Tears and pain, with a rainbow at the end
"Skull! Tsu-chan's… Tsuna's gone! I can't find him in his room or anywhere else! And... And he left this..." she said, holding out the rose and a crumpled piece paper.
"I got those too!" he replied. Why would Tsuna run away?
"Gather everyone and meet in the meeting room, now!" she said, dashing off to get the others.
~~~~~~~.
"Everyone, Tsuna has run away." Luce frantically said, not even bothering to sit down and opting to pace up and down the room instead.
Colonello looked shocked and gasped. "Eh? But why? He was still looking all cheery and bubbly after our training, kora! Right Lal?"
Skull flopped onto the seat, his face falling flat on the table as he groaned. "I was on a mission today... If I hadn't gone, maybe Tsuna wouldn't have left! He didn't even say goodbye!.."
"It's not your fault, Skull." Fon comforted. Fon had just returned from his mission as well and when he had heard that Tsuna was gone, he went straight to the meeting room without bothering to change out of his bloodstained clothes, not that it would have mattered since his clothes were already red. "He must have left after someone said something to him, otherwise he wouldn't have left like that. His wounds haven't even healed yet." Fon obviously had an inkling of an idea of what was going on as his eyes shifted to Reborn for a second.
Luce thought about it for a moment before slamming a hand on the table. "Skull, Fon, and Mammon were on their mission since this morning while I sent Colonello out for a few hours today." she said, pausing for effect as she glanced at everyone round the table. "So that leaves Verde, Reborn, and Lal..."
"I was in my lab." Verde just said, folding his arms.
"I haven't seen him since our training session." Lal said.
Everyone's eyes turned to Reborn. "... I may have said some… things."
"Reborn!" Luce yelled, slamming the table once more. "With your sharp tongue, I'm pretty sure you hurt him with your words! Why did you have to do that?"
"Why can't you see that the brat is just a burden? Don't you agree, Mammon?"
"If people find out and try to hunt us even more, I want more pay." Mammon monotonously said. Why would she care?
"That's because I saw! I saw his future and his future wasn't living on the streets! I brought him back for a reason! I have a reason for doing things and I would expect you, all of you, to trust me! We may be assassins but I believe all of us still have some compassion in our hearts…"
A deathly silence ensued in the meeting room; the only sound that was heard was the pelting rain against the glass windows and the crashing thunder. The storm was getting worse.
"I will go and find him." Luce said softly, turning to leave. Every second Tsuna was out in the cold rain, the chances of getting him back decreased and Luce was not going to let that happen.
Skull jumped out of his seat, dashing after Luce shouting, "Wait for me!" Fon followed suit, shaking his head in disappointment while looking at Reborn before leaving the room.
"W-Wait, I can use my Thoughtography." Mammon suggested.
Fon paused in his step and called back for Luce. The illusionist took out a piece of tissue and sneezed into it. Lines started forming on the tissue and when it was complete, Mammon looked up. "He's near where we found him."
Luce and Skull dashed out at top speed while Fong patted Mammon's hooded head before leaving. "We appreciate your help, Mammon... Chan."
"Payment complete..." Mammon mumbled, a small blush on her face which was covered by her hood. She shuffled out silently, leaving the two in the room.
"Well, I guess I should be getting back to work... Or prepare something when that brat is found, lest Luce comes after my neck." Verde said, getting up. "I suggest you do something as well, since you are the cause of it." the scientist smirked at the furious hitman, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his lab coat. Hmph, silly Reborn.
Reborn swiveled round in his chair to face the window, his fedora shadowing his eyes. Hearing another particularly loud clap of thunder, he let out a 'tch' and stood up. "That damn brat better be nearby." he mumbled, storming out the door. Or I'll never here the end of it from Luce.
~~~~~~~.
Tsuna trembled violently in the rain, his clothes soaked till they stuck to him like a second skin. Maybe running away that night wasn't such a good idea...
The child struggled with each step he took, his breath shallow. Tsuna knew he could never stay with the Arcobaleno for long so why was he so upset about it now? It was going to happen sooner or later anyway.
Why would anyone want him? He was abandoned after all, probably his parents didn't want him. He was just some waste of space. A toy to be used and thrown away after having fulfilled the selfish people's purpose.
Except this time, he escaped.
He escaped their clutches and the prison, even though he couldn't remember how.
But would they find him? Would they come back and take him away? The exhausted child's breath hitched at the thought of them returning for him. I won't cry… I won't…
A sinister light reflected off the man's goggles and a smirk crawled onto his face. Digging through the pocket of his white labcoat, he drew out a syringe. "Well then, experiment number 27, I hope you're prepared for this one! Don't worry, it won't be the same as experiment number –"
The child tripped and fell faced down onto the pavement, badly scraping his knees and scratching his face. He picked himself up, ignoring the stinging pain and the blood trickling down his leg.
Oh how he hated them. Those horrible scientists. Tsuna was afraid but he wanted to destroy them so badly. But how was he going to win against them when he was such a coward with no abilities? The brunette sighed at the thought, a chill running down his spine.
It was so cold. Freezing. His small fingers felt numb, his frail body trembling. How much longer was this going to last?
Couldn't everything just end right now?
Tsuna let out a sneeze and took another shaky step before falling to his injured knees, scraping it on the ground again. He didn't feel any pain. A feeling of dread washed over him and tears started falling freely. I can't go back anymore, I'm no use there...
The brunet sniffed and continued to walked, oblivious to his surroundings. He didn't care anymore.
Tsuna slowly made his way towards an alley and leaned against the rough, brick wall, pulling his knees to his chest as close as possible. The child flinched every time there was thunder and squeezed shut his eyes, wishing everything would be right. Rain prickled his cold skin and it reminded him of all the needles that were once in him. Memories from his past flooded back and he let out a soft whimper. He didn't like this. Not one bit. Maybe he became too used to the lifestyle in the Arcobaleno mansion... Tsuna shook his head and hugged his knees tighter. Life's hard, suck it up. A voice in his mind said, his heart slightly aching.
His vision began to blur and his limbs felt numb. I hope I'm dying. Maybe it'll be warmer on the other side... Loud splashes and grunts were heard, shoes clacking noisily against the concrete ground.
I wonder if there will be ice-cream on the other side. I always see kids eating them but I never have enough money to get one...
"... Na!..."
Oh, maybe some mafiasos might come and kill me or something...
"...Tsu... Where are..."
I could find some glass shards if I don't die by tomorrow I guess. Suffering from a cold isn't exactly fun...
"Fuc... Brat!... He..."
But I don't think I have the guts to even try to kill myself…
"Where… you!… Come ba…"
Actually, being killed by those drunk people or mafiosos is possible... Probably getting shot?
"... Chan!... Tsu..."
I'm sorry… I'm so sorry I couldn't keep my promise, Ta-
"What the hell, Tsuna!" Reborn shouted when he caught sight of the shivering child crouching in an alley. The hitman almost couldn't recognise the boy if it weren't for his brown hair against the red brick wall. His hair was wet and locks of it were stuck to the side of his face. The bandages on him had come off, revealing the old cuts and grazes on him along with some new ones, showing that Tsuna had fallen quite a few times. Half-lidded eyes looked back weakly at Reborn who quickly took of his suit jacket and wrapped it around the trembling child.
"Are you an idiot?" Reborn hissed, "What were you thinking, running out in this damn thunderstorm!"
"B-But I'm... Useless... Stupid... And a burden... I have to leave as soon as possible... Tired... Gonna... Sleep..." Tsuna mumbled, his eyes slowly closing as he slumped forward into Reborn's arms, shutting off from the world. The hitman took out his phone and punched in a few numbers. "I found him and I'm taking him back now."
~~~~~~~.
A faint beeping sound was heard in the background, arousing Tsuna from his dreamless slumber. He felt his hand being grasped tightly and quiet sobbing. Eyes cracked open, revealing tired brown orbs which scanned the surroundings. Where am I?... Heaven?... If it is, I'm not liking it very much…
"Tsuna's awake! Luce! Hurry!" a voice shouted.
Too loud... His eyes shifted toward the blurry purple figure on his left and when his vision sharpened, he recognised the familiar figure. "S…Skull..." Tsuna mumbled hoarsely, cringing at the horrible sound that came out from his dry throat.
"Tsunaaaaaa!" Skull wailed, "I was so worried about you! You nearly scared us- some of us half to death when Reborn brought you in unconscious!"
Tsuna just stared at Skull and was about to say something when Luce barged into the room.
"Tsuna-chan! How are you feeling? You were lucky; you almost got pneumonia from being in the rain too long... Verde had something to help you so you should be fine now..." Luce said, her tone getting softer towards the end. A hand reached out to stroke the child's head and Tsuna immediately relaxed, the motion lulling him back to sleep. Soon, the other Arcobaleno members entered the room and Luce immediately drew back her hand and went up to Reborn, dragging him by the arm to the front of Tsuna's bed.
Tsuna flinched at the sight of the scowling man and quickly uttered, "I-I'm sorry for-"
"Don't apologise, Tsuna-chan! He ought to be the one apologising!" Luce sternly interjected, hitting Reborn's shoulder. Hard.
The hitman winced and did what Colonello had mentioned before, 'taking it like a man'. Colonello sniggered but stopped when Reborn turned slightly to glare at him.
"Tell him what we discussed earlier, Reborn." Luce instructed.
"Listen, brat..."
"His name!"
Reborn sighed. "Listen, Tsuna, we decided that since you are staying with us, the Arcobaleno, from now onwards, I expect you to be trained, to know how to fight, to be able to defend yourself and to be educated. Understand?"
Tsuna nodded excitedly and sat up. Reborn continued with a sigh, "You will also be tutored... By me."
"Good luck, Tsuna! You just won yourself a devil of a tutor!" Colonello immediately said, nudging Lal while shaking his head.
Tsuna tilted his head innocently, wondering what Colonello was talking about. In any way, Tsuna was pretty contented with the arrangement.
He obviously didn't know what was going to happen.
A/N HERE! Read this! :D
OH MY GOSH, HI EVERYONE. IT'S BEEN A WHILE! Sorry for the extremely late update but school has been a jerk and I simply had no time for any writing! T_T I apologise for the delay without any word or warning so here's a heads up, all my stories will be really, really slow in updates...
Ah yes. THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR YOUR LOVELY REVIEWS! They really kept me going! Do continue to review to fuel my life. HAHA.
Thanks Emi! Glad to know they're all in character! Yes, Reborn got his nice whacking :3 He probably had more without us knowing anyway :)
MaiA and Uchiha-Sakura193! You're correct! ;)
Ezcap1st! We'll see about that in future chapters~
Thank you everyone who reviewed, faved, and alerted! Seeing those mails made me really happy!
FFNET has changed quite a bit since the last time I was on o_o I might draw a cover page for my stories if I have time! hehe.
Anyway, see you in the next chapter! (or in the other stories~) Ciao!
PS. Look, I stopped bolding my A/N!
PPS. Don't worry, I know where this story is going!
