"Pray that your loneliness may spur you into finding something to live for, great enough to die for." – Dag Hammarskjold

Warnings: This chapter has heavy gore and a smut scene that I had to redact since we all know how FF can be. It's available on my AO3 account if you per—uh, peeps are interested, though I can't really promise anything 'cause it's the first smut I've ever written. :'^)

Colorful blobs danced sporadically in his vision after he opened his eyes. Tsuna hardly noticed he returned to solid ground until the arm around his waist tightened. Charred marks littered the cement where the Berserkers had stood. The others were unharmed. Verde stared dispassionately at the ground while Lal Mirch stepped forward, something akin to relief on her face. "Dramatic as always, Reborn," she said.

The suited man huffed under his breath. "I was merely passing by." His deep voice caused shivers to crawl up Tsuna's spine.

Lal Mirch pursed her lips. "Well, I guess your theatrics were useful this time."

"A simple thank you would've been enough."

Slowly, Tsuna looked down at the arm around his waist; a large hand was splayed across his stomach, displaying deft, pale fingers. His gaze then trailed aloft to curly sideburns and a fedora that obscured most of the man's face; however, Tsuna could see a dim golden glow in his obsidian eyes. They were…strangely appealing. He flushed when Reborn's lips quirked into a knowing smirk, like he knew what he was thinking. Somehow regaining composure, Tsuna hastily worked on getting out of the man's hold. His hand didn't even budge.

Verde fixed his glasses calmly. "Even with Reborn's mildly impressive work, the Berserkers will spawn again." He ignored Reborn's narrowed eyes and looked to the mirror house. "We're stuck here unless we eliminate the source. The Ravager is most likely in there."

"It's suicide," Viper said. "The most we can do is stall them, then die. Is that what you prefer?"

Fon's smile stiffened. "Your negativity is quite unappreciated."

"I'm only stating the truth."

Tsuna tensed when Reborn's grip tightened around him. He fidgeted but it was still futile to escape. "Why aren't any of you Harmonized?" the man said lowly.

No one could respond when a small groan sounded behind a crushed car. There was some rustling before Kusakabe struggled to stand, leaning on the vehicle's hood for support; his arm trembled from the effort. His suit was torn and small cuts littered his face and neck, a few deeper than others. Tsuna widened his eyes, remembering what Verde had said about Reborn. "Can you help him?" he said, looking up. "Verde told me about you, what you can do. You can heal." He flinched when Reborn gazed back at him. It went without saying that Reborn was the last person anyone wanted to mess with.

"And if I can?" Reborn said. "What will you do?"

"Sawada-san…?" Kusakabe rasped out, struggling to his feet.

Tsuna's eyes flitted towards the injured man when Reborn shifted in his line of vision, covering the detective from view. Lal Mirch inhaled sharply. "Don't you d—"

Tsuna gasped when Reborn suddenly dipped him. Rough lips pressed against his before a slick tongue slipped through his parted lips, cruelly drawing out a small whimper. Out of panic, Tsuna clutched Reborn's strong shoulders to keep himself upright, unintentionally bringing them closer. Reborn deepened the kiss, tugging Tsuna's hair back for a better angle. His skilled tongue probed deeper, harder, nearly suffocating him until all the breath left Tsuna's body. Heat coiled in Tsuna's stomach, becoming unbearable within seconds.

As soon as the kiss happened, Fon pulled Tsuna away, putting some distance between him and Reborn. When the other man licked his lips, Tsuna flushed, realizing what the hell just happened. Panting, he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and was mortified when a dribble of saliva wet his skin. "W—What the fuck was that?" he said.

If anything, the yellow glow in Reborn's eyes grew brighter. "A kiss."

Tsuna glared. "Why would you do that?"

"It's best if you stay away from Tsunayoshi for the time being," Fon said. "That was very unnecessary."

"Very," Lal Mirch said, gripping Tsuna's shoulder. "Also, I found him first. That was hardly his first time." She just smiled when Tsuna swatted her hand away.

Unruffled, Reborn rounded the car and impassively looked over the injured but alive police officers. "Everything comes with a price," he said, swiping the air with a glowing yellow hand, "and I'm more than willing to teach you, Tsuna."

The way Reborn's voice lowered when he spoke his name made Tsuna inadvertently shiver. He glared at the ground, noticing the blood on his shoes. His hands clenched into fists. This wasn't the time to get caught up in something so ridiculous like a kiss. He'd deal with that later, after they…

"We should get moving before the Berserkers come back again," Verde said, cutting off Lal Mirch's one-sided argument with Reborn. "Unless this is everyone's preferred way to go."

An officer with blood-smeared, cracked glasses inhaled sharply when he saw the horrifying carnage. "M—Matsuda?" he said, scrambling towards a gutted corpse. "Matsuda!"

"Ando," Kusakabe said in a strangled voice; his effort in consoling the grieving man fell short when it landed on deaf ears. Two other officers stared on with hollow eyes.

Reborn clicked his tongue. "Ungrateful mortals," he muttered under his breath.

Tsuna averted his gaze when Hibari regarded him with stormy eyes. His chest tingled from a numbing pain. So much blood tainted his hands, thick and sticky. Everything was his fault. There was no point in denying it, in denying things that continued to strike his face like a pile of bricks. He clenched his jaw. Lifting his chin, Tsuna started walking back to Kokuyo Land, mindful of the bones and guts strewn across the ground, a hopeless, pathetic venture that didn't ease the tremendous weight on his shoulders. Each step brought him deeper in the abyss of his mind, where there was only blood and rot. He started this horrible mess, so he had to be the one to end it and face the consequences.

A hand gripped his arm. "Where are you going?" Lal Mirch said.

"Inside," Tsuna said, not looking at her. "We need to"—he took a deep breath—"We need to get rid of the Ravager. Verde's right. That's the only way we can leave."

"It's suicide," Viper repeated.

"I don't have plans on dying," Reborn said, making Tsuna tense when he moved closer to his side. "And if that's your preference, Viper, I have no qualms on leaving you behind."

"Then what of the others?" Fon said.

Tsuna glanced over his shoulder at the mourning detectives. He hesitated for a moment when Hibari gripped his bloody tonfas, but managed to say, "They shouldn't stay here. We need to stick together. The sooner we get rid of the Ravager, the sooner we can leave and…" He let the thought linger in the stifling air.

"You mean kill," Reborn said, snapping Tsuna out of his momentary daze.

Tsuna narrowed his eyes, but faltered after making the mistake of meeting the other man's gaze. The yellow glow had faded out, leaving just obsidian orbs in its wake. "You knew what I meant," he said, his voice wavering when Reborn leaned down.

"Mincing words rarely gets the message across," the man said softly in his ear. "And being soft will get you killed." With an insufferable smirk, Reborn pulled away before Fon stepped in-between them. "I won't stand for a weakling as my Sky."

"Reborn," Lal Mirch said, "shut up."

Blood rushed in Tsuna's head. Before he could stop himself, his lips moved on their accord, "Then I'll drag you down with me, and we'll both suffer." The spiteful words were horrible, but the flicker of surprise in Reborn's eyes was more satisfying. Tsuna turned away with Lal Mirch and Fon at his heels. "And I get it, I know. I'm sorry for all the shit that happened, I'm sorry for putting everything off, but when this is over, if we pull through…I'll do it."

"Do what?" Lal Mirch said as more footsteps trailed behind them.

"You know what I mean," Tsuna said through gritted teeth.

"Then dying is not an option tonight," Fon said, sealing the unspoken deal.

Reborn huffed. "Dying was never an option."

"I'm going to drain every single currency you have," Viper said, clicking their tongue. "From all of you."

Verde crossed his arms over his chest. "If we pull through."

Slipping his hand in his pocket, Reborn tilted his fedora up with his gun. "We will."

It didn't take long for the detectives to follow them, but Tsuna felt an uncomfortable pressure digging into his skin from their stares. He was too cowardly to look back. At some point, Kasumi had drifted to Kusakabe's side, sending wary glances at him and the Arcobaleno. Tsuna didn't blame her.

The mirror house was dark, with a dusty smell from disuse. Limp wires dangled from the paneled ceilings, which had large claw marks dented across the surface, and the floors were unevenly cracked with dark stains. At the entrance, a dingy cutout of a grinning clown held up a tattered sign that read, "Come inside and reflect on all the fun!" Tsuna ignored the dried blood that smeared the edges. Holding his wrist, Lal Mirch lead the front of the pack while Verde and Reborn flanked his sides. Fon and Viper stood behind him, boxing Tsuna in their seamless formation. Neither of them had discussed it; they just moved around like well-oiled machines and locked in place without argument.

After taking a couple of steps, Lal Mirch stopped, making the others pause with her. Tsuna opened his mouth to ask what was wrong until she said, "Tsuna, give me your phone."

Tsuna blinked. "Huh? Why?"

"It's a hunch, but I need some light."

Digging his phone out of his pocket, Tsuna handed it to her before she turned on the flashlight. Some officers gasped. Kasumi whimpered behind her hand while Tsuna froze. Unperturbed, Lal Mirch surveyed the shattered glass and rotting limbs across the floor. Tsuna almost couldn't move when she treaded closer and aimed the bright light at the empty mirrors. "I guess this saves us some time," she said, breaking the tense silence. "There's a door over there at the end."

A loud boom echoed behind them, making some of them flinch. When Tsuna turned around, he saw that the door had closed shut.

"W—What the fuck was that?" one of the detectives said.

"We need to remain calm, Sasaki," Kusakabe said tightly, drawing his gun. "Stay alert."

Sasaki scowled. "Remain calm? Are you kidding me? I didn't sign up for this, Lieutenant. We're walking right into our deathbeds and it's all because of him." Tsuna flinched when the man pointed at him. "We lost nearly all our comrades to those monsters! Why the hell should we even bother helping him, huh?"

The officer recoiled when Fon gave him a thin smile. "You are becoming insufferably rude," he said, shifting on his feet. "I suggest you keep yourself together for your own safety."

Bristling, Hibari tightened the grip on his tonfas and stepped forward, ignoring Kusakabe's weak protests. "Watch your words, carnivore."

Fon didn't bat an eye at the intimidating gesture. Reborn merely huffed. "Keep your own brethren leashed and we will have no problems," Fon said.

Viper raised their arm to block Hibari from approaching closer. "We don't have time for this," they said with a hiss. "Stand down before I tether you both for the Berserkers to feast on."

"Pissing contest aside," Lal Mirch said, her eyes almost burning holes in Sasaki, "they should be up again by now. We need to get moving. Viper."

Tsuna jumped when Viper brushed a hand against his shoulder. The glass shards and limbs evaporated from the ground in wisps of indigo smoke; even the mirror frames disappeared, leaving behind a clean floor and large space before them.

"Who are you people?" Ando whispered, his eyes wide.

"Your ticket out of here," Lal Mirch said, tugging Tsuna again. "Stick close. We're not liable if you don't keep up."

Glaring, Hibari reluctantly backed off. The group's steps incongruously padded against the floor when the temperature abruptly dropped. Lal Mirch immediately aimed her re-assembling gauntlet at the door while Reborn grabbed Tsuna's other hand and levelled his gun straight ahead. The police followed suit, but relaxed their stances when nothing happened.

"Is s—something here?" the other officer said.

"Don't lower your guard, Kimura," Kusakabe said, his shoulders stiff.

Shivering, Tsuna frantically looked around the dark room, eyes darting from the dilapidated walls to the torn ceilings. They weren't alone, but he didn't know what he was looking for. Suddenly static buzzed through the intercoms before a cheerful, low beep. "Hello," an automated female voice said, "and welcome to Kokuyo Land's House of Mirrors. Please enjoy your stay and always with a smile on your f—"

Tsuna winced when Reborn shot the speakers with terrifying precision; the gunshots rang painfully in his ears. Reborn didn't lower his gun. "I'm not in the mood for your games," he said.

Sasaki furrowed his brows. "Who are you talkin—"

A muffled sob came from the other side of the door. "Help me, please…"

Tsuna widened his eyes. "Ayame!" He stopped short when Reborn pulled him back. "Ayame, are you okay?"

"A—Ayame?" Kasumi said, her eyes wide.

Ayame suddenly screeched. "Help me! It hurts! Everything hurts! Please!"

Then silence fell. Tsuna's heart threatened to burst from his chest. Everything felt horribly cold. "Ayame…?"

"Oh dear," a different voice said through the broken intercoms, warbled by static, "you shouldn't have done that, Mr. Handsome. Ms. Robot only wanted to say hi."

Lal Mirch narrowed her eyes. "Stop fucking around. Come out here and I'll show you a greeting."

The voice gasped but Tsuna could tell she was smiling; that didn't quell his nerves. "Ms. Blue, we can't have such language here. My friends don't like it. No, no, no, they don't."

"You have friends?" Fon said.

"Oh, yes I do, Mr. Red!" Chuckling, the voice suddenly deepened. "Would you like to meet them? They're really lovely." A small click resounded in the air before the door at the end of the room slowly creaked open. The voice returned to being merry again. "Watch your step!"

No one moved. After redirecting the light at the door, Lal Mirch sighed when she couldn't see anything past the inky darkness. "What are the fucking chances?" she muttered.

"We already came this far," Verde deadpanned. "However, there's a 96% chance we'll end up dead."

Viper clicked their tongue. "4% aren't odds I'm willing to take."

"At least it is not 0," Fon said.

Reborn slightly tipped his fedora with his gun. "It's enough."

"Wait, are you serious?" Sasaki said. "We don't even know what the hell we're dealing with!"

"We do," Lal Mirch said, making the officer tense. "Just stay out of our way and you'll probably live."

Kimura looked at Kusakabe uneasily. "Lieutenant…"

Tsuna couldn't bring himself to look at the police or Hibari. Verde's probabilities weren't reassuring at all. If they walked through that door, there was no telling what would happen— but they'd be stuck here and most likely exhaust themselves to death from fighting off the Berserkers…

"I can't promise that I can keep you and the detectives safe, Kusakabe-san," Tsuna said quietly. "And I'm so sorry for everything that happened, but please, trust me this one more time. There's no other way."

Sasaki opened his mouth but shut up immediately when Lal Mirch glanced his way. Hibari was the first to move, breaking away from the group to approach the door with unwavering strides. "It doesn't matter what's out there," he said. "I'll bite them to death."

Kusakabe widened his eyes. "Kyo-san, don't!"

Hibari didn't listen. He walked through the door and vanished in the darkness. Lal Mirch raised a brow. "Well, that's one way to test the waters," she said.

Tsuna scowled. "Don't say that. We can't just leave him alone."

"D—Do you hear anything?" Kasumi said.

"That doesn't matter!" Sasaki said. "We need to back up Captain!"

Tsuna gaped when the detectives dashed through the door. Kusakabe trailed behind them. "Wait!"

A tense silence gripped the air. Tsuna didn't hear anything other than his own breaths. "We—We need to go," he said.

Lal Mirch huffed. "Fine." She led them inside, pulling Tsuna along, and flashed his phone's light around the unknown space when the device suddenly fizzled and cracked in her hand. They both stared at it for a moment. "That wasn't me."

Tsuna grimaced when she tossed it aside; the phone clattered on the ground. His eyes tried adjusting to the dark but he couldn't tell where they were or where they were going. Then, his breath hitched—a strange but powerful odor permeated in the air. It smelled of iron—blood—and something else fouler that Tsuna couldn't name.

A booming clang sounded from above before a spotlight lit up a few feet away. Hibari and his men were thankfully alive and not too far. They braced themselves for danger but only made confused noises when a woman stood under the limelight with her back turned. She had long brown hair flowing limply behind her and wore a tattered red ballgown.

"You took your time," the voice from the intercom said, this time much clearer. "It's very rude to keep your friends waiting, you know. Very rude."

"It is also rude when you never show your face to your guests," Fon said.

The Ravager hummed, her voice echoing in the dark space. "Yes, you're right. Oh, I knew you were a wonderful pick, Mr. Red! But first, let me introduce you to my special new friend. She's very excited to meet you!"

The woman on the grimy red stage slowly turned around, making everyone tense. Verde gripped Tsuna's shoulder, and his hand immediately ignited with crackling green electricity. Kasumi suddenly cried out in shock before slumping to the ground. Horror struck Tsuna's chest in waves. The woman—No, corpse had Ashida Megumi's head, eyes wide and dull, stitched to a small, pale torso with rusty wires. The dress revealed her bare shoulders and crudely attached arms with the front torn, displaying a metal rod that the makeshift body was propped on. It had no legs.

"What the fuck…?" Sasaki whispered.

Kusakabe faltered in his stance. "T—That's Ashida Megumi."

Erisa's head flashed in Tsuna's mind, her blank eyes boring into his. He unconsciously stepped closer to Lal Mirch; she didn't move away, but her grip tightened around his wrist. Just this once, Tsuna could let it go. He needed some sort of anchor to keep him grounded.

"No!" A girl materialized behind the carcass in smoky wisps, with shadows obscuring most of her body. "Her name is Clara! Get it right!"

"Why?" Kasumi mumbled, clutching her hands to her chest. "Why is this happening? What did they do? Megumi-chan… Oh God… This is a dream, only a dream…"

Tsuna and the officers gasped when the girl, who looked no older than 15, floated closer to the corpse, revealing her gruesome face in the light. Her short red hair reached down to her chin where her lips curled into a horrid smile; thick wires drew them back, stretching out her grin, and exposed blood-coated teeth and gums. Red rings encircled her black pupils, and she wore a ragged, outdated dress that showed off her bare ankles and feet. If it was possible, the grin on her face grew even wider. "Clara's not my only friend," she said, raising her pale arms in a grand gesture. "There are so much more!"

All the lights turned on. They were in some domed building with a performance stage, and the audience stands—Tsuna had to swallow the bile that rose in his throat. There were other corpses sitting on the benches, limp and crooked, all with mismatched limbs, eroded wires, and dull eyes. Every one of them wore clothes from a different era, European dresses and suits that looked too big or small on them. Some were children wearing matching gowns that hung from their lopsided chests. Kimura vomited to the side.

The Ravager narrowed her eyes. "How rude. Don't defile my home!" She thrust out her hand before a series of rapid clinks came from above. Chains burst from the ceiling, aiming for the frozen detective.

"Kimura!" Kusakabe said.

Lal Mirch released her gauntlet's wire and wrenched Kimura away. The shackles struck his spot with loud booms, creating cracks in the floor. The Ravager hissed, and the red rings in her eyes blazed. "Why did you help the cretin?"

"You're not in any position to be asking us questions," Lal Mirch said, untangling the wire from Kimura's waist and shoving him to the side.

The Ravager stiffened before suddenly reverting back to her cheerful façade. "Oh my, you're right. I do apologize for that. Where are my manners?" She floated higher in the air and curtsied, baffling them. "My name is M.M. and this is my humble abode, where all my friends can live with me, too. It's lovely, isn't it? And I'm always looking to make more." She elegantly twirled with a swoon. "Oh, when I first saw you, Ms. Blue, you were quite the exotic specimen and I just knew I had to have you. But then Mr. Red came along and then Mr. Green—I've never seen such beautiful people in my life!" She suddenly sneered, making Tsuna flinch when her gaze landed on him. "How you all fester and crowd around that revolting filth is beyond me."

Reborn raised his gun. "You've talked enough." He pulled the trigger, firing several streaks of blinding light. Tsuna closed his eyes from their sheer intensity, directing his face downward. Loud booms erupted in the air and even shook the ground beneath his feet.

When the light died down, Tsuna's eyes fluttered open before he slowly looked up. Reborn clicked his tongue when a high-pitched giggle broke the silence. Tsuna gaped as heaps of ash fell away from M.M. like chipped flakes. Some of the corpses in the stands were missing. "That wasn't very nice, Mr. Handsome," she said, baring her teeth more. "Not nice at all."

Suddenly, Kasumi screamed when a haul of chains lurched her from the ground and shackled her against the wall, arms above her head and legs spread. Tsuna widened his eyes. "Ogawa-san!"

M.M. laughed. "Your legs are perfect for Clara!"

Another horde of shackles wrapped around Hibari and the detectives; they cried out in panic and struggled against their bindings, but were slammed against the wall with loud thuds, preventing them from moving any further. A green barrier swiftly formed around Tsuna and the others, and Verde gritted his teeth while the chains continuously thrashed against his crackling shield. "This won't be enough to hold them off."

"It would be a different story if you were Harmonized," Reborn said, making Tsuna flinch from his piercing gaze.

"We shouldn't have gotten involved in the first place," Viper hissed. "This was all a mistake."

"Less bitching, more thinking," Lal Mirch said. "Fon, can you get close enough to restrain her?"

For once, Fon wasn't smiling. "Her speed easily surpasses my own, even with Tsunayoshi's help. She was able to shield herself before Reborn's attack could hit her."

M.M. laughed. "Are we in trouble? Oh, my poor darlings, strapped to that good-for-nothing wretch, and for what? I promise that I can give you so much more than he can. You can join my beautiful collection and even choose your seats! It's the most valuable invitation anyone can receive!"

Lal Mirch blankly stared at her. "Sorry, but the only invitation I'll take is getting in this dumbass' bed."

Before Tsuna could berate Lal Mirch for the unnecessary comment, M.M. started glowing red while her nails elongated into sharp, black talons. "Horrible, wretched guests!"

Everyone cringed when she released a ringing shriek that shook the building. Lal Mirch and even Reborn momentarily let Tsuna go to cover their ears. Verde somehow managed to maintain the barrier, his hand nearly crushing Tsuna's shoulder. Debris crumbled from the ceiling, smashing against the fizzling shield, when M.M. let out another wail.

"Verde!" Lal Mirch said.

It was too late. The barrier exploded, flinging everyone back. With a yelp, Tsuna tumbled on the ground. Rubble scraped his skin and a sharp pain jolted through his back when he landed. He groaned, his body throbbing in agony; a jarring ring reverberated in his ears. His eyes fluttered, barely able to make out the blurry ceiling, but he forced himself to move as the dust settled. Struggling to his unsteady feet, he hissed when a piercing ache shot through his head. After touching his sore face, he drew his hand back to see blood.

Tsuna winced when he heard quiet groans around him and stumbled onto his hands and knees. His breath hitched. No, no, no, no, no, no. "L—Lal Mirch…?"

Unmoving, Lal Mirch bled from her head while lying on her side. Fon grunted as he struggled onto his elbows to support himself upright. Lips pursed, Verde covered a bleeding gash on his side while Viper rested their head against their hand, swaying a bit. Hissing under his breath, Reborn, who managed to sit up, spat some blood to the side near his strewn fedora. His eyes seemed impossibly darker when he met Tsuna's gaze, but the brunet got the message.

He scrambled to his feet and staggered towards Reborn, reaching out to grab the man's outstretched hand when M.M. suddenly materialized between them, making Tsuna freeze. Snarling, she raised her talon hand. "You need a lesson on touching things that aren't yours."

Tsuna gasped when he suddenly flew across the room, then yelped when he crashed against the wall. The back of his head throbbed and his bones rattled from the impact; it was a miracle they didn't break. He coughed up blood, and slid to the ground, but a cold hand suddenly held him up by the throat. Rasping, he thrashed against M.M.'s tight grip, his hands groping uselessly at her arm.

The Ravager's eyes bled red. "They were never yours to begin with." Behind her, chains flew down from above and wrapped around the wounded Arcobaleno, lugging them up and shackling them to the wall. Tsuna's vision blurred. His lungs—He couldn't breathe. Every nerve in his body screamed but he couldn't do anything, couldn't escape. "Why would they swarm around a useless imbecile like you?"

In a blink of an eye, M.M. flung him at the stage. She laughed when he heaved in a deep gasp and clutched his burning throat. Coughing, Tsuna tried desperately to catch his breath; his whole body quivered, and everything around him was fuzzy. Someone said his name but he couldn't tell who. Breathe—he had to breathe. He groaned when some chains coiled around his wrists and pulled him up to his knees. His arms were spread across in the air and he barely registered what had happened until something sharp speared his shoulder.

A haggard scream tore from his bloody lips while M.M. giggled hysterically above him. "Look at you, wriggling like the pathetic worm you are. Disgusting." She slowly dragged her talons down his chest, making Tsuna shriek louder. His muscles shredded easily from her claws, and visceral agony spread all over his trembling body like scorching fire. Hot, bright red blood dripped on the floor. Everything burned. "There's nothing about you that's appealing." Shuddering, Tsuna whimpered when M.M. withdrew her claws from his chest and lightly jabbed his stomach. "What use are you? You're just a worthless sack of meat and bones."

Mind hazy, Tsuna blinked hard to steady his vision, but only saw tears plop down in his puddle of blood. He wanted to escape, pass out, anything to not feel the pain surging through his body in merciless waves. He almost wanted to die.

M.M. gripped his chin and jerked it up, forcing him to look at her. "Though I suppose your revolting presence makes them all the more beautiful." Tsuna hissed when her long nails dug into his skin, drawing blood. "Disgraceful scum."

"Don't touch him," a voice said lowly.

Gasping, Tsuna froze when he saw Verde glaring at M.M. with unnerving, cold eyes. He had never seen the man shed his indifferent visage before, and the look on Verde's face was truthfully terrifying. M.M. had different ideas. She trailed her claws down Tsuna's neck, her gaze unwavering in the slightest under Verde's chilling stare. "Oh, Mr. Green, it'll be alright," she said sweetly. "I'm just helping you keep your hands clean from taking out the trash. Please be patient. I'll be with you soon."

Verde narrowed his eyes, which glinted dangerously under the light. "You're not deaf from what I observed. Don't touch him."

M.M.'s brow twitched and Tsuna hissed when her grip tightened around his chin. Blood dripped from his cheeks. "Excuse me? What right do you have to tell me what to do? This is my home, my rules. Why can't anyone appreciate wh—"

"I'm not repeating myself a third time."

M.M. snarled. The wires in her cheeks creaked, threatening to snap. "Why are you so difficult? Why can't you see I'm doing this for you? For all of you? Now you've really done it. I'm going to teach you some manners, Mr. Green. I didn't want to lay a hand on you but your tongue will be the only exception."

"N—No!" Tsuna rasped out, struggling in M.M.'s clutch. "Don't hurt him, please!"

M.M. tilted her head. "Hah? Who said you could talk? You'll speak when you're spoken to, you little worm!"

Tsuna's scream reduced into a gurgle when M.M. slashed his neck. Distant voices buzzed in his roaring ears. Blood gushed in his throat, hot and heavy. Terror surged in his aching chest. Breathe, he needed to breathe. The floor blurred beneath him. Why wouldn't his lungs work? He choked, unwillingly swallowing more blood. Too much, there was too much. His eyes burned. Was this it for him? He didn't… He didn't want to die. What about the others? Kusakabe? Hibari? The officers? The Arcobaleno? There was no one who could save them, nothing he could do.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry…

Darkness seeped in his vision, and Tsuna could only surrender.

When Tsuna's eyes opened, he cringed from the onslaught of bright light and stumbled back, covering his face. He froze. Wait…

He looked down at his hands, which were clean and unmarred by scratches, and patted his perfectly normal chest. Nothing hurt. What the hell…? Where was he? Was he…in Heaven? Inhaling sharply, Tsuna looked around his strange surroundings before his eyes widened. Tall white pillars and arcs emblazed with golden designs of different Flames embellished the empty space, and the floors had strange tiled designs he couldn't identify; yet they were oddly beautiful. The room looked like a chamber of sorts, an ancient one. He took a step back, then another. He'd been here before, but he couldn't remember when or how. A cold draft made him shudder until he heard soft murmurs behind him.

He whirled around and gasped when he saw three figures in gray cloaks seated on some thrones. In front of them was him as a child, small and quivering on his knees. Tsuna blinked hard. Was he dreaming? What was going on?

"Sawada Tsunayoshi," the middle figure said, his voice smooth, "you are a vast Sky for someone so young. It really is a pity, but we have no need for you."

Tsuna flinched. What…? When did this happen? He looked closer at his child self, trying to guess his age. Three…? No, four? He couldn't remember. Why couldn't he remember?

To the man's right, a more petite figure sighed, a woman. "Kawahira, that is not how you speak to a child."

Kawahira…? That name didn't ring any bells.

"He will not remember either way."

The third figure merely chuckled under his breath. "We've come to our verdict, no? Perhaps we should move things along before the boy cries for his mother."

Tsuna stiffened when they raised their hands. His child-self whimpered. "It is dangerous for you to remain in the world as you are," Kawahira said. "Do not worry. You shall live as was ordered by the Trinisette."

"You can prosper," the woman said gently, "in more ways than one, for your potential is limitless."

A white light illuminated the three figures as they chanted in a foreign, guttural language. Suddenly a voice—Kawahira—spoke behind Tsuna, "We do not have much time."

When Tsuna turned around, he was greeted with a gloomier chamber. The Flame engravings were cracked and fading, and there were only two robed beings in front of him. His breath hitched. "Who are you? What—What did you do to me?"

"Time is not kind, Tsunayoshi," the woman said. "You are on the cusp of death, and that is not something the Trinisette will allow."

Kawahira raised his hand, emitting a white glow. The woman mirrored his gesture. "Now we will see what kind of Sky you will be," the man said.

Before Tsuna could run, something inside him seemed to open. He gasped when a rush of orange light enveloped his vision; his body felt light, lighter than he'd ever felt before, and some foreign power gushed through his veins. His heartbeat quickened, pulsing with the warm energy that flowed all over his body.

"Save them with your Dying Will, Sky Arcobaleno," both figures said.

Tsuna let the Flames embrace him whole. He didn't scream. He felt no need to. He was freed.

His wounds had already knitted back together by the time his eyes snapped open. Tsuna didn't feel cold or any pain, only an overwhelming sense of calm that consumed every inch and nerve in his body. Everything appeared clearer, and even his senses seemed to have sharpened during his short blackout. He heard Verde's ragged breaths overhead and sensed Fon's turbulent distress churning inside him underneath barely suppressed rage. Lal Mirch and the detectives were still out, and Viper had gone deathly silent. They scarcely breathed, but were still alive.

"Here you go, Mr. Handsome," M.M. said, floating high in the air. She giggled. "Why, you look even more complete with this hat here on your head. It suits you perfectly!"

Before Reborn could respond, before M.M. could even react, Tsuna wrenched his arms free from his chains, making them snap, and reappeared behind the girl in a blur. Without a blink, he knocked her away with the back of his fist, sending her flying into the walls with a loud boom. Harsh tremors shook the building and rubble fell freely to the ground. A gust of wind gently brushed Tsuna's hair from the distant impact. His face remained composed when he met Reborn's stunned eyes.

Screeching in rage, M.M. rose from the debris, her body glowing red. "You filthy scum! I'll kill you, kill you, kill you!"

Tsuna looked on dispassionately when snarling Berserkers emerged from the shadows, snapping their teeth. Some crawled on the walls, digging their claws in for purchase. Swiftly, Tsuna vanished, materializing in front of M.M. within seconds, and punched her in the stomach. Her eyes went wide as she let out a choked gasp, but Tsuna didn't let her up. He grabbed her shoulders and kneed her in the stomach, then seized her hair and chucked her away. M.M. yelped when she crashed into the ground, creating a long trailing dent in the concrete. She stopped short underneath the propped corpse onstage and glowered at Tsuna.

"You—" She faltered when Tsuna blurred above her. His heartbeat remained steady when he gripped M.M.'s neck and held her up in the air with ease. "How are you even alive? I killed you!"

M.M. hissed when Tsuna's tightened his hold. "I'm not the one who will die." His voice was soft without inflections. Growling, M.M. lashed out, slashing his chest with her claws. Tsuna glanced down at the already healing wound. He didn't feel anything. "That was very rude."

Before M.M. could strike again, Tsuna stopped her arm and tore it from her shoulder as if it were paper. She screamed while her black blood spurted everywhere. Dropping her, Tsuna stared blankly as M.M. crumpled in a heap and gripped her bleeding socket. Her eyes flashed, and the red aura around her flared to greater heights. "I'll kill you!" she said, letting out an ear-piercing wail.

The building quaked viciously but Tsuna remained steady on his feet. Roaring, the Berserkers darted towards him in hordes like inky tidal waves. M.M. flew in the air with a maniacal grin that threatened to tear the wires from her cheeks. "You'll never be beautiful even in that state, scum!"

Orange flames suddenly erupted from Tsuna's body as the Berserkers descended upon him. They squealed, instantly burning upon contact. The corpses in the bleachers ascended, then launched themselves at Tsuna. His Flames raged higher, incinerating them to ashes. M.M. gaped at him. "W—Who are you?"

She flinched when he leapt towards her, body still alight with fire. Her pained shriek was immediately muffled by his hand as he gripped her face. His orange Flames spread to her body, singing off her skin. "Their Sky."

Tsuna rammed her into the ground. A small explosion of smoke and debris shook the building again. The floor caved in, cracking underneath M.M.'s burning body. She choked and flailed underneath him, but Tsuna didn't budge. He slammed her head again into the ground. "Did no one ever tell you that it's rude to harm a Sky's elements?" He gripped her other arm and tore it out of its socket, making her scream. He didn't blink when her blood sprayed on his face. "You don't treat your guests very well. What an awful hostess you are."

M.M. glowered at him through the cracks of his fingers; her skin smelted underneath his hand and Tsuna could see the black hollow of her cheekbones. "You'll pay for this, you pathetic worm! I'll rip you into pieces limb-by-limb until there's nothing left but your disgusting lump of flesh! I'll feed it to th—"

She froze when a ghost of a smile graced Tsuna's lips. "Such crude language." He reached inside her mouth and grabbed her tongue, making her whimper. "We can't have that, can we?" M.M. shrieked when Tsuna wrenched it out, but he didn't stop there. Cupping her cheeks with both hands, he caressed the melting skin before shoving his thumbs in her eyes and tugging them out, drawing out another choked scream. "There. Now you're beautiful."

He stood up and let M.M. burn. She squirmed uselessly, with blood gushing out of her gaping mouth and skin dripping from her black bones. Her stifled screams echoed in the air before dying down into weak gurgles, then nothing. Her scorched marks among the piles of ashes were the only sign she had ever existed. Black blood dripped from Tsuna's fingertips but he didn't move to clean them. His calm high was invigorating, and when he felt his Flames slowly receding into his body, he swiped his arm in the air.

The chains that held the others captive instantly snapped. With some effort, Tsuna silently commanded the wind to cushion their descent to the ground. His Flames soon faded, and the world tilted when his legs gave out. Someone caught him in their arms, however his eyes had already closed before he could see who it was. Yet, he could sense something hot seep inside him and weakly latch onto his Flames, like a feather brushing against his skin.

The last thing he saw was a flash of yellow before darkness embraced him again.

There was no mark of time in the dying fields, or the ash-gray skies overhead. The grass and flowers had withered into the hard dirt, leaving only sparse patches behind. No wind blew, and the scent of metal, smoke, and strange herbs lingered in the air. Blood caked Tsuna's skin and clothes, but he didn't mind it. He simply sat at the hilltop and stared out at nothing. There was only one thing he was waiting for.

Soft footsteps padded behind him, though he didn't look to see who it was. He already knew. A quiet, bitter chuckle broke the silence. "So you live."

Tsuna briefly closed his eyes, inhaling the new smell of fresh, leaking blood. It wasn't his. "So I do."

"How did it feel?"

"…liberating."

Inelegantly, Luce sank on her knees next to him. She moved slowly, as if in pain, and some strands of her hair fell forward to obscure her face. "But there are parts of you that don't feel whole, hm? What use is a Sky if they are empty?"

Tsuna slowly reached up to grasp his chest. His heartbeat was steady, the even beats lightly thumping against his palm. "You can take them back." The words were weak but he spoke them anyways, holding onto the last bit of his delusions as long as he could. His grip was slipping. "Tell me where you are. You still can."

"There is no point," Luce said faintly. "The Trinisette has already acknowledged my death and accepted you as the Sky Arcobaleno. I cannot go against what fate has already told me."

"You knew." Tsuna's hand tightened around his shredded shirt. "You knew that all of this would happen."

Luce's lips twitched into a smile. "Not all of it. I merely picked the wrong pieces to put together."

"Are you really dead?"

"I am here, aren't I?"

That didn't answer Tsuna's question, but with Luce already resigned to her ill fate, there wasn't much he could do. The more cryptic her responses, the more frustrated he'd become. He wasn't here for riddles; he needed answers. "Then wherever you are, I hope you're free."

Luce barked out a harsh laugh. "Free? I won't be free from this prison, and even if I am, there will be nowhere for me to go." A chill settled in the air. "Do you know how it feels to have your bond slowly chip away? Your heart grows heavier and your mind doesn't think about anything else but your elements. When will they come? How far are they? Are they searching for you?" She let out a shaky breath. "Do they still love me?"

"They looked for you for 10 years. That should mean something."

"It means nothing." Tsuna finally turned to face the woman but the words he wanted to say got caught in his throat. Luce's right arm was missing, and her dress was drenched with blood. Slowly, she tilted her head, revealing dark bruises on her neck, and her lone eye stared back at Tsuna with contempt. "You feel liberated now, but soon you will feel empty as I'm feeling now, hollow and incomplete. The flame of your life will extinguish again, permanently, and there is nothing you can do about it. The Trinisette may have snatched you away from the hands of death, but what use will it be when you only carry the flesh on your back?"

Patience wearing thin, Tsuna loosened his hold over his chest. "I won't be incomplete."

His blood ran cold when Luce's lips curled into a smirk. "You already are. They are ready for you but you're not even ready for them."

"I am."

"Are you?"

Tsuna bared his teeth in a mockery of a grin. "Yes, because they're mine."

The ground suddenly caved in, letting him fall. Luce's scornful eye wasn't the last thing he saw, but the flickering orange flame that ignited in the growing darkness. Tsuna reached out, unafraid, and held onto the only piece that made him feel alright, even if it was only for a short moment.

He never stopped falling.

When Tsuna finally came to, a small groan escaped him before his eyes fluttered open. Before his vision cleared, he blinked and stared at the unfamiliar ceiling. The only light in the spacious, foreign room was the sunlight that peeked in from the large windows, which were covered by long white drapes.

Despite his parched throat and heavy limbs, Tsuna didn't move for a long while. Outside, he could hear the fluttering of birds' wings, even as they flew far away, and cars that drove several blocks over. Only his eyes shifted around the room, slowly taking in the closed door that was too finely-crafted to be part of his small apartment, the clean, private bathroom, and the I.V. bag that stood by his too-large bed. He followed the dripline down to his hand. It was clean. His clothes were replaced with a big white shirt and some black shorts he didn't recognize. There was no trace of blood or grime on his skin.

Sighing, Tsuna slumped back against his pillow. He didn't feel much of anything. No pain, no panic, no fear—it was as if someone scraped him hollow from the inside out. He closed his eyes, breath hitching when the memories of what happened, of what he did, deluged his mind. His grip tightened around his sheets and a shiver wracked through his body. He did those things, he killed M.M.; however that wasn't the most alarming part. He had enjoyed it. He had enjoyed tearing her limbs apart, tossing her around like a ragdoll, and beating her into the ground. The orange fire that reduced her to ashes felt nothing short of exhilarating.

He wanted to vomit, to purge himself of the horrifying memories, to forget the calm, pulsing thrill that had overtaken his senses—but he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to do anything. Now the larger part of him, the repressed fragment that had been freed by the strange people, gently nudged him towards the inevitable. He was now the Sky Arcobaleno, and unless he wanted to die, there was no going back. No, he thought, his fate had been sealed when he tried to help Lal Mirch the day they first met.

Seconds ticked by, then minutes, before Tsuna finally sat up and shuffled out of bed. He gripped the mobile I.V. stand, rolling it beside him while he headed for the bathroom. He wasn't complete yet, he thought vaguely. This was only a small part of him and that frustrated him more than terrified him. Neither sentiment was very welcoming. After washing his face with cold water, Tsuna steadied himself on the marble counter and looked up in the mirror. He didn't look any different aside from his pale skin, and his eyes were still light brown.

The floor was cool underneath his bare feet, and before he could leave the bedroom, the door swung open. Tsuna blinked when Verde stepped inside. The man wore some slacks and a dress shirt instead of a black suit. A green thread-like trail hovered lightly over his chest. Silently, he scanned Tsuna's body with blank eyes. "How are you feeling?"

Tsuna stepped back. "I'm…thirsty." His voice was hoarse and it hurt to speak.

He didn't protest when Verde wordlessly ushered him to sit on the bed. The mattress bounced lightly underneath him while the other man took out a cup from the bathroom cabinet and filled it with tap water. Tsuna accepted it with murmured thanks, downing it in one go, while Verde washed his hands thoroughly in the sink and slipped on blue gloves. He placed some sterile gauze packages on the bedside table before reaching out for Tsuna's arm. His hand was firm but gentle as he inspected the catheter. "It's good that it's not swelling or bruised," he said.

Tsuna quietly watched Verde carefully remove the I.V. drip with steady hands and placed pressure on the gauze until the bleeding stopped. "How long was I out?"

"Three days." Verde tossed the soiled gauze inside a small trash bin and taped a new one over Tsuna's arm. "You didn't have any external wounds but all of your organs shut down after you fainted. If Reborn hadn't been there, you would've died." He seemed to ponder for a moment. "The police as well. They're currently in the hospital, except for the ones that are deceased."

Tsuna tensed. "Oh." He looked down at Verde's green slippers. "How are you doing, Verde?"

"I'm fine." Removing his gloves, Verde pitched them in the bin. "Reborn managed to heal all of us while you were unconscious. We're relatively fine." He tucked his hands in his pockets. "Do you feel anything out of the ordinary? Any pain?"

Tsuna shook his head. "No. I feel a little lighter, if that makes sense. Everything seems clearer."

Verde nodded. "It's to be expected since your Flames awakened that night. Your senses will feel a little more profound than normal. I'd advise that you don't use your Flames too much until your body is fully adjusted. It took a severe strain when they were un-sealed." Something dark flashed in Verde's eyes before Tsuna could comprehend it. "If at any point you don't feel well, let me know. I have more than adequate knowledge on human medicine."

Flexing his hands, Tsuna rose to his feet against. "Thank you. And…thank you for…" He wasn't sure how to phrase it, but Verde seemed to get the message.

"There's no need to thank me. I didn't do anything. You saved yourself."

"You tried," Tsuna said, following him to the door. "And I kept her from hurting you."

Verde turned the handle. "You place very little value on your life, Tsunayoshi. I suggest that you re-evaluate where you stand." He stepped to the side to let Tsuna out first. "I'm sure by now you have some understanding of what you mean to us."

Tsuna grimaced despite his reddening cheeks. "Yeah."

They walked through well-lit hallways with soft steps. The white walls and wood smelled new until Tsuna picked up the lingering scent of takeout and tea from below. There were more rooms on the floor, but he ignored them in favor of walking down the spiraling stairs. This wasn't his apartment. This wasn't even a hospital.

"Where are we?" Tsuna said, struggling to keep up with Verde's longer strides.

The man slowed down after a moment. "Our house. Viper purchased it so you wouldn't be subjected to scrutiny at the hospital. Also, your apartment was too small for us."

Before Tsuna could voice his incredulous thoughts, voices filtered in from the dining room, which was beside a well-furnished living room. Tsuna didn't hide his presence when he entered through the kitchen; however, he did pause for a moment to blink at the clean stove and large sink.

Suddenly the voices died down, and Tsuna braced himself before meeting the other Arcobaleno's gaze from a long, almost luxurious table; there were five empty chairs. It was hard to get a read of their faces, but strangely, he could sense a dizzying mix of relief, annoyance, and anger welled up in different increments within them. He blinked when he saw the different-colored trails that each of them had.

Fon was the first to speak, his lips curled in a small smile. He looked fine, if a little haggard, and wore his usual red garbs. "Tsunayoshi, it is good to see you awake. Are you feeling well?"

Tsuna sat down in-between Verde and Fon and kept his gaze down on the table, momentarily admiring the random, sparse patterns underneath the glass. "I'm fine."

"You almost died, Tsuna," Lal Mirch said. "I don't really think you're exactly 100% okay."

"No one can ever be 100% fine," Verde said, crossing his arms over his chest. For once, he wasn't writing in his notebook. "Just like how perfection is impossible to attain for any sort of being, man or god."

Lal Mirch snorted. "Really? You're going to start now?"

"I was merely adding my own input."

"No one asked, alright?"

Tsuna looked up then, silencing the two almost immediately. His heart remained calm when he said, "I did."

Fon tilted his head. "Did what, Tsunayoshi?"

"I did die." Tsuna didn't blink when a terrifying chill crackled in the air. "M.M. killed me. You saw it." He looked towards Reborn, who didn't shy away from gazing back.

Lal Mirch slammed the table with her fist, her eyes narrowed. "I would've fucking killed her with my own hands if I could."

Fon's smile disappeared. "As would I."

"Hey, Viper, could you make some kind of fak—"

"You know my usual rate," Viper said, ignoring Lal Mirch's protests.

Tsuna rubbed his face, hoping to assuage an incoming headache, when Reborn finally spoke up, "What did you see?"

A brief moment of silence fell in the room. Tsuna took a deep, shaky breath as he closed his eyes. "I saw some people. Somehow I met them before, when I was younger, but I didn't remember. They mentioned the…Trinisette and did something. I don't know."

"What did they say?"

"Reborn, don't push him," Lal Mirch said.

"I'm just asking a question and I want a more than sufficient answer than 'I don't know'."

"He just woke up from a goddamn coma!"

"He's most likely still in shock," Verde said. "It'll take time for him to sort out the traumatic events, so it's best to leave him be and let him recuperate."

"We already wasted enough time," Viper interjected. "It's been more than a week since we found him and 10 years since Luce left. I don't know about you idiots but I'm not inclined to dying."

Fury that wasn't his simmered underneath Tsuna's skin. He didn't want to feel it, even if he was angry himself, but this didn't seem right. He had never felt others' emotions this viscerally before.

"That is a shared sentiment in all of us, Viper," Fon said. "However, we have been through quite an ordeal that required some of our attention."

"You could've looked the other way. There was no need to get involved with their business."

"Hey, did you forget the fact that a Berserker almost killed Tsuna before?" Lal Mirch said. "If I hadn't been there, he would've died and we'd be dead, too."

Viper clicked their tongue. "What do you want, a medal? What use is there if he's dead or not? None of you are even Harmonized with him. You're all dying anyways—we're all dying as we speak, and you want to give him more time? Don't any of you fools understand the gravity of our situation?"

"If anything, it would've been better to let him die then," Reborn said. "He might've awakened his Flames much earlier and we wouldn't be here at the moment."

Lal Mirch outright growled. "What the fuck did you say?"

Nothing felt right. The discord, the throbbing fractures—Tsuna couldn't help but soak in their wild, consuming emotions. Desperately, he tried to parse through them, struggling to identify which belonged to him and which didn't. It was too hard. The thoughts in his head jumbled in a chaotic mess. Gritting his teeth, he stood up and slammed his fists on the table, silencing the room. "Would you idiots just shut the fuck up for once and let me think?" His heart beat hard against his chest, and sweat broke out on his skin, but he didn't stop. He couldn't. He had to get rid of them. "I get it. We have no time and we're all going to fucking die. I'm not an idiot."

Fon reached out for his arm, the motion drawing everyone's attention. "Tsunayoshi, c—" He froze when Tsuna glared at him.

"If you tell me to calm down, I won't," he said. "That's not how it fucking works, Fon." The man widened his eyes but kept silent. "So now we're here. We survived that shitfest and I got one hell of a wake-up call, thanks for asking. I'm somehow the fucking Sky Arcobaleno and there's nothing I can do about it at this point. Harmonizing—I'll do it. I said I'd do it. Like Viper said, I don't think any of us wants to die. Are you happy now?"

A stifling hush blanketed the room. No one breathed, until someone awkwardly coughed. "Uh, is this a bad time?"

Tsuna pursed his lips when he saw a man, with tousled purple hair and a full leather outfit, holding two carton boxes of Starbucks at the doorway. There was a teardrop tattoo under his left eye and several piercings on his ear; one even connected to his lip with a silver chain.

"Read the damn room, idiot," Lal Mirch said, leaning back on her chair. She scoffed when Tsuna gave her a look, but didn't continue talking.

"So, can I…?" The man gestured vaguely at the others, making Tsuna blink.

"No one's stopping you," Tsuna said, making it sound more like a question than an answer. "Who are you?"

"You're late, lackey," Reborn said.

Somehow it clicked. "You're Skull."

The man's eyes went wide, as if he couldn't believe Tsuna actually knew his name. "Yeah, I'm the great Skull-sa—" He yelped when Reborn kicked him in shin. "That hurt!"

Reborn smirked. "That's the point."

Tsuna narrowed his eyes. "Don't hit him."

Skull waved him off while he handed Reborn his coffee. "It happens, boss. Oh, um, Tsuna, right? Here's your hot double espresso, Your Majesty. It's as black as your so—Agh!" He barely managed to dodge Reborn's second kick in time and stumbled against the table, nearly spilling the other drinks. "You fu—"

"Do you want to finish that sentence?" Reborn said, sipping his drink and pointedly ignoring Tsuna's glare.

Skull rolled his eyes. "No." He quickly darted towards Viper and made his way around the table. "Strawberry Frappuccino with extra cream. You're welcome by the way. The barista was an ass about it for some reason. Iced Americano for you, green gremlin. Lal, your dark mocha chip. Sorry, Fon, they ran out of your favorite tea but I got you the hot chai tea latte. Even if it sucks, please drink it. It'd be a waste. And uh…"

Skull stopped short of Tsuna, who stood still. The other man was a few centimeters taller than him, but there was something about him that made him seem small. The anger that had piled up in Tsuna's body slowly dwindled, leaving him only exhausted. Skull smiled sheepishly. "I didn't get anything for you 'cause I thought you'd, well, still be out." He shuffled on his feet, then held up the last drink. "I have a white chocolate mocha Frap if you want it."

Tsuna stared at him for a moment, making him squirm, before shaking his head. "I'm fine."

Lal Mirch cleared her throat. "You know, we were talking about Harmonizing while you were out, Tsuna."

"It was a very heated course of discussion," Fon said, taking a sip of his hot tea, "but we managed to come to an agreement with a majority vote."

Tsuna sighed. Of course, he had no say in this. Why did he even think that he would? He ignored Reborn's amused smirk and crossed his arms over his chest. "What?"

"You should sit down, Tsunayoshi."

"No. What's the verdict?"

Lal Mirch placed her half-empty cup on the table. "Since Verde had graciously pointed out that you'd be a little messed up in the head when you woke up, we thought that we'd back off a bit."

Tsuna furrowed his brows. "Back off?"

"You can choose," Viper said, "as soon as you're able, unless death is your preferable option. Even then, I don't think any of us will accept that." The underlying threat wasn't lost to Tsuna.

"You pick us in any order you prefer," Reborn said, his eyes glinting under the light. "But you have to do it now."

Tsuna's mind briefly short-circuited while something deep inside him faintly preened at the idea of being whole, being complete. "N—Now?"

Reborn raised a brow yet his smirk stayed in place. "I believe you just said a moment ago that you'd do it and that you didn't want to die."

Tsuna paused in his step. Reborn's gaze pinned him to the spot, reminding him of a dangerous predator. Any sign of defeat would only feed into the man's ego. "I don't," Tsuna started. "I don't want to die, but…is there really no other way?"

"If there was, we would've told you by now," Verde said. The words were unexpectedly more hurtful than Tsuna thought.

"We're doing you a lot of favors with this already," Lal Mirch said, scowling at the table. "And none of us want to die either so there's that." She smirked. "Don't forget I saved your ass the first time and I found you first."

"Not to mention that you were unconscious the whole time while Tsuna killed the Ravager," Verde deadpanned, scribbling away in his notebook. No one but Reborn and Skull seemed to notice Tsuna flinch.

Lal Mirch snarled. "If it wasn't for your pathetic shield, then I wouldn't have been knocked out! Plus, I was in the front!"

"And pitiably human," Viper said. "We don't have time for the dramatics. Tsuna, choose."

Fon smiled slightly. "Do take some time thinking it over. We have all day."

Viper clicked their tongue. "You imbeciles with your fixation on time. We do not have time."

"You know," Skull said, leaning against the wall, "it might be a good idea to let Tsuna put in his two cents. Just sayin'."

"Shut up, idiot," Lal Mirch said. "What the hell do you know? You just came yesterday."

Skull pouted behind his straw. "You don't have to be so mean about it."

Tsuna opened his mouth but Reborn immediately cut him off. "You said it yourself, Tsuna, and this is our ultimatum. Choose wisely." The man smiled, showing some teeth. "We wouldn't want another incident like with the Ravager, do we?" A shudder crawled up Tsuna's spine. He didn't want to go anywhere near Reborn.

Viper pursed their lips. "How much blood are you willing to bathe in the next time?"

"Okay, seriously, what the fuck, guys?" Skull said. "Are we in some kind of fake-ass melodrama or something?"

"Keep quiet, lackey," Reborn said.

"Oh, I thought I was an Arcobaleno too, but apparently not."

Before Reborn could move—it was so obvious that the man had his gun—Tsuna headed for the exit. "I'm leaving," he said.

The sound of scraping chairs clamored in the air. "Wait, Tsuna!" Lal Mirch said. "Where the hell are you going?"

Tsuna glared at them. "Don't."

Reborn narrowed his eyes. "Don't be an idiot, Tsuna. We're offering you a choice to make up for your stupidity and it'd be right of you to take it. Do you really think you can just run away?"

"Oh, thanks for reminding me." Tsuna walked forward and grabbed Skull's arm, making the man exclaim in surprise. "I already made my choice." He gave the stunned gods a nearly vicious smile. "I hope you don't mind us staying out. I like taking my time."

With that, he slipped on his Converse at the spacious entrance and pushed the door open. Lal Mirch and even Reborn snarled at them from the living room, but didn't move any closer when Tsuna glowered at them. "You said I could choose," he said. "Don't throw a fit over something you agreed to, and don't try to follow us."

He slammed the door behind him and stomped down the steps, glaring at the smooth walkway. He didn't take the time to admire the neighborhood he was in or the large house. It didn't matter. He just wanted to get out. The sudden chilly air made him shiver as he rubbed his arms for warmth. The shirt he wore was a little thin.

"Shit," Skull said. Tsuna turned to see him unzipping his black jacket. "It's a little cold. Take this."

"What about you?"

Skull chuckled sheepishly. "I'm fine. I like the cold. Besides, you need it more than I do. Can't have you getting sick or anything. They'd kill me."

Frowning, Tsuna accepted the jacket. It was a little big on him, reaching a little below his waist, and smelled like spices and fresh air, but it was warm. "I won't let them kill you."

Skull flushed. "Uh, yeah, right." He scratched the back of his head, his lithe muscles flexing underneath his black shirt. "So what now?"

Tsuna sighed when he saw the Arcobaleno's black van in the driveway. "You don't happen to know how to drive, do you? I just need to get away from here."

A mischievous grin spread on Skull's lips. "Oh, I got something better."

When the man led him to a sleek motorcycle parked out on the streets, Tsuna didn't even blink.

At first, Tsuna wasn't sure if he should have his eyes opened throughout the ride, but he had them closed anyways and just basked in the rushing wind and the low hum of the engine. It numbed his skin, in a good way, and let him briefly forget everything that had happened. His arms were wrapped firmly around Skull's stomach; it was…strange. Tsuna could feel and envision Skull's violet Flames gently intertwining with his, though they weren't touching, as if they were nervous. The gesture was kind of endearing. However, Tsuna couldn't bring himself to deny that it felt perfect. Was this how Luce felt? How would it feel if he…got to the others? He mentally shook his head. He'd get there when he get there.

When Skull slowed down, swerving through rocky trails with ease, Tsuna let his eyes flutter open. Through the helmet's black visor, he could see Kokuyo Land coming into view ahead. Torn police tape fluttered limply in the wind at the dilapidated gates. Tsuna unconsciously tightened his grip around Skull, grateful when the man didn't say anything. Skull finally stopped the motorcycle and booted the kickstand on the ground before killing the engine.

Tsuna ran a hand through his hair after Skull helped him remove the helmet. He breathed in the crisp air and slowly looked around, tensing when he saw lingering wisps of blue light behind some trees.

"We don't have to be here, you know," Skull said. "And pardon my French, but I honestly thought you were crazy for wanting to come here—still do." He scrunched up his nose as he followed Tsuna's gaze. "They're harmless, but I don't know about the ones in there."

Inhaling deeply, Tsuna swung his leg over the motorcycle and unmounted. His feet were unsteady for a moment on solid ground but he didn't fall. "I have to. There's something here I need to check."

Skull rubbed his chin, then shrugged. "Yolo, I guess."

After placing his helmet on the bike seat, he followed Tsuna towards the amusement park. When they reached the tall gates, Tsuna hesitated when he felt a tremendous amount of lingering misery and despair. His knees almost gave out, as he slowly gave in to the hopeless void gaping inside him, until a hand gripped his shoulder. "Are you okay?" Skull's voice faintly droned.

"I—I'm fine," Tsuna said after a few minutes. "Just…there's so much negative energy here." He let out a shuddering breath. "I can handle it. Just give me a moment."

"Who are you looking for?"

Tsuna's voice softened. "Ayame, and her sister, Aika. She turned into a Griever after committing suicide two months ago. It's a long story." He blinked when he looked up at a thoughtful Skull. "Why?"

Skull's Flames stopped short of touching his, nervous again. "Oh, uh, well, before the whole 'oh my god our Sky is gone' thing, I had a pretty nice job." Skull grimaced. "Okay, well job's not the right word and it wasn't exactly nice. It was more like a duty? Anyways, all of us had our own responsibilities. Mine was escorting the spirits to Jura."

Tsuna blinked. "Jura?"

Skull nodded. "Yeah. It's the in-between realm that Viper rules over. They basically judge the spirits and decide if they go to Paradisus or Purgatorium. Even though I'm not at full-power right now, I can try to pick up wherever Ayame and Aika are. They shouldn't have gone far."

"Oh, I didn't know that." Tsuna looked down at Skull's gloved hand. "You can do it."

The confusion on Skull's face was almost cute. "Huh?"

"I can feel your Flames. You can just…do whatever you have to do and find them if you can."

Skull's cheeks turned a little red. "Oh, right. Yeah, sorry. I wasn't sure 'cause, you know, it's kind of a new thing for both of us and I didn't think you'd like me doing that after you went off on the others back there."

Tsuna's lips twitched into a smile. "I think we'll get along fine. Thank you for asking at least. You're probably the sanest out of all of them." He frowned. "At first I thought Fon was but…"

Skull winced. "Yeah, uh, everyone's a little screwed up in the head."

"Very screwed in the head," Tsuna deadpanned.

Skull chuckled. "Yeah, you can say that." His Flames felt slightly cold when they slowly entwined with Tsuna's, making the brunet inhale sharply, but they also seemed soft to the touch, barely there. "Sorry, it'll feel a little weird but it won't kill you."

Tsuna shook his head. "It just feels…different."

Skull smiled. "The good kind or the bad kind?"

"I don't know."

Skull just nodded, not pushing any further. With his Flames gathering some power, he surveyed the vicinity with paler eyes. Not a moment too soon, he pointed at the dense woods beside the park, right behind the destroyed Helix Loop attraction. "They're in there."

Tsuna widened his eyes. "Both of them?"

"If it helps, Aika isn't hurting her sister." Skull gestured towards the thick trees and guided Tsuna there, his hand never leaving his shoulder. "It's more like she's protecting her."

Tsuna frowned. "Protecting her?"

"It's a good sign. I mean, better than trying to rip her to pieces or something." Skull stopped laughing at the blank look on Tsuna's face. "Shit, sorry, I shouldn't have said that."

Tsuna rolled his eyes, but still huffed a small laugh. "It's fine."

The gloom that draped Kokuyo Land still tingled on his skin as they walked deeper in the woods. Tsuna focused on the cool sensation of Skull's Flames intertwined around his and found himself almost wanting to feel more. He mentally shook his head. He couldn't let his mind wander.

"Here." Skull handed Tsuna his drink.

Tsuna stared at the half-empty plastic cup. "I couldn't…"

Skull gave him a charming grin. "Just try it. It'll help."

Hesitating, Tsuna accepted the drink and slowly sipped the straw. The sweet drink settled nicely on his tongue before he swallowed. "It's good."

Skull nodded. "Yeah, it is." He didn't take it back.

Leaves and pebbles crunched softly underneath their feet, and the skies overhead were clear and blue. Soon, Tsuna sensed a colder shift in the air. He picked up his pace with Skull trailing behind him until he reached a small clearing. "Ayame."

He stopped when Aika, still deformed and grotesque, staggered onto her long limbs with a snarl. "N—No!" Ayame said, grabbing the Griever's leg. "Don't hurt him! He's a nice person! He tried to help me!"

"Ayame, are you okay?" Tsuna said, raising his hands in a placating gesture. He hissed when a wave of repulsion hit him full-force; though it wasn't as powerful as it should be, he still stumbled back against Skull's chest and curled his hands into fists.

"I—I'm okay," Ayame said. Her body was lighter now, more transparent, which was a relief. She was almost ready to pass over. But Aika…

"Aika-chan protected me, when I was stuck in the mirror. I—I didn't know how to get out but she saved me from the scary monsters."

Suddenly Skull whispered in Tsuna's ear, "You can help them, Tsuna."

Tsuna tried hard not to shiver. Skull was standing too close. "What do you mean?"

"Grievers are creatures with deep grudges and goal-oriented. Something must've changed for Aika after the mess you guys went through. Remember, they're also deeply connected to something or someone and for Aika, it's her sister, Ayame." After Skull pulled away, Tsuna almost missed the close-contact. He dug his nails into his palm to keep himself anchored. "I saw Luce purify some Remnants before. I think you can do it, too."

"How?"

"Oh." Skull hummed to himself in thought, acting way too nonchalant while Aika prowled forward, growling. "I don't really know how she does it, but try to access your Flames."

"The last time I did, I was dead," Tsuna said, eyeing Aika warily. "Can't you do anything?"

"Hey, I'm just the delivery guy. Alright, think of it as like opening a jar and reaching inside, when you're getting cookies or something. Pretty easy."

"Yeah, to you."

Tsuna yelped when Aika lunged at them with outstretched claws, dropping his drink. Ayame screamed. "Aika-chan, don't!"

However, Tsuna didn't feel anything. He gaped as Aika simply phased through them and tumbled on the ground. Skull smiled at him. "We can do this all day until you learn, Tsuna. You've got me." The bastard was actually teasing him. Before Tsuna could retort, Skull continued like things were normal, "So open the jar and reach in; but don't take too much."

Aika growled behind them. "Skull, I don't think—"

"This will help Aika move on with Ayame, too."

Clenching his jaw, Tsuna wavered when he met Ayame's wide, terrified eyes. She sniffled. "Aika-chan didn't mean it. She—She just wanted to help me. Please don't hurt her, Onii-chan. This isn't her. She's just—She's just—" Ayame broke out into sobs, which only enraged Aika even more.

Tsuna flinched when the Griever phased through them again and screeched in rage. Finally, he closed his eyes and tried to ignore the anger and frustration that pulsed through his body. They weren't his. They weren't his. Retreating far inside himself, Tsuna could sense the warm glow of his Flames humming in his core. Just a little, he thought, reaching through a thin veil.

His eyes flew open before he stepped away from Skull and reached out his glowing hand. Aika recoiled with a hiss but didn't run away, much less move when Tsuna walked closer. A small douse of calm spread in his veins as he touched Aika's head. "You're okay now," he said gently. "You're okay."

Soft orange fire ignited around Aika. She didn't scream. Instead, her form slowly dissolved into floating ashes, peeling away from transforming human limbs. Her gruesome face cracked away to reveal human skin and lips before she slowly fell onto her knees. When the fire died down, she looked up with teary eyes. Her body was transparent, almost fading. "I'm sorry," she said. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to kill them. I didn't—"

Tsuna hushed her gently. "I'm not the one you should be apologizing to, Aika. But for now, there's someone else who needs you."

"Aika-chan!" Ayame dashed over and flung her arms around her grown sister.

"Nee-chan…"

Ayame looked up at Tsuna with a small smile. "Thank you, Onii-chan." She bit her lip. "But what about…"

"You'll see them again," Tsuna said. "And from there, I can't help you. This is all I can do."

Aika closed her eyes. "I'm just glad to see my sister again. Thank you…"

Their bodies soon changed into glowing blue lights before floating away.

Redirect to my AO3, Little_Miss_Bunny, to read this part of the chapter...

Luce didn't appear in his dreams this time, but Tsuna didn't care. He watched quietly as an orange flame flickered above the palms of his hands, its warmth pulsing in an almost rhythmic fashion. Then Tsuna shivered when a violet stream of fire suddenly curled around his wrist, igniting his right hand. Instead of burning, it felt like cool fog. Tsuna inhaled sharply when it blazed higher before engulfing the orange flame whole. A content sigh escaped his lips. There was finally one out of eight.

Drifting, Tsuna felt reality slowly trickling in his senses. He groaned softly before sluggishly opening his eyes, blinking a few times when he realized how dark it was. He felt warm and snug underneath the comforter. The pillow he was sleeping on was also—Wait. His eyes widened. He was in bed? When he tried to move, he hissed from the aching jolt that shot up his spine. His whole body felt numb and his hips and ass were killing him. Wait. Wait, wait, wait…

"Go back to sleep, Tsuna," a voice grumbled against his hair. "Five more minutes…"

Tsuna buried his face in his hands, unconsciously pressing closer to Skull's bare chest. The god's arms were wrapped comfortably around his waist and their legs were intertwined underneath the covers. At least Skull was wearing sweatpants. Tsuna flushed when he remembered what they did. "Fuck," he whispered.

Skull chuckled breathlessly above him. "Round 2 already?"

"Shut up." Tsuna's hands muffled his hoarse voice.

"It was good, don't deny it." Skull shifted, pulling Tsuna closer. Now he smelled like fresh air and something purer that Tsuna couldn't name; it was nice, he thought begrudgingly. His Flames agreed with more enthusiasm.

Tsuna sighed as he pulled away. "Where are we?"

"The house."

"…do they know?"

He could sense Skull smiling while the man nuzzled against his hair; a low purr rumbled in his chest, making Tsuna blush. "Fuck yeah."

"I need to use the bathroom," Tsuna said almost regrettably. Skull was so warm and he fit perfectly in the other's arms.

"You can just piss in bed."

Tsuna wrinkled his nose. "You're fucking kidding me."

Skull laughed and finally pulled away to look at Tsuna's face. The god's face seemed much handsomer up close, his eyes a beautiful violet that shimmered in the dark bedroom. Tsuna couldn't help but reach out and touch Skull's cheek, brushing his thumb gently against the god's skin. He smiled when Skull nuzzled against his hand, their Flames humming from the contact. "I really need to use the bathroom though."

Skull grumbled in a foreign language before flopping over on his back. "Fine. Gods, I'm never missing that function again."

Tsuna rolled his eyes but carefully sat up, wincing from the uncomfortable throb in his hips. He was wearing a gray hoodie that sagged a little around his shoulders and barely managed to cover his ass. Thank fuck that he was wearing some new boxers. His legs were still sticky with Skull's cum and trembled when he tried to stand. Tsuna grunted softly when he fell back on the bed.

"Need some help there?" Skull said, shooting him a mischievous grin.

Tsuna scowled. "You're so fucking big, it's not my fault you almost tore me in half." He tensed when a hungry gleam glinted in Skull's glowing eyes. "Oh sh—" Tsuna tried to get away but his body strongly protested the sudden movement and Skull was much faster. He groaned when the god pinned his wrists beside his head and towered above him with a crooked grin. "Never mind the fact that we just met hours ago and barely know each other."

"Oh, I think we know each other pretty well at this point," Skull said. His piercing chain tinkled when he lowered his head and brushed his lips against Tsuna's ear, making the brunet shiver. "Now about that Round 2—I bet you're waiting to get filled by my big cock again." He left a trail of soft kisses down Tsuna's neck, then sucked on his tender hickey, his tongue lapping at the flushed skin when Tsuna moaned.

"Skull," he said, "don't. I need to go."

He grunted when Skull suddenly collapsed on top of him, his heavy weight nearly crushing him. "Why can't you just stay?" Skull whined against his shoulder. "We wer—"

The doorknob suddenly rattled, making Tsuna flinch. Skull sighed, but there was a smile dancing on his lips. "What do you want?" he said.

The door suddenly flung open. Tsuna blinked rapidly when someone turned on the lights. A bout of silence passed. Skull didn't move to let Tsuna up while the brunet struggled to see what the hell was going on or at least, who was at the door.

Lal Mirch growled. "Skull, get off of him."

"Why should I?" Skull said, his eyes flashing darker. "Besides, we were just about to go at it again. If you want, I'll let you guys watch."

"You're all more idiotic than I thought," a new deep voice said. It reminded Tsuna of Reborn's, but it sounded softer, more refined. "How this fool could be the first is beyond me."

"Bermuda, shut up," Lal Mirch said.

Tsuna just let his head fall back against the pillow with a small thud. He was starting to regret everything all over again.

A/N Uhhh… *flees*

:^)

Some, uh, music aesthetics for M.M. here: "A Beautiful Song (Opera Boss Theme)" from NieR: Automata and "Body" by Mother Mother.

All the love for my wonderfully patient beta, nico~

Thank you for reading! I hope to see you again in the next chapter.

Have a lovely day~

Little Miss Bunny