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Tears of the future, Trials of the past.

Chapter.04.

Silence filled the air as soon as his name left his lips, which made puzzlement wash over him with the odd reaction, but he didn't question it; these people were no more then strangers to him; he shouldn't integrate them over a silly thing as lack of conversation. Instead he turned back to the two siblings "Look, I'm not going to pry, but if you ever need help just ask around and your find me soon enough, alright?" he smiled.

Everyone looked startled at the sudden offer, more so that he seemed to know that they were in trouble, because his kindness wasn't that unusual to them - no matter what age.

"And why would we need to do that?" the brother asked, as he played dumb, but also curious of how he could be read so easily by the younger version of his boss; young Vongola had always been able to sense him, but nothing more until he was much older.

Tsunayoshit shrugged nonchalantly "Your names are obviously aliases; so you've either run away from home or are wanted by the cops" he said, and looked and sounded "Either way, come see me and I'll try to get you two set up" he paused, taking the time to glance at the silver-haired teen, who he also didn't recognise "

Or is it three?" the brunet questioned.

As Hayato was about to open his mouth, he was interrupted "I'm not saying your right, but how would you know that?" Mukuro asked, his interest deepening; it had taken their Vongola a while to use his intuition, and even longer for him to be able to catch him in a lie.

"You paused before giving me your names, and though it's normal for some people; you introduced your sister as well, who obviously didn't know about the sudden change, right?" he questioned, which made Chrome's cheeks turn a light red, before Tsuna turned his attention back the taller teen "if your asking why I think your down on your luck, well-" he winced slightly, while his eyes trailed over one set of tatted clothes and then to the hospital garb.

"your not exactly dressed for royalty" he gently added, picking his words carefully.

Mukuro looked at himself, and begrudging had to admit he was in a poor state; his prison clothes weren't really something you wear to a reunion, and his twin wasn't doing much better, and only adding to the fact that they weren't too well off was the fact that they looked like they hadn't eaten in days.

Plastering a grin on his face, he changed his gaze "Alright, Tsunayoshi. But why would I go to you?" he wondered out loud, pointedly, so the other guardians wouldn't have to - since he was still unknown around this area, his probing wouldn't be too suspicious.

Tsuna internally berated himself at the question "Right, sorry, your new" he muttered curtly "it's my job - what I do. As to why,…well I guess you could say I've taken a bit of a liking to you, and anyway, you don't need a reason to help someone" he laughed, though the flabbergasted expressions didn't go unnoticed.

Hayato stood, and picked this as the right time to speak since everyone else had gone into their owns thoughts, and Sawada immediately greeted him, "Sorry, I've forgotten my manners again: your name?"

It shouldn't - he knew it shouldn't, but that simple statement was like a bullet.

Swallowing through his dry throat, the teen took the offered hand "Hayato Gokudera" he said mutely, his eyes stuck on the fingers that were wrapped around his.

"'Falcon', huh?, well welcome to Japan" Tsuna exclaimed, while trying to be as cheery as possible, though Hayato's down-trodden face started to grating on a nerve.

"Er, S-Sawada, don't worry, he's just tired from the jet lag" Takeshi lied, his grin shaky at best.

"I see,…of course, have you forgotten to book a hotel too, Gokudera?" Tsuna asked tentatively. Hayato turned several shapes of red; he didn't know, the timeline was all out of wrack- he couldn't even begin to guess where he had been and what he had been doing before his old self had been replaced with himself, this was new to him; this year never happened, hell - he could've been plucked from his fathers mansion and transported here for all he knew "I- er-"

"No, huh?" Tsuna sighed, as he let the others hand fall from his "Well I'll see you at school tomorrow, Yamamoto" he waved, Takeshi who was startled by the sudden goodbye, stood.

"W-wait Sawada -"

Tsunayoshi turned "Did you want me for something?" he asked. Yamamoto didn't what to say; he and Tsuna; he couldn't just say he wanted more time with the brunet like he used to, so he stopped before he looked any weirder.

Tsuna smiled gently and continued "By the way, I'll be taking the sleeping boy, and the shy smoker" he grinned, as he started to pull a stunned Gokudera away with him, as everyone looking suitably shocked at the passing comment.

"Oh, and Kuro, Rikou?" he called, which made the two twins instantly perk; as they were used to their fake names by now "remember, if you ever need help, come see me. Though…don't prolong the visit to much, those clothes aren't doing their jobs probably" he said, which made Mukuro laugh and Chrome blush, but nod all the same.

"You too Hibari, I'm going to need your answer tomorrow" though Tsuna didn't give them a chance to reply before he left.

They watched his small back soon disappear, and they were left behind in silence. "We're late" Yamamoto hissed, as he flopped back onto the grass below as soon as he was sure they had left. The greenery was still warm from his body heat, while irritation flared in the usually calm boy, this after all, didn't sit right with him; what had they missed in a year? - how much has changed?.

"I don't know what you complaining about, I think our first meeting went pretty well" Mukuro laughed, which made Takeshi and Kyoya look at him dryly "May I remind you, dear guardians, that the first time Tsunayoshi saw me was after I hunted him down; abused his little classmates, kidnap the skylark and half killed not only him, but you" the others nodded regretfully in understanding; those hadn't been fun times and when Tsunayoshi had announced, years later, to the underworld that he accepted both mist guardian - people had thought that he had finally lost it, or that Mukuro had processed him.

Yamamoto forced his face into a grin as he turned to Kyoya "Tsuna seems to know you already, Hibari. Did you know what he was talking about?" he asked, hints of jealously in his tone, the prefect however, ignored it and huffed.

"He was talking about a gang of weak herbivores I bit to death in middle-school" he stated, getting up to leave, and the others guessed, to figure out the whole mess before tomorrow; the last thing they needed was Tsuna figuring out their from the future and that he wasn't exactly healthy.

"We're be on our way too, rain guardian" the pine-Mukuro nodded "I'm meant to be in prison, Chrome's meant to be dying - so I think it's best for us to figure out what's been happening this last year. Because I have a feeling that I wasn't given early parole for good behaviour" he joked, his laugh echoing in the air as the two twins were encompassed by a shield of mist. "he fog disappeared; leaving nothing in its wake.

Yamamoto smiled sadly, his eyes glazing over "And I need…to see how dad is"

A/N-

I started writing this a few days ago but wasn't sure how to finish it, glad its done now though; not sure how I did with this chapter, I hope I've explained it alright, the next chapter should offer some answers to questions I'm sure some of you have- you probably won't have to wait to long for it; I already have ideas in what I'm going to do, I may or may not write more of this today, I'm not sure yet, I've still got a lot more updates to do...

Update/ 24.07.12

I Apologise if there are any mistakes in my spelling/ grammar, or if you find anything I have written offensive.

Thank you to everyone who added 'Late' to their favorites/ alerts or who took the time to review. You also have my gratitude for reading this chapter.

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