A/N: I don't own KHR or any of its characters.


BANG BANG.

The echo of the shots reverberate through the giant metallic room. We stand in stunned silence, as the two Cervello women fall to the ground at Shoichi's side. My entire family, save Hibari, sits contained in a clear prison. My fists shake as I survey their wounds. Each barely hanging on.

"What's the meaning of this?!" I shout at Shoichi.

Shoichi rubs his stomach anxiously. "They should be here any second now…"

"Who -"

Just on cue: in walks Hibari and Hatsu, busting down the door with a single swing. Shoichi falls to the ground on seeing them, knees buckling beneath him. "I was getting worried…" he rubs the back of his head.

What? Isn't Shoichi supposed to be plotting for our demise?... Maybe he just needs all the rings in one place. That must be it - he still doesn't have Hibari's.

"Oh wow isn't this a reunion!" Hatsu calls out happily - the complete opposite mood of the room. Hibari, in normal fashion, says nothing and acknowledges no one.

Shoichi smiles weakly at her outburst. "I've been waiting for you all. Um, I've been on your side this whole time. Getting you all here was the first step to beating Byakuran."

"WHA - WHAT?!"

"That's bullshit! Just fight him Tenth! There's no way we can trust him." Gokudera bangs at the prison walls, fighting furiously to return to my side.

"Don't worry about us Tsuna, destroy him while you can!" Lal pleads, not shy of the sacrifices this time has demanded of her.

"How can I believe you after everything you've put us through?" I cry out.

"If I really wanted to capture you and the rings, I could've done so long before. You're no match for this time yet.. It was all a part of our plan that you gain experience and fight your way here." He… he looks just like us. Afraid… pained… desperate… He doesn't look like he's captured an enemy. Not at all.

"OUR plan?"

"Yes, the plan we put together. Me, you, and Hibari."

At that, Hibari perks up for the first time. Eyes narrow at Shoichi, "Why would I work with you herbivores?"

Shoichi shivers at Hibari's intensity. "So that you could see Hatsu again. Or at least, that was your condition for sticking to the plan." HIBARI? Stone-cold, death-stare, people-hating Hibari doing everything for… for a girl?

"Why would Hibari do something like that? It's obviously a trap Tenth, right?" Gokudera shouts again.

I don't even realize until I'm forced to answer that my mouth has been hanging open, slack-jawed in disbelief at that claim. Mentioning Hibari's name beside another person's was enough to warrant a beating! In any other situation I'd imagine Shoichi would already be bleeding out onto the ground.

"That's - that's true." Even now, Hibari shifts his glare over to Hatsu and seriously if looks could kill… yeah, there's no way, it seems like they're not even on good terms right now.

"Well I didn't have time to tell you! Been preoccupied with surviving. Besides, it doesn't matter that I'm dead in this timeline. I'm still here." Hatsu nonchalantly rolls her eyes, meeting Hibari's glare with innocence. Hibari stalks toward her - OMG Hibari calm down, please, it's not Hatsu's fault that Shoichi got it wrong! Don't hurt her!

He grabs her hand, pulling her flush against him. "Stay close to me."

She chuckles, "Oh I wouldn't DARE crowd."

Through half-lidded eyes, he gazes at her with what can only be described as fondness. "Guess I'll need to bite you to death." OH. OMG. S-should we be hearing this?! Everyone is, reasonably, stunned. Some even think that it's more likely an illusion of Hibari, Hibari's twin brother, or a drug-induced hallucination. Maybe they're just all stuck in a simulation!

"T-that doesn't explain why Kyoko and Haru are here."

"Well… that was your idea. Having someone to protect makes you stronger. You deemed it necessary to bring them here so that you'd improve faster."

Any second-hand embarrassment I felt watching the previous interaction dissipates rapidly, only to be replaced by pure dread.

"For such a stupid reason I put everyone at risk? W-why would I do that?!" I clutch my head, Is this the kind of person I've become? Someone who is okay putting my friends at risk all for more power? I don't want any part of this anymore - I hate this I just want to go home, back to school where all my friends -

"Tsuna. Get a hold of yourself." Reborn chastises from my side, snapping me out of my panic.

"I wouldn't - not with Kyoko - I don't -"

"That's how dire the situation is."

"I already received word from the Varia in Italy - they've successfully raided the Millefiore headquarters. All that's left is to prepare you for taking on Byakuran. Please, we don't have much time. We've already wasted enough time chatting here. You need to believe me. This is the only way."

It's a lot to take in for any normal person. And I've never been normal. Always below average in sports, barely scraping by in my classes, never amounting to anything! It's too much. I don't know what to do! I can't -

"- URGHHH" Severe, sudden pain blooms in my stomach as I collapse to the ground. Hatsu draws back her hand, having just sucker-punched me in the gut.

The room sits in tense, stunned silence, until Gokudera's hysteric shouts fill the void - "TENTH! WHAT DID YOU DO TO HIM?!"

Even Shoichi scrambles up from the ground, attempting to talk her back. "Hatsu! Stop it - we're all on the same side!"

She scoffs, "Are we?"

My fists clench as I struggle to my feet… What the hell? I take a calming breath in, ready to push myself up when her foot slams into my back, sending me sprawling back down.

I cry out from the floor. Could this day get any worse?!

"It can."

"W-what?" I didn't say that out loud did I?

"It can get worse. You're nowhere near the bottom yet." She kneels down, head tilting to the side without any remorse.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Me?" She scoffs, incredulous. "Ya, baka! It's written all over your face, plain-as-day: You feel sorry for yourself."

"I… I'm not… I…"

"If you need a reminder: things could get much worse. You could lose everyone here. Though I suppose, we'll have nothing to worry about at that point, since we'll all be dead." She sighs, completely unperturbed by the thought. "So if you don't know what to do, I'll kill you right now and drag us all straight down to hell, no detours!" She grins toothily at me.

I know it's true.

I've wanted to leave since I got here.

I've wanted to run away.

But… where would I even run?

Back to the past? Knowing that in 10 years, this awaits us? That Haru's family have to abandon their home, Yamamoto's dad will be hunted down, all the Arcobaleno are going to be massacred and the Vongola are pushed to the brink of extinction? Is that what I've been running from?

The chance - the ONLY chance - to change all of that?

Just hoping that someone tells me what to do, just like when they thought of me as no-good Tsuna?

I'm weak.

"... You're right." I push myself up again, this time catching her next kick in the air.

"Oh~?" She smiles at me, bright-eyed.

But I can't be anymore.

"We should fight. I want to… protect you all! Tell me what I need to do Shoichi."

Because I'm the Vongola Decimo.


Watching the Vongola is literally like watching an ant move in slow motion, knowing it needs to run a marathon. Like, time - literally - is of the essence. Yet I'd watched Tsuna get stuck in the same loop of self-doubt, whining, and crying for entirely too long. Was this guy a boss or a baby? Which is actually pretty ironic, because the baby looking at me is actually one hundred times as useful as the boss. So, that's interesting.

"Not bad." Reborn smirks in my direction. I return the compliment with a lukewarm thumbs-up. Can't get too close to the troublesome baby.

Meanwhile Shoichi looks the happiest I've seen him. Which is barely-keeping-it-together, but smiling-through-the-pain. He instantly releases everyone from the jail. "Thank god. This is our chance to take down the Millefiore. Now that you've defeated the funeral wreaths, he'll have no one else to - "

"Is that so? You gave me a lot of fun today Sho-chan~!"

Ah, fuck. The Vonogola stumble backwards, shocked at the arrival of everyone's #1 most wanted. A life-size hologram of Byakuran magically beams in from one of the communication systems - surprisingly chipper and surprisingly friendly. White hair, lavender face tattoo, and a lot of pant buckles - he looks like a kpop star starring in a fantasy MV. The theme: angelic, but make it fashion.

"You've managed to entertain me so far! It's too bad we'll need to crush you. The true guardians of the Millefiore family that is… the real funeral wreaths."

He chuckles at Shoichi's obvious dismay. "That's impossible! I would know, I - unless, you knew I would betray you?"

"Hahahah oh Sho-chan, it was obvious."

"This can't be…"

"So it did get worse, eh?" I can't help but rub salt in the wound.

"Hatsu-chan…" Tsuna cries out, but I'm past the point of feeling remorse towards any of the Vongola.

"Hahahaha Hatsu-chan~ Always the jokester aren't you." Byakuran bursts out.

"Comedy is my only weapon." I smile at him.

"I'm quite familiar with all your talents Hatsu-chan~ No need to lie to me." Well isn't that unsettling and terribly disadvantageous.

"Don't talk to her, herbivore." Kyo pivots himself to be right in Byakuran's eyeline.

Byakuran smiles, "Well no matter, another time, another you." This is probably the worst possible turn of events. Byakuran's words imply he has seen other timelines. Is that… even possible?

Shoichi flinches, face going sheet white.

"I guess I should give you all a proper farewell. We'll be arriving soon! Or should I say… you'll be arriving soon!"

Even as a hologram, his threat is palpable. Tsuna, to his credit, tries to keep up his newfound courage. Gokudera looks around frantically, as if the more he whips his head back and forth, the higher chance of survival we'll have. Yamamoto, for his typical demeanor, lacks all familiar warmth. Ryohei lashes out, ready for a head-on fight. Chrome holds clear worry for her comrades in her watery eyes. Kyoya responds by smashing the device projecting the hologram. Effectively destroying any communication.

"It isn't lost yet!" Shoichi springs into action, mind moving a million miles a minute. He enters a code onto his computer and a hidden pocket of the wall reveals a set of seven boxes. "We just need these - The Vongola Box Weapons! You should be able to use them now that you've trained in this world. The Tsuna of my time left this for you all - this is the power we need to win!" He hurriedly tosses them to each of the Vongola guardians. Rushed questions are flung at Shoichi, but he has no time to answer.

I blink up at Shoichi as hands me a box - NOT a Vongola Box, not even a box weapon, just a normal little cardboard box. "Yours has clear instructions." He says, not taking his eyes off you as you reach for it. "Don't use it if you don't have to. And never use it if Hibari isn't around." My fingers just about circle around it when Shoichi jerks away. "I promised Hibari."

"Tch."

"Do you agree to those conditions?"

I roll my eyes as Kyoya glares at me with furocity, either mad at me for not agreeing to it immediately or mad that I was being dragged further into the fight. Probably a bit of both.

The entire building starts to shake.

"Hatsu! We don't have time, do you agree?"

"Okay, okay!"

He shoves the box in my hands and quickly disappears to help the other

"EVERYONE! HOLD ON!" Tsuna shouts, desperate for everyone's safety.

It starts as a light tremor, crescendoing rapidly to a 6.0 earthquake. Though I'm quick to observe everyone and anything, this time, my focus is on Kyo. And only him. He grabs my waist with one hand and an exposed pipeline with the other, securing his stance. I glance up, expecting Kyo's reassuring gaze - his unmovable confidence, fierce protectiveness, and unparalleled rage. But I can see something blooming underneath it in the downturn of his mouth and the crease of his brow… the uncertainty that certainly wasn't there before. Worry. Fear. Doubt. Not for himself, but for another.

"Watch me."

His eyes widen, knowing I can see what's clearly written on his face. I open the little box, though I already know what's in it. What Kyo would leave behind for me, knowing I'd be here in this time. Protecting me still. Watching over me until the very end.

"Just watch me. I'll fight like hell to stay by your side. I'll show you what I'm capable of. I'll win, of course."

I slip on the black ring, letting the cardboard box fall to the ground amidst the rubble of the building already collapsing under the quakes. I wrap my arms around his waist, leaning my head against his chest. He lets out the heavy breath he's been holding in. Smirk on his face.

"I've never taken my eyes off you."

White light explodes, taking over all sensation. A piercing high-pitched noise. Then the rumbling ceases entirely.


A/N: I was really disappointed with the Future arc in the end. Definitely had the best elements of any of the arcs, but also there were so many pieces of it that were sort of a waste of time? What did everyone else think? I obviously went hugely rogue in terms of what actually happens in this arc, because so many things were introduced that never had any impact on the story. Also that in the anime they go back TWICE to their normal time? *sweatdrop*