Disclaimer: Katekyo Hitman Reborn Belongs to Akira Amano

Rokudo Mukuro And The Bracelet

"We need to go through him to find the tenth." Gokudera, Yamamoto, Hikari and Bianchi were in battle mode. They stared cautiously at the man before them. he looked professional.

"That's pointless." The man spoke as he threw his cap aside. "You cannot defeat me." He's face was revealed. Everyone's eyes were wide with shock. He came out in person to deal with them!

"You're!" Yamamoto said with wide eyes. Everyone was surprised. "Rokudo Mukuro" Gokudera finished with gritting teeth. This man was the one started all this problems and tried to cause harm to tenth.

"So, you've finally shown yourself." Yamamoto said. He was also very angry with this man. Because of him many kids were injured very badly.

"What did you do to Fuuta?" Bianchi asked. The by didn't look like himself. She was very worried about him.

"I don't know any Fuuta." Mukuro nonchalantly replied. He gave an apathetic look and started spinning the giant ball.

"Says the man who kidnapped him and forced him to do his bidding." Hikari was very angry. It is rare for her to be angry. When she is it is for good reason. And this is good reason.

"What strength!" Yamamoto exclaimed after seeing him spin the giant iron ball as if it was mare child's play. The ball must weight a lot. Gokudera was thinking about their next move when suddenly he felt pain surging through his body. He couldn't stand anymore and fell to his knees because of the pain.

"Gokudera!" Yamamoto noticed him falling first and called out his name. He quickly went to his friend.

"Hayato!" Bianchi ran to her brother's side and put her hand on his forehead. He had a terrible fever. Which was most likely not caused by normal means. This must be some side effect. "Hayato-kun!" Hikari noticed him too. What happened? Why'd he suddenly collapse? She didn't know.

"Who's first?" Mukuro asked without caring for what just happned. She came to crush them and that is what he will do. Hikari was too concerned about Gokudera that she forgot about him. She looked back at him but Yamamoto was already standing before him. "I'll take you on." He said.

Mukuro said nothing and just pulled his giant ball toward him and moved it like a snake. Then he pushed the ball toward Yamamoto. "Thousand snake fierce domination."

The giant ball was coming toward Yamamoto, but it was slow. Something didn't feel right. Yamamoto thought it was at a speed that he could easily dodge. When it was very close he moved away from the ball before it could strike him. But the wind that circulated around the ball seemed to have pulled Yamamoto toward itself and he got hit hard on his body and he fell down harshly.

"Yamamoto!" Gokudera exclaimed.

"Why! He evaded it completely!" Bianchi exclaimed. She thought what Yamamoto did was correct but he still got hit!

"Something's wrong here!" Hikari didn't understand why that happened. The wind pulled him? Did her eyes trick her?

"Now you know. There is no way for you to survive. Throw away your hope." Mukuro scowled. He didn't care who was next.

"This isn't looking good. This one's strong." Reborn said. He didn't look smug like he always did. It shows how serious the whole situation actually is.

"Who's next?" Mukuro inquired looking at the remaining people.

"Damn!" Gokudera was standing up but Hikari stretched her hand in front of him to stop his movement. "Don't. Takeshi-kun's not down yet." She hadn't moved her eyes from Yamamoto.

"Wait, I haven't lost yet." Yamamoto stood up from his fallen stance. He then smiled goofily. "It would've been close if I hadn't used this as a shield." He showed the baseball bat that Reborn had given him earlier.

"Yamamoto, You idiot!" Gokudera exclaimed. "You had me worried."

"It doesn't change the fact that his attack is dangerous." Reborn said effectively startling Gokudera. "We need to solve the mystery of that attack."

"Yeah." Yamamoto agreed. "It's just like the kid says." He stood up and stared at the man before him. He was not a pushover.

"It's foolish to resist! These useless struggles will only invite your tragic deaths." He again moved the giant ball like a snake and threw it upward. Then he pushed it straight toward Yamamoto.

"Ha ha… I don't care. I'm going in!" Yamamoto then quickly ran toward Mukuro sliding his bat on the ground. When he was close enough he sprayed the dust over the ball. Everyone was surprised to see wind accumulating around the ball.

"The iron balls rotation!" Yamamoto said with surprise.

"Air currents!" Bianchi said in understanding. That's why Yamamoto couldn't evade it that time.

"That's it! That's why!" Hikari nodded. Her eyes weren't playing tricks.

Before the ball could strike Yamamoto fell on the ground and it hit somewhere else. "Whew if I hadn't fallen I would be in serious trouble. The iron ball's rotation picked up some wind. Just like baseball!" He smiled goofily again. Next time he won't be lucky again.

"The secret lies in the snakes carve on the iron ball. The snake shaped ditches cause the flow of any air that strikes the ball to bend into a spiral. The air current that passes through those ditches is entangled in complex knots which amplifies its power many times resulting in a violent gale." Reborn explained Mukuro's attack.

"Even if you understand it you won't be able to stop it." Mukuro said as he pulled the ball towards him again. "Thousand snake fierce domination!" he used the attack.

Yamamoto was prepared. This time he'll do it right. "I'm going to go with faith in basics."

"It's useless." He said. It was as if he was trying to break their hope.

Yamamoto was ready to attack but then he noticed. There was a difference in current. "Reverse spin!" He didn't think that the man could do that. He tried to doge but he wasn't fast enough to do it. The force was so much that it hit Yamamoto on the chest while throwing him at a tree with heavy force. He lost consciousness immediately.

"Takeshi-kun!" Hikari exclaimed.

"As I've already said, abandon all hope. I shall deliver you your tragic death as promised. It's the end." Mukuro kept saying. He was getting ready for his next battle with them. Yamamoto couldn't do anything.

"Don't get cocky…" Gokudera was in terrible pain. But he won't be down that easy. Gokudera pulled some dynamites but fell on the floor. The pain was too much to bear. Hikari slowly walked away from the sibling and stood in front of the fierce fighter.

"Bianchi-san, take care of Hayato-kun." Hikari said and pulled out her Chain sickle. "It's time to get serious."

"Weir…d…woman." Gokudera tried to say something but failed miserably.

"I know Hayato-kun. I'll finish this quickly and we'll find Tsunayoshi-kun." Hikari just huffed and adjusted her hat. Then she looked at him with determined eyes.

"That's not going to happen. I haven't even used a third of my strength. You're chances of winning is less than one in a million. Just give up." Mukuro said and prepared himself for his next fight. He was sure this one couldn't do anything as well.

"Pfft. As if." Hikari then pulled the end of her sickle. The rod of the sickle became longer than it was. Then she stood her ground. He's going to attack any moment now. She had to be ready.

"It's useless. Thousand snakes fierce domination!" He pushed the giant ball toward her with strong force. Hikari felt the strong current of the winds coming at her.

"How do you stop strong wind? Block it or you could just hide…" Hikari said out loud. She stared at the ball. The ball was close to her. When the ball's wind currents tried to pull her towards it she slashed the wind by concentrating her energy on the tip of the sickle. The sickle was sharp and bigger because of her energy coating it. The ball suddenly losing its current fell on the ground with a thud.

"That's… how… you… do... it." Hikari said. She was panting a bit. She had used up too much energy in one day. Then she quickly kicked the ball away and let it fell far from her with a loud crash.

"Not bad. I can use my full strength on you." Mukuro discarded the chain that he held in his hands. "That's just for entertainment. My real strength is hand to hand combat." He cracked his joints and was making his way toward her.

"Oh really?" Hikari was thinking what to do. She was in a pinch. He is obviously strong and she is out of breath. This fight is not in her favor. "If I'm going to die anyway it's better to die trying." She muttered quietly.

"Prepare yourself." Then he quickly came in front of her and did a straight punch. Hikari dodged and did a side kick, he blocked. Then he kicked, Hikari blocked it. There was so much force in it that she gritted her teeth. It was happening so fast that normal eyes couldn't catch it.

"You're very strong…but something's wrong." Hikari said in between her breaths. There just wasn't the thing that drove people to fight. She had chained his hands with her chain. Suddenly there was a rustling noise and Hikari foolishly looked at her side.

"HEY! What do you think you're doing?" Tsuna's voice was loud and clear.

"Tsunayoshi!" Hikari was shocked as she stared at him. Then she remembered "Oh Damn!" Mukuro caught her off guard and kicked her. It directly hit her head and she fell on the ground losing consciousness immediately.

Hikari slowly opened her eyes. She sat up and saw she was laid on the ground next to….Mukuro? At her left was still unconscious Yamamoto. She touched her forehead. Someone bandaged it for her.

"What the hell?" She quietly approached the man and inspected him. He seemed to be poisoned. Why was he poisoned? Where was Tsunayoshi, Reborn….Bianchi and Hayato?

"This is not Bianchi-san's poison…" She stood up and walked to Yamamoto. "Takeshi-kun's not waking up anytime soon. Did they leave us here? No, highly unlikely…" She then closed her eyes. She felt her energy. "I regained a little of my energy."

Hikari then searched for them by concentrating again. They were at the theatre. Chairman was there too. The henchman, Hikari decided to call them that were fighting. The ominous energy was still lingering.

"I have to see what's going on." Hikari ran toward the building. "If Rokudo Mukuro was defeated then who're they fighting?"

She reached the place fairly quickly. Then she swung her chain and threw it at a higher branch of the tree. When it got stuck she pulled to see if it'd hold her weight. Then she used the chain as a swing and when she was high enough jumped to the branch. Then she entered breaking the window of the fourth floor.

"What's going on here?" Hikari asked entering the room and effectively surprising the occupants of the room. She scanned the area to see a guy sitting comfortably on a couch. That area was beautified with ripped curtains. Bianchi was on the floor with a wound on the stomach. It looked bad. Then there was Fuuta also on the ground who thankfully had no injury. Reborn was standing there and Tsuna was next Fuuta.

"Hikari-senpai!" Tsuna exclaimed with shock. She was unconscious when the fake Mukuro slammed his leg on her head. She had a serious head injury.

"What's going on here? Who's this?" Hikari pointed at the boy who was sitting in a rather odd way. Something was odd with him.

"That's the real Mukuro. That man was Lancia who was being controlled by him. Fuuta was also being controlled and with his influence attacked Bianchi. Tsuna stopped him." Reborn informed her. He wasn't looking very happy with the situation.

"I see. I knew something was odd with the other man. I just couldn't get serious with him." Hikari said looked at Tsuna. He was uninjured, for now at least. Then she looked at the man who was apparently Rokudo Mukuro. Yes, he was the one, the one who was making trouble for the spirits.

"You…what are you? How could you do that to Fuuta?" Hikari asked no demanded to know.

"Oya, how rude." Mukuro said. Hikari was glaring at him harshly. She rarely displays her fury.

"I don't really care." Hikari charged at him while spinning the chain. At the end of the chain was a small spike ball. The way of the Chain sickle is, disarm the opponent with the chain, and strike with the sickle. She threw the chain toward him with full force.

"Oh!" Mukuro said as he jumped away. He suddenly had a staff in his hands.

"You smell of the dead. Then as your name is that, I think it's fitting to call you Zombie-kun." Hikari said as she stationed herself for a serious battle.

"Hmn? Says the person from the Tenjou clan…" Mukuro mocked. Reborn was surprised. Tsuna stared at the two of them.

"What?" Hikari was a bit startled. "What did you say?" She has never heard anyone named that.

"What is this? The slanted eyes of the cats is the proof or does the princess not know…?" Mukuro taunted. Hikari was being confused. What is he talking about?

"…What ever…" Hikari said and striked again. In the midst of the slight conversation they had, Mukuro had successfully joined the trident on the edge of the staff.

Then a violent battle erupted. Mukuro strangely had a flame burning in his left eye. Hikari was trying to hand a strike but it seemed he was not bad himself.

"You are strong…but have no stamina, you can't defeat me." Mukuro stated as he dodged another one strike of the chain. He spanned his trident and tried to stab her right side. Hikari dodged it but it scraped her skin. Mukuro smirked.

"Well I can try…" Hikari said as she striked with her chain, Mukuro dodged quickly and launched an attack. Hikari defended with her chain but the trident accidentally struck the bracelet. It couldn't stay intact and shattered. Hikari just stopped like a machine with wide eyes and fell on the floor. It was if her off button was pressed.

"Senpai!" Tsuna screamed. What happened?

"It seemed the bracelet was some kind of limiter or restrainer…anyway we can deal with that later. She isn't useful anymore." Mukuro said with a bored tone.

"How could you do that…what do you think people are?" Tsuna screamed. He was furious.

"Why…they are my toys? I suppose…" Mukuro smirked.

"You bastard!" Tsuna screamed and ran toward Mukuro with the whip he received from Dino. While Hikari was on the floor unconscious again.

…it was a dark dark place. So small, cramped. A small light could be seen. But it was high above…so high. It seemed like a small window. Where was she? She couldn't hear anything.

'I don't like the dark…somebody please get me out of here…'

…..time passed by. Why can't I speak, why can't I move?...how many minutes, how many hours…how many days have passed? I …..don't know…..the girl fidget. She couldn't speak. She just stared at the small window high up….she dozed off and woke up again. It doesn't change.

It was a flower field. The wind moved in a slow pace above it making the flowers move in a sudden wave. At the end of the field stood a young man. He had vibrant red hair. He wore a white shirt with equal white pants. The girl stood there quietly, not sure what she could do. The man turned around. The girl was surprised. He had the most beautiful color of eyes she had seen. They were sapphire blue like the sky.

"What is this? A human child in the plains of Virshana?" the man asked with wonder.

"…." The girl didn't say anything for she didn't know how to speak.

"A strong one…but…no matter. My name is Xezbeth…"

"…."

"What is your name child?"

"….."

"A child who cannot speak…" The man slowly maker his way toward her. The girl is frightened but did not move. This is the first time she has seen another living being other than that dark haired man who comes to give he some food once in a week. The man slowly puts his hand on top her head. She flinches in contact. But he was so warm and bright.

"You have… no name…then I'll call you Hikari. Light in the deepest of the darkness…."

The girl woke up finding herself alone yet again.…..days pass by. She still sees that man. He teaches her many things. Things about the outside world. He teaches her how to speak.

"What is your name?"

"Hikari…" the girl whispers. It was barely audible but she spoke none the less. The man known as Xezbeth does not give up. This goes on and on. The girl now known as Hikari speaks little more each day.

"What is my name?"

"Xezbeth."

The girl doesn't like to learn but does so anyway. When she says anything good the man Xezbeth gives her a smile. It always makes everything worth it. The girl grows up in the dark lonely small room. But she doesn't mind anymore. Xezbeth is her friend…she isn't alone anymore.

….. "Oya oya…this woman's mind is like a fortress. I suppose she can repel any intruders of minds. As expected of a Tenjou family member…."

"This is called red." Xezbeth pulls his hair and tell Hikari. The girl stared without saying anything. Then she slowly reached for them and touches his hair. It was soft and nice to touch. The girl then stares at his eyes. Trying to ask what they are called. He chuckles.

"This is called blue. Just like the sky up there." He points upwards. Hikari looks up and sees blue everywhere. And there are white clouds floating around.

"They are called clouds. And they are white. Everything has a color Hikari. You have to understand with your eyes."

"Sky…free…"

Every time she sleeps the man is waiting for her in the beautiful garden of flowers.

"This is called rose." Xezbeth shows Hikari a rose. It was red.

"Rose. Beautiful." Hikari replies as she looks at the red colored flower with fascination.

"It means Love." He hands the flower to the girl. She takes it with extreme caution as if it will break with the slightest touch.

"All flowers have meanings. You have to know them all."

"Why I have to know them all?" Hikari asked innocently. The man just laughs.

"Because you are the mediator between us and the humans."

"What are humans?"

"You."

"Who are us?"

"The spirits."

Hikari is alone. When she's awakes she always looks at the window. It's so high up that only few drops of light fall inside. She wishes to sleep. Then she could see Xezbeth again. She looks forward for the time when she is away from this dim lighted space to the colorful dream land.

"What is death?" Xezbeth is startled by the question. The little 6 year old girl is just genuinely curious.

"It is the state when a person or a living beings soul moves away to the other world. When their mortal bodies ceases to exist." Hikari doesn't understand and stares at the man with an expression that she didn't understand.

The man sighs. "All creatures perish Hikari leaving their loved ones…and that is called death."

Hikari hesitates to ask. "Then…will…you die too?"

The man understands the hidden question. "No I will never die and leave you alone Hikari." He said with a smile. Hikari feels happy. The feeling is what he described.

Hikari wakes up and everything's black again.

Sometimes she gets food from a man. He looks at her with what she can't describe but hate as Xezbeth showed her. He throws her some food from above. The food isn't good. But she can't tell. They all are the same. Like sand.

"What is outside like Xezbeth-san?" now 7 year old Hikari asked. She was always curious. Xezbeth is startled but is happy that she is showing her curiosity.

"It is happy yet sad. Very different from here."

"Very different? I wish to see." Hikari said with sadness.

"One day I'll take you there Hika-chan. I promise." He says and smiles.

"Really!" Hikari's eyes lit up with joy. Yes! She's going to be free! She looks up at the sky. "I can go where ever I want?"

"Yes…"

"I wish to go outside…"

"Then will you give me your mind?"

Hikari suddenly wakes up from her dream. She touches her face. Tears were still falling from her eyes. They wet the pillow her head was resting against. She noticed her surrounding. She was at a hospital. There was a ruckus happening outside. She wiped her eyes and slowly stumbled to the source of the chaos.

Sorry everyone for not updating yesterday! I was busy with my school prefect job…why did I even bother…anyway this chapter was short compared to my other chapters. It was long but I cut it. The mystery should remain for another chapter.