Forgotten Sky

Thanks so much for all the amazing reviews, and for the favs and follows! It took me a little while to finish this chapter, I was having trouble figuring out how to write it. I was listening to Fade Away by Breaking Benjamin the whole time I was writing this. You can tell it influenced my writing at the end... and the title... Here's the next chapter, enjoy!

Warnings: possible OOC, minor/major OC enemy, angst, bad/anticlimactic fight scene?

Target 8: Fade Away

"You!" Tsuna hissed, rightfully angered by the man's presence. The man's grin merely stretched wider, if possible. That grin was definitely unhinged. Several people were rather shocked at the cold greeting, not having seen that kind of reaction out of the brunette before. But they didn't have time to think about before the man was speaking.

"Geh heh heh, shouldn't you be dead, chibi-chan?" The man asked tilting to the side slightly, like the deranged lunatic he was. Several people grit their teeth, others snarled, growled or screamed profanities in response.

"Enough, it doesn't matter." Tsuna's voice cut through the noise easily.

"All that matters is destroying the Dimensional Rip, and defeating that man. Don't let him aggravate you into doing something stupid." He continues, his voice unwaveringly calm.

"Tee Shi Hee. Oh well, you'll be gone soon enough~" The man giggled before erupting into full blown laughter, letting loose his flames in every direction. They were moving immediately, not questioning each other's presence. Working together in full sync. They surrounded the enemy on all sides, the long and mid range fighters continuously attacking from a distance, allowing the close range fighters to get close enough to attack. They weaved in and out in a continuous flow of attack and retreat. It almost looked like an intricate dance, the steps meshing seamlessly.

Except it wasn't working as well as it should be. They were throwing everything they had, but the man was blocking it all with his flames, cackling madly at their attempts. Even when they did hit and he was injured, he just continued cackling and attacking. They couldn't give up, though, Tsuna was counting on them. None of them had any idea why the brunette was so important, but all of them felt like they had to help him. No matter what, they would defeat this enemy.

Tsuna watched stunned as they all moved without question. Then Tsuna almost wanted to laugh, some of them didn't even remember each other and they still couldn't get along. Even now he could see them arguing with each other. Hibari and Mukuro were glaring at each other as they launched their combined attack. He could almost hear their snappy comments, Hibari calling Mukuro a 'Pineapple herbivore' and Mukuro calling him a 'Skylark'. He was fairly sure Gokudera was yelling at Yamamoto as the other boy laughed, before they swiftly launched their attack. Gokudera covered Yamamoto as the swordsman closed in and struck. He could here Ryohei yelling 'EXTREME' at the top of his lungs, and then he was paying attention to whatever Gokudera was yelling and looking thoroughly offended whilst yelling back.

He watched as the Varia snarled at each other, but moved in perfect sync. They coordinated their attacks easily, pulling off multiple combinations that would be impossible for anyone but them. Xanxus was shooting as Squalo closed in. Bel, Levi and Lussuria were doing a Sun Flame energized Bel Dive, Mammon using illusions for cover until it hit.

He watched as the Shimon, the Ninth Generation Guardians and Nono focused their attack on the Rip, taking one side each and simultaneously pounding it with flames of every element. Ganauche and Aoba occasionally creating strong shields when black lightning flames came their way, the others boosting the defence if needed, and then going back to pounding the rip. They were probably the only ones not bickering while they fought.

Byakuran was focusing all of his energy into pounding the enemy into the ground, while the Funeral Wreaths alternated between the Rip and the enemy. He could see Kikyo and Zakuro bantering, while Bluebell yelled at them as she kept a careful distance and covered them with long-range attacks. Torikabuto was keeping them all under a cloak of illusions, while Daisy was protecting Bluebell from stray damage and occasionally giving them all energy.

Tsuna watched the seamless attack with a small smile, glad that they could still merge their attacks even when half of them didn't even know each other. It seemed their instincts were instructing them, even without their memories. But, it was about time he fought too. From the look of it, he wouldn't be able to hold back. Moving forward as close to the fray as he could, he slipped on his gloves, earphones and swallowed his pills. The flame on his forehead blazed into existence as his Vongola gear activated. He could almost hear Primo whispering encouragement and comfort.

"Natsu, Cambio Forma. We can't hold back, let's give it everything we've got." He asked his trusted companion.

"Gao!" The little lion agreed wholeheartedly, happily lending Tsuna his power. With that, Tsuna put both his arms in front of him, one crossed over the other, and began charging his most powerful attack. He focused all his energy, all of his regret, all of his resolve. He looked around him. His friends, his family, working together to defeat the enemy. He wanted so badly to protect them. No, he would protect them, with his Dying Will. His Flames flared all around him, encompassing him in their warmth and power. He felt his body straining under the sheer pressure, but he couldn't stop.

"Operation XX." He whispered into the mic, beginning the sequence of his attack. He waited for the signal, continuously building his flames until he felt he would break.

"COUNTER BURNER COMBUSTION LEVEL RISING. GAUGE SYMMETRY. TARGET LOCK. STANDBY TO FIRE." The mechanical voice told him, Tsuna grit his teeth as he prepared to fire.

"Stand back!" He called to his precious family, waiting for them to move. They complied instantly, all of them able to feel the intensity of his flames. When they were at a decent distance, he launched his attack.

"XX Burner!" Tsuna had just enough time to see the deranged smile as the man pulled his flames into a shield, before his own flames erupted forward. A column of fire burst out of his hands with a Natsu shaped head at the tip. The attack hit hard, knocking almost everyone off their feet and onto the ground. They struggled to see what was happening as Tsuna relentlessly fired his attack. They could just barely make out the black lightning flames keeping Tsuna's at bay.

But it didn't last much longer, the man's flames weakening by the second, until they finally gave. Tsuna's attack pushed forward and hit the Dimensional Rip. The effect was almost immediate, after already taking so much damage. It let out a grinding screech as it was destabilized. The air started vibrating and shaking wildly, before finally shattering with and ear-splitting CRACK.

When the dust settled and everyone was able to get onto their feet, they saw there was nothing left of the man and his Dimensional Rip. The was a collective sigh of relief and a few chuckles went around as the stress from the past week finally came to an end. Tsuna couldn't help the laugh that came out, high from the victory.

All good things must come to an end, however. Tsuna's Hyper Intuition was screaming and his whole body was trembling with the effort to stand. He didn't force himself, collapsing to his knees as he gasped for air he couldn't seem to find. He barely heard the various panicked calls around him, trying desperately to keep himself together for just a little while longer. But it was futile, he knew. He was fading away, it would be over soon. He could feel his body breaking, even as those he loved rushed towards him. But even so, he felt so alone. They didn't know him, they didn't love him, not the way he did them.

But he didn't blame them, and he could never stop loving them. They were his friends, his family, his whole world. So, he simply smiled lovingly at them as he felt his body shatter like ice. Ice...?

"TSUNA!"


AN: Next chapter coming soon, promise! I was writing them together, so it should only take a couple more hours to finish. Be patient?