Hero of Darkness Chapter 4: Neo Italy, Part 1, a Kingdom Hearts + X-overs Crossover fanfic

Hero of Darkness
Chapter 3: Neo Italy
Part 1

Outside the window, the sky exploded in light. Like a flash-bomb. Before fadding out, into the usual darkness.

"You feel that?" Tsuna asked Natsu.

"Gao! Gao!" Natsu chirped, excitedly. Jumping out of Tsuna's arms, and running to the window. Leaning on the glass, with his paws on the window.

Tsuna chuckled at his summons enthusiasm. Before looking out the window. "What is.. Is that?"

This feeling... Then, he gave a sad smile, placing a hand over his non-existent heart.

Tsuna smiled. For real this time. With an expression that was almost hope. "The Keyblade..."

OOO

The Darkness faded, and Sora was, once again, unconcious on the street.

He woke up. Slowly stretching out his stiff joints. Trying to ignore the unsettling voice in his mind, as feelings returned to his stiff limbs.

"Another world." Sora noted to himself, looking around. "How did I get here?"

Indeed, this wasn't anywhere in Twilight Town. Though, granted Sora hadn't explored the place as much as his Nobody, and hadn't resieved all of Roxas' memories. So, it could very well be on the same world, like with the Mysterious Tower. Still, Sora had a feeling...

The street pavement was ripped, and cracked, creating spiderwebs. On one side of the road, was houses, on the other side, a water cannel Ruined, and crumbling buildings lined the streets. Plenty on fire, despite the availability of water. Water which sloshed angrily, and looked a toxic shade of green, and rippling with splotches of red. Lamps decorated the houses, and the edge of the waters, lighting up the darkly lit night sky.

Despite the fact that it was night, there were no stars, only the brightness of city life, and the full moon.

"I haven't been here, before." Sora thought aloud. Then shivered. "It looks... so dark."

Dark.

That's right; Twilight Town. Roxas.

"Is this more of Roxas' memories?" Sora asked, thoughtfully, crossing his arms. Then shivered, as the thought sunk in. "Hopefully not. Could this be something else?"

Hopefully, that mess was over.

Riku.

"Riku." Sora whispered, through tears. "Riku... I... I don't know how to feel."

Then, Sora summoned his Keyblade, and barrel appearing behind him, that he slashed into. Hitting the object with all his might.

"I hate him!" Sora snarled. Instantly going back to his Command Deck, "Firage! Salvation! Triple Plasma!"

It was starting to show some wear.

Again, and again.

OOO

"Ahhh! Help!"

Sora looked over.

The voice came from a burning building. The flames burning brightly in the night, as people ran away screaming.

'Why didn't I notice that?' Sora asked himself. Yes, he was fairly distracted, recovering from Twilight Town, just waking up. Still, people screaming and rioting infrount of a burning building was fairly noticeable. He shook his head, as if clearing away a fog. With much more panic, and urgency. 'I gotta help them!"

So, running over to the panicked crowd.

"Hey, can I help?" Sora asked.

The person looked over. Showing only slight suprise, and panic, then... ran straight through him.

OOO

Walking out of the Usual Spot.

"Man, I did not sleep a wink, last night." Roxas said, walking over to the group. Only to notice his friends weren't noticing him. "Hey?"

Grabbing their shoulder, only... His hand went right through.

OOO

Sora fell to the ground. Disoriented and confused.

He stood up, looking to another stranger, and waved his hand through.

"Wha?... I'm still in the dream." Sora noted, feeling something inside him fall apart and scream.

It was then, everything crashed down on him. Collapsed into the pavement.

Just a dream? More like a nightmare.

"What more do you want from me!" Sora yelled, through the tears. And he was crying...

How again? Everything felt so disconnected, like...

Roxas.

"No." Sora muttered quietly. Then louder, more resigned and denying. "No. No! NO! That is not me! I'm Sora!"

"Are you sure?" A voice said, behind him. With a hand on his shoulder.

That Sora recognized.

"It's nice to meet you, Roxas." The blond girl said, with a smile.

Sora immediately turned around. "Namine!"

But no one was there.

"No." Sora whispered, looking around. "No. No! No! No!"

OOO

Buildings lined the streets, on both sides, up to the intersection.

Sora walked across the street, looking around at the buildings. The people, who cringed away from each other. It was... strange.

Then, a paper floated down, ontop of his head.

"Hey." Sora said, unfolding the letter, to read.

Vongola Report: Apocalypse

Everything is gone.

Yuni and Byakuran. Reborn, and the rest of the Arcobaleno...

My Guardians... I miss them, so much. The real them, not the twisted versions of themselves they are now. Since they fell, the Darkness wrapping around and inside their hearts.

And I stand alone.

Italy is in shambles. Everyone is trapped, in their own worst nightmare. Nightmares and Heartless roam the streets. This is a place where Darkness is real, and has won... the Light has fallen, the keyhole has been lost. No, this isn't Italy, anymore. This is a broken, ruined world, of Darkness and monsters. Where everyone is in a nightmare, and screaming inside. This is a new world, a darker Italy, that Darkness has taken. This is...

Neo Italy.

My Light is gone, the Darkness has taken my heart...

I'm sorry, everyone.

Yet, even in Darkness... I still rule.

In this world of nightmares and blood, I wear the crown of Vongola.

I do not hope for things to get better. The Light... whatever gods there are... have forsaken us. Is this the punishment for Vongola's sins? Even in the Light, we were a flawed people. Undeserving of redemption.
Still, there are innocent people. Even if there wasn't, no one deserve a world of blood, like this. Not even the worst mafaiso. Who will save them? Us? I wish I could, but my Light is gone. My Will drained, and waning.

So Light has given way to Darkness...

All hope is lost... I wish... I wish... I'm so sorry...

"Neo Italy." Sora read. "Is this... talking about this world?" Sora wondered, aloud. "And who wrote it? It doesn't sound like Ansem's report.

Then Sora noticed the tear running down his cheek.

"They sound so sad..." Sora noted, sadly.

He wasn't Sora, but he wasn't Roxas either.

OOO

He had just finished writing the letter. Hopefully it would be helpful.

He wasn't sure why he felt the need. Who would visit a world trapped in the Realm of Darkness? Still, he could gleam the feeling of Light entering the world. Not now... Someday.

Or whatever counted for days in a world without day. Or years in a realm without time.

OOO

Italy, before the Darkness came.

Gondolas floated down the cannals. Streetlights shining down on the waters. Lighting the night.

There was a gunfight next door. As always. And it seemed like Hayato and Coyote were fighting. At least they weren't using Flames.

BOOM!

Too late.

"Hahaha! Hayato sure is having fun. Right, Tsuna?" Takeshi said, with a laugh.

Tsuna groaned, slaming his head against the desk. Knocking a piles papers off.

He wouldn't trade this life, his Family, for anything... Still, he wished they wouldn't be so... energetic...

If only it could have been this way, forever...

Sora was startled out of the memory.

"Herbivore." Growled the Heartless infrount of him. The Heartless symbol displayed on it's arms, on a white armband.

It looked more humanoid than most. About Sora's height, and almost human- except for the cracked, stone-like dark grey skin, and gargoyle wings.

It/he wore some sort of uniform, colored purple and black. Despite the sharp claws (both on his hands, and shoeless feet), it wielded two blunt objects, that Sora knew to be tonfa's.

"Heartless!" Sora exclaimed, summoning his keyblade in defense, as the streets cleared.

"Loud herbivore." It angrily growled. "I'm nothing like those dark-herbivores!"

"You can talk?!"

"For insulting a Carnivore, and disturbing the peace-" It continued, as if Sora hadn't spoken.

"I'm not disturb-disturb-"

It growled, threateningly. "Your jay-walking!"

Sora looked down, and- sure enough- he was on the pavement. The yellow lines, meant to direct pedestrian's, safely through trafic were a few feet away.

Sora nodded. Taking the needed step and a half to his right, so he was now on the designated walkway. "How's that?"

"...I'll bite you to death!" The Heartless growled, lunging at him with raised tonfa's.

"Bite to death! Bite to death!" A yellow, canary Heartless, that Sora hadn't seen before, sang. As it flew around the two.

Sora vs. Heartless: Cloudy Prefect and Dream Eater: HiTengu- Begin!

OOO

Sora was thrown to the ground, by another one of HiTengu's shockwaves. Meowa and Saddie dispersed back into Sora.

Sora stayed on the ground, keyblades raised defensively. Breathing heavily.

The gargoyle-human hybrid of shadows, looked on predatorily. A gleam in his purple eyes, that wasn't quite like a Heartless at all, as he glided to the ground. Wings folding up, in stationary poise. HiTengu circling like a vulture. "Hn. Sword omnivore?"

"Ready-" Sora huffed, between huge gulps of air. "-to-" huff "-do that-" huff-huff "-again."

The gargoyle Heartless smirked. "Rest, Light-Omnivore. You'll be Bitten to death later."

Sora breathed a sigh of relief, before collapsing into the dust, that was once a road.

Just for a couple seconds...

Then another.

Again.

Deep breaths.

"I better get going now." Sora said, standing up, again, mostly rested.

He was still confused, but it was time to get going.

OOO

Finally, Sora opened his eyes again.

He was in the middle of a green bubble. Floating. It shivered, lowering itself to the ground, before dispersing into dust.

"I better get going now." Sora said, standing up, again, well rested.

He was still confused, but it was time to get going.

OOO
There was two pathways. Sora gave them both a look, before shrugging, and going to the right.

A wall of black ice, rose from the ground. Blocking the street, so he couldn't go back.

"Huh?" Sora asked, approaching the barrier. "I never seen this kind of barrier, before."

He pressed a hand on the barrier, only to flinch. It was more than just cold. It was arctic. So cold that it hurt.

OOO

"What is this place?" Sora asked, approaching the gate. Then, reading off the plaque. "Vongola Mansion. Is that...?"

It was a mansion, alright. As big as the courtyard of Disney Castle, if not the Emperors Courtyard in the Land of Dragons. Almost a castle. Just as foreign as the Notre Dame looked, only in a different way."

"Do you have an appointment?" A voice over the intercom croaked over the speaker. "Ah!"

"Are you okay?" Sora asked, concerned.

"Oh, nothing. Just a bad day at the office." The voice dismissed, though it sounded shakily. "Well, I just received confirmation from the Boss. Apparently, you are expected. Welcome."

A creak of gears, and the gates opened. Apparently automated.

"Uh, thanks." Sora responded, not quite sure what to make of it. On the one side, he could go in, and explore. On the other, it sounded like someone was waiting for him. "Should I be worried?"

No one answered. So Sora shrugged. Nothing for it. Stepping in... and immediately gasped. As the normal, if well kept yard mutated into what looked like a war-zone.
And he thought the streets were bad. No, that just looked like a natural disaster. This, this was a wrecked battle field.

Across the yard, people in black suits battled with fire and guns, and various weapons.

The grass was splattered by red, and body parts. The pavement scorched, and riddled with the remains of shockwaves. Most of the land-ordainments were either replaced by a crater, or on fire. In fact, half the lawn seemed to be on fire, or gruesomely decorated. Just this close, Sora was hit with a strong, coppery smell, mixed with ash. The stairs, leading to the front door weren't just well drenched, they were dripping in blood.

"I don't like this place." Sora stated, stepping on the scorched stone, and carefully avoiding a limb.

This looked like something from a horror movie. The only reason he wasn't panicking, was because this was a dream. Well, a nightmare, but unlike the mess with Roxas, he wasn't being completely overwhelmed.

… Yet.

"Well... this is creepy." Sora noted, with a gulp.

"In the name of the Vongola Secondo!" One of the soldiers cried out. "Ricardo Vongola!"

"For the Decima! For Daniela Vongola!"

OOO

Vongola Mansion

Walking into the entryway, Sora tried not to flinch. Quickly looking over the painted red, flowing over the tiles in small rivers. Rushing down the stairs, and painting the lower hallway.

Sora looked around, with a pained, nervous frown, as he went up the stairs. Carefully avoiding the red pools.

A red handprints on the wall. As if someone just walked down the hall, with two fingers touching the wall. Before they converged in this one area. Stretching out, to write a message. A cursive 'Help.'

Sora gave a nervous laugh.

Arms and legs sticking out of a flowerpot, in a weird facsimile of a plant. Sora looked in the mirror, and saw a skeleton's face, with dull, dead like brown hair, wearing his clothes...

Creepy.

"The other worlds weren't like this." Sora said, voice shaky and weak. It was almost a question. He couldn't believe... "Even the Sleeping Worlds. So, why...? Why is this place so bad. I searched town, the rest of the world... isn't like this..."

OOO

Sora walked through the door, into the next room.

It wasn't that much different than the hallway, or any other room Sora had explored. Eerie. Ominous. That had more in common with a horror-story, or a haunted mansion, than any real place had a right to be. Which made sense, given that this was a dream.

This room, however, didn't have a trace of blood. Instead, it was darkly lit, and filled with shadows. The imprints of Heartless burned onto the wall. Pictures creepily staring, as if their eyes were watching Sora.

So... a different type of creepy.

"This... doesn't look like the rest of the mansion." Sora noted, oddly. Crossing his arms, thinkingly. "Why is that? Did something happen here?"

Crashing sounds, as the building shook.

"Whoa!" Sora yelped, trying to steady himself.

"Hahaha!" Something laughed. A multi-layered voice, that echoed around the room. One layer, high and childish. The next deep, and low, and sounding similar to Ansem. The soft, animalistic chirping of Heartless in the background. "What is this? An intruder?"

"Whose there? Are you a Heartless?!"

Footsteps, that shook the floor with every stomp, walked into the room. "Whahaha! Has some intruder dared to challenge the Mighty Lambo-sama!"

The Heartless finally stomped through the doorway. It was tall, taller than Sora, and much wider. Just barely able to get through the door, which widened itself. Round, like a ball, with a cow-print jumper all the way around it. A small, green head, sticking out, with bull horns on the sides.

"It is I!" The Heartless exclaimed, proudly. "The Great Lambo-sama! Who will lead you to your doom!"

"Bring it!" Sora exclaimed, summoning is keyblade. Only to stumble.

OOO

He was Tsuna.

He stumbled, as he paced the room. Clumsiness making a reappearance, as his head pounded. Unable to rely on Hyper Intuition, or his Flames for balance. Without them, he seemed to trip on thin air.

He was still in pajama's. Having not bothered to change, that morning. Wasn't worth the effort. What did clothes matter? He was still going to die. They were still under siege and constant attack. Vongola could just bury him in night clothes.

Everything just seemed to hurt. His head, his Flames. Messing with his mind, warping his thoughts into the twisted mess it was now.

He was panicking. He was grieving.

There was something in his eyes. Something liquidly, and hot. That blurred his vision. Oh, tears... When had he started crying? When had he stopped? Was he still...?

They were connected always. A mental link, that only him, Chrome and Murkuro could follow.

He had loved it. Tracing the links daily, just to remind himself they were there. That he was Bonded. That he had friends, who cared. That their bond was real, and solid. Unbreakable by anything except death... And now

Another bond cut. Another spike of loss, like an arrow through his heart. Like he was dying, and on fire, and in the middle of hyperthermia in the middle of a volcano that was also the Artic. The feeling of their mind, as they slipped away. As tainted, Dark-Flames twisted and darkened their Flames. He hated it. He couldn't stop thinking about it. It hurt, so, so badly.

The bonds were never meant to break.

He couldn't help but scream.

Natsu understood. His companion, his friend... Of course. The box lion howled. Natsu's fiery orange mane had turned red and dark blue.

It made him scared, to look inside himself.

OOO

The first sign was panic, then resignation flooding the bond. A final word, and a dying sensation, that would become a hollow ache, as the bond began to unravel. Thread by painful thread.

He was crying. Had been, since the first bond had darkened and snapped. The feeling of pain and alarm turning to a hollow ache. But that pain was nothing compared to the emptiness. The way he could no longer feeling anything, as their constant presence, in mind and Flame withered, and faded. They were gone, had left him. All within a few days.

There was no time. No time to grieve. To mourn the loss, and try to deal with bond-breakage. Not that he ever expected to heal, no one really healed from so many bonds, all breaking in such quick succession. Yet, just a little time to sooth, to get the edges, the Flames to stop bleeding. Was that too much to ask? Apparently, it was. And okay, Tsuna deserved the constant pain for failing them. They deserved to be mourned, so completely, so fully, that it was more than just hurt and loss. It was bleeding and Discord. His Family was GONE.

And it would very likely tear him apart, because that was what Discord was. His own power turning on itself.

And no Reborn to make him try. To tell him that no one deserved Discord, and the pain of Bond-breakage. To make him try to do better, forcing him to heal.

His Guardians were DEAD. His Family, His Friends. Those that twined with His. Their minds, so abruptly cut from his, Flames fading. No longer able to hold on, to take shelter, and rest within his Flames. His Orange. His Home.

His Intuition had gone crazy. So many attacks, so many dangers. It always had a special sense of urgency about the Heartless.

Danger! Threat!Danger! Getaway! FindGuardians, keepthemclose. Danger here!Danger there! Don't go there because-Danger!Danger! Dodge left. Danger! Dodge right. Danger! Leave. Danger! Stay. Danger!Danger!Danger!

It an understatement to say it wasn't taking this situation well. He could no longer trust it's advice. It's whispers and insight. It kept him awake, all through the night. And constant alert, all day, with a cryonic headache. Because it insisted on screaming danger messages as loud as possible.

Almost as loud as his Flames cried. But the Flames felt, what he felt. Their grief resonated with His. Was His. The intuition wasn't His, was more like another sense.

So no. He wasn't 'alright'. In any sense of word. Anyone who said differently was deaf and blind, and Flame-void.

His Flames franticly pulsed, lashing out at unseen (imagined) threats. Angry. Grieving. Metaphorically bleeding. And shouting with that sharp, desperate, all consuming grief.

He was losing his mind.

Oh well. Maybe if he was insane, it wouldn't hurt so much. No, he wanted to hurt, because he wanted to remember His, to grieve them so vividly, as they deserved to be grieved.

On the bright side, no Reborn to scold him. To force him to stand straight, and proud, and "Put up a strong front for your subordinates, Dame-Tsuna. No good Boss allows his employees, and possible enemies, to see him so weak."

Why did that thought make him hurt even more?

The ache in his chest was growing stronger. fuller, with every passing moment. Every pulse of the Flames, in his heart. Flames that burned. That mourned. That cried out in grief, and pulsed with rage.

That hurt so badly. He felt like he was dying.

They weren't coming back. He should have died with them. The only thing that stopped him from giving up, from joining Them, was the Green curled within His Flames. Little Lambo's mind, against His, and holding on so tightly. That needed him, relying on him, for protection and comfort.

The Darkness was growing stronger.

He'd felt it, earlier. The steady rise of some unknown threat. Felt it, in his Intuition.

Each time a bond-broke, and His Guardians died, the Darkness grew stronger. Could feel His Elements heart drifting into the Darkness. The Darkness was profiting from His Families death.

Tsuna hated that! Hated! The Darkness took them away! Why? Why?! WHY?! They'd died, and that wasn't enough for the Darkness! It had to take their heart too!
His Flames were just as angry. He felt their rage. Their pain. The dark blue streaks that tainted Natsu's mane, climbing into his own orange. Growing ever stronger.

He loved them. Missed them. So much. That it was driving him insane. So many, so quickly. The Arcobaleno first, His teacher, first. Then His Guardians, His Family. So many, so quickly. That he loved so, so dearly. Why? Why them? Why? Why?! WHY?! WHY?! WHY?!

Hayato fell first. The feeling of resolve, of resignation, as he deliberately flooded the bond with love, and thankfulness. The feeling of heat, and knowledge that Hayato was not just going to let himself be killed by the enemy, not without flooding the area with his entire supply of dynamite. "I'm sorry, Juudaime. My only regret is not doing more."

Takeshi was next. Of conjoured, Dark-Flame made blades through the chest. A half-hysterical, half forced happy, giggle. "Haha. Sorry, Tsuna! Looks like I'm out. By the way, sorry for my bad coping skills. You know, calling those deadly battles games. Making everyone question how actually aware or not, I was of reality. Hahaha. Fun times."

Chrome was next. This time, he did not grieve alone. Because through the dual-Mist bond, Murkuro felt her fall, with him. Felt her indifference. Because she'd almost died before, and gained a family for it. No fear, or resignation. Only a sense of surprise and 'this again'. Then... nothing.

Murkuro howled at her loss. Grabbling, clawing at Tsuna's, for comfort. So tightly, and so desperate. Clutching him, so firmly that it drew pain. Like a child tugging on his mothers dress, and a cat clawing into a tree limb for purchase. It hurt, and all Tsuna could do, was be there. Ignore the pain, to hold. To lend Murkuro his presence, his support, if only mentally. As they felt her illusions break, her innards spilling, as whatever technique the Heartless did canceled the illusions keeping her alive. "Murkuro-sama, Bos-Tsuna-nii... Thank you..."

"Chrome." Murkuro had muttered, solemnly. Through their shared bond. Mournfully. As half of him, the entwined Mists, fell away. Even as he himself fell, ice shards (Heartless magic) transmitted itself through the bond. "Kufufufufuu... Make them pay, My -."

"Make them pay." Tsuna repeated, snarling. Flames, Sky and Night, flaring ever higher, ever larger, in their rage. Their grief, and pain. And longing.

Yes. Make them pay. Revenge. Yes. It was practically justice. They took everything from him. At least if they were gone, they wouldn't take someone else's Hayato, and Murkuro, and Chrome, and Takeshi, and Kyouya, and Oniisan.

The constant, burning of Hyper Intuition. Tsuna had never been able to name the feeling, had never known a time without it. A familiar alarm, a whisper, a sight at the edge of awareness. Outside, yet so close. Now, Tsuna felt it clearing. So loud, and so very hot it felt like he was on fire. Only not on fire, because Vongola were typically immune to fire. This felt like it was actually burning.

He wasn't thinking straight. Everything was so disjointed, between mangled bonds and howling Intuition.

There had been no calm acceptance of death for Ryohei. Only surprise, and pain. As someone who never expected to lose, never imagined their own death, felt a spear puncture his heart. "Bye, Little Brother."

Tsuna wasn't sure what happened with Kyouya. Only that Kyouya hadn't fallen until he was utterly injured, his entire body ached, and still tried to keep going. There was no words, only the vague feeling of ending, and 'don'tyoudarelose, smallanimal'.

More Heartless. Always more. Tsuna had destroyed thousands, if not millions, and there were always more Heartless taking their place. They didn't really die, when destroyed, so it made sense that they appeared infinite.

OOO

Only Lambo was left.

So close, and near, and in danger.

So young, so little. Lambo shouldn't have to fight. Shouldn't have to struggle. The battlefield wasn't a place for kids. But there was no safer place, not when Ryohei had died within the mansion. No, the only safe place was close by, so Tsuna could protect him. Where no Heartless would hurt Lambo, unless they took Tsuna out first.

Everything in him, bristled at thought.

How dare they. The voice within him snarled. Even as they screeched and begged, in their panic. The ever incessant. Pleasepleaseplease.

"Pleasepleaseplease." Tsuna chanted with them.

Of course they had the same desire. They were the same, after all. Just as furious, just as righteously indignant. Bristling with his temper. Even as they quivered, shivering in fear, and panic.

He should only be safe, and happy. Playing happily. Instead of sitting on Tsuna's lap, mind churning uneasily, and whispering reassurances. With grief, and love, and panic, and oh so desperately trying to get him to feel better. Even if only for a moment. Desperately trying to shoulder the loss, in order to support Tsuna. It was so endearing... but he shouldn't have to. Tsuna should be the one ptrotecting him.

Tsuna that held him so close, so tightly, and near. So worried, and so fearful.

Danger! My Lightning, needs help! Protect! Keep! Protect! Protect! Protect! Destroy Dark-ones! Destroy Dark-ones! We need him! We need! Keep Lighning close, and near, and ours. And DONTEVERLETGO. Wecan'tlosehim!

They wouldn't be able to fight for much longer. Tsuna knew that. Fighting for all day, and all yesterday was starting to tire him. Already, his Flames were moving more sluggishly. Though that might be more because of the bond-breakage, than anything else.

He was struggling to protect himself and Lambo. Lambo, who had taken to lobbing explosives. Which, Tsuna would normally try to get him to run and hide. But, no use, the Heartless would track him down, and then Tsuna wouldn't be able to protect him. Might as well fight.

"Ow!" Then Lambo was hit, falling to the ground. A Heartless pouncing, claw ready.

"Lambo!" Tsuna cried out, jumping infrount of the Heartless. Wrapping his arms aroundd Lambo. The Lightning digging deeper into His Sky, as they shuddered uneasily.

We die together. The Orange whispered, without words. In the language of Flames. Where Lambo's Lightning could not hear.

Yes. Everyone was gone. His friends, His Family. Only Lambo was left. At this point, death would be a relief. There was no way to survive this. If he was to die, either way;

Why not with what was left of his family. His little brother.

Of course he would tug Lambo into his lap, and hold on, so tightly. Sky whispering reassurances it knew was lies to his Lightning.

He was glowing with white Light. That wasn't quite Flames, he knew what those felt like, their warmth, and home. The breath of His Sky, with familiarity that came with years of DWM and Hyper Intuition, and this was different. This was something bright, and welcomingly cold. That felt right, felt GOOD, and Just, and Light. That he hadn't even known was there.

Light.

As a Heatless claw tore through Tsuna's heart, and scratching Lambo's heart. The Dark-Flames spreading into his heart, and darkening His Flames, until they were filled with Darkness, with orange streaks.

The Light was gone, and that hurt. There was a hollowness in his chest, where his heart was. The world seemed so much darker, and...

Much bigger, actually. His Intuition had now calmed, and had gotten a major upgrade. Tsuna was now aware of alot more than he had been. Which was impressive, given the strength of Tsuna's Hyper Intuition. It was impressive that the traitor had gotten away like that. Had been working with the Heartless, in exchange for his life. Tsuna would make him pay for the treachery. For taking their heart, and endangering, killing His Guardians.

There was a few personale trying to flee. Which, Tsuna understood, would have appreciated their resignation when asked earlier. They should be willing to stick until the end. However, panic did things to people. The situation was significantly more deadly, at this point.

But Family first. Always.

It all seemed so hopeless now. Lifeless. Dark.

The Darkness. So near, so close. So much stronger, closer than ever before.

Inside him. Within his heart. Muddling his mind. As his heart fell, and with him, the world fell to Darkness.

That was okay. Fine. Because tucked within his Sky, was an equally tainted Lightning. So young, and so little, and His. Crying out with loss, at the emptiness of his corrupted heart. Little specs of Light, of Good, scattered throughout his blackened heart. That Tsuna knew, instinctively, was his Light. His only Light, trying to drive the Darkness out of his little brother's heart. That Tsuna knew, instinctively, wasn't Lambo's...

It was His.

His Light. His Light, that was trying to drive the Darkness out of his little brother's heart. In vain, but doing its best.

Okay.

Bright yellow eyes, that had once been green, looked at Tsuna. Wide, and fearful, and filled with grief not understood. How could Lambo, as young as he was, understand that his Light was gone? That they were creatures of Darkness? That they would never be the same? "Ts-Tsuna-nii."

How could Tsuna even realize that, feel it with the certainty of Hyper Intuition.

"Lambo." Tsuna whispered, lovingly. As he hugged his little brother, for the first time in this new form. His brother, Lightning, was safe, and alive. Not the same person, but a miracle, all the same.

And all the broken bonds. All the jagged, ruined edges, and frayed strings of a bond that was lost... were back.

They were thin, yes. Holding on by a thread, as most of the string remained unraveled and cut. Unraveling more and more by the minute, and soaked with Darkness. Still oozing it, into his heart. Itching with malice, with none of the previous affections.

But it was still, a sharp, pleasant relief, the healing of broken edges, that ran through his system. His Flames. He had missed them. So, so much...

Even the double Mist bond, which had never been too affectionate, had been fairly cold to begin with, had changed. It's usual fake indifference, had been replaced by an almost real one. Had lost the warm support of Chrome, and the twisted affection of Murkuro.

Hayato's Storm felt like a mess of contradictions. Kyouya seemed even more bloodthirsty and impatient than ever.

Yet, despite it all, His Flames had finally calmed. Contentedly swirling with relief, and triumph at the return of their bonded. Rejoicing, and gleefully claiming each Flame, tainted though they may be, once again.

He never wanted to let them go, again. Not ever. As twisted, and messed up, as they were, now. However corrupt, however lose, that bond was, at least they had eachother...

At least Tsuna wasn't alone. At least Lambo was safe, with some Light still in his heart.

OOO

Sora stumbled, as the memory dispersed.

"Lambo..." Sora murmured. Still feeling the memory of the dreams. "Did I just see-and feel someone get turned into a Heartless?"

His little brother.

No-not his, Tsuna's.

"Hahaha! You recognize the Great Lambo-sama!"

OOO

"Lambo!" A voice said, interrupting the fight. Walking over to the Heartless.

An Unverse/Nightmare symbols, the first thing noted, as the creature stepped forward. A lion Nightmare/Unverse nipping at it's heels.

"Tsuna-nii!" The Heartless, Lambo, yelled. Looking the closest a Heartless could be too ashamed. Feet shuffling on the floor. "Lambo-sama is just taking care of this intruder!"

"That's okay, Lambo." The humanoid Dream Eater said, with a smile. Ruffling the Heartless' non-existent hair. "I'll take care of the Keyberrier. Why don't you play with the Floods, some more?"

Lambo nodded, eager. "The Great Lambo-sama will play with the Unverse!"

The room shook, as Lambo went down to regular size, and walked out.

"That's the Tsuna, from the memories." Sora muttered, thoughtfully. "And Lambo..."

"I hope you don't hold your experiences here, against them." Tsuna stated, taking a few steps into the middle of the room. Keeping a distance from the Keyberrer. His voice soft, and low. Full of saddness, and barely restrained grief. "Please. They don't deserve to be remembered like this."

"Huh?"

"But you don't deserve Neo Italy either." Tsuna stated, with a small, bitter laugh. "Nobody does. I'm sorry, Sora."

"Gao?" Natsu meowed, clawing at Tsuna's pants.

"I'm sorry, Natsu." Tsuna whispered, leaning down to pet the Nightmare Lion.

"How do you know my name?" Sora asked, alarmed. Then, was distracted, by the symbol on his hand. "Are you with the Heartless? You are an Unverse, right? Your like the Heartless?"

Granted, he wasn't outright attacking. But, still...

Tsuna had his heart taken. Sora had seen it happening. The Unverse/Nightmare symbol displayed on his palm. On the lion that Sora knew from the dream, was connected to his heart.

"Yes. An Unverse, like the creatures your friend Mickey explained." Tsuna whispered, one hand rubbing the symbol(s) on the back of his palm. "I'm a creature of Darkness."

Sora summoned his Keyblade, preparing to fight.

However, Tsuna didn't move. Staying where he was with sad, tired eyes.

"Did you bring the Darkness, here?" Sora demanded. Instantly, he regretted that, as he recalled the memory from earlier. "No, that's wrong. The Tsuna in those memories, had been fighting against the Darkness."

That Tsuna, would have never willing worked to destroy the world. He would have never risked his friends. Had thought too much of the world, to destroy it like that. The feeling as their mental bond unraveled... The grief... It had cut him, to the very core.

Just because he hadn't brought the Darkness at first, didn't mean Tsuna wasn't a danger now. He was a Unverse, after all.

"What do you mean?" Tsuna asked, as if Sora hadn't just accused him of evil-doing. "Your the intruder, here. Aren't you, Sora?"

Sora paled. "You mean your aware that this-"

"Is a dream." Tsuna stated, sadly. Turning away from the keyberrier, to look out the window. "I... after the Heartless came, and... well, a long time ago, something went wrong with our world."

"This world... Was it always so...?"

"It was nothing like this, before." Tsuna stated, trying to get rid of the coldness in his voice. Sora didn't know... "A long time ago, a being called Checkerface (or Kawahira), took the world's keyhole, and split it into three pieces." Tsuna showed his ring. "This is one of them. So when the Darkness came... it had to go through our hearts first."

Sora gasped.

Tsuna nodded, sad but accepting. "Me, Byakuran, Yuni... and because of our nature, the Darkness had to corrupt our Guardians, and the Arcobaleno... our friends... first. Like you, we could draw strength from them, but with only Darkness inside, we could only draw Darkness, not Light from them."

"That's horrible!" Sora couldn't imagine. If the Organization had turned Riku, Kairi, Donald, and Goofy into Heartless. Just too get to him...

"It's why they act the way they do, here." Tsuna explained. "The world's keyhole protects them, from being mindless monsters, like most Heartless, but they have been filled with Darkness."

"They don't act human, though."

"The Darkness took the very worst of who they are, and expounded on it. Kyouya's rule-bound violence. Mukuro's desire for revenge, and insanity. Chrome's loneliness and fanaticism. Rhyou's self-centered, and love of fighting. Reborns' selfishness, and lack of empathy... What's left of them, wrecking havoc on what's left of our world... And only us, the Tri-ne-sette Skies remember that it wasn't always this way." Tsuna had tears in his eyes, at that point.

"Hey, hey. Don't cry." Sora didn't know what to do.

"I can't help it!" Tsuna exclaimed, heatedly. "Our world is gone. Fractured. On a plane of existence that's firmly metaphysical. Everyone's so unhappy. The majority of people are in so much pain, and Darkness they can't think straight. If they can think properly, this is a Sleeping World for a reason, even if its on the edge of the Realm of Darkness. My closest friends are monster versions of themselves... Kyouya killed nearly a hundred people yesterday, for the given value, they reform an hour later, because, well... we exist in a world entirely separate from the physical plane. And most of those was for stupid reasons, like breathing too loudly or jay-walking." Tsuna was crying now, tears streaming down his face. "He's so much better than that, Sora. They all are. Murkuro, Takeshi, Chrome, Lambo, even Reborn. And its... heartbreaking to see them like this, when I love them so much. Even at their worst, they were never like this."

"It hurts you."

Tsuna wiped away his tears. "You know whats the worst? Despite it all. That they've been ... Monsters, all this time. That some days I can barely remember their true selves. That I''ve been here so long, I can't even remember what the Light felt like- and I had felt it, even if I didn't know thats what it was-... I still love every part of them... Even their Darkness."

Sora nodded. Something in his heart settling, in understanding.

Roxas hated Riku. Experiencing all of Riku's faults, with none of his Best-Friends redeeming qualities. Roxas would never forgive Riku. Sora accepted Riku at his worst. Knew him, and loved him (platonicly) at his best. Riku was considerate, fun, a worry-wort, but that was because he cared.

"I know what you mean." Sora confided. "Before this, I got someone else's memories of my best-friend."

"You've been conflicted." Tsuna finished.

Sora blushed. "You know that?"

"I'm one-third of the world. We know EVERYTHING that happens here."

Sora got the idea that was an oversimplification and understatement.

"Yeah, well... You right. Riku was-is- my Best-Friend. always. And there's this side of him this I never saw-" But Roxas did. Because the Riku on his first adventure was intense- but wasn't methodical, almost evil that Roxas saw. Then, determinedly. "But he is still my Best-Friend."

"Happy to help..." Tsuna said laughing, with a smile that didn't reach his eyes... And did Tsuna truly smile anymore? Sora doubted he would be able to, if Riku was, forever, a corrupted version of himself, let alone Kairi. "It's been so long, since I could help anyone."

"Or be happy?"

"One can't be happy in a Nightmare, Sora. I might be able to, since I'm still lucid enough, in this place, to think logically, and conceive... But how can I? When everyone else is in so much pain?" Tsuna reasoned, hopelessly. He could never be content with his Guardians- his family, and friends- like this. Twisted versions of themselves, or broken in so much pain. With the whole world, so completely ruined and crumbling, and everything good in pieces, like this.

Because Tsuna cared, Sora realized. Hopelessly, irrefutably cared. Not just about his friends, but about this world.

"I'll help you." Sora stated, determinedly.

Tsuna bit his lip. The offer was tempting. Yet, "No... No, I can't ask that, of you."

"It's no problem." Sora assured him. "Besides, you helped me, I'm just returning the favor."

Now, he was no longer confused. Riku was his Best-Friend, and nothing would change that.

He would keep a grudge, yes. But they were still friends.

"It'll take alot of work." Tsuna warned. "Byakuran kind of fell to Darkness, so one-third of the world will be against us. The other part, is strictly neutral. This is bigger than a favor or two, or a few words of encouragement.

"I know." Sora admitted. Summoning his keybade, in emphasis. "But I'm the Keyberrier. Saving worlds, and helping people is what we do! Besides... no one deserves this."
Tsuna smiled, at the encouragement.

A genuine smile, filled with hope-not that he believed they would succeed. As if, he had forgotten what hope was, and now, realized that had a chance. Not a large one, but it was something. Something, that he had been going without for a long time.

"Thank you, Sora. From now on, were in this together." Tsuna thanked, his eyes taking on a flickering orange glow, like embers trying to alight. "To ruin, or to prosper... We'll save everyone, or die trying."

"Hey, hey, we won't die." Sora said, worriedly. Dying? Who said anything about that? "We'll save the world, and make it out just fine. You'll see."

Tsuna laughed. "Okay... Sora."

OOO

Do you not see? How Light gives way to Darkness?

Oh, so your quoting the Dark Fated One, now-days?

He has some good points, even if some details are incorrection. After all, from Light all was born, does it not make sense to Darkness all shall become. Such is the order of things, so shall it be.

That is not our place to choice. Each one shall decide for their own.

With help, of course. Unless you think everyone make these oh so important decisions all by themselves.

Some guidance is not the same.

I say it is. I say there's no difference.

You would.

OOO

End Chapter

Notes: I know Twilight Town was very confusing, and emotional chapters. It was supposed to be. IT follows the story, Sora is stuck in a Nightmare version of Twilight Town, based on Roxas' memories. That implies Roxas, and... lets face it, he had a very confusing, and emotional week, both before and after he was put in the simulation. And a very exciting year.

One for the biggest problems I have with the Kingdom Hearts series is the whole mess with Roxas. I loved Days, and the first few days of Kingdom Hearts 2, with Roxas, Hayner, and the gang. I really tried to do those chapters justice. Though I wish I could have added a few breaks... I'm really bad at breaks and fillers... Hopefully, the delay in updates will prevent it from being too overwhelming. And detract from Sora's continual emotional breakdown. He really deserves it, all these chapters in a row... If all goes well, he won't have another until he revisits Twilight Town, but honestly, I'm playing this by ear.

Next Worlds (Still changing)

La Paris (-Los Clotches)

Radiant Guarden

Moors (from Malificent movie)

and/or Isle of the Lost (pre-movie)

La Paris (-Los Clotches)

Radiant Garden

Jurassic Park

Silent Hill

Nightside

OOO

Special Reports

For those who read the Special Reports, theres some here. Just picture Sora finding them somewhere along his journey, and not bothering to read them. Which he probably doesn't, given that you never see Sora discuss a report. Only hear about them.
Vongola Reports: Secret transcript Sora finds in Neo Italy. It reads like a diary, describing the fall of the world.

Vongola Report: 1

Strange animals appeared in the Mansion, yesterday. No one was killed, thankfully, but two staff members were injured. I would say they gave everyone a scare, but truthfully-they dealt with my Guardians almost every day. Takeshi was nearby, and took care of the matter before security arrived. Disolving in black mist, in their retreat.
Cameras show several different times, of simular design. With a strange emblem, in the shape of a crossed out heart. Mostly black and purple. They dispersed into dust, after being defeated.

Since they were definitely not natural, or anywhere on record, we checked with Verde. The scientist was cagey, but eventually denied any inolvement. I don't think he has any more clue than we do, it felt like he was defending his pride. Gokudera insisted he's behind it. Not that Verde wouldn't be capable of it, but I disagree. While a mad-scientist, Verde is protective of his inventions. He may be unethical, and may not care what they will be doing. But he's picky about how they will treat his inventions, and very Kyouya-like when it comes to his own work.

Retreat. One word, with two interpretations. Everyone assumes they were slain. I'm not sure. I suppose it doesn't matter, if they were capable of created them in the first place, they can again. And, given that they attacked in the first place, has a grudge against Vongola, but not the intelligence or expertise. They didn't attack anywhere important. It's serious they were able to slip by security. Camera's are showing teleportation; I hope not. Box animals are enough. Flames are bad enough. Teleportation would be even harder to deal with, both in combat, and with temperamental Guardians. Not to mention a security nightmare. The Ninth Generation is already complaining this will make us look weak. Reborn will hit me for this, but I don't think that will be a problem. I see their point, but I trust the staff to keep the breach quiet. I'm not supposed to count on our enemies' intelligence, but I don't think this new enemy will risk themselves bragging like that.

Everyone doubts we've seen the last of them. Not after using such advanced genetic engineering to attack. Hopefully, Ill be there, to give a look through my Intuition, that should help us learn what we're dealing with.

I'm keeping this to myself, for now, but I have a bad feeling about this. This feels like the beginning of a storm. One that Hayato and Reborn won't be able to help me with.
Whatever it is, I'm sure we can make it through, together.

Vongola Report: 2

There was a second attack.

These creatures... their horrible.

I've never sensed anything so wrong. So wicked, so vile. Creatures, made of Night Flames, like box animals. Only not quite Night Flames, the Vindince never felt like that. Never had that inky, animalistic feeling. Never felt quite so wrong, and inhuman..

Creatures made of Night Flames, like box animals. Only not quite Night Flames, the Vindince never felt like that. Never had that inky, animalistic feeling. Flames, even Night Flames have this inhuman feeling, that they are both good and evil, and humans could use them as they liked. These creatures were made of hate, but that wasn't all they were. They were hunger, and evil, and envy. I could feel the humanity inside, beneath their twisted appearance... and realize there wasn't a scratch of humanity left.

All Flames, even Night Flames are both good and evil, and humans could use them as they liked. For better or worse. They could never be totally evil, or good. Just people, with human emotions and flaws... And the parts that aren't human. That no one mentions... Maybe they can't feel it, as I do? We are supposed to be the strongest Flames within two generations...

I looked at them with my Intuition... and saw their soul was gone, and heart cut open. I saw the Darkness, a force for evil spilling out. Flames, that aren't really Flames. That felt, like vile sludge, seeping into every crack. Like mud, a thick, heavy liquid. That was trying to strangle, to corrupt.

I couldn't bare to tell Lambo the truth. He was so excited that he helped defeat those monsters... Even if I grounded him for it. Poor Lambo is too little to get in danger like this. I couldn't tell Hayato, or anyone else either. Not even Reborn. No one asked me what I saw, through my Intuition. I'm grateful. How would I describe it? How the void, in their soul drowned out even Murkuro and Reborn's darkness. The emptiness, and pain. The knowledge that, though they are human, there's no trace of humanity inside. I saw it all, within a glance. Hyper Intuition, the gift of Vongola, and our curse, just as much as the Vongola rings.

I should be able to tell them everything. We've been through so much, and they've handled everything so far. Between the Vindince, Byakuran, and Cosa Nostra...

This feels so different, though. My Intuition whispers, things I can't hear, can barely feel. I feel that I should just focus on keeping them happy, and close carefree, for as long as possible. Not to worry about the future, that it doesn't matter. Yet, I know danger is near. Can feel it in the whispers of my Intuition. The two, contrary thoughts warring.

I did tell Murkuro and Shinichi, though. I hope it's enough to develop a countermeasure. Even if it won't be anytime soon. Shinichi turned green, and worried. I know he will try his best. Murkuro looked pensive, and I think he knows more than he's letting on. I directed him to Irie. That's fine, it's not my place to judge, if My Mist wants to keep secrets... After all, I'm putting their sanity upove personal safety, keeping them in the dark like this.

However, I can't bring myself to regret it. Should I be thinking like this? Is it my Intuition? Is the danger I sense, so near, and out of sight, affecting my judgement? I am confident in my Intuition. Still, the situation makes me uneasy.

Vongola Report: 3

I'm growing ever more certain there's something wrong.

There's a shadow, at the edge of my senses. Some days, it feels almost real, but out of sight. Just out of range for my Intuition. Like a wisp, at the courner of your eye. That I can see it, sense it, know its there, but not even begin to guess what it is. Only that it has to do with those twisted creatures

I've tried not to show my worry, but I fear it's no use. Hayato has started giving me worried glances, that he thinks I don't see. I know my other Guardians, including Lambo, are starting to feel uneasy. It might be something in my Flames...

I consulted the previous generations. Not the living one, of course, but the ones in the ring. Their knowledge seems to compound on each other. I figured they would sense the situation better than I do.

They agree. They sense the darkness approaching. What that darkness is, we don't know. Our powers are so cryptic, sometimes. Giotto suggested if the darkness couldn't be literal. At the time, it seemed impossible, but... Those monsters, with dark Flames that weren't Night. That feel like cold liquid, not the warmth of fire? Is that it?

Reborn has taken to visiting everyday, now. I'm thankful, it's calming to feel my old tutor so close by. Comforting. Is this what its like to have a father who cares? I think so... I may have shared my fears, what I sense... He told me not to worry, in that typical Reborn way; spartan training. But I still see his pensive anticipation. Does Reborn know I see through him so easily, now? That I rest so much easier, with him close?

My fellow Great Skies feel it, too. I don't think they quite know what it is.

They sense it. Not the way I do. The darkness just out of sight. They show it, in actions. The way they look around the room, with guarded eyes. Uncomfortably shifting, as if someone else is watching. Something they can't put their finger on. Each, in their own way.

How? They have never seen what I see. I don't see what they do, either. Hyper Intuition is Vongola's bloodline, and it shows the world as it is. It's beauty, and its danger. Our power, that is also through the past, through communicating to past generations. Arcobeleno See, both as a bloodline, and their ability to see major events, both past and future. To see the past, and important events that could change history forever. Mare doesn't have extrasensory powers. No, just sight into what's beyond normal...

Byakuran feels it as something familiar. Something forgotten, and out of sight. Is it something lost in the safeguards Kawahira placed after the Future That Never Was?

Sounds right. Sad, that we need the knowledge now that its not there. I should be trying to find out, that its important, I know that... Yet, I can't bring myself to ask, I know Byakuran doesn't want to be that person anymore... And, I don't want that Byakuran, either. There's fear building. The way he glances extra long at shadows, cringes at certain noises. The way his eyes linger extra long, and guiltily at me and Yuni... I know that whatever it was, even if he doesn't remember, he's glad it's gone. And I'm just so thankful he's still here.

Maybe we could organize more meetings... That's actually another reason that tipped Hayato and the others off. Scheduling twice as many meetings to just hangout, even though I really should be working on paperwork.

Aria feels it too. However, that is definitely being hidden behind the more pressing matter. Her time as Arcobaleno Sky is almost over. I feel her Sky, so thin, and waning, and know that soon, Yuni will take her place. The way she's slower now, so careful now. Not to bruise. And looks at Yuni with resignation, and worry. She's looking more and more tired every day. She doesn't see the problem, the danger approaching, to distracted by her own mortality. Can't see the changing tide, the future almost here. She feels a turn out of place. Byakuran notices it, shows it in the way he asks me for insight first, before turning to Aria.

It's so close now. The way me and Byakuran share knowingly glances. Or after talking to Yuni, share a worried look... We've always been closer to Yuni. Whose life will be so short, so bleak, Will constantly be drained off, in support of the Trinesette. Her mother will die soon. Is dying every day. And the only thing we can do is support her.

Yuni, who has forgiven so much, of the Future That Never Was. Me, for not protecting her. Byakuran, for hurting her, so badly.

I know none of us are who we were in that timeline. We are not responsible for that future, and our alternate selves actions. That judging people by what they might do in the future is immoral. I've never held that Byakuran's actions against this ones... Yet, I'm haunted by Yuni's screams, and her dead eyes.

I will miss her, so dearly. When Yuni grows into her power, and the curse takes its course.

I will never forget, looking in Byakuran's eyes... and seeing the same promise, running through my head. The same resolution, our Flames flaring as one.

Theres a great danger, near. The fate of the Trinesette will be in the balance. Maybe we will fall, maybe we'll make it through, just fine... Whatever's coming, we'll make it through, together.

Whatever happens. As Great Skies, our destinies our tied as one. Forever.

Vongola Report: 4

Heartless.

Their called Heartless. Made from the hearts of their victims, twisted by the darkness.

Literal Darkness. As in not quite Flames, similar to Night Flames. I owe Giotto an apology.

Checkerface stopped by, to tell us about them. They seek to destroy the world, by uniting the Trinesette, and filling it with Darkness.

Judging by how an ordinary person can be turned into horrible monsters, we do not want to see what that world would be like. Even Kawahira is against that, and the Trinesette Administrator is usually indifferent towards just about everything.

Not sure why I keep writing things like this. Reborn would kill me, if he knew. All those lectures the risks of a written record of incriminating information. It feels necessary, though.

Even though I'm not planning on anyone reading this, it feels like I'm writing to someone...

Well, whoever's reading this, thanks for listening, and welcome to Italy. Even if its just written form. I hope you can find a moments rest, here. Despite its... difficult state.
It's only going to get worse... But I hope everyone's alright, in the end... No, they will be. Because we will make sure of it.

I've been compiling a list of Bio's, from what Shioichi and I gathered. It's at the end of the page, with Journal Entries. Who knows, maybe this will be helpful? Maybe, it'll just help make this world feel more real? Maybe your just a person who likes to read dry information, like this.

Maybe, you don't care about that stuff, and want to skip to the next chapter. That's fine. I wouldn't want to read this stuff, as a civilian, either.

No one asked me what I see, through me Intuition. Again. Checkerface already knows. Byakuran knows, if not consciously. Have they forgotten that it sees through all? Some, certainly. Have they decided that since I don't want to tell them, they don't want to know? Looks like

Guess we can be thankful they only attack where someone can defend. I'm not sure... my family is in so much danger now... Is it wrong to feel apprehensive about risking them like this?

Also, I feel the need to write: Be sure to review!

Vongola Report: Apocalypse (Report in story)

Everything is gone.

Yuni and Byakuran. Reborn, and the rest of the Arcobaleno...

My Guardians... I miss them, so much. The real them, not the twisted versions of themselves they are now. Since they fell, the Darkness wrapping around and inside their hearts.

And I stand alone.

Neo Italy.

My Light is gone, the Darkness has taken my heart...

I'm sorry, everyone.

Yet, even in Darkness... I still rule.

In this world of nightmares and blood, I wear the crown of Vongola.

Still, there are innocent people. Even if there wasn't, no one deserve a world of blood, like this. Not even the worst mafaiso. Who will save them? Us? I wish I could, but my Light is gone. My Will drained, and waning.

So Light has given way to Darkness...

All hope is lost... I wish... I wish... I'm so sorry...

OOO

Also;

For those familiar with the KHR Flames fandom, this is for you. Since it would be confusing for those not familiar, I decided not to put it within the story. The complete flashback, of Lambo and Tsuna's turned into Heartless/Unverse-Nightmare mixture. Also, they would be added even more elements to the story, which aren't needed. These chapters are complicated enough without detailing Flames. It's supposed to be a general X-over, not KHR Crossover.

Sora doesn't hear these parts, because he's not in touch with his Flames. He doesn't understand everything. Tsuna's memory fills in some of the details, but not everything. So details like Flames just fly over.

He was Tsuna.

He stumbled, as he paced the room. Clumsiness making a reappearance, as his head pounded. Unable to rely on Hyper Intuition, or his Flames for balance. Without them, he seemed to trip on thin air.

Everything just seemed to hurt. His head, his Flames. Messing with his mind, warping his thoughts into the twisted mess it was now.

He was panicking. He was grieving.

There was something in his eyes. Something liquidly, and hot. That blurred his vision. Oh, tears... When had he started crying? When had he stopped? Was he still...?

It was almost as distracting as the orange. That interrupted his sight, turning everything except other Flames into shades of orange. Heat waves cascading off. The Flames, pulsed about erratically, and flaring with distress. No calmness to be found in them. Not even in HDWM Mode. The usual tranquility of DWM mixed with Hyper Intuition was gone. Lost, in the screaming and begging. The twisting of grief, and the mangled pain of bond separation. The raging with their anger, and loss. Swirling with unconcealed pain, and panic. The way their usual, homely orange was now tainted with dark blue and red strains.

They cried out, screaming in their grief, and begging. Raging with their anger, and pain, and loss. Swirling with unconcealed panic. Screeching so, so loudly, so forcefully, some of the more sensitive Non-Actives were hearing it.

Please don't go, I'll do anything. Just stay close, and safe, and Mine, please. I don't want to live without you. I need you, so much. Please.

In words that weren't quite words, the language of Flames. A feeling in his chest, a whisper in his heart, that reverberated throughout his very being. Because they were his words, in the same the Flames were His.

He couldn't help but scream.

Natsu understood. The bow lion howled with grief, his fiery orange mane turned red and black. His companion, made of his Flames... Lashing out at everyone who came near. Tsuna had to save quite a few staff, before they learned.

OOO

The first sign was panic, then resignation flooding the bond. A final word, and a dying sensation, that would become a hollow ache, as the bond began to unravel. Thread by painful thread.

The way those so pure, and bright, and His, Flames were intruded upon. Invaded by those sickly dark, corrupted Flames. That turned them black, and hollow, and corrupt, and Danger-NotMine. Twisting, and blackening, as the foreign Flames entered their soul, their heart and Flames. With that sickening, malicious taint. Until the bond snapped, what's left of their original Flames unable to keep the connection against the onslot of Dark-Flames. Flooding his head, his Flames, with pain, and loss. The bond broken, and undone, the jagged edges oozing.

There was no time. No time to grieve. To mourn the loss, and try to deal with bond-breakage. Not that he ever expected to heal, no one really healed from so many bonds, all breaking in such quick succession. Yet, just a little time to sooth, to get the edges, the Flames to stop bleeding. Was that too much to ask? Apparently, it was. And okay, Tsuna deserved the constant pain for failing them. They deserved to be mourned, so completely, so fully, that it was more than just hurt and loss, it was bleeding and Discord. His Family was GONE.

And no Reborn to make him try. To tell him that no one deserved Discord, and the pain of Bond-breakage. To make him try to do better, forcing him to heal.

His Guardians were DEAD. His Family, His Friends. Those that twined with His Flames. That settled in His Harmony. Their minds, so abruptly cut from his, Flames fading. Passing through the orange, like water. No longer able to hold on, to take shelter, and rest within his Flames. His Orange. His Home.

Bondmates/Pack/Family/Rested/MineMineMine! I miss you. I grieve you. Imissyou. Sosomuch. Pleasecomeback. Pleasepleaseplease. My Storm. My Rain. My Mists. My Suns. I need you. I want you! I'm sorry. So, so, sorry. I'll do anything. Just please, please, let me feel you, again. Please. Ineedyou!

His Intuition had gone crazy. So many attacks, so many dangers. It always had a special sense of urgency about the Heartless.

Almost as loud as his Flames cried. But the Flames felt, what he felt. Their grief resonated with His. Was His. The intuition wasn't His, was more like another sense.

So no. He wasn't 'alright'. In any sense of word. Anyone who said differently was deaf and blind, and Flame-void.

His Flames franticly pulsed, lashing out at unseen (imagined) threats. Angry. Grieving. Metaphorically bleeding. And shouting with that sharp, desperate, all consuming grief.

He was losing his mind.

Oh well. Maybe if he was insane, it wouldn't hurt so much. No, he wanted to hurt, because he wanted to remember His, to grieve them so vividly, as they deserved to be grieved.

Why did that thought make him hurt even more?

The ache in his chest was growing stronger. fuller, with every passing moment. Every pulse of Flames. And every desperate, pained cry.

Flames that burned. That mourned. That cried out in grief, and pulsed with rage.

That hurt so badly. He felt like he was dying.

OOO

The Darkness was growing stronger.

He'd felt it, earlier. The steady rise of some unknown threat. Felt it, in his Intuition.

Each time a bond-broke, and His Guardians died, the Darkness grew stronger. Could feel His Elements heart drifting into the Darkness. The Darkness was profiting from His Families death.

Tsuna hated that! Hated! The Darkness took them away! Why? Why?! WHY?! They'd died, and that wasn't enough for the Darkness! It had to take their heart too!
His Flames were just as angry. Dark blue streaks of Night Flames appearing within his Flames. He hated them! Hated them! Hated the Darkness! WANTED it gone! DEAD! Dying, for DARING to take what was His!

Murkuro howled at her loss. Mist Flames grabbling, clawing into His Sky, for comfort. So tightly, and so desperate. Clutching him, so firmly that it drew pain. Like a child tugging on his mothers dress, and a cat clawing into a tree limb for purchase. It hurt, and all Tsuna could do, was be there. Ignore the pain of his Flames, to hold the Mist in His Sky. Lent Murkuro his presence, his support, if only mentally. As they felt her illusions break, her innards spilling, as whatever technique the Heartless did canceled the illusions keeping her alive. "Murkuro-sama, Bos-Tsuna-nii... Thank you..."

"Make them pay." Tsuna repeated, snarling. Flames, Sky and Night, flaring ever higher, ever larger, in their rage. Their grief, and pain. And longing.

My Mists! My Storm! My Sun! My Cloud! MINE-MINE-MINE-MINE! Loveyou. Missyou. Pleasepleaseplease, comeback. WANTyouNEEDyou. Pleasepleaseplease. They/Dark-ones took them! Take MINE back! DESTROY them! Make them pay! Get Mine back! Make them pay! Get MINE back! Where are you, My Storm? My Cloud? My Rain. Please comeback. Pleasepleaseplease.

He wasn't thinking straight. Everything was so disjointed, between His mangled Flames and howling Intuition.

Only Lambo was left.

My Lightning! My Lightning!

So close, and near, and in danger.

Keep close! Keep safe, and Mine! I can't lose him, not ever, not now. Pleasepleaseplease.

So young, so little. Lambo shouldn't have to fight. Shouldn't have to struggle. The battlefield wasn't a place for kids. But there was no safer place in the mansion, not when Ryohei had died within the mansion. No, the only safe place was close by, so Tsuna could protect him. Where no Heartless would hurt Lambo, unless they took Tsuna out first.

His Flames were bristling, and flaring with agitation and indignation.

How dare they try to take My Lightning. The Flames snarled, with him. Even as they screeched and begged, in their panic. The ever incessant. Pleasepleaseplease.

"Pleasepleaseplease." Tsuna chanted with them.

Of course they had the same desire. They were the same, after all. Just as furious, just as righteously indignant. Bristling with his temper. Even as they quivered, shivering in fear, and panic.

The Lightning Flames, so bright, so green. Green that should be safe, and happy, and tangled with orange, and His. Instead of churning uneasily, and whispering reassurances. Twining with the orange, in grief, and love, and panic, and so desperately trying to get orange feeling better. Even if only for a moment. Desperately trying to shoulder the loss, to support the Sky. The orange that was sheltering it, holding it so close, and near. So worried, and so fearful.

As if they were the one protecting Sky, and not the oh so little, if strong Lightning. The endearing little Lightning, his little brother.

"Ow!" Then Lambo was hit, falling to the ground. A Heartless pouncing, claw ready.

"Lambo!" Tsuna cried out, jumping infrount of the Heartless. Wrapping his arms aroundd Lambo. The Lightning digging deeper into His Sky, as they shuddered uneasily.

We die together. The Orange whispered, without words. In the language of Flames. Where Lambo's Lightning could not hear.

Yes. Everyone was gone. His friends, His Family. Only Lambo was left. At this point, death would be a relief. There was no way to survive this. If he was to die, either way;

Why not with what was left of his family. His little brother.

Of course he would tug Lambo into his lap, and hold on, so tightly. Sky whispering reassurances it knew was lies to his Lightning.

Light.

The Light was gone, and that hurt. There was a hollowness in his chest, where his heart was. The world seemed so much darker, and...

But Family first. Always.

It all seemed so hopeless now. Lifeless. Dark.

The Darkness. So near, so close. So much stronger, closer than ever before.

Inside him. Within his heart. Muddling his mind. As his heart fell, and with him, the world fell to Darkness.

It was His.

His Light. His Light, that was trying to drive the Darkness out of his little brother's heart. In vain, but doing its best.

Okay.

How could Tsuna even realize that, feel it with the certainty of Hyper Intuition.

And all the broken bonds. All the jagged, ruined edges, and frayed strings of a bond that was lost... were back.

But it was still, a sharp, pleasant relief, the healing of broken edges, that ran through his system. His Flames. He had missed them. So, so much...

Hayato's Storm felt like a mess of contradictions. Kyouya seemed even more bloodthirsty and impatient than ever.

He never wanted to let them go, again. Not ever. As twisted, and messed up, as they were, now. However corrupt, however lose, that bond was, at least they had eachother...

At least Tsuna wasn't alone. At least Lambo was safe, with some Light still in his heart.