Me: I know some don't really bother reading Author's Notes, so I'll try not to make it too long or something.

Yeah, so sorry for updating so late. My excuses? Well, I'm part of the school play, I'm supposed to teach my group mates for our arnis presentation, my group mates and I have to dance a festival, and one of my close friends got dengue, so I've been visiting him in the hospital, and we have a long test tomorrow, so yeah…

I can't believe I only updated more than a month later… So sorry.

Also, the poll is open. If you are too lazy to go there and vote, at least tell me your answer for 'Who do you want Akane's first kiss to be?' in a review. The choices are: Bel, Byakuran, and Gokudera. I know the pairing is Akane and Mukuro, but there should be romance with some angst right?

And, I took a look and my eyes widened. I totally did not expect this many follows and favorites! Thanks guys, I love you all!

So, read and REVIEW. Reviews will just help me update faster, you know. -.-

Chapter 10

Previously, on the Rage's Warden…

I exited the mansion and had my stroll around the garden and saw a handful of people there, probably here for the same reason I was. I walked around until the bushes beside me rustled. My eyes narrowed at it, when suddenly I couldn't walk. To be more specific, I couldn't move at all. What the hell is happening? Why am I feeling this way?

A purple bazooka was suddenly in the air, and it was flying towards me. My eyes widened as it hit me and the next thing I saw was darkness.

When I awoke, I saw that I was in a white room. The windows were open and I saw Namimori, but some things were different. Like the shops – some changed, and the mall – it was gone. I looked at what I was sitting on, and it was a bed in the shape of a… marshmallow!?

I blinked my eyes in confusion. Ok, where the hell am I?

I turned around and saw a bowl of marshmallows on the table, and the marshmallows were covered in chocolate syrup. There was a note beside it, saying, "When you wake up, just eat, then head over to the dining room, ok? The new recruit, Leonardo Lippi, will escort you there, Aka-chan~" Only one person calls me 'Aka-chan' in this whole friggin' world. "Hope you get better from your fever~ Signed, Byakuran~"

After all this time, Byakuran was still alive?

A knock was heard from the door and I jumped in surprise.

"Akane-sama, Byakuran-sama is calling you for dinner!" someone had shouted out.

"Um, where is he?" I asked, trying to sound formal and all. If I try to be formal, perhaps they'd answer my questions… Wait, did he just address me with '-sama'?

"In the dining room… Do you need help in preparing, Akane-sama? Byakuran-sama has left you some clothes. They're in your closet."

"No need. I can manage thanks." I said as good-naturedly as possible. Who is that person? That doesn't sound like one of the maids in Byakuran's house…

"Yes, Akane-sama!"

When I was sure that the person had left, I opened the closet in the room and I did find dresses from Byakuran, ones that were white and sky blue in color – white for marshmallows, his favorite food, or snack, and sky blue because he said it fit perfectly with my caramel brown hair.

I grabbed a random one, put it on, and then went out of the room.

I saw so many intersecting corridors and I sweat dropped. Byakuran's house was never this big… Besides, there has to be a map around here, like the ones in malls…

After a while, I came across a door and went in. "Hello?"

"Hmm? Who are you and why are you wearing Aka-chan's –" an albino-haired boy said. His eyes then widened.

My eyes widened as well. No way… I must be dreaming… right? "B-Byakuran?"

The boy nodded slowly as he studied me for a moment. "You look… so much younger, Aka-chan. What happened?"

"I… I don't understand." I said. "No offense, Byakuran, but why do you look older? Where are we?"

Byakuran smiled. "You should eat first. I would like to hear your story, then I'll tell you mine."

I sat down on a leather chair and saw a wide selection of food. They all looked appealing, but… He looks like Byakuran, talks like Byakuran, but ishe Byakuran? Should I trust him?

"Eat," Byakuran said.

I shook my head with slight suspicion.

Byakuran chuckled sadly, saying, "You don't trust your best friend?"

"No, that's not it…" I said. "It's just… I need to know what's happening. It's definitely more important to know than the matter of deciding what to eat."

"Alright." Byakuran said. "Tell me first how you got here."

If he's telling the truth…

"I was at the Vongola Ball with the Varia. I was roaming around, and then a purple bazooka was heading towards me… I woke up in the room here…" I explained.

"I see…" Byakuran said. "Well, Aka-chan, based on your story, you must be ten years into the future."

My eyes widened. "Wh – "

"A purple bazooka… with pink smoke, I suppose?" Byakuran asked.

I nodded.

Byakuran continued, "That must be the Ten Year Bazooka of the Bovino Family. It sends you ten years into the future, switching you and your future self. You end up in their time, and they in yours. It only lasts for five minutes before you switch back."

My eyes widened. "F-Five minutes…?" He nodded. "B-But, I've been here for more than that."

I was getting scared, but didn't show it. Who wouldn't be scared when they're suddenly stuck in some other time?

This Bazooka thing should have sent me back to my own time minutes ago. Why was I still here? Has the time and space continuum gone haywire? Don't tell me that I'm stuck here!

"Wait… Why were you with the Varia? Or better yet, why are you involved with the Mafia? I thought that after…" Byakuran started to say.

"Don't talk about him! I thought we had agreed on that!" I said, glaring at him. "Besides, I was interested. An Arcobaleno even made me join, in a way. Also, I'm part of Varia now."

Byakuran rolled his eyes at me. "No need to shout, Aka-chan… I'm not deaf…"

"Sorry…" I said, averting my eyes to the ground. "But, you shouldn't have attempted to mention him after all these years…"

"I'm sorry about that…" Byakuran said, before looking at me worriedly. "Say, have you… well… smiled at all?"

"Just small ones." I answered honestly.

"That's still counted." Byakuran said, smiling at me. "Who caused it?"

I smiled at him shyly. "Erm… is this really the time to be talking about this?"

He laughed at me good-naturedly, before smiling sadly. "We still have time before I try to find out how to bring you back to your own time. Besides… I… really wish that you'd… smile like that more often…. I've missed your smile so much, Aka-chan…" He shook his head. "So? Who caused it?"

I looked away, a slight blush appearing on my face, saying the name as softly as possible.

If he really is Byakuran…

"Could you repeat that?"

"Mukuro!" I said louder. Damn. This is so un-Akane-like of me… Stupid little Byakuran, being my best friend…

For a fraction of a second, his smile faltered, but he continued smiling at me. "I see… I suppose it's time for my story, then?"

I nodded, ready to know.

Byakuran took a breath of air before beginning. "This is ten years into the future, Akane. I rule this world, well, me and my Mafia family. And about the Varia and Vongola…"

"Don't hesitate… please…" I said. Don't tell me something happened to Bel!

The why does it seem as though…

"They betrayed you."

My eyes widened. "N-No…"

… he isn't the Byakuran I know?

Me: Well, Varia betrayed Akane, huh?! That's surprising… And why does Byakuran know what happened to her? Why is she with him?

Why don't you review and find out in the next chapter, huh?

REVIEW PLEASE.

See you next water time!