Characters:
Tsuna - White Rabbit
Hibari - King of Hearts
Kusakabe - Knight of Hearts
Gokudera - Tweedle Dee
Yamamoto - Tweedle Dum
Shamal - caterpillar Absolem
Hana, Kyoko - chefs in the Red palace
Haru - gardener
Reborn - Cheshire Cat
Dino - Alice
Mukuro - Mad Hatter
Chrome - Mice Mallymkun
Ken and Chikusa - Hares
Varia - the Royal guards of Hearts
Vindice - the Others
Six Funeral Wreaths - the White Royal guards
Yuni - White queen
Byakuran - White knight
Checker face - Time
Ryohei - Captain of the palace guards
〜 〜 〜
The peaceful breeze blew through quiet garden and silence grew between the brunette and White queen as the last words have been told. Both of them kept looking forward at beautiful trees and the atmosphere was surprisingly light but also quite sad. Yuni thought about Tsuna's words, who meanwhile didn't think about anything. He felt a bit better after telling someone but that was it. It surprised him how calm and indifferent he was. It was barely just a day since he found out about his fate but he already accepted it. Well there wasn't really anything that could've been done right?
"So there's nothing you can do?" Yuni asked him after a while of silence.
The brunette shook his head apathetically. "No. From what I saw it's quite clear - it's me or Dino-san. I remember it. I saw myself die or him and there's no way I can let him die and live instead. It's better this way..."
Tsuna sighed. He guessed that what he saw will occur during the ball. If that's the case he has about 10 days, maybe not even that. 'I guess I won't make it in time, confessing to Hibari-san... There's no way I'll get stronger in mere 10 days.' he thought and felt depression filling him. 'It's better like this. I bet Hibari-san kissed me out of curiosity or frustration so at least I'll stop being a hindrance to Dino-san and they might...' The brunette bit his lip. He felt his heart ache just from thinking about them being together. It wasn't fair...
"So that's it? You're just going to give up?" Yuni asked suddenly with calm voice.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Tsuna flinched, surprised by the question.
"You want to stop trying just after finding out you're going to die soon?"
"Well...there's nothing that can be done. After all the King doesn't want anyone weak as his partner and I can't possibly get stronger in such a short time." he said and looked down, kicking a rock near his foot. "It's better like this..." he mumbled.
"...if you're ok with things end this way then there's nothing else for me to say. It's just that I got a feeling that you're not gonna stop and keep trying until you reach your goal. From what you said it looked like it - that you were ok with things as they were until Dino appeared and made you change your point of view." Yuni glanced at him, noticing how her words shook him off.
'Stop it...' Tsuna thought.
"You hated the fact that Dino could rob you of the King and even though you knew it would be better like that you decided to change it." she continued calmly.
'Stop it.'
"You were determined to do anything in order to be worthy of your king, even if it meant betraying your own homeland and throwing away a chance of making the Red kingdom more prosperous."
'Stop it!'
"But then you were pushed down by being forced to make an impossible choice and now you are what you are - lifeless body walking around and regretting everything. I thought your determination was bigger than that."
"STOP IT! SHUT UP!" Tsuna shouted suddenly, startling her. "I know it - I'm just a weak, selfish idiot who gives up easily. There's nothing good about me! I'm not brave, kind or smart. I even wanted to betray everyone just for my own good. I'm a dirty traitor! ...but I-I can't do anything a-about it..." the brunette yelled with his voice shaking. Yuni stared at him and didn't dare to break the silence between them. She didn't expect an outburst like this.
"...w-what should I-..I do?" he whispered after a while with his arms trembling and eyes filled with tears. "I-...I know it c-can't be helped. The fu-future can't be changed, I know that...but it's not fair! W-why? Why me? W-why do I-I ha-have to die s-so soon?" Tears started rolling down uncontrolablly through Tsuna's hics. "I d-don't want to die! Is it so wrong for me to want live a little longer?" he whined desperately and his legs gave up as he started crying loudly, covering his face.
Suddenly he felt something warm holding him tightly and stroking his head gently. "Shhh. Everything's going to be alright. Cry as much as you want." Yuni whispered and smiled. Finally he let it all out.
〜 〜 〜
After crying his heart out and calming down, Tsuna felt a lot better. It was as if something heavy was lifted up from his chest and now that he felt lighter, it seemed like the world around him got back its colors again. He took a deep breath and looked up at the beautiful trees above him.
"Are you feeling better?" Yuni asked him carefully with a bit worried. He cried a lot so she was unsure if it was a good decision to make him let it all out like that.
"Yeah, I'm feeling much better now." he smiled at her and rubbed his eyes. They must have been terrible swollen and red.
Yuni watched him but it looked like the rabbit wasn't lying or trying to put on a tough face. She felt really relieved. "So what are you planning to do now?" she rose her eyebrow, noticing his confused expression. "Do you want to keep quiet and stop trying or try doing your best in getting stronger?"
Tsuna shrugged his shoulders. He had no idea what to do now. Before he was so desperate and lifeless that he didn't even thought of doing anything but now that his mind was cleared up he couldn't think of anything. "I don't know. I think it's impossible for me to get strong enough so I could confess to Hibari-san in mere 10 days..."
"..." the Queen didn't say anything. She had no idea how to help him in this kind of matter nor what feelings had the King for the brunette. If it were her she would probably confess without trying to get stronger so she could leave in peace. For some reason when the word 'confession' crossed her mind the first face that popped up before her eyes were the grin of a certain white-haired man always standing by her side. She blushed a bit but quickly shook her head. 'What am I thinking about now?!
"I'll have go back soon." Yuni said suddenly.
"Huh? Really? That's a shame...no! Well I mean it can't be helped..." the brunette mumbled rubbing his head with badly hidden disappointed expression.
"I'd love to stay longer but unfortunately I have some work to do before lunch." she smiled sadly, but got an idea. "But I wanted to ask you - would you like to see the palace?"
"I don't mind but I'll get lost very easily."
"Don't worry about it. I was thinking of asking someone to show you around but I understand if you're tired and don't want to."
"No, I'm fine! I mean you don't have to-"
"Then you don't want to after all?" Yuni asked with gloomy face.
"W-what? No! That's not what I-" the brunette waved his hands around, nervous from seeing her sad.
"Does it mean you want?" she asked with brighter expression.
Tsuna stared at her happy smile and sighed. "Yes." he replied finally with stiff grin. He didn't want to cause her more trouble after she helped him like that but it seemed it would be worse if he declined her offer.
"Then wait here. I'll send someone for you." Yuni smiled, her eyes sparkling enthusiastically.
"Ehm, I wanted to ask, why do you want me to see your palace that much?" the rabbit asked.
"Why? Well I just thought it would be a shame if you didn't see. I didn't want to boast about how beautiful the White palace is of course, I only wanted you to look around and enjoy your time here." she explained and smiled warmly. Tsuna watched her and again was blinded by her. The White queen was just so dazzling that she was almost comparable to the Sun. He returned her a smiled and bowed.
"Thank you very much, Yuni-sama."
"You don't have to thank me, Tsuna. I hope you'll like the palace."
"I'm sure I will!"
"Happy to hear that. I'll see you later at lunchtime." Yuni waved at him and left with her white cloak flying in the wind. Tsuna watched her back receding from him and sighed, rubbing his head. It was quite long morn and to think he regretted going on this trip not too long ago. He looked up to the sky and took a deep breath. He was really happy he got to meet Yuni. He can't change the fact that he doesn't have much time left and so it would be a waste if he just spend it like a lifeless doll.
'Then when Time said to me to use my time wisely, he probably meant I shouldn't regret anything and just keep moving forward.' he thought and wondered what to do. 'Should I just confess to Hibari-san even if I know there's no way he would accept my feelings? Well I have nothing to loose but still...'
The brunette sighed and turned around, wondering who will be his guide. After a while he noticed a silhouette entering the garden. It was a guy with white spiky hair and when he noticed the rabbit his eyes lightened up and suddenly he changed his pace into fast running, quickly shortening distance between them.
Tsuna paled and sweat dropped. 'Wait, is it really him? He doesn't look like a guide! Doesn't he actually want to kill me?!' he panicked and made few steps back, ready to run for it at any time.
"WAAAIIIT RIGHT THEREE!" the guy yelled suddenly, shocking the brunette, who just stood there and waited till he reached him. The man stopped few meters before him and breathed in and out deeply before smiling widely with burning eyes. "I'm Sasagawa Ryohei, your guide! My favorite thing is boxing and my favorite phrase is EXTREME! Pleasure!" he shouted with overwhelming energy.
The rabbit stared at him, startled by the development of the events. 'So he really is my guide...' he thought, shocked.
"Ehm, I'm Sawada Tsunayoshi, the messenger of the Red king. I'll be in your care." Tsuna introduced himself and bowed. He was still surprised that Yuni sent someone this overeager
"Why so formal, Sawada? Take it easy!" Ryohei yelled and slapped him in the back.
"HIIII!" the brunette screamed with tears. 'What's up with this dude?! How am I supposed to deal with him?!'
"I'm sorry..." Tsuna mumbled and rubbed his back. Suddenly he flinched when he noticed something. "Wait! Sasagawa?! Don't tell me Kyoko-chan is your sister!" he shouted, pointing at Ryohei with wide open shocked eyes.
"Oh, that's right! I wanted to ask if she's doing ok since I heard you're working in the same place." Ryohei said, oblivious of brunette's horrified expression.
'So this guy is Kyoko-chan's older brother. She told me she has an older brother but this is too much! How is possible for such a cute girl to have such a brother?!'
The brunette shook his head wildly. "Kyoko-chan's doing well." he answered, smiling nervously.
"Great!" Ryohei grinned and clenched his fists, fired up. "Yoosh! Let's go Sawada! I'll show you the palace to the EXTREME!"
〜 〜 〜
Sorry it's always taking me a week to upload new chapter. I think you'll get lost if I won't update the story more frequently so I'll try to be more active ;)
For now let's vote - who wants Tsuna to die and who wants Dino to die? xDD I'm just kidding! :D see you later ;)