Kokuyo Arc

Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn. There are slight dark themes here so consider yourself warned.

She was weightless.

She was cold.

She was empty.

Mia was so very tired, her body had long ago gave up from running. She didn't know what power Mukuro had but he didn't even need to touch her to hurt her. It started as mild illusions – alone in the dark with nothing to hear and see – to extremely terrifying ones. He had the twins chase after her throughout the entire building, changing its layout each time and they always caught her. They would drag her, screaming into the dark by her hair or by her legs and the game would start again.

She managed to lock herself in a room once and the temperature dropped to sub zero degrees. One moment she was freezing, the next she was gasping for air as the room flipped, the ice melting into water. Drowning her. They didn't even let her stay unconscious for long. One of them would rouse her roughly awake, kicking her in the ribs. It hurt but she never cried, never begged for help.

She was scared, more than she had ever been in her life and she was alone.

Fuuta had long disappeared from her side, ripped away by that blonde monkey.

Mia didn't know how long they've been at it. She lost her sense of time. She didn't know if it had been hours or days. Her sanity was stretched to its thinnest.

When they stopped playing the game, Mukuro didn't even let her rest and filled those moments with images. People massacring each other, blood splattering against the walls, women and children shrieking and hands... terrible hands reaching out to her to be dragged into dark.

It was everything she could do to stay… what? Stay what? She struggled to recall any happy memories but instead unpleasant ones resurfaced to haunt her – her mother's death appeared the most.

She remembered well how she died. How could she not? She was there when it happened. When her mother reached out for her hand when the floor started to cave… when they were finally able grasp each other's hand… when he mother yanked her off the unstable floor, the action causing the section beneath her mother's feet to give away… Mia had been left to reaching into hole, still screaming, her hand empty and her mother's face burned into her mind. The thing that haunted her most though – it wasn't the expression of her mother's face but of the hand that still reached out to her.

Her darkest secret was that she killed her mother.

The guilt came rushing back, followed with memories that came after. Flashes of suppressed memories blinded her and for a moment, Mukuro's illusions weren't effective. Her fear was thrown off by the absolute disorientation from the memory rush and her mind throbbed with pain that came with it. She didn't know when the fear ended and the thoughts began but suddenly she could feel her grip on the situation returning.

The illusions no longer tormented her – no, that wasn't right. They were still there and still affect her the way it should have but she… endured it. She didn't know exactly what she was doing, but slowly, the illusions became easier to ignore and she focused on her thoughts, random thoughts that were neither positive nor negative but just was and she stayed there until they withdrew and she was left gasping on the floor on her knees and hands. Her eyes watered and she furiously blinked them away but gave in to throwing up on the floor.

"How rare," Mukuro commented as he watched her pull herself together. "Your natural resilience against my illusions is astounding."

Mia wanted to say something smartass but she curled in into herself instead, greedily sucking in breaths of air. Never had she gone through something so tiring in her life to the point it made her body wretch so miserably as this.

Forcing herself to look up, her eyes scanned the dim area until they landed on Fuuta. He sat at the edge of the stage, holding his book tightly to his chest while his eyes were scarily absent of emotions.

"Fuuta?" she croaked out but he didn't seem to hear.

"Kufufufufu, Fuuta-kun here gave in pretty easily." Mukuro angled his head towards Fuuta. "Isn't that right Fuuta-kun?"

"Hai," Fuuta hollowly answered.

"Now then," Mukuro turned back to her. "I think you'll be quite happy to know that Vongola Decimo and his group are here."

Hope bloomed in her chest but it was crushed immediately by force of rationality. Mukuro knew who the Tenth boss will be and by the sounds of it, he had something planned. So why?

"Why am I still alive?" she asked, unable to keep the tremor from her voice. "You don't need me anymore." Fuuta was more important than her and most of Mukuro's crew thought nothing of her other than she was a lackey. Why was she still here?

"Are you so prepared to die?"

"I was just… wondering." She forced herself to stand up.

The room brightened a little and she looked into his two colored eyes. He smirked. "Because you'll be an interesting toy."

This time, she felt the attack sink deep into her mind. She couldn't mentally prepare herself against the suffocating dark force that now penetrated her walls. There was no defense, no counterattack this time because she was exhausted. This wasn't an illusion – was all that registered in her mind before her eyes rolled to the back of her head and she collapsed on the floor, unmoving.

Mukuro jumped down the stage and walked towards the girl's body. She had started to resist his illusions but what about mind control? There was only a small percentage of someone being able to bear with the mental strain of an illusion but it was even rarer for someone to be resistant to mind controlling. To find a person who was either of the two was very interesting.

He picked her limp body up and carried it to the couch where he laid her there. He closed her eyes then covered her with an illusion to keep her hidden. Afterwards, he sat down on the couch and waited.

Tsuna was silently brooding as they went inside the main building. He had a new set of clothes on thanks to Bianchi and Reborn was gracious – his word's not Tsuna's – enough to give him Dino's old whip. While they walked, Lancia's words were bouncing around in his head.

"Both of them are alive. But… I can't assure you that they're alright."

He could have said more, but Chikusa suddenly attacked them and Lancia took the hit. His jaw clenched tightly. He was so sick of having people get hurt for him, first Gokudera, Yamamoto and now Lancia. Tsuna didn't think he could handle it if anyone died.

Still, he was more worried than before now if that was possible. Both Mia and Fuuta were here and god know's what happened to them. Tsuna tried not to think about it but when left alone with his thoughts he really couldn't help it. He was so tense in fact; he jumped three feet in the air when Gokudera stepped on a can.

"Tenth, are you sure you're alright?" Gokudera worriedly asked him.

"Yeah I'm okay," he tried to assure him but his friend didn't look convinced. "It's just I feel a bit worried for leaving Yamamoto and Lancia-san all alone outside." He frowned, realizing that he was worried about that too.

There was an unspoken "and practically everything else as well" that no one wanted to point out. Gokudera decided to drop it there. Tsuna was grateful for his concern but there was just too much on his plate. Things just seemed to get worse when Gokudera picked up a sleek beaten up black phone from the ground.

Tsuna recognized it. "That's Hibari-san's!" Then he remembered something that had a laugh bubble up to his lips. Maybe he finally snapped, Tsuna thought but he couldn't stop laughing.

"Tenth?" Gokudera looked more than a little freaked out.

He covered his face with his hands. "Pfft… Hibari-san's ring tone is the school's anthem," he snickered.

"L-Lame!" Gokudera pinched his lips together and chuckled. When Tsuna stopped laughing, he was smiling faintly. His worries didn't seem to have disappeared but he certainly felt better. If Hibari-san were to know that they've been making fun of him… the prospect of actually looking forward to something made Tsuna calmer even if it was death at the hands of the demon prefect.

"Tenth, let's all hang out once we're done with this." Gokudera was smiling.

Tsuna nodded. "Ahhh… but I want to be somewhere else other than my house. I'm sick of being cramped up in my room."

"Understood Tenth!"

Tsuna wanted to finish this and settle things with Mukuro once and for all. He was done with the games; he wanted his friends and normalcy back. He also wanted… his cheeks heated up lightly. He wanted a hug. Sue him but he wanted a goddamn hug and not just any hug but Mia's hugs. Hers were always the best because when she gives one, she puts everything into it. Never had he appreciated a hug more than hers but more than that… he just wanted her to be safe.

"Fuuta?" Bianchi called out and Tsuna snapped his head up. Indeed, Fuuta was the very end of the hallway, staring into space. When he heard his name being called, Fuuta did not respond. He instead disappeared into another corridor. They chased after him but when they rounded the corner – he was standing in front of a glass door at the very end of it. They went after him again but the room they entered was empty.

"How did he get so far?" Tsuna wondered.

"Tch. Mukuro's playing with us." Gokudera grounded his teeth together. "That bastard's gonna get it when I shove my dynamite up his – "

"Quiet!" Reborn ordered. He pointed to an emergency ladder at the far wall. "Fuuta must have gone up those ladders. Shut up and let's move."

"I can't let you do that." A voice declared.

They turned around to find Chikusa standing there, his yoyos whirring in his hands. Gokudera stood up front, pulling his dynamite out. He glared at Chikusa.

"Ready for round two?" He taunted the enemy.

"Gokudera-kun! What are you doing?"

Gokudera tilted his head backwards to give his boss an easy-going smile that wasn't normally seen. He raised his thumbs up. "Go ahead Tenth, I'll deal with this guy."

"But…" Tsuna started.

"Mia-sama is probably waiting Tenth." Gokudera didn't look back at him and Tsuna was rendered absolutely speechless. "She must have been terrified to be protecting Fuuta all on her own." Tsuna swallowed heavily. He had never thought about it that way before but now that he did, Gokudera was right. This wasn't even her fight to begin with.

Sensing that they were on the same thought Gokudera threw his bombs. The lids popped open and smoke came out.

"Smoke screen?" Tsuna exclaimed.

"Hayato!" Bianchi said.

"Go! I'll be fine!" Gokudera shouted.

Tsuna wanted to stay and help but Gokudera was also right. Mia and Fuuta cannot be left alone with Mukuro any longer. Steeling himself, he turned his back on Gokudera, choosing to put his faith on his friend instead. Bianchi hesitantly followed.

"Gokudera-kun, you better be in one piece when I see you again!" Tsuna said before he climbed up the ladder, remembering the first time they met. Then he went up.

They entered a large room of what seems to be the remains of what a theater used to be. It was sort of dark but Tsuna could see enough. In fact, his vision singled out one thing in the room – a teen sitting on a couch on the stage with his hands folded together. Without meaning to, his expression turned into a deep frown as his mind pieced together the strange Kokuyo student's questionable presence here. Mukuro Rokudo had been there. He talked with him and knew there was something off. How could he have missed something like that? He thought to himself angrily.

Probably because you were being Dame, his mind told him.

Shut up.

No you shut up.

Why the hell do you sound like Reborn?

Because your consciousness associates criticism with Reborn who has got to be the toughest critic around… more so than yourself.

Yeah… he's an asshole after all.

"GAH!" Tsuna clutched the back of his head where Reborn kicked him. "What was that for?" He angrily exclaimed.

"You were calling me something unpleasant Dame-Tsuna." For his size, Reborn loomed on him like an intimidating tower. Cowardly senses kicking, Tsuna 'Hieeeeed'.

"Kufufufufufu!"

Tsuna didn't let him get away with that. He pulled the whip from his side and held it; Bianchi did the same and brought out two plates of her poison cooking. He glanced briefly at her – noticed how cool she looked – and hoped with all his heart that he did not look like some puny wannabe fighter. He wanted to look strong at least but he was so lanky it was laughable.

"Where are they?" Bianchi demanded. Maybe he should let Bianchi do the talking here. Besides, she looked way more intimidating.

"Dame-Tsuna you are such a wimp," Reborn commented lightly by his side.

"Shut up!" he hissed back. Thankfully, it didn't seem like Mukuro heard as he addressed them by raising his arms, welcoming them. He gave them a smile that had Tsuna gripping his whip tightly.

"Why… they're right here." Bianchi suddenly dropped the plates she held and they crashed to the floor.

"Bianchi!" His eyes widened. Fuuta had appeared out of nowhere and stabbed Bianchi on the stomach with a three-pointed weapon. No remorse, not even a hint of emotion as Bianchi collapsed on the floor, slowly bleeding to death. Fuuta turned his sights to Tsuna. He back away slightly.

"Fuuta? It's me – Tsuna!" He sidestepped when Fuuta made a motion to stab him. Turning quickly around, he grasped the younger boy's wrists tightly. Fuuta struggled to get his hands free but Tsuna was older and was stronger by default. He shook the boy's hand until the trident dropped.

"Fuuta…" Tsuna could not believe it. Mukuro had Fuuta under mind control. As Fuuta struggled, there was a look of hate just underneath the surface of his blank eyes. He could tell – Fuuta's hate and it was all directed at himself. That thing that was inside of his head that usually bothered him came back again. It niggled gently, coaxing the words out before he even thought about saying them.

"It's not your fault Fuuta." Fuuta stopped struggling to look at him. He could see as Fuuta's eyes turned clear and shiny.

"Tsuna-nii," he whimpered.

"Fuuta." Relieved, Tsuna started to smile but as tears started to gather, an intense look of pain twisted Fuuta's expression and he clutched his head. He staggered a bit then fell unconscious. Tsuna scrambled to catch him.

"Fuuta?" Tsuna said, alarmed.

"It seems that you have caused him to 'crash'. He's been under quite a lot of mental strain for the past few hours," Mukuro told him. Tsuna set Fuuta down on the ground gently then turned around to glare at the other teen. He held his whip again and started to walk towards the stage.

"Oya, what a scary look you have on your face," Mukuro commented. He stood up and held out his hand. A staff appeared and Tsuna stopped, terribly confused. "Kufufufufu, it seems that Chikusa had been successful of disposing Lancia before he could tell anymore." Mukuro slammed the butt of his staff on the ground and columns of fire suddenly appeared.

"What the hell?!" Tsuna exclaimed as he skittered back to avoid the flames.

"Kufufufu. Sawada Tsunayoshi, Vongola Decimo, it will be a pleasure picking you apart."

Fighting Mukuro was no joke. Tsuna honestly just wanted to punch him in the face – his whip was useless and was left forgotten – but the guy uses illusions which screwed with his mind. He didn't even imagine that something like this existed but he sees it and he's forced to believe it. Mukuro was explaining his abilities – why do the bad guys always do that? – and Reborn was calmly talking back like it was some business conference.

He was scratched all over and Tsuna was pretty sure that Mukuro was laughing at him from the inside. The guy didn't even look injured at all. He thought that he would have been done for sure until Gokudera and Hibari came. Both looked worse for wear but Tsuna was more than impressed at Hibari's will to kick Mukuro's ass or in his case – bite him to death.

Someone finally managed hit him and Mukuro was down but despite that, Tsuna didn't feel too easy. After taking down Mukuro, Hibari had collapsed, his injuries being too much to handle. That wasn't the end of it though because Mukuro decided to traumatize him by shooting himself in the head. To say Tsuna was horrified was an understatement. Sure he wanted to beat him but suicide?

He had frozen on the spot until he heard Gokudera's cry.

"Sis?!" Gokudera was kneeling beside Bianchi while his hand was over his bleeding chest. The sight of his friends injured, shook Tsuna up and he forced himself to get his head back on to his shoulders and turned away from Mukuro's body.

"H-H-Hayato?" Bianchi slowly got up.

Shiver went up Tsuna's spine.

"Gokudera-kun get away from her!" he shouted.

Gokudera had managed to dodge but Bianchi had scratched him with the trident that Fuuta was holding before. Tsuna knew what this was… he just hoped he was wrong. Bianchi's shoulders shook and then she started laughing that made the hair on his neck rise.

"I'm ba~ack."

Oh.

"From."

My.

"Hell."

God.

It was like a zombie movie – everyone around him were mindless puppets that were out to get him. Instead of eating his brain though, Mukuro wanted to possess his body – which was so disturbing on so many levels – and rule the mafia world then the entire world. If Tsuna could, he would have tipped his hat, hop on the nope bus and leave for nopeville forever. He was surrounded and he was getting beaten around like a rag doll.

"Is that it?" Mukuro asked through Ken's body, disappointed. "Your friend has shown more tenancy than you have." He gestured back on stage and Tsuna's eyes followed. Like watching a mist lift and disappear into the air, the curtain that covered the couch vanished and a body appeared with long flowing blonde hair appearing like an image described from the pages of a fairy tale.

Tsuna went still. Mia looked like she was sleeping. Her hands were clasped together on her stomach but her skin was so white – deathly pale. Sweat glistened on her forehead and even from where he was, he could hear her ragged breathing.

"What did you do to her Mukuro?" Reborn demanded.

Mukuro shrugged. "Right now she is resisting my control… she's a very interesting individual."

He snapped. "Mukuro!" Tsuna yelled and threw himself at Ken. He ended up getting kicked aside but he got up on shaky legs.

"Damn it." His hands fisted into balls. "Damn it!" he said again. He wanted to cry at his own weakness. She was so close…

"Tsuna." He turned to look at his tutor. Reborn was looking at him, holding Leon but Tsuna wasn't focusing on the chameleon, he was looking right into Reborn's eyes. "What is it that you want to do?" he asked.

What did he want? He wanted everybody to be safe and happy, he wanted to laugh with the others again but right now, in this moment there was nothing more important than beating Mukuro and come out of it winning.

"I want to win." Tsuna declared.

Then Leon burst into light.

There were things that Tsuna regretted in his life that he wished he could have done but was too afraid to do. The Dying Will bullet helped him with that by just casually throwing his fears – and his dignity – aside. Literally stripping him. He would never admit it, but afterwards he would feel satisfied and even happy that Reborn forced him out of his comfort shell to do what he had to. It made him feel useful again.

But the Rebuke bullet was different. Where the Dying Will bullet took strength from regrets, the Rebuke bullet took its power from his resolve that was the product of hearing people's live rebukes. It was weird and a little annoying that he can hear them. First Kurokawa – seriously? – then his mom, Haru, Kyoko-chan, and Lancia. His stomach gave that queasy but pleasant feeling when he heard Kyoko-chan's rebuke. To know that she was so worried for him made him feel sorry and happy at the same time. The last rebuke however was completely unexpected.

"Tsuna… you're such an idiot you know that?" That fond, exasperated tone that he would know anywhere else, he had heard it countless of times when he did something stupid and never with scorn. He could just picture her face: her expression was a mixture of a frown and amusement, her mouth set in a lopsided smile, and her blue eyes glistening like a clear blue sky as she teasingly rebuked him.

She was unconscious but she was still fighting right? Mukuro said it himself that she was still resisting. If she was fighting then he couldn't be lying down here doing nothing. He needed to get back up. He wanted to hear her tease him, laugh at him, anything. So he got up. When he did, a surge of overwhelming calmness engulfed him. Warmth like never before spread from his head to the tip of his fingers and he flexed his hands instinctively, feeling the strange material against his skin.

If he dies here, he can never spend his afterlife in peace.

"Kufufufu… Finally."

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