished, dark wood. Tsuna looked at it quizzically. He had never seen such a straight, fine pipe before. But that wasn't much of a surprise- everything about the man was mysterious.

Catching his eye, Fon smiled. Tsuna automatically looked away with a confused expression.

Of course it couldn't be magic. There was no way a spell caster of that caliber would risk his skills outside of the capital city, much less travel all the way to the north, right? Fon was just a wandering story teller, or a visiting foreigner at the most.

...Then, what was that? Maybe I fainted and he brought me here?...Yes, that must be it.

"I'm sure you are confused. But do not worry, I only seek to offer a warning and a few words of advice."

Tsuna looked up abruptly, distracted from his thoughts. Fon's dark eyes flashed in the dim, mysterious lighting of the tent and he set the pipe down beside him, unlit

"Change is happening. A big change to this Kingdom...starting with you. Death, life, war, peace- the balance of the scales have been tipped."

Even though it was uncomfortably warm in the tent, Tsuna could feel a chill run down his spine the moment Fon uttered those words. The shadows in the tent seemed to be moving.

Despite the impossibility of what he said, Tsuna found himself leaning forward.

"W-What do you mean?"

Fon closed his eyes. "Tipped in the favor of what? That, I do not know."

A long silence followed, and both were quiet. Tsuna could feel the shadows crawling around him. The sensation was an unpleasant one, and coupled with the thick smoke, his head had begun to pound.

Swallowing nervously, he decided to break the silence. The shadowing sensation he felt earlier was scaring him. The sooner he got away, the better.

"...Er, I think you have the wrong person, sir...There is no way-"

"Oh?" Fon interrupted with a polite smile. "You say that, yet how do you know for sure?" The lighting cast a dark shadow across his face, and Tsuna fidgeted nervously in his seat, his voice gone.

After a momentary pause, the man leaned back and crossed his legs slowly. "It seems, then, until we find the right person, you are not the wrong person."

Puzzled, Tsuna could only blink. "Eh?"

Thoughtfully, Fon stroked his long braid once more and lifted the pipe to his lips. "Yes...so, Tsunayoshi Sawada-" He turned his dark eyes toward the boy. His gaze, strangely, did not terrify Tsuna, although it did intimidate him a little. Thin tendrils of smoke seemed to gather around Fon, and the shadows grew longer.

Through the thick air, Fon's voice echoed faintly. "You must be careful. Because if you are the right person, then..." His voice began to fade, and Tsuna's heart jolted in panic.

Looking around uneasily, he noticed that the tent had suddenly disappeared, and that the heavy smoke had surronded him completely. The spicy, sweet scent clung onto his clothes and embraced him, causing the boy to cough. He waved the air in front of his face, trying to clear the area, but it didn't work. His scarf grew tight around his neck, and he coughed again.

And then, strangely, something began to tingle in his blood.

It was an electricity he hadn't felt before. The tingling ran all the way from the bottom of his feet to the tips of his fingers. Tsuna gasped as the smoke worked its way into his lungs, and his head throbbed with pain.

"W-Wait! ...What's happening?" His voice only echoed feebly, and Tsuna recieved no answer. The smoke had now obstructed his vision completely, and it was too dark to see anything. The electricity in his veins continued to flow.

Just as he thought he would suffocate in the crushing darkness, he heard a loud noise.

CREAK.

That sound...a moving...wagon? How could that be...

A dull light filled Tsuna's sight as he cracked open his eyes. What was happening now? The darkness seemed to be gone, and the heavy smoke was nowhere to be seen.

Just as he was about to call again for Fon, he stopped and stared at the sight before him in shock.

Giant, dark clouds covered the evening sky of the Namimori village square which was still crowded with people. Tsuna's mind was a whirl of confusion. He was sure he had spoken to Fon for more than an hour, but it didn't seem as if anything had changed during the time he was gone.

But what shocked him the most were not the crowds. What shocked him was the old wagon infront of him.

The very same wagon that had rolled past him earlier-right before he entered the alley. As Tsuna watched, open-mouthed, the same man that had been pushing the wagon before turned away, ignoring the stunned boy.

Tsuna couldn't move as he watched the wagon pass. This isn't possible...it just isn't! Was it just a dream? Coincidence? Did I fall asleep? But that doesn't explain why the man had ignored me again, like before...

Slowly, Tsuna stood as carefully as he could. It felt like the lightest breeze could knock him over. He walked over to the alley between the two houses with wobbling footsteps...

...and almost fell over.

There was no alley.

Only the wooden wall of a small house was standing. There was only one house, too-the second one was gone, leaving no space for an alley to even exist.

Tsuna blinked rapidly. So it had been a dream, then? Had he just imagined the whole thing?

But then, a scary thought occurred to him. The boy gulped once, exhaled slowly...and sniffed at his scarf.

The lingering scent was spicy, yet sickeningly sweet.

No way...

Tsuna almost fainted on the spot, until he heard a whisper in his ear.

"Do not say 'There is no way'. There is always a way for ones who wish to find it. We will meet again when the time comes..."

The voice was as soft as silk, and as swift as a passing wind.

"...Until then, be careful, little lion."


The burly man slammed his mug down on the counter and began to shout a stream of profanities. The rugged man beside him also stood from his seat, throwing his own drink to the side. As he started to stretch his muscular arms, he was instantly knocked down with a punch from the first man, smashing head first into the ground. Cheering erupted in the tavern, and the first man burped loudly as he sat back down, pride evident on his red face.

Reborn watched the whole scene without interest, and instead directed his attention back to his own drink.

He had only arrived at Kokuyo Land yesterday, and he was already beginning to wish he hadn't. The whole place stank of corruption, and drunks roamed the streets freely. The few handful of wealthy politicans in the city only averted their gazes, choosing instead to ignore the problems that had emerged over the years following Kokuyo's fateful rebellion during the Winter Wars. Fateful because the city had been stripped of its former glory, and reduced to this.

Swallowing his last drop of ale, Reborn threw the tavern keeper a nod and hopped off his stool. He didn't have to pay a piece- he was just a child, after all. He and the keeper had reached a mutual understanding after Reborn offered to 'take care of' an unpleasant customer.

Drawing the hood of his robe and exiting the tavern as inconspicuously as possible, Reborn began to walk toward the inn a few streets down where he had decided to stay. It wasn't the best, but it would do for the time being. He had to stay hidden for now.

There had been no luck with the taverns and guilds here at all. Reborn had been trying to find a man with the strength of a leader, or a strong personality, but the only ones who surfaced were just foolish giants who relied on brute strength rather than reason. All of them had failed the tests he had given to them secretly and without their knowledge.

But as he walked down the street, deep in his thoughts, he felt a sudden chill ripple through his body. The hair on the back of his neck rose.

Pausing in surprise, he kept still as a cloaked figure approached him. The figure was of an average height, and unexpectedly slim.

As the figure brushed past him, robes fluttering with movement, Reborn's eyes flashed with interest.

Oh? How curious...was that person carrying...

No, that could not possibly be. It had been missing since the Winter Wars nearly fifteen years ago - there was no way that it could be here.

With one last glance at the figure, Reborn made his way back to the inn, still feeling slightly suspicious.


Later that night, as Reborn lay on the cot in his tiny little room, he frowned.

Shifting his position, his frown deepened at how stiff the cot was. The thin straw mattress kept poking through the threadbare cloth, and there were times where he felt he was truly resting on stone. The cold air drifting through the shabby, patchwork windows wasn't a real comfort, either.

"Curse this place..." He muttered to himself darkly. "Leon, turn into a bed."

The chameleon ignored Reborn and rolled away from him. The assassin snorted humorlessly.

"A nice, fur cover then...and that's a command, Leon."

Leon did not move, and Reborn tried not to lash out with exasperation. It was freezing in this abomination of an inn, and a stubborn Leon did not help with his warmth. If only he was back at the castle...

Reborn's eyes closed as he thought about his warm room there. At some point, he fell asleep.

Reborn, clad in the familiar dark cloths of his uniform, dug into his dinner with zest. It had been weeks since he had eaten something so delicious. Now that he was back at the castle, in his full form, everything was just swell.

Pausing mid-bite, Reborn stopped. Wait a moment. Why was he back in the castle? He didn't finish the mission yet, did he? Had he already found the Vongola heir?

With a sigh, Reborn set his fork down and stood from his seat at the King's table reluctantly. He had to find his way out of this dream.

"What are you doing, Reborn?"

An unfamiliar and playful voice echoed through the room. The assassin narrowed his eyes, noticing, for the first time, that he wasn't alone. A mysterious man was sitting in the King's seat at the head of the table, holding a jewel-encrusted goblet with ease.

"...Who are you?" Reborn could only see a dark outline of his figure. It was as if the man was shrouded by some kind of...mist.

"Hm...you do not know me? I am a little disappointed, Reborn."

Impatience building, Reborn crossed his arms. "Is this some kind of game? You will tell me your identity now, or I will make you."

The man laughed a strange laugh, and it sounded almost hysterical. "You will make me tell you? How amusing."

Reborn's eyes flashed dangerously and he struck.

But, to his surprise, before he could move, he felt a hand close around his neck.

"So, you were saying...?" The man's voice was full of mock curiosity. Reborn coughed as he felt his throat constrict, the air leaving his lungs. How did that happen?

Was it possible to die in a dream? Would he be able to wake that way?

"If you should perish in a dream such as this, you will never wake again..."

Both of them paused in momentary shock. A female voice- there was another person?

The instant she spoke, Reborn felt the man's grip slacken, and he took the chance to aim a swift kick at his opponent.

The man dodged the kick easily, but released Reborn, backing away from the assassin as fast as he could.

"...This voice..." His voice was almost a growl, and his surroundings began to contort violently.

"Begone, False King. You and your tricks do not belong here."

"You...!"

A bright flash filled Reborn's sight, and he closed his eyes. But, even though the light was blinding, it was not painful. It was a soft, warm glow not unlike sunlight.

When he opened his eyes again, the scenery was completely different from the castle. He was now standing in what seemed to be a make-shift kitchen. The room was about as small as a garden shed, and maybe even smaller.

Frowning, Reborn braced himself for another attack, his hand reaching toward the weapo-

"Do not dwell on that previous incident, for you are safe here." The female voice from before spoke behind him. Reborn turned around warily, and almost jumped when he saw who it was.

"...You? How..."

The woman smiled, her deep blue eyes kind. Reborn's frown relaxed, but he was still wary. He had almost been choked to death earlier. For all he knew, this could just be another one of the bastard's tricks.

Hearing his thoughts, the woman shook her head. "No, you will find no trickery in my words, only truth."

Reborn considered this, and sighed. "Pardon my disrespect, but why did he try to kill me, then? Who was he? And why..."

"...Why am I here?" She finished for him. Reborn offered a silent nod.

"It is simple. Somebody has gained knowledge of your quest. The name of the man I do not know- he has hidden himself well. One is most vulnerable in the Dream world, which was why he was able to break your defense so easily. It also appears that he is using a certain...shield. And as for why I am here-you will understand."

Reborn fumed quietly inside. How could this happen to him, the most deadly assassin of the Ninth King himself?

Sensing his distress, the women took his hand in hers. "Do not worry, dark knight. Do not stray from your path, and you will find what you seek."

Slightly uncomfortable with her close proximity, he only managed to raise an eyebrow. "What I seek...? Do you mean...the heir?"

"I mean what you truly seek. It may be the heir, it may not be. Only you know what it is." Her words left Reborn deep in thought. What do I truly seek...?

"I must also tell you-this shield is powerful...it is not the work of a mere amateur. The flame feels even more ancient than I..."

Reborn frowned for what seemed like the millionth time.

"...But it is not completely impenetrable. If you could find the user, it is possible to defeat him before he inflicts further harm."

So there was hope. "Do you know where he may be?"

The woman's eyes twinkled, and she looked around the room thoughtfully. Reborn's gaze also wandered toward his surroundings. It truly was a small room, and not a warm one either. Noticing the table that stood in the center, his eyes narrowed.

On the table sat a jar of some sort, filled with flowers and water. The flowers were wilting, and the petals were dropping considerably, but he noted that the water was...fresh.

Strange. Reborn did not recognize the architecture of the place, or any of the scents. The flowers were also unfamiliar, too, now that he thought about it. Reborn wondered why he had been brought here, to this run-down kitchen.

He directed his attention back to the woman, who had been staring at him curiously...as if she was waiting.

Reborn thought harder. Maybe there was something significant here, then? Maybe-

"...Where is this place?"

The woman's smile grew wide, and she laughed.

"Do you not notice how cold it is here, Reborn?"

Reborn's eyes snapped open, and he woke in cold sweat. What just...happened?

As much as he would've liked to dismiss the happenings as a mere dream, he couldn't. It had been too real, and she wouldn't visit unless it had been to send him an important message. Reborn thought of the strange man, and the woman's words.

"If you should find the user, it is possible to defeat him."

Someone knew of his mission...and that someone had been powerful enough to catch Reborn unaware.

"Do not stray from your path, and you will find what you seek. It may be the heir, it may not be."

Reborn was sure that she had meant the heir...what else could she have meant? Then, he remembered her last words.

"Do you not notice how cold it is, Reborn?"

The assassin closed his eyes with a small smile.

"I wonder exactly how cold the North is this time of year..."


It was always the same dream. She didn't know why, but it always haunted her mind whether she was awake or asleep.

The girl folded her dark cloak neatly and draped it across the end of her bed. Today had been a strange day...and she would definitely dream that dream again- of that there was no doubt.

But maybe tonight...even if it's just a little, I hope it will be different... she thought as she dropped into her bed, drifting off into slumber.

When she opened her eyes, the muted bubbling of a nearby stream reached her ears. Other then that, the air was still and everything quiet. Not even a breeze or the chirp of a bird could be heard.

An endless forest of tall trees surrounded her, and there was no clear path wherever she looked. Standing, the girl tilted her head upwards. She couldn't see the sky either- just a roof of leaves and branches reaching thousands of meters above her. The trees were enormous and ancient, almost as if they were older than the land itself.

The girl could tell it was night time. It always was, in this accursed dream. Shadows covered her sight, but somehow, she could still see enough to not trip in the darkness. Taking a deep breath, she began the Dreaded Walk.

This happened every time...almost like a ritual. The girl would stumble around in the dark forest, feeling as if she would never be able to wake. Sometimes, it seemed she would be trapped in the same nightmare forever, continuing to walk in a never ending loop.

What's the point of this dream? She thought to herself as she continued to walk tread forward, listening to the sound of grass crunching beneath her feet. The girl didn't know how long she had been walking, or would be walking. Hours, days, or seconds could have passed, but she didn't feel tired at all, just a little...empty.

After a while, the girl began to notice a small change in the scenery.

That was strange.

The forest was still dark, but she could see something floating in the air and seeping through the branches. Frowning, she stopped in her tracks and peered closer. Then gasped.

"...Is that...mist?"

Mist had not been part of all the other dreams. Could this be...?

Through the mysterious fog, the girl could make out a dim glow growing brighter in the distance. When she squinted, she could see many more of the faint lights.

Eyes now wide, she started to run. Never before in her monotonous dreams had this ever happened. Heart pounding with both adrenaline and fear, she rushed forward toward the dim light. What would be waiting for her there?

Sharp branches and bushes whipped at her as she ran forward, but the girl didn't notice. The faster she got there, the better. She had to know what those lights and the mist meant.

The lights grew closer, and her heart raced as fast as ever.

Mist had began to drift away, and the girl skid to a stop, right next to a glowing light. It was so close she could feel the faint heat of it. Now that she noticed, it seemed as if there were may of those little lights all around her.

What are those?

The mist finally dissolved, and the girl was left speechless.

Thousands of dimly glowing candles surrounded her, the light washing over everything in the forest clearing. This place was less dense than where she had been walking, and less...dark.

The girl could now see every little leaf and blade of grass with a sharp clarity. There was a sort of...shimmer to the air, as if everything from the rocks to the trees were alive.

And in the middle of the clearing sat a regal throne, the back of it facing her.

The girl stared in awe. It was a ruined throne, but it was a beautifully ruined throne, if she had to describe it.

It seemed to have sat in the forest for a very long time...growing moss, sprouting mushrooms, and dripping with heavy lichen. Vines twisted around the armrests like thread, and stiff branches clawed up its side.

But that wasn't all. The girl could see a shadow of...something sitting there.

She stepped forward very carefully, placing each foot with caution.

The shadow didn't move.

The girl continued to walk, one step at a time. Mist had started to curl around the edge of the throne, but she ignored it.

Just as she was near enough to reach out, a hollow voice spoke.

"...It's not time yet...Not yet..."

All of a sudden, the candles began to grow overwhelmingly bright, engulfing her in a sea of light. The girl tried to close her eyes, but before she could...

...Darkness.


"Gyaha...ha! The...great... Lambo wins...again!" A breathless, yet obnoxious voice rang through the air. The little boy was panting heavily, hand on knees, his face smeared with dirt and grime.

"Lambo! You... terrible! Cheating... bad," came a frustrated and equally tired reply. The owner of this voice was another small child, also breathless and caked with mud. Her silk jacket, originally red, was now a ruined mess of grass and dirt.

Lambo whirled around to look at his new companion. "Whatever...I-pin, you're still a loser. Gyahaha!" The small girl he was talking to scrunched up her face and wiggled her mouth unhappily. Lambo just grinned, enjoying his somewhat false victory.

They had been traveling for a week along the main roads or the outskirts of small towns, and so far, nobody had given them any trouble. There had been a few concerned mothers, but other than that, they had only received curios looks. A boy in a cow suit and a girl with an unusual appearance both traveling alone tended to attract a questioning gaze or two. Looking like they hadn't had a proper bath in months didn't help, either.

I-Pin glanced beside her at the boy, who was laughing and talking to himself.

The little girl heaved a small sigh. He was quite arrogant and loud, but she'd have to put up with him for now. It was better to travel with a companion rather than by herself...before they had bumped into each other, I-pin had felt a bit lonely. But she wouldn't falter-not before she found him.

She had to find her master, no matter what.

"Gyahahaha!" A noisy laugh broke into her thoughts, and I-pin jumped. "Lambo, why you laugh so loud?!"

The little boy threw her a wide grin before pointing to something ahead of them. I-pin followed his gesture, and was surprised to see that there seemed to be a small crowd of people. The two children glanced at each other once before running over.

"That's stupid! Show us another one, a real one!"

"I bet that's just some alchemist's trick! Lame..."

Angry jeers rang through the air, and I-Pin frowned. What was going on?

The two of them managed to squeeze in between the forest of legs, and Lambo crawled his way to the front. I-Pin followed after, pushing against all the feet.

Poking her head out of the crowd, she looked up.

A sickly-looking young man was shrinking back against the angry mob of people, seeming frustrated and frightened at the same time. I-Pin wrinkled her nose. His hair was a dark shade of purple, face unusually pale, and wore clothes even more out of place than Lambo's cow suit.

Next to her, the bratty Lambo had also began to shout.

"You're so stupid! The Great Lambo can do better-and you call yourself a magician? Gyahahaha!"

The man turned to Lambo in shock. "S-Stupid? You're just a snotty kid! You are the stupid one!"

The crowd gasped when he yelled, and a round, mother-like woman spoke. "How disgraceful! Calling an innocent child stupid?" Shouts of agreement broke out, and the man, who was poorly outnumbered, began to sulk.

"Whatever..."

"Let's go, there's nothing to see here."

"Just another one of those fakes, eh?"

The crowd dissipated in a matter of seconds, quicker than I-Pin had thought possible. Looking at the man once more, she felt a little pity for him.

She approached him. "You. Hurt?"

His eyes flashed a mysterious shade of purple when he saw her, and narrowed suspiciously. "Uh...no. Who are you?"

"I-Pin!" She chirped brightly and smiled.

"I-Pin...You look familiar, kid. Like someone I know." The man stared down at her warily, but he didn't seem to be so suspicious anymore.

"My name...well, there's no point in telling you my name. I'm just a humble-" Here he coughed, "-but talented magician..." Shrugging, he crossed his arms and concentrated on his nails, previous humiliation forgotten.

Lambo, being Lambo, rushed over to the two. "Gyahaha, a magician?! Those were stupid tricks! Not magic!"

"W-Why you...!"

I-Pin frowned at both of them. "No fighting! Fighting bad." To make a point, she stomped on the ground to show her wrath.

The bickering duo glanced at each other silently.

Then Lambo snickered and sat down on the ground with folded arms. The purple haired magician threw a glare at the little boy, but didn't move.

Satisfied, I-Pin took this chance to speak again. "I look for my master...do you know man with black hair?"

Lambo and the man both turned to her instantly- Lambo with a look of confusion, and the man with a look of surprise.

Then his mouth slid into a mischievous smile.

"...Aha, I knew you seemed familiar!" With a grin, he turned his head towards the ragged ring of snow tipped mountains in the distance. I-Pin's breath hitched, and she clutched at the small ray of hope sparking in her chest.

"You...you know where master is?"

The magician looked ahead thoughtfully, as if making some kind of decision. Lambo, being uncharacteristically wise, stayed quiet for once. He sensed this was important information for his new companion. Maybe he would get sweets later, too, if he didn't talk.

"...Well..." The magician looked at her, as if judging whether she was worth it or not. "...Since you're a nice kid..."

I-Pin blinked at him expectantly. He sighed and scratched his purple hair.

"Let's see," He turned back to the direction of the mountains. "If you travel fast, you'll reach the northern territories in about a few day's time. But it won't be easy," He chuckled. " You'll have to be quick-there's a festival happening, and the person you-" The magician pointed a finger at Lambo, "-want to find will be there, too."

The two children stared up at him, silent. Lambo was the first one to break the silence. "O-Of course! The great, very great Lambo can do anything!" Then he paused, sucking on a thumb. "But you said...'the person I want to find?' Tell me more, stupid magician!"

I-Pin frowned. "Bragging bad, Lambo." She then looked up at the purple haired man, a wide smile on her face. "Yes! We will travel swift, swift like wind, my master says."

Ignoring the complaining cow child, the man sighed. His previous uncertain demeanor was now gone. "Yep...he's definitly like the wind, that guy."

Just as I-Pin was about to ask him what he meant by that, the magician winked. The strange teardrop shape under his eye flashed, and he was gone before the two could blink.

After a few seconds, Lambo turned to I-Pin, who was still stunned, with a hopeful expression.

"Can...can Master Lambo have some sweets now?"


The Ninth King of the Cielo pounded his fist on the surface of the desk in frustration.

"What is the meaning of this? How could you let such a thing happen...!"

The kneeling man infront of him lowered his head again. "I am most deeply sorry, my lord, I have failed. If it should please you, please sentance me to-"

"-Halt your useless speech and leave the room." King Timoteo dropped his head into his hands. He didn't want to deal with executing people at the moment when there were more important matters to think about.

Outside, in the darkness of the night, a crow cawed.

The Vongola Ring of the Sun was missing.


That is it for chapter 4, and if you have time, please let me know how it was.

To FTFW : Honestly, I had a hard time writing Hibari. I didn't know if I was giving him too much emotion, or too little. Thanks for the feedback, and I'll try to continue developing him into a good character. And you'll see- Hibari will enter the plot soon... :)

To XXShyNightmareXX : Thanks! I was a bit worried about Tsuna, but I'm glad you think they are in character. And there was quite abit of Mukuro in this chapter (coughifyoucaughtoncough), but he will be making even more appearances in the future.

To Final Syai Lunar Generation : Tsuna needs more screen time? Yes boss! :D About the animals- I am not 100% sure yet. I've got some plots ready to go, but I may add the animals in later on. Good question, it got me thinking of something else..hm..

To Narutopokefan : Me too. Reborn's meeting will be very soon.. :) Thanks so much though, hope to hear from you again!

To Luving Randomness : Yea, one would think that about Hibari usually, wouldn't they? I wasn't too sure about Hibari's family and the character himself-he was a rocky character for me. I hope it didn't disappoint too much.

About Yamamoto: Hahaha! Shell ball is an interesting sport...(cough). I was still in the early stages of planning, and somehow ended up with that weird thing. =_=

I don't mind if you keep reviewing on forever! Thanks so much for your review, it gives me some insight on how I'm doing, too. I'm happy that you are enjoying the story, and I will try not to fail. (Sobs very happily)

Thanks again, everyone.