Pinkie's Part: Finally another update! Sorry for the long wait, my muse alluded me. Danced right before my nose and laughed when I tried to decipher the words.

Without further adeiu;

Onward

xx

Chapter: Realizations are Merely Subjectory

Tick. Tick. Tick.

A clock on the wall innocently went along it's business in alerting the person viewing it what time it happened to be. However, this clock was personified- it's hands holding out a single digit as each tick made the head tilt to one side and then the other. Malcious grin spread wide upon broze coloured lips as amber eyes fought to forget this dream.

Tick. Tick. Tick.

His gut feeling was telling him loud and clear that whatever occured before his eyes was not something he would want to view; but the male was unable to avert his gaze as the scene unfolded. Large, red tinted cloth was spread out on a cold surface, the imaginary chill almost realistic as Tsuna hudled himself into his arms. The cloth twitched, and a pale hand broke out from under the surface. The hand was attatched to a bruised wrist, and another hand peeked out. The cloth shifted ever so slightly as fingers curled back, exposing one bloodshot, though rather recognizable, violet eye. Tsuna was no fool; the message in those eyes was clearly written in fear.

Even in this dream did those eyes do unspeakable things to the brunette male. He cringed as he watched those white eyebrows as they shot up in expectancy, as if he could so something to stop the pain. As if he was being begged to stop the madness. Words formed on the weak white haired teens lips, but before Tsuna could decipher them, everything stopped still. A door flung open, and thire silent reunion was cut short- the screams of Byakuran ripping Tsuna from his slumber.

(Release)

A set of tired, black eyes viciously scanned through new documents. Calloused hands ran through inky locks and rested on a chin in fists. A cup of espresso was settled near his elbow, and obsidian eyes blinked upwards and barely registered the smiling face of the cafe's barista. His lips ghosted up in an appreciative manner, before slumping back down into their original state.

Hands itched to write, and the cellular device in the breast pocket of the suit suddenly held a much heavier weight.

He scanned the documents once more, before he sighed in defeat. He lifted the smooth device from his pocket, and slowly punched in the numbers on the keypad. He waited for the dial tone to pick up, and then counted down from ten.

When his silent counting proceeded down to the numeral six, there was a responding click. A gentle voice lifted into the detective's ears, and it took all that the man had not to furrow his brows and drop his tough-guy exterior.

"Hello? This is Mia from the Optomist Orphange- how can I help you?"

The man cleared his throat, and spoke his next words carefully;

"Mia-san, my name is Reborn- I am an investigator and I have some unfortunate news."

There was a silence on the other line, and then a timid response was laced with tight control.

"What do you need to tell me...please- don't take too much time, my frail, old heart cannot hold out."

The man clicked his tongue in response, before he shrugged his shoulders and dropped his voice even lower;

"Ma'am, there was an incident involving one of your boys- Byakuran's shoe was found near the body of a student from his high school. Ma'am, I think he's been kidnapped."

Silence greeted him, and then he heard an uncanny wail. He grit his teeth, and agreed to meet with the owner of the choked back tears.

(Complication)

Tsuna sat upright in his bed, sweat pouring through his body at alarming speeds. He wiggled out of his bedsheets and threw off his bed clothes. He felt sick, sticky and incredibly cold. He made his way down the hall in his long boxers, not caring about the stares he received from the other children in the orphanage.

He pressed himself against the shared bathroom door, and then slowly retreated inside. He was lucky that it was almost empty, save for one shower in use. Tsuna dragged himself over to one of the stalls and wrenched the water tap on. Hot water spilled out onto his body, but the scalding temperature did nothing about the seemingly permanent chill on his spine.

He brought his hand back, and pressed two fingers to the base of his neck, and repeated the gesture. The chill only intensified, and Tsuna shut the curain to his shower stall. He turned the tap all the way in heat, and slowly, the discomfort he felt in his hear tbegan to melt away.

He had dreamt of Byakuran- his older brother figure, and had seen unspeakable things happening to the gentle male. The fear he had seen written in those violet eyes, screamed at something within Tsuna to awaken; but there was a barrier around his brain, that would not let him push any further than he was right now.

In frustration, the brunette male punched the grimy tile within the shower, until his knuckles were bruised. He peeled off his boxers and let them fall to the floor in a wet slap, before contiuning to cleanse himself.

He had taken several precautions to remain cheerful, even if only for Mia's sake. The gentle old woman was someone he had come to care for, and he did not want to worry her even more.

As he stepped from the shower, holding in every emotion known to man; he strode over to the towel closet and wrapped a towel around his small waist. Tsuna wiped the mirror clean of condensation, and looked at himseld intently. He pushed and prodded at the new bags that had collected under his eyes. He sighed, pressing cool fingertips to the skin, hoping to soothe the angry purple lines. Tsuna made haste then to brush his teeth and run a comb through his hair.

His journey through the hallway was stopped abrupt by many heads of hair peering down the stairs. Tsuna gently moved bodies until he, too, sat on the first step and listened like the rest.

Oh, Mia-san was on the phone; wait, why was her voice breaking? Was that a sob? Tsuna stood quickly, a tiny head of black hair clinging to his side as he tore down the stairs, capturing a sobbing old woman in his arms as he hugged her. The silent cries wracking through the frail form as cold, calloused hands clutched his underdeveloped biceps.

"T-Tsuna... t-take Lambo, upsta-i-irs. We... we will talk later."

The amber-eyed male obligied, albeit reluctantly, and cradled the small, sniffling child in his arms and proceeded back the way he came. It was safe to say that he would not be going to school today.

He sighed, placing the children in their respective rooms, and closed the heavy doors to deter prying ears and eyes. He had tried his best to put on a stern face for the younger children. But the teary eyed innocence could only be dealt with to a certain degree.

Tsuna locked the door and slowly made his way back down the stairs. His heart heavy as he rounded the kitched corner and spotted Mia sitting at the table. Her white blouse was wrinkled, and she looked so frail. Tsuna made his way around the table, and saw directly in front of her. His hands overlapped hers, and she looked up. Her expression was so broken, and it tore Tsuna up inside.

It had only been hours ago he had tried to console this woman, to let her know that everything would be alright. But now, looking at her face, he felt as though he had failed her in the most unpleasant way. Mia looked up at Tsuna with greif ridden eyes, the silver shade hald lidden by the grey tinted skin. Her hand found the warmth of his cheek as she breathed in steadily- trying to be strong even though she looked as though she may break at any moment.

"Byakuran- has gone missing. They found his shoe, and it was covered in blood."

The words went rushing in to Tsuna's ears. The pounding of his heart something he was not used to. He slid into his chair, and found his throat felt constricted.

"That... that can't be.."

Mia nodded slowly, her grasp tightening on his fingers. He looked at the ground, his eyes glazing over,

"They mistook the body at the crime scene as his, but it was another one of his classmates...Tsuna..are you listening to me... Tsuna..."

The petite teen found himself on the floor, his arms cradling his torso as he shook, rocking himself back and forth. This could not be happening... this could not be happening. Admist the mental breakdown, there was a soft tapping at the front door, time seemed to stand still as Mia stood, shuffling towards the entry way. Tsuna looked up, eyes wide and fearful, as the door swung open and invited in the manifestation of death itself.

Cloaked in black from head to toe, stood an oddly familiar man. He tipped his hat in greeting, but made no further notion to remove it. Beside him stood a gentle looking man, who strode over to the panicing teen. His hand was extended, and the careful smile on his face was welcoming enough. Tsuna's eye twitched as he pulled his cold form from the ground, and allowed this stranger to lead him into the living room.

The man seemed to want to ask him questions about his old brother figure, but his mouth refused to open. The cup of hot chocolate he had been handed previously by Mia-san, was now cold- and the disappointed sigh from the man before him let him know the questioning was finished for the day.

He did not see even the shadow of the oddly familair man in black- but something told him that he would be seeing much more of this person. His gut was on fire, and his intuition was going off like a fourth of July celebration in America. He peered out the window, the sky telling the story of Tsuna's heart- depicted in the tones of grey, and it was raining.