Rebirth

Ring 3: Burn, Dying Will

Tsuna flew over Namimori. His contacts traced over houses and streets with crosshairs. Something beeped.

"Storm Flame Confirmed. Refined Flame confirmation...Negitive. Proceed."

Tsuna lowered. He spotted a old man walking around in the night, smoking. He looked well fed. Tsuna landed right in front of him. The man dropped his cigarette. Tsuna whipped his flaming glove around and twisted the man's head. The flame burned the corspe to a crisp.

"Flame extinguished. Seeking new target." Tsuna blasted upward in the sky again, "...Mist Flame Confirmed."

~The Illusion Mist~

Chrome woke too late this morning. She only had time to make her family breakfast. After leaving a lonely good bye, she set off for school without breakfast.

"Ch-"

Kyoko was interupted by Chrome's growling stomach.

"Eh? Didn't you eat breakfast?"

Chrome busied herself with the math homewirk she forgot to do yesterday.

"HI everyone!" Haru burst into the classroom smiles all around.

"Aw crud."

"Ara. Tatsuya, is there a problem?"

"What? No. Nothing at all."

"Good. Good Moring, Chrome-chan!" Haru smacked Chrome on the back.

Chrome's stomach growled again.

"Ara? Chrome, didn't you eat breakfast?"

Chrome moved from her math homework to her English(Japanese?) homework.

Mukuro came in, again filling in for their teacher, "Today, you will have a new student with you. Come in, Tsunayoshi Sawada."

Tsuna came in and wrote his name on the board, "Take Good Care of Me!" He said, bowing.

"Tsunayoshi, you wrote your name wrong."

"WAH!" Tsuna rushed to fix his mistake, setting the class into laughter.

"Now then, Tsunayoshi go sit next to Chrome. The one with the eyepatch."

When Tsuna walked past Chrome, he winked. Chrome's stomach growled for the third time that morning.

"Huh? Chrome-chan, didn't you eat breakfast?" Tsuna and Mukuro asked at the same time.

They turned to each other for a while before they turned back.

"That's no good. Get a breakfast from the cafeteria then return." Mukuro said.

Chrome rushed out the door, embarassed.

"Hey, I have a question." Haru said, containing her irration, "Why is a boy here?"

Tsuna turned to Haru, "Is there something wrong?"

"YES! Why are you acting so chummy with us? I don't even know you!"

"But I know Chrome and Chrome knows you. We're friends by association right?"

"No!"

"Now now Haru..." Kyoko began.

"Hey Tsu-kun! If you can't sit there, you can join us! You should avoid Haru!"

"What was that Tatsuya?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all."

Chrome poked her peas around on her tray.

"You okay?" Kyoko asked.

"I'm fine." Chrome smiled.

"Are you still worried about what happened this morning?" Tsuna asked.

Chrome shook her head, but her fork pierced the pea with shock.

"A-anyway, why are you here Tsu-kun?" Chrome said, eating the last thing on her tray to play with.

"Well you're here." Tsuna said.

"What about your tutor?"

"Shhhh!"

"Tsuna, you have a tutor?" Kyoko asked.

"Ye-yeah."

"What does he teach you?"

"Huh? Uh...Math...and...how to be a moving target."

"What was that last one?"

"UH...mannerism?"

Chrome stood off to the side, praticing twirling a metal baton.

"I gave you a baton, but I never thought you'll join the cheerleading squad."

"Mu-Mukuro-Sama! Don't you have a class?"

"I let Ken handle it."

Someone got tossed out a window. Chrome and Mukuro watch the person fall safely into a bush.

"Hm. Maybe I shouild get Chikusa to Co-teach."

"Mukuro-sama?"

"Yes?"

"What happened yesterday?"

"Like I said, it was a fued between schools."

"What happened to Hibari-Sempai?"

"Sempai? He went home after enjoying the flowers."

Chrome stared at Mukuro, surprised.

"You don't even doubt my words." Mukuro patted Chrome on the head, "Do your best my cute Chrome."

"Oi."

Chrome turned around. Ken and Chikusa glared at her. Actually, only Ken did. Chikusa stared. She turned again and tried to leave, but was blocked by M.M.

"What connection do you have with Mukuro-Sama?"

"Hu-huh?"

"Ya heard us. Now talk or I'll..."

"Ken. If you lay a finger on her, Mukuro will kill us all."

Birds appeared from behind M.M and nodded.

"Che."

M.M glared at Chrome, "Why did Mukuro give you a trident?"

"Tr-trident?"

"The 3 batons." Chikusa explained, "They were an extra trident that Mukuro made as a backup."

"Che. I still say we beat her and take it."

Chrome backed away from him.

"Ken!"

"I got it. But really, how do you expect to take the trident if we don't maul her a little?"

M.M smiled and reached towards reached past Chrome's head and slipped her hand into her bookbag. Chrome didn't move, couldn't move, out of fear. M.M hooked her fingers on one of the baton's weights and began to draw it out.

"What are you doing?"

"Mu-Mukuro-Sama!" M.M dropped the baton and backed away was too late.

"Are you okay, Chrome?"

Chrome nodded, slowly returning from the paralysis.

"Mu-Mukuro-Sama! This is..."

"Go on."

"Mukuro-Sama, we're just concerned that the trident would be...wasted on this girl."

"Are you questioning my judgement?"

"No, of course not."

"...Chrome witnessed our fight. I gave her my spare because it is uncertain if she was seen. If she was, she might get targeted. If the worst happens, she can at least defend."

"If that is the case, give her one of Chikusa's yo-yo!"

"Watch it, Ken."

"If you're so aganist it, why don't you guard her?"

"What? Why should we take the time too..."

"So it's decided."

The 4 looked angry about the decision, but eventually they all walked off.

"Um...Am I being a bother?"

Mukuro turned to Chrome, "Not at all. Don't let them get to you, they're good people."

"Yes...but..."

"Can I tell you a secret?"

"Huh?"

"This right eye of mine...is different."

"How so?"

"You'll find out." Mukuro smiled and waved good bye.

~The Enveloping Sky~

"I'm home!" Tsuna announced.

"Welcome home!" Nana cried from the kitchen, "Reborn says that your session will start at once."

"Oh...okay."

Tsuna entered his room.

"Yesterday was a close one so today, I added a silencer."

"Huh?"

"It's a bit early, but if we start now, you have time to return and sleep. Now go." Reborn said and then shot Tsuna.

…

"Reborn. Hyper dying Will Mode Achieved."

Reborn smiled and tossed his weapon case at Tsuna, "Yesterday, you returned without extinguishing the refined Mist Flame. Today, you can finish it."

Tsuna slipped on his contacts, "All Safeguards Achieved. Mist Flame Targeted. Refined Flame. Activating Anti-Illusion Filter."

Tsuna flew out the window. Reborn went downstairs, "Mama! Tsuna's gone out for muscle training."

"Huh? Funny, I didn't hear him going out."

"I made him climb down from his window."

"That's harsh. Would Leon like some rice?"

"Yes please."

~The Illusion Mist~

Chrome didn't rush home. There was no difference to anyone if she was or was not there. Chrome turned absent mindedly into an alleyway. Before she realized where she was, she had gone too far in. And before she could turn around, she was attacked. Something flew down from the sky and cracked the ground. Chrome barely managed to avoid it. She retreated back a few steps and pulled out the baton. She pulled off the weights and dropped them hastely. She drew out the other 2 parts and slammed them on the metal rod that was left of her baton. She readied herself for an attack. A flame burst through the dust which Chrome dissipated the flames by spinning the trident. But a gloved hand was somehow in the flames and grasped her trident. His hand erupted into flames again. Chrome struggled to take back her trident, but the hand tried to wrench it away from her. Chrome held on tight, but all it did was pull her along with the trident. As she flew forward, a familiar face appeared from the dissolving dust.

"Tsu...na?"

But before she could confirm it, she was knocked into unconsciousness.

~The Enveloping Sky~

"Target Eliminated." Tsuna stared cold heartedly at the still Chrome, "Proceeding to Extuguish Flame."

Tsuna reached down to kill his old friend, but his headphone beeped.

"High Traces of Mist Flames. How?"

Ku Fu Fu

~The Illusion Mist~

Ku Fu Fu

Wind whipped around Chrome, a mix of dust and mist hiding her. Tsuna backed away before the wind could blow out his flames. The wind slowly died down and Chrome was gone. In her place was a tall man with her school's uniform and a red right eye.

"2 Mist Flames? What Is This? This isn't an Illusion?"

"Ku Fu Fu. Aren't you my new student? What are you doing? No, what's more interesting is how you're still alive with all those flames on you." Mukuro said.

"Mukuro Rokudo." A infant voice remarked, "What are you doing in that girl's body?"

Mukuro glanced up, "A baby? ...Ho, that pacifier. You must be an Arcobaleno."

"Sharp. As expected." Reborn said, "Yes, I am the Arcobaleno of the Vongola Famigila."

"Vongola? They have quite the reputation."

"So you've heard of us."

"Parts. And is Tsunayoshi Sawada a mafiso?"

"Nope. He was a student."

"I see...Well, the fact remains that you attacked my cute Chrome. Whenever you are my student or not does not matter outside the class room."

"I see." Tsuna said, "Then...let's..."

"Tsuna, have you forgotten about your time limit?"

Tsuna turned to Reborn,

"You only have a 12 hour active period. You took too long to find Chrome. If you decide to fight Mukuro now, you're going to end up normal in the middle. If you want to end it, find him within a minute."

"Ho...Are you saying that Tsuna could beat me in 12 hours, Arcobaleno?"

"Not Tsuna. But if it is our Hyper Dying Will Tsuna...Who will know?"

"Heh. You say that, but your tone is confident."

"Hmph. Let's go...Tsuna."

"Order Received. Retreating." Tsuna jumped up and flew off.

Mukuro watched Tsuna fly off and then turned his sights on Reborn who had dissappeared when he wasn't looking. Mukuro sighed, "I came all this way, and yet...Still, I did learn some intresting information. Ah, Chrome's starting to wake. I'd better leave."

Chrome placed a band aid on her swollen cheek. She still couldn't remember very well who had hit her. But all things consithered, it could've been anybody. And yet she couldn't stop seeing someone who look too much like Tsuna. Finally, she dismissed the thought and began to work on her homework.

That night, a plane flew in from Italy again. Reborn was there to meet it. He sought out 3 people from the crowd.

"Welcome to Japan."

"It's been a long time." Dino smiled, "How's Leon."

"He's fine. I see you brought your subordinate. Hello Romario."

"He insisted on seeing Japan. Couldn't say no." Dino sighed.

"Hm? I was informed that there would be 3 of you...where's the third?"

"He ran off as soon as we landed. Don't worry, he's the type to find trouble, but he's also strong enough to handle it."

"Hmph, based on your description, I can already guess who it could be."

"I see. Anyway, I brought you some more goodies."

"Don't speak to me as a kid. Didn't I teach you that?" Reborn said, smacking Dino with a Leon/bat

"Ow. I got it. Let me off, you've already got a new student. I feel sorry for him."

"He's not really my student." Reborn said, opening the case that Dino gave him. He studied it's contents for a moment, then snapped it shut, "So...let's get out of this crowed airport."

Chrome awoke at an ungodly time of the day. She was so tired, she didn't bother to check the clock. The night was dawning into the morning. She snuck out of her room and made breakfast and lunch as always. Afterwards, she sat on the steps and watched the rising sun. She sat there for a long time. She absentmindedly reached for her eyepatch and began to remove it. The door opened and Tsuna came in,

"Chrome! I've come to..." Then Tsuna blushed and looked away."

Chrome was confused for a while then hastely put back her eyepatch, blushing as well.

"A-anyway, I've come to get you for school?"

"School? It's that late already?"

"No, my mom just sent me here early because...uh...shouldn't you get dressed?"

"Ah!"

The walk from Chrome's home to Kokuyo was a long one. For a while, they walked silently. Finally, Tsuna gathered his courage and asked, "C-can I ask you a question?"

"Hm?"

"What happened to your..." Tsuna gestured to his right eye.

"O-oh. It got injured in the car crash."

"Oh. Is that why you wear the eyepatch?"

Chrome nodded. The conversation ended there. They spent their walk in silence until about 35 minutes later, Chrome stopped.

"We're still early right? Then can we pick up Kyoko and Haru too?"

"Wah, It's been a long time!" Haru smiled as they walked, "We almost never walk to school together!"

"Really? I guessed that since you 3 are such good friends, you guys would walk to and from school together all the time."

"Nope, only from." Kyoko said.

"Oh."

"Yo!" Someone ran towards us, "Tsuna! Nice to see you again."

"Ah! Yo-you're...Tat..suya?"

"Yep! Walking to school with 3 girls huh? Wait...IS THIS WHAT THEY CALL A HARLEM?" Tatsuya backed away which gave him an advantage.

"Tatsuya!"

"WAH!"

"Just who did you say way Tsuna's bitch?" Haru yelled, chasing him.

"I never said that!" Tatsuya cried

The remaining 3 friends watched as their argument faded away.

"So...shall we meet up with her at school?" Kyoko smiled.

Tatsuya managed to outrun Haru as Tatsuya was nowhere to be seen and Haru was in a foul mood. Kyoko tried to cheer her up with little avail. Chrome sighed and glance towards Tsuna. He had his head facedown. Curious, Chrome reached over and poke him. Tsuna didn't move. She shook him a little. He still didn't move. Chrome shook hard. Tsuna didn't react. Confused, she took out her baton and hit him on the head with it.

"Chrome what are you doing?" Kyoko asked.

Chrome sat up in shock but answsered, "T-Tsuna's not reacting."

"Sure he's not sleeping?" Haru muttered.

Chrome was about to hit Tsuna again before he shook and woke up.

"Huh? Eh? Chrome...you're a cheerleader?"

Chrome tried to hid her baton but it was too late.

"Wow! Haru, Chrome's joined the Cheerleading club!"

"Yay." Haru said half heartedly.

"Do you have your uniform?" Kyoko asked.

Chrome nodded.

"Why didn't you tell us? Ah, do you look good in your uniform?"

A dull thump drew the girl's attention.

"Ah! Tsuna's fainted again!"

"His nose is bleeding!"

"Leave him." Haru said.

"What, why?" Kyoko cried flustered over this development.

"Leave him." Haru repeated, "He'll be fine."

Tatsuya peeked in, "Yo, what's wrong with Tsuna?"

"YOU!"

"Oh Fudge!"

~The Enveloping Sky~

"Headaches?" Reborn repeated.

"Yeah. They really hurt and I've been having them for some time now."

"I never imagined that the aftereffects would appear so quickly."

"Aftereffects?"

"If a person is hit with a Hyper Dying Will Bullet, the person will develop headaches severe enough to mimic death."

"Wh-What?"

"Don't worry, you won't die unless you get hit 10 times. When the 9th shot is over we shall take a day off. That should reset the symptoms."

"Don't joke around! I don't wanna get death headaches! They're already worrying my friends!"

"Ho? Tsuna? With friends?"

"What does that mean?"

"Nothing. Time for work."

Click. Bang!

"...What do you think you're doing Tsuna?"

"I don't wanna do this anymore."

"..."

"I don't know what happens when you shoot me, but I don't like it."

"Tsuna...you have no choice in the matter."

Tsuna couldn't dodge this time.

~The Illusion Mist~

Chrome stared down the alley where she was attacked last time. Slowly, she inched forward. Then she jumped back. Then moved forward a little again. She shook her head and turned away. She was spear tacked into the alleyway anyway. As she tumbled on the ground, she pulled out her baton and set up the trident, but by that time, her attacker was already onto her. As his hands reached around her head, Chrome could hardly see his face. She closed her eyes.

WHAM!

Her attacker tumbled back and Chrome slowly opened her eyes. Another person stood in fron of her.

"Attacking a girl? That's despicable."

"You..."

Chrome looked up to her savior. He looked at her and smiled, "You okay?"

"Y-yes." Chrome said, getting up.

"We both have the same mission, why do you go aganist it?" The attacker addressed her savior.

"Mission? Sure I have the same mission, but whenever I take it up, is up to me."

"Are you betraying the Vongola?"

"Betray? No."

"Then why..."

"Let me say this. This girl is under my protection for the next 12 hours. You doubt that even you can beat me...Hyper Dying Will-kun."

The attacker glared at him, but flew off.

Chrome's savior blew a sigh and turned to her, "You sure you okay?"

"Yes. Thank you, I'm in your debt." Chrome bowed.

But once she lifted her head, he grabbed her chin and kissed her. Full on the lips. He released her and Chrome back away quickly.

"Debt repaid. Eh? What's with that scared look? Don't tell me a cute girl like you never got you first kiss?"

Chrome looked down.

"Uh...well...do you have anywhere you need to go?"

"H-Huh?"

Chrome brought over a miso ramen to her savior.

"Thanks for the food." He prayed and twirled his chopsticks.

"Who's that guy?" Kyoko asked when Chrome came back.

"I don't know him, but he saved me."

"Saved huh?" Ryohei studied him, "All right then, his meal is on us!"

"Really brother?" Kyoko asked.

"He saved one of my waitresses, can't charge him for that."

Haru came back, "Chrome's boyfriend wants some soda."

"H-Haru..." Chrome said reproachfully.

Haru took the soda and walked off.

"She's still in a bad mood." Kyoko said, underlining the obvious.

Chrome decided to take all her saviors orders for Haru before she began interviewing him.

"Do you need anything?"

"No."

"Oh."

"The ramen here's delicious."

"Thank you."

"Is that man the only one making it?"

"Yes, he's Ryohei, the brother of Kyoko, that waitress."

"I see. Well, I'm done so..."

"Ah, it's on the house."

"I see. Well...see ya."

"Hu-huh?"

"What?"

"Well..."

"Did you really take my eariler words seriously? Well, it's not like I was joking, but...Anyway, the manager should be able to protect you. His flames strong."

"What?"

"See ya."

"Ah. Wait! What's your name?" Chrome cried after her savior.

"Next time." He waved good bye.

~The Enveloping Sky~

"Are you sure about that?" Tsuna asked.

"Yeah. I held you off for 10 hours. 2 hours should be enough for that man to endure."

"You don't believe he'll win?"

"Nope, his flame's refined, but he's not trained." Chrome's savior began to walk off.

"Wait. Reborn wants to see you. He also wants to know why you weren't there at that time."

"I don't care."

~The Illusion Mist~

The store was empty. As Chrome and her friends began to clean up, the sky lit up and something came straight for her. Chrome whipped out her trident and managed to block it. The dishes began to fall.

"Ah!" Chrome caught them with her knee.

The attacker took the chance and threw her back. Chrome crashed into a bush and the dishes were caught and placed back on the cart by her attacker.

"Chrome!" Kyoko and Haru rushed to Chrome's side and helped her up.

"Oi."

"The attacker turned around,

"What do you think you're doing to my waitress to the extreme?"

"So this is the man? True his flame's refined more than some others, but this is really unremarkable."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Ryohei glared.

"Weak."

"Weak? I see you don't know me. I was the extreme captain of Namimori's boxing club. Ryohei Sasagawa. My motto: To The Limit."

And with that Ryohei lauched his "To The Extreme Straight Right" The attacker jumped above him and dodged it. He whipped around and tried to backhand him which the attacker caught.

"Heh. Intresting."

"For someone to dodge my brother's 'extreme' attacks..." Kyoko remarked.

"You must to be extreme too!"

"N-no...that's wrong. That's completely wrong." Haru said.

"Extreme? What are you saying?"

"Heh. Then let my fists tell you!"

Ryohei threw another punch which the attacker caught. The attacker's eyes widened and he was blown away and hit a lampost.

"Heh. Hope you got that."

The attacker slowly got up. The light from the lamposts flickered on and the face of their attacker was revealed.

"Ts-Tsu...na?"

"Huh? You know him Kyoko?"

"Y-yeah, he's a student from my class."

"R-really? Then...why?"

"I don't know."

Tsuna staggered up, "Is that it? I admit, you power's rose but that's still not enough."

"Oh? Even if you're Kyoko's classmate, you're not getting away with this." Ryohei said, taking charging a punch.

"B-BROTHER! You're not thinking of using that..."

"I have too."

Tsuna noticed something, "Your power's rising."

"Take this! Hissatsu!"

"I see. Well then, I shall respond with appropriate force." Tsuna said, "Operation...X."

All of a sudden the flame on Tsuna's head dissappeared. Tsuna staggered. The flames on his gloves burned out and Tsuna collasped. Everone stared at this sudden development.

"O-oi...you okay? T-Tuna...was it?"

"Tsuna!" Kyoko corrected and rushed to Tsuna's side.

"Oi Kyoko! Get back here!"

But Kyoko was already checking on Tsuna. His gloves were mittens now and there were no signs of any flames.

"He's fine!" Kyoko reported, "But he could use an ambulance. I'll go call one."

As soon as Kyoko left his side, a claw shot out and grabbed Tsuna's neck. Like a fish, Tsuna was reeled in. The ones who held the other end of that claw were clothed in black and wore black fedoras. Their hands and face were wrapped in bandages.

"We'll be taking Tsunayoshi Sawada."

"Who're you?" Ryohei demanded.

"Vongola's...Vendice."

"Vongola?" Ryohei breathed

"Vendice?" Haru said, confused.

The Vendice dissappeared and...took Tsuna with them.

Days have passed since then. Chrome has gotten over Tsuna's secret. His house was mysteriously empty and they couldn't even find his mom. Every evidence of Tsuna's existance was erased. The police couldn't place a search out for him. Everyone believed him dead.

Chrome knew better. Mafias don't kill off their stronger members. She backtracked to the conversation that they had after the battle:

"Vongola? Isn't that a mafia?" Haru asked.

"Yes, but they've been said to only protect the citizens of Italy." Kyoko said.

"I read about that." Chrome said.

"No." Ryohei interuptted grimly, "I've heard rumors about them. Most of them were in murder."

"R-really?"

"Th-then Tsuna..."

Chrome stopped there. She tried not to remember Ryohei's solemn face. She shook her head empty and moved on. And crashed into someone.

"Oi! Watch where you're...oh it's you."

Chrome looked up. Ken was glaring at her. Chikusa was beside him. Ken looked away, "Che. Move. I don't wanna look at you right now."

Chrome began to get up, but Chikusa stopped Ken, "She deserves to know what happened."

"OI, what do you think you're saying Chikusa?"

Chikusa glared at Ken who gritted his teeth and settled down. Chikusa turned to Chrome and said, "Mukuro's been arrested."