Disclaimer: I do not own KHR...
Alternative Reality
Chapter 25: Tsuna and Natsuki's Return
Half a year had passed since the tragedy in the hotel had happened. Tsuna was now back in the parallel world completely bind in it. If he dies in that world, he will die for real like what Stella said. Natsuki have also been revived by Diana. Diana was able to create a vessel for Natsuki that was made out her ashes, human bones, sky flames, and earth's soil. Natsuki's appearance still remained the same. She still looked like a human but she no longer had the warmth of a human being. Her body was no longer bounded in time. She won't age but that doesn't mean that she won't die. Once the body was destroyed, she will die again. She is no longer part of the living. Her existence is a crime itself. Even Tsuna's existence in Natsuki's world was a crime but he can't stop himself from coming back in Natsuki's world. He just needs to see her again.
"Tsuna... You came back..." Natsuki said as she smiled down at Tsuna.
"Natsuki... You're alive? But how...?" Tsuna asked. He thought that he would still share the same body with Natsuki like before.
To his surprise, his body didn't transform into a woman's body. He still retained his male form which shocked him.
Natsuki went down from the tree that she was staying. She walked towards Tsuna slowly then she suddenly hugged him which shocked Tsuna.
Tsuna blushed at Natsuki's action. He knew that she was him but he can't stop himself from getting red. At first, he was shocked. After a few seconds, he noticed that Natsuki's body was cold like a corpse.
"Na-Natsuki...?" Tsuna's arms wrapped around Natsuki's shoulders.
"Tell me, Tsuna... Did you feel the coldness in my body? Can you still call this living?" Natsuki asked him as her hug on him grew tighter.
"I'm sorry..." Tsuna replied sadly.
A small tear escaped on Natsuki's eyes then she released Tsuna. She smiled at him like she always did before. "I'm completely grateful for all the things that you have done for me. I'm sorry if I wasn't able to thank you properly back then."
Tsuna shook his head. "Don't worry, it's alright... By the way, how did you get that body? It's not that I'm teasing you or something but that body was pretty cool. You still look like a human even though... Ah... Sorry..."
"Haha... Nah... Don't worry, it's alright... I got this body through the help of Lady Diana. Do you remember that old lady that we met in the hospital that saw you in your spirit form? That's her... She made this for me. I've asked her to create it but there's a price." Natsuki told him while staring at the stars.
Tsuna was curious at the price. "What is the price?"
"Grandpa Vittore's life... I have to kill him. It seems like Lady Diana has a grudge on grandpa but I don't know why. I can see it in her eyes though. She just won't tell me. Both of us have something in common after all." (Natsuki)
"I see... So you went back to your original plan, huh? Well, not that I blame you... Your grandfather is just plain evil. I hate him you know... I can understand if there are a lot of people who hate him." (Tsuna)
Natsuki chuckled again for the first time. Tsuna was happy to see her smiling again despite her situation.
"So? What did I miss? It seems like time have passed by in this world. By the time I returned in my world, I was in the men's comfort room sleeping like you haven't dragged me in your world. It was like the time in that world didn't move at all after all the days, weeks, and months that I have spent in this world." Tsuna informed Natsuki.
"You were sleeping in the men's comfort room? Pfft!" Natsuki tried to hold off her laughter.
"SHUT UP!" Tsuna blushed. He was embarrassed as well when the janitor found him sleeping there.
Natsuki began telling him everything. She told him about where her original body had been sealed after dragging Tsuna in her world. That information caused Tsuna to drop his jaw.
"You had your body? Why didn't you use it? Why did you have to drag me in your world in the first place?" Tsuna screamed while pouting.
Natsuki smacked him at the back of his head. "Haven't you been listening? I said it was SEALED! And I cannot break the seal. Besides, even if it is not sealed, I can't still use it because that body is bound in time. I died remember...? This means my time had finally stopped and I can no longer use that body."
Tsuna nodded even though he had a hard time understanding what she was saying.
Natsuki continued telling him the information that he needs to know. She reached the part about the creation of her vessel which made Tsuna shiver due to its creepiness. She even told him about their mom's pregnancy.
"MOM'S PREGNANT? SIX MONTHS AT THAT? IS IT A BOY OR A GIRL? WHAT'S ITS NAME?" Tsuna screamed while pacing back and forth like he was the father of that child.
Natsuki flicked his forehead with her fingers. "Calm down! It's a boy but the name is still unknown. They can't still decide on what name to give to him yet."
Tsuna calmed down and an awkward silence appeared before them. He has something important he wanted to ask about the baby but he was afraid to ask it. He shook his head and he mustered all the courage that he could get.
"Um... That child... Will he become the next Vongola Boss?" Tsuna gulped as he waited for an answer.
Natsuki met his gaze and nodded. "Yes... He is the one who will replace me. That is why I need your help Tsuna."
"My help?" (Tsuna)
"Yes, I want you to go to my family's side. I want you to protect the child from harm. Please, I'm begging you, Tsuna... If grandpa Vittore finds out about that kid's existence, I'm sure that he would kill that child including Mama. So please, stay with them." Natsuki bowed down to Tsuna as she asked for that favour.
Tsuna grabbed Natsuki by the shoulders and forced her to look at him. "You don't have to beg, Natsuki. I will do it even if you won't tell me but how about you? What are you going to do? Even if you won't tell me, I know that you've been living alone all this time. You haven't met them after acquiring that body. Am I right?"
Natsuki looked away. A small, sad smile appeared on her face. She nodded at what Tsuna told her. "I'm going to find a way on how to kill grandpa Vittore. Killing him won't be easy especially now that he had somehow gained strength. I can't kill him and at the same time protect the child. I'm not that great to do all of that. I can only choose one and I chose to do the killing."
Tsuna released Natsuki. No words would come out in his mind and mouth. They suddenly heard voices which alerted them. It was a child's voice not just one but three voices can be heard. The voices seemed familiar to them. They also heard the rustling of the bushes. They've recognized the voices as the voices of Lambo, Fuuta and I-pin.
"UWAH! There's no such thing such as ghost right, Fuuta?" Lambo said as he sniffed.
"Lambo! Don't scare me like that!" Fuuta said in his trembling voice.
"Ghosts are not real!" I-pin assured them but in reality she was also scared if there was one that would appear.
Tsuna and Natsuki heard the voices of Gokudera, Yamamoto, Kyoko, Haru, Bianchi and Reborn from a distance.
Natsuki took a few steps backwards. "It's time for me to go... till we meet again, Tsuna."
Tsuna grabbed her on the wrist and stopped her from leaving. "Wait! Please don't go, Natsuki! Come and meet all of them! I'm sure they will be happy to see you again regardless of your situation! Please!"
Natsuki smiled and grabbed her wrist away from Tsuna's grasp. Sky flames that looked like a thick, line of thread wrapped around her body. The orange, light orbs gathered around her and she began to fly away from Tsuna.
Tsuna chased her with all of his might. "NATSUKI!"
"Please stay by their side, Tsuna... because I no longer can..." Natsuki thought to herself as she vanished in the air leaving the light orbs that was slowly disappearing.
Fuuta, Lambo and I-pin searched for the others. They went to the cemetery to play some ghost hunting game. While playing, the three of them were separated with the others. The others were also searching for them. Even though, Natsuki was already gone. Gokudera and Yamamoto can't stop themselves from visiting the Sawada household. Now that Nana was six months pregnant, their visits have become a daily part of their life. As Natsuki's guardians as well, they were tasked to protect the next Vongola Boss that will replace Natsuki.
Reborn and Bianchi continued to live with Nana and Iemitsu. Iemitsu was also ordered by the ninth to stay in Japan with Nana.
Natsuki's death was a shock to Kyoko and Haru. The truth was hidden to them. They were just told that Natsuki died in an accident. They were completely heartbroken that they weren't able to see her. They were able to stay strong thanks to the friends that they have.
As the kids kept on wandering on the cemetery, a crow suddenly flew which scared the life out of Lambo. Lambo screamed and run aimlessly. Fuuta and I-pin followed him as well.
"WWWAAAAHHH...!" Lambo ran in a straight line until he passed through the bushes.
Some of the leaves stuck on his afro hair. Due to his aimless running, he reached the center part of the cemetery. He saw a man standing in front of him near the huge tree. The man was looking at the sky. The man's identity piqued Lambo's curiosity. Fuuta and I-pin appeared on his side seconds later.
"Lambo! Don't just leave like that!" Fuuta scolded Lambo. He was panting after all the running that they did.
"Lambo?" I-pin tilted her head. She was curious on what made Lambo quiet.
Fuuta and I-pin looked at where Lambo was looking. They also saw a man. His hair seemed familiar to them. They way he stood and everything. For some reason, they felt like they knew the man for so long. The three kids slowly walked towards the man to get a clearer view. Lambo walked closer to the man.
"Alelele... Who are you?" Lambo poked the man's legs.
The man looked at them over his shoulders. They were surprised to see caramel orbs looking at them. The man turned around and walked on a more lighted place. The three kids dropped their jaws when they got a clearer view on the man's face. He looked exactly like their Natsuki-nee except that he is a man.
"AAAAAHHHH...! OBAKE!" The three kids released a shriek of terror.
The man covered his ears due to the loudness of their scream.
Reborn, Bianchi, Gokudera, Yamamoto, Kyoko and Haru heard their scream. They followed where the scream came from and ran towards the source.
"STUPID COW!" Gokudera ran in top speed.
"The Kids!" Yamamoto followed Gokudera.
"Hahi~! That wasn't caused by a ghost right?" Haru cried as she ran.
"Nonsense! There is no such thing such as ghost!" Kyoko's running speed could be in par with Gokudera.
Bianchi followed them with a worried look on her face. On the other hand, Reborn's face was completely void of any emotions.
When they've reached the designated place, they saw Lambo and I-pin hugging Fuuta while staring at a certain man. Their eyes went round when they saw the man.
The man tried to regain his hearing. He somehow loss it thanks to the children's scream. "HHHIIIEEE! DON'T SCREAM! I AM NOT A GHOST!"
Gokudera trembled as his hands have slowly risen to his chest. "T-This can't be true..."
"I think I need to go to a mental hospital." Yamamoto blurted out loud.
"What the heck?" Kyoko said in a delinquent manner style.
Haru's eyes were as wide as saucers. "He looked exactly like Natsuki-chan!"
Reborn bore his eyes on the man. "Tsunayoshi Sawada..."
Tsuna gulped as he looked from one person to another. They can see him now unlike before. He raised his right hand slowly. He may know all of them but they didn't know him, not unless Iemitsu found Natsuki's letter and told them about it. Natsuki and Tsuna planned to tell them everything but they didn't get the chance.
"Uh... Hello?" Tsuna said nervously.
Tsuna sat on the sofa. Reborn and the others have decided to bring Tsuna back on the house so that Iemitsu and Nana will know about his sudden appearance. Tsuna's feet were closed with each other. His hands were on his lap. He was getting nervous at how the people were staring at him. Even Shamal couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Kyoko and Haru went back to their houses. Kyoko couldn't wait to tell the big news to her big brother. Haru was forced to leave by Gokudera.
Lambo stood at the sofa. He was staring at Tsuna with his mouth open. His drool was starting to fall out of his mouth which had somehow disgust Tsuna. Fuuta kept on poking on Tsuna's body from the face up to the tip of his toes. I-pin crunched her eyebrows in pure curiosity.
Yamamoto would switch from one place to another. He was inspecting Tsuna in different angles. No matter what angle he saw, he can see the resemblance between him and Natsuki.
"So this person here is Natsuki's male counterpart... I didn't see him clearly before but he really does look like Natsuki." Yamamoto thought.
Gokudera had his reading glasses on. He also tied his hair in a pony tail. Those were signs that he was thinking deeply and properly like a mad scientist.
"Is he a UMA? No... He is not but this is unbelievable!" Gokudera seemed stupid at answering his own question.
Reborn examined Tsuna under his fedora. "He's the one who helped Natsuki came back to life. Is Natsuki with him as well?"
He really wants to ask those questions to Tsuna right away but for some unknown reason, he couldn't do it.
Bianchi entered the living room with a cup of tea in her hands. "Here... Take this... Tsuna, isn't it? This tea will make you calm down. Just relax and feel at home. This is still your house... in a way that is."
Tsuna refused Bianchi's tea politely. He swore that he saw some purple smokes coming off the teacup. He didn't see the inside of the cup but he swore that he heard some bubbles popping and he doesn't want to see the inside either.
"Uh... I-I'm fine... Thanks..." Tsuna said politely. Parallel world or not, Bianchi's poison cooking is still dangerous and hazardous to your health.
Bianchi nodded and went back to the kitchen.
The door in the living room was blasted open. Iemitsu ran to Tsuna and trapped him in a bear hug. He was crying while smiling like a stupid idiot. Nana followed with a huge bulge on her stomach. Bianchi went to Nana's side and assisted her in the room.
"MY SON! I FINALLY MEET YOU!" Iemitsu screamed at the top of his lungs.
"Le-Let go! Dad... I'm dying... HELP!" Tsuna fought his way out of Iemitsu's hug. If he remained on Iemitsu's grasp, he'll really die out of suffocation before he could even do what Natsuki asked him to do.
Nana sat on a free chair. "Mmmuuuooo~ Darling! Don't kill our child who came from the parallel world."
Iemitsu released Tsuna and went to his wife's side. He kissed her cheeks then he looked back again at Tsuna.
Tsuna coughed a few times before looking at his parents. Natsuki told him about their mother's pregnancy but that didn't stop him from getting surprised.
"You... really are pregnant, mom?" Tsuna asked in disbelief.
Nana smiled at him. She asked Tsuna to come closer. She took his hand and placed it on her womb. Tsuna felt something kicked inside which made Nana giggled. Nana leaned closer and hugged her son which she had missed for so long.
"I'm glad that you came back. I thought you would never return." Nana told him heartily.
"I'm sorry for leaving like that, Mom." Tsuna tried to comfort her.
Nana released Tsuna. She asked the thing which everyone wanted to know. "Where is Natsuki? Is she still with you? Are you still sharing the same body with her?"
Everyone waited for his answer. Tsuna is their only link to Natsuki whom they want to meet. He looked away for a moment. He didn't know how to answer those questions. He knew that his answer will hurt them deeply but he can't also bring himself to lie at them. He met his parents' gaze who looked determined. He sighed and answered Nana's question.
"I don't know where she is. The last time I met her was in the cemetery where Lambo, Fuuta and I-pin found me. She left when she heard the children's voice coming closer. We no longer share the same body like before." (Tsuna)
Lambo jumped off the sofa and ran to Tsuna's side. He pulled the sleeve of Tsuna's uniform. His eyes were glistening in tears. "Eeeehhh? Why? Why did she leave without appearing before us?"
Gokudera rose from his seat. "Jyuudaihime is still alive?"
Yamamoto, Reborn, Bianchi and the other kids gave their full attention to Tsuna. Even Iemitsu can't stop himself from hoping at the possibility of seeing his daughter again.
Tsuna patted Lambo's head. "You can't blame her Lambo... She's no longer the same like she used to be."
"What do you mean?" Lambo cried while looking at Tsuna's eyes.
Tsuna smiled sadly while looking at Lambo. He can't bring himself to tell Lambo everything, like Natsuki had become a living corpse.
Lambo swatted Tsuna's hand off his head. He ran to his room crying. He screamed his feelings openly which was the same with everyone else. "I want to see Natsuki-nee! I WANNA SEE NATSUKI-NEE!"
He was followed by Fuuta and I-pin towards his room. They also shared the same feelings.
Yamamoto walked closer to Tsuna. "Is Natsuki..."
"She's already dead, Yamamoto." Tsuna interrupted coldly.
The others felt a sharp pain in their chest at the sudden revelation. Gokudera clenched his hands into fist. He still can't forget his feelings for Natsuki like his fellow guardians. He knew that he must move on but he can't do it. He still can't do it. He wanted to see Natsuki again even if it was just for a few seconds. He wanted to hear her voice and touch her. The other guardians also felt the same way including Reborn.
Iemitsu began to speak. "But you have seen her before right? I'm sure that she must have told you to do something. Your return in this world is not just a pure coincidence."
"Yes, she told me to protect the child that mom is bearing now while she is off finding a way to kill Vittore. She can't kill Vittore and at the same time protect the child. She chose to do the killing instead of protecting..." Tsuna answered.
Iemitsu was rendered speechless at those words. He can't blame his daughter at her decision. Nana sighed and told everyone to rest. That was enough information for one night. Natsuki's room was given to Tsuna for him to use.
Gokudera and Yamamoto started to walk to the door.
Before they could rest for the night, Reborn, who stayed quiet for a long time, asked Tsuna about Natsuki's situation.
"What do you mean by she's no longer the same like before?"
Everyone's gaze landed on Tsuna. Tsuna smiled sadly at the question.
"Natsuki gained a new body that is not bounded in time. The body is made out of her ashes, human bones, sky flames, and earth's soil. She still retained her human form but she no longer has the warmth of a human being. In other words, she's a living corpse."
Lussuria and Damian were still in Japan. They were tasked to keep an eye on Nana in case something happens. The other Varia members went back to Italy together with Timoteo and Dino. The Arcobalenos were scattered all over the world.
Lussuria went to the Namimori shopping district because of the midnight sale. Damian was forced to come along as well. Lussuria bought a lot of things like bags, shoes and even dresses which he couldn't wear.
Damian went out of the shopping district and walked on the roads aimlessly as he waited for Lussuria to finish shopping. He crossed a pedestrian line when the light signalled for him to do so. When he reached the other side of the road, he still continued walking aimlessly on the sidewalk until he noticed a brunette girl walking at the other side of the road on his peripheral view. The girl seemed familiar. He turned sideways to get a clearer view on who it was. His jaw drop when he saw who it was.
On the other side of the road where he came from, he saw Natsuki walking on the opposite direction.
"It... can't be... Big sister is... alive?" Damian tried to go back to the other side of the road.
He was about to cross the pedestrian lane but the lights have signalled for the people to stop crossing and the cars have begun running. Damian looked for some other ways to reach the other side.
"BIG SISTER! BIG SISTER! BIG SISTER NATSUKI!" Damian screamed desperately.
Natsuki walked alongside the living until she disappeared without leaving any trace of her whereabouts.
Author's Notes: Wooohhh...! I woke up early in the morning just to upload this chapter! DX I planned to update yesterday but thanks to the BLACK OUT I wasn't able to upload it! Grrr...!
Anyway, please clap your hands and rejoice! (To those who just wants to do it...) Our entire house had become wi-fi area! It means more chapters and quicker (?) updates! Woohoo! Thank you so much, father! Unfortunately, he won't be able to read this message. -_- And I'm too shy to say it out loud... XD
I kind of notice that fanfiction is a day late in our country, the date that is. Well, who cares... I'll just write the next chapter. I'll upload it later if I finish writing it early... That is IF I finish writing it early so don't let your hopes up. Muahahaha...
Thank you for your reviews persona3adict, TheKawaiiStar21, anon, Ayz283, and VenomRogue!
persona3adict: I'm afraid this chapter will hurt you but I wish it won't. *sniff*
TheKawaiiStar21: I LOVE your reactions! Hahaha... The idea of Vittore and Diana being husband and wife is so hilarious! Hahaha... Anyway, their relationship will be revealed in the future chapters. I will NOT tell any spoilers even if you guys hunt me down. Hahaha... XD
anon: Thank you so much! This chapter is the answer to your question. :D
Do enjoy reading everyone! ^_^