Blue upon amber. The hues lock, deadly calm. Pacifier lying where it had fallen beneath a burning smolder of orange flames that grow brighter with each movement Tsunayoshi makes. With each flick of the wrist, he feels himself leaving.
He wonders if things would have been different.
But it's far too late now. No new spade, no more unseen treasures to find. No more anything.
He tears his eyes away from that man's. He is not his father.
Iemitsu takes but a cautious step forward.
And watches in horror as with a yell Tsuna bursts into flames.
Strong, huge. Everyone stop to gaze at the flower-like display of burning flames with him at its center. The black sheep.
They swallow him further; deeper. Sucking him into their fiery depths.
And Iemitsu cries out for his son of birth. Because it is too late he knows to fix anything as he'd thought. His son is burning in a stench of roasting flesh and screams right before him. Watching the flames eat him alive, powerless to do anything.
Amidst the flames in a gold, more beautiful than the treasures that adorn a queen's neck, he sees him. His young son. His son cries out. Tears overflowing in his eyes, gripping tightly to someone's hand. Nana's.
And there they leave him. Alone, alone, alone. Mother and son, hand in hand.
To spend eternity together.
Iemitsu has nothing left but his work.
The flames dissipate leaving only a pile of ashes in their wake. Where his son. Tsunayoshi once stood there and even filled in spite Iemitsu wishes he'd loved his son as he should have. It is his own fault.
The Vongola seal etched plainly in the ashes tell him so.
Deathly silent are all until Chrome lets out a shrill cry to shake the rafters.
All at once he weeps, palms grazing the ashes of what once was. If only…
"This is truly an impossible year."
-END-
It's been a pleasure... Thank you for sticking with this series. And I'm sorry for the end, thank you so much for the continued support! Bye!