『 As long as you live, we'll be happy. 』
A 19 year old boy strutted down the dark alleyways, his gaze unfocused. His face littered with purple bruises, blood trickling down the corner of his mouth. He was slouching over, evident that he would collapse.
Falling onto his knees, he hugged himself, shivering in the cold weather. The adrenaline had worn off during battle, as he noticed his poor health, and how he wondered somewhere.
His head throbbed, as he rolled to the left, barely missing a gunshot. " A sniper, huh ? " reaching into his rumpled and semi - shredded suit, he pulled out a gun, shooting at the position the potential sniper was. A faint ' thud ' was heard from a bush or a tree.
A gun shot was fired again, but by a different person. It pierced his left shoulder, as he gripped it tightly, to stop the blood from running out. He ran, unknown to him, that is where his death awaits.
A puddle of red sicking blood surrounded a brunette child in an alleyway. It was sickening, revolting, an innocent child, barely breathing, dying. But slowly, the wounds started to heal, one by one, the boy became once more, alive.
His golden orange like eyes caught the attention of many people, who tried to sell them in the black market, though the attempts were futile, as the boy took them down as if it was as easy as walking.
He seemed to be uninterested when they - the people of the underworld - tried to hire him, bluntly ignoring them, saying " I will not enter that hell once more. "
The 14 year old - in the new world - sat at a bench at a deserted park, as a gong rang out faintly. He was in Japan, where the subways intersected.
The boy yawned to himself, falling asleep. Night terrors haunted him, he shivered as the cold rushed over him.
' Ikilledthemkilledthemkilledthem - '
' The one person you can't lie to is yourself. '
' It'smyfaultIt'smyfaultIt'smyfaultIt'smyfault - '
' Now their families mourn for their deaths. '
' NoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNoNo - '
The young boy lying on a cold hard floor cradled his head, tears unconsciously slipping out of his eyes. Pulling his body in for warmth, suddenly, his flames didn't feel so warm no more, because there is no family to share it with no more.
The morning came, as the ex - pro tennis player Nanjiro Echizen tiredly walked around ever since his wife threw out his smut books. The man was bored, his son would be coming back to Tokyo in 2 months.
A knock came from his door. Warily looking at the boy who knock, he screamed in surprise.
He ruffled his brown gravity defying hair, looking at the man apologetically.
" Um… Sir ? Can you tell me where I am ? " the boy asked, but the man was too busy observing the boy's muscle figure.
" Did you play any sports ? " the man placed his hand on his chin - a thinking face.
The boy flinched for a second, but nodded. " I use to play baseball, basketball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, racing,cycling, gymnastics, aerobatics, mountain climbing, paralympics, mountain climbing, scuba diving, airplane flying, motorcycle racing, skydiving without the parachute, and others. I had to do all of them because of my tutor. " When the boy said the word ' tutor ' a small smile spread on his face, a nostalgic glint in his eyes.
" Did you say tennis ? " the man seemed genuinely interested.
" I won first place in the Italian National Championships. I had to win because my tutor said if I didn't, I'd have to have a harsher training regimen. " the boy held back from saying, ' dodging bullets from machine guns randomly popping out from the floor and avoiding landmines at the same time. '
" You want to play a game with me ? I'm bored. " the man picked up a brown wood coloured racket.
The boy shook his head. " I don't have a racket. "
The man just walked away into a shed, then came out with an orange racket. At the base grip of the racket, it had the letter ' V '. The boy gratefully took it, as orange was his flame colour, and the letter ' V ' reminds him of ' Vongola '.
The game began as the boy had the first serve.
The racket and the ball is like a gun and a bullet. You reload your gun, aim, then shoot.
The ball was like a bullet, shooting to the other side of the court, leaving the man no time to react, much less saw the ball go over his side of the net.
" 15 - Love. " the boy said, twirling his racket.
The man served, a twist serve, a serve where you use your racket to skin the ball, giving it a spin.
The ball came directly at the unflinching kid, as the ball swerved, the man was sure to get the point, that was, the boy hit the ball, returning it with ease.
The man's eyes widened for a second, but turned back to normal, hitting it back to the left side corner. Running to the corner, using up to 20 % power, whacking the ball, a large black dent was seen on the man's side of the court, with additional crater cracks that couldn't be seen as much.
The man's eyes widened, genuine surprise written all over his face. ' With this kind of strength, I wouldn't be surprised that he dominated the Nationals. '
" Um… Sir ? You've been unmoving for a few minutes now… Are you ok ? " the kid asked, flipping his racket out of habit. " Oh no… Did I do something wrong ? Did I break something ? Are you ok ? " The kid's determined demeanor became meek.
The man seemed so confused of the child's 180 personality. ' This kid… What did he go through ? It seems like they were nothing but hobbies, nothing too serious… I'll change that ! '
The kid's eyes became sharp, watching the man serve once more. The score was 50 - Love, the serve was shot. The orange racket stayed in the boy's left hand, not bothering to hit the ball back. The ball landed 2 inches away from the court.
" Did you know that was going to happen ? " the man said, hitting his racket on his shoulder lightly.
" Yeah. I have a good intuition. " The boy sheepishly rubbed the back of his head, giving a closed eye smile. " It's a curse and a blessing to me. "
/ 2 Months Later \\
" I got disqualified. "
The brunette could help but pity the boy, his friend - the boy's father - said that his child was a tennis prodigy, but late and defeated by forfeit ? That needs some skill to get lost.
Tsuna looked at the green haired boy, nodding. They became friends after his father introduced them together.
The day began, and being the very energetic child he is, he decided to sleep during class. All the subjects - excluding P.E, and lunch.
" I already knew everything they were teaching… Is it too early to get a bachelor's degree in all subjects ? " the brunette yawned, sleepy from his classes.
" And that's why we're here. " the greenette said, walking, a duffel bag filled with his rackets said.
" Yeah… " the boy sighed, a boy ran up to them, introducing himself as, ' Horio '.
He talked a lot, it was getting on the greenette's nerves, causing him to make a face that made the brunette laugh.
" 7th graders can't play in the courts. " a teen with a racket said.
The other teen came by. " How about we make a bet. If you could knock down that tennis can, you could get 1,000 yen. "
" Bet. " the brunette said.
The 5 teens stood on the other side of the court, including Horio's other friends. Everyone has 7 tries to knock down the can, if you can't you owe them 1,000.
Horio went first, but his attempt was futile, not touching the can at all.
Another boy went, but got the same result, the other boy got it, but it wouldn't fall.
" It's rigged ! " the boy said, pointing at the can.
The greenette tossed the ball into the air, hitting the top of the can, making it fall over, spilling out rocks.
" Let me try ! " the brunette took a tennis ball, smacking it with 25 % of his strength, hitting the side of the can, making a big dent, the aluminum curved around the tennis ball, making a crescent.
" W - what kind of monster are you ? " one of the 8th graders said, staring at the can.
Walking up to the tennis can, yanking the tennis ball out, he said, " One that you never wish to cross. " His intuition flared, dropping the ball, as his hand caught the incoming ball 2 inches from his face.
" Sorry 'bout that. " an older boy that seemed to have an aura of power came by.
" It's fine. Echizen, we'll play a game at your house. I want to let go of my pent up anger at these assholes. " emphasizing the word 'assholes ' pointing at the cowering 8th graders.
" You, the guy with the brown hair, play a game with me. You seem strong. " the ravenette said, pointing his racket at the boy.
" It wouldn't be fair would it. For all I can see, you're still injured. Maybe next time when it could actually be fair. " the brunette waved him off, the greenette following.
The ravenette senpai looked at the retreating brunette, one thought floated up in his head.
' Who the hell are you ? '