Disclaimer is in the first chapter


Second Chance

This Chapter is a tad bit weird. So... Read the overall summery (for this chapter) at the bottom! :)

EVERY EVENT IN THIS STORY IS NOT CANON. You have been warned.

Pairing-ish implied:

6927; 6918; 5927; (squint to find cuz it's there) R27

Bold- Sound effects or exaggeration
Italics- Exaggeration or Thoughts(mostly Tsuna's)
Normal –Normal


Target V: Bullet I: Wisps of Illusion

Third Person: Tsunayoshi Sawada

Flash back. . . .

Red, blue, indigo, violet, green, yellow chandeliers hung majesty around the grand centered orange one that lit the room – the Vongola's prized ballroom. The stainless, checker-tiled marble floor gleamed with the dims colors of the rainbow.

"In honor of our beloved Juudaime," the man's voice had spoke volumes among the guests. His strides were long and elegant; his onyx shoes reflected the ballroom lights. The red lights, in particular, dyed his chaste white tuxedo. Amidst the silencing whispers and murmurers, shadows began to wane and rise marvelously along with the melody of Gokudera Hayato's piano recital.

Today was the festive celebration of Sawada Tsunayoshi's 35th birthday.

From a distance, it would seem that the shadow itself was nothing out of the norm. However, under closer inspection, there stood the host of the party – Sawada Tsunayoshi. Feared but revered, said boss stood on the sidelines of the orchestra of skillful dancers.

He carelessly spun the glass of blood red wine in his right hand. His back was slouched unceremoniously against the shadowed antique patterned walls.

Gokudera was mind blowing – as usual. It's not secret this is why every woman involved with the mafia swoon over you.

Small chuckles left the brunet's amused lips. He was never fond of such unnecessary grand parties – in fact, he'd curse the person who thought of the invention of such a horrid event. But the joyous spark in his guardians' eyes were impossible to deny.

He was beyond content with his life. Although there were some – a lot – of paper work, meetings, assassinations, threats, (attempted) kidnappings, etc., that he had to constantly deal with; his family's smiles, laughs, and joys makes it worth. His family is his pride, joy, and it is his link to sanity. His friends were irreplaceable, all of them.

Maybe he was going crazy, thinking about all this to himself.

But deep down, he knew that this is what he always wanted to become. He wanted to be someone important, someone who could save others, someone that others could provide others a sense of security. It was thanks to his family that he is what he is; Tsunayoshi Sawada wouldn't change a thing.

His life was perfect... in a twisted sense. This caused him to chuckle to himself. A wimp, a practical nobody, metamorphosed into someone like himself all thanks to them, his precious peoples.

"Kufufufu, now, now. Our guest of honor should look more dignified," Rokudo Mukuro approached seamlessly striding from darkness, "It'd make us look bad. Now wouldn't it? Don't you agree, Tsunayoshi...? Are you not satisfied? There is no reason to hide in the shadows."

That playful trademark smirk showed intensely on the older man's features.

"No worries there Mukuro, I'm very content," Tsuna said, stressing his notion to his Mist guardian, "Besides, how'd you find me? I'm pretty sure I hid my flames decently."

Mukuro took the wine from Tsuna's fingers and nonchalantly took a sip, "But of course my dear, your cackles on the other hand... are a completely different story."

The brunet couldn't help but roll hit eyes playfully and the older man's teasing. Of course, this was Rokudo Mukuro he was talking with. The flirtatious, sadistic, and arrogant (but with in reason) Mist.

"Now, shall we woo the room with our duo dance performance?" Rokudo held out a hand and Tsuna respectfully accepted.

This was a normal occurrence when they dance. When the notion of dancing was introduced, it seemed like another nightmare the Reborn made into a reality. His first few lessons seemed weird and uncomfortable. Just when Tsuna thought he could decently dance, Reborn introduced the idea of dancing with his now, it was a nonverbal way of showing equal standing and appreciation; he enjoyed it. It was and still is a bonding meathod that seemed to work best with his more distant family members (Hibari, Chrome, and Mukuro). Eventually, he grew fond of dancing... among other things.

The music was upbeat and abruptly changing momentum; they moved along with the fierce melody. Eventually, the groups of dancers cleared the center to join the sidelines. The watchers were entranced. The dance looked like a mix between tango and samba – a demon struck as the angel returned the blow. It seemed like a battle, yet their movements harmonized the other's.

Tsuna, unlike his spectators, wasn't keen on watching themselves dance silently and so, he decided to spark a conversation with his dance partner.

"Mukuro, humor me, why did you always wear that ...smile of yours? Back when we first met... It was a bit unnerving," Tsuna's quizzical voice was bellow a whisper. However, the guardian's trained ears had not missed the question.

"Hm, you of all people should not be asking. You know it was far from a smile. It was a smirk. I don't 'smile'. It pains me to know you degraded it so far. It almost make me sound like, in dear Kyouya's terminology, a herbivore."

"Mukuro, you're avoiding it question," was the small hiss that Mukuro got in reply.

Tsunayoshi looked up and saw the mouthing of words.

Their strides slowed and the music calmed. With the final note, Gokudera's recital was over.

Moments later, they made their way from the center of attention and back into the comforts of the shadowed wall.

With a somewhat leisure expression, he bid Tsunayoshi farewell. He then dissolved with the shadows, leaving Tsuna with several wisps of mist flames, in which too, vanished.

And to the Brunet's bemusement, the answer was a puzzle.

Present . . .

"Wearing a mask is a great way to hide pain and best when trending from hurt... or so it felt. It seems our dance has come to an end. Until we meet again, arrivederci ... Tsunayoshi Sawada."

He stopped. He finally here. The dark opening was missing its door and he couldn't help but feel irked him. Without easing him, the clouds also seem to part right between the tall, broken- down building. From the heavens, a dreary light seemed to cause Kokuyo's shadows to grow. With it, Tsuna's body was hidden in a cloak of darkness.

"Focus on drawing your essence as small as possible. Make yourself vanish. Become one with your senses." His Reborn's voice rung clearly through his head.

Tsunayoshi immediately felt a wave of familiarity, yet the sensation in his body told otherwise. He felt warm spread through his body, but at the same time, he felt like himself shrink.

In reality, he was still the same, but an average person would've walked right pass him and didn't notice. Since flames are a part of a being, without the presence of flames, the user will seem to vanish – to some scale.

When the tingling feeling in his body began to calm, Tsuna hesitantly stepped forward.

In the back of his mind, he was urging himself to go and confront his (hopefully) future Mist guardian.

But he was afraid. Not afraid of the Mist guardian himself, but the consequences he would face if Tsunayoshi Sawada fails – he would perhaps never meet Mukuro again.

The idea frightened him. The young boss candidate didn't want to permanently loose his creepy brother-like figure. He didn't need Mukuro to be the one he cherished; he just didn't want to put more threat on other's life. And without Mukuro, his chances of meeting Chrome was almost non-existent. Tsuna knew his choice of deciding to come here to change a possible future stupid and unreasonable, but Tsunayoshi Sawada is human.

He was human and humans were selfish creatures.

Should he leave and follow the original events based on his unclear memories? Should he have risked it? If he just went with the events, his current assembled family would have gotten hurt. And, he selfishly chose his family's safety. But what if he did skrew this up? Mukuro and Chrome are part of his family?

Should he go back? Shall he cower away while he still has the chance? So many questions with little to no answers.

"Herbivore."

Malicious, sheer malice in that tone of voice, only one person would use that word. It sent chills down his spine –

He spun at lightning speed and ducked the dodge Hibari Kyouya's tonfa pleasantly sent him – the one aimed at his face. The other swiftly approached as well, and Tsunayoshi bent his knees and sprung backwards into the building.

Just my luck.

That brief moment that Tsuna was defenseless in the air, the skylark recoiled and struck. Tsuna could only see the silhouette of the renowned prefect as said male's tonfa sent him crashing into a wall.

"What exactly are you doing here?" the man's shoes clicked softly on the cement floor as he neared the boy. Holding his stomach, Tsuna slowly got up, using the wall as a support. His grip on his stomach tightened as he shifted

"I-I was go-going t-to find out who wa-was behind the attacks re-recent-recently," Tsuna's voice was at a bare whisper, almost unheard.

Hibari's eyes sparked with a dangerous glint as he stood there for a moment, "Wrong answer."

With that, the younger of the two tensed. Leaning his back against the wall, he threw his hands up defensively.

Deception.

"HIE! Wait! No! No! I'm here to talk!" Tsuna opened the eyes he hadn't realized he closed. Glinting warningly, the tonfa was a mere inch from the bridge of his nose.

"Oya, the herbivore wishes to speak? Now, speak," Hibari's voice rung throughout the building in several eerie echos. The brunet's breath hitched as the tonfa was placed right on his neck.

Suddenly realizing the space between the two had closed consideribly, Tsuna managed to stutter out:

"I-I want to -to t-talk to you i-in p-p-person."

The skylark's eyes seemed to narrow impossibly, considering the fact his eyes were already a very sharp. Hibari's lips dipped and his eyebrows scrunched.

"My patience is running thin. Now. Speak."

"N-no! I'm s-serious! I – I'm just here to t-talk... I know about y-your... situation...," Tsuna's voice was panic – or so he hoped it seem like so. Reassuringly, he added "I want to help you."

Tsunayoshi raised his eyes to meet the person's in front of him. He knew for a fact that the person he was talking to is –

"Kufufu, how interesting. You seem to have known all along."

Mukuro Rokudo himself.


Important Author's note:

NOTICE 1:This story had NOT BEEN ABANDONED. School work has been taking a lot of my time. I only have about 6hours of sleep each day (since i also have school and shit on weekends). -sigh- I honestly think this chapter is a disappointment. I don't know, I just think you readers deserve better.

NOTICE 2: This is un-beta-ed. I just finished this chapter and I have to leave for a week. Thus not enough time to do the beta exchange thingy.

NOTICE 3: This is PART ONE of the Mukuro Arc. (hence the "Bullet I" thing on the title)

Chapter Summary (since this chapter's a bit confusing):

The story starts off with a flashback of Tsuna's 35th birthday celebration. It shows that Tsuna has developed into a more laid-back, mature, and open personality. It also shows how much Tsuna cares for his family (his friends), including the more canon distant ones like Mukuro. The flashback ends and Mukuro basically gives Tsuna the reason why he was always putting up fake expressions: he didn't want to trust again only to be betrayed again. This wills Tsuna to the notion of confronting Mukuro.

While Tsuna debates weither to confront Mukuro or not, Hibari finds him, tonfa'd him into a wall, and interrogates him. And so, for some (ahem) unknown reason, Hibari turns out to be Mukuro. ~ End of Chappie & to be continued. :}

I'm EXTREMELY SORRY that I haven't posted lately. But do know that I read all your reviews. I didn't actually think this story would be so well received since I wrote this out of pure self enjoyment. So, Thank you all for reading and I hope to see you in the next chapter!

MAIN QUESTION:

1) I was wondering, would you like me to post MORE OFTEN with chapters that are shorter (1k-2k words) or post LONGER chapters with LESS frequent updates(3k-7k)?

2) Did the characters act EXTREMELY OOC [Out of Character]?

3) What were your overall opinion on the explanations?

4) Likes? Dislikes? Possible improvements? Opinion? :)

5) Do you like the chapter summary? Should I include it in my stories to help (if it did any good at all) you awesome readers?

6)This whole Tsuna personality change thing, tell me if you like it. I just wanted to add more depth onto him (since this basically a Tsuna-centric fan fiction.)

If you are unclear, PLEASE do ask. I'd be happy knowing that you cared enough to want to understand this story! And thanks again for spending your time to read this! :)