I do not own KHR.

It had been a long time since Tsukiyo thought she heard gunshots from the vicinity. Or maybe it was her mind, echoing her committed murder. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. These past days, she did nothing but cry and now she felt drained. She thought about it. Crying would get her nowhere. She wasn't that weak after all… or am I? She sighed. She had done that a thousand times, too. Nobody did even bother to pay her a visit except for the guards who brought her food and water. She had no idea how many days had it been that she was away from her real home. And she was still wearing the same maid uniform ever since she ran away from the Varia Headquarters. It was damp, making her even more uncomfortable.

She thought what if she didn't discover Tsuna and her dad being a part of the mafia. Maybe, she was enjoying her life indulging herself with brainwashing books and unending torment of school. And she didn't want any of those, too. But her usual life should have carried on…

She would always run into Tsuna and his friends, bully Lambo, quarrel with Gokudera about his theories regarding UMA's (Unidentified Mysterious Animal) or aliens, urge Yamamoto to let her eat free sushi in their restaurant, annoy Hibari and escape being bitten to death, convincing Kusakabe to have his hair cut because it's not the fad anymore, and more to come on her list.

It all sounds childish but that was all what she was doing to keep herself away from boredom and emptiness. Everything was becoming the usual and she was getting sick of it. Yes, she was tired of Reborn's antics and the unknown people stopping over their house. She wanted something new, something adventurous. She was always doing the same thing every day and 'being this and that' had become irritating.

But she dealt with it by ignoring it. There was no option to choose from but to continue living on, without reason. At those times, she had forgotten what her resolve was. She considered rebelling but her mind didn't let her. Of course, she had no reasons to do that. By the way, her resolve was protecting her family. That's what she promised to her father.

And then, Aria came. She told her a lot of things concerning her beloved little brother. And her mortal enemy, Reborn, send her to Varia to be their slave. And things were getting interesting. She met a lot of eccentric people. People, tch, they don't seem to be one. They're demons in disguise, weren't they?

"Unexpectedly, they all turned into this," she said to nobody. She just stared at nothingness, lifeless.

_._._._._._._.

Timoteo spoke to Iemitsu. He told her about Tsukiyo being held as captive by the Estraneo family. They were in his office, sitting in front of each other on the green leather-covered couches.

"At least, for now, we know why Tsukiyo's flame was like that. But I didn't think they were capable to infiltrate our private files," Timoteo said.

Iemitsu's face was upset. He shook his head. "I thought they were secured by just not getting involved with them. I didn't think they were after her."

"You didn't notice?"

"Before I decided to leave them, I noticed Tsukiyo was missing at times but we would always find her. She was talking about being with a man and seeing a lot of lights but I didn't pay much attention to it. She had always wandered around the neighborhood. She loves to take a walk at such a young age. So I thought she was just having fun strolling around. I didn't notice any strange behaviors from her."

"They were that good," Timoteo remarked. "But the Estraneo family was wiped out by an instant by Tsunayoshi's Mist Guardian, Mukuro Rokudo."

"Ninth, would you let Tsukiyo be released from the underground prison?" It was a question.

The Vongola boss gazed at him. "Tsukiyo's flame was merely altered. It wasn't her personality that was changed. She will be fine. But the Cavallone family had confirmed her betrayal in the future battle, Iemitsu. She killed Tsunayoshi. And it was said that she turned against the Vongola with a reason yet to be revealed. Are you okay with that?"

"I trust her. Until everything isn't clear, I want Tsukiyo out of that prison." This time it was a statement. It wasn't an order. It wasn't pleading.

Timoteo gave him a smile. "Do what you want. But there's something I want to appeal to you. Have Lal Milch to train Tsukiyo, Iemitsu."

"Why is that, Ninth? Isn't it better not to get her involved further?"

"She was already involved. Besides, it would burden her more to be ignorant on how to use her flames. She needs it. At this time, Tsukiyo might be blaming herself for Fiamma's death."

"I understand," he said, standing up.

"And also… I think we need to send Tsukiyo back to Varia," Timoteo added, watching him.

Iemitsu gave him a confused look. "Why is there a need for that?"

"Precautions. Lal Milch will take her time to visit Tsukiyo and train her by then. And also… if the Vendice found out about her, they might as well imprison her like Mukuro."

_._._._._._._.

Tsuna was staring at his math notebook for a long time. He wasn't listening to Reborn's lecture at all. The sun arcobaleno noticed this. Tsuna had been somewhat less lively since the time that he learned Tsukiyo killed him, in the future.

"Dame-Tsuna, you don't have the right to space out of your lecture. I'd give you the right when you can at least attain even Gokudera's half wit," he said, ready to detonate a bomb but was stopped when Tsuna spoke.

"Ne, Reborn, why do we have to be troubled about the future? That was the future battle, it won't happen anymore. Why do we have to condemn Tsuki-nee? I know her. She won't do something as cruel like that with no commendable reason," he said in a listless tone.

"True. So what do you want to do now, Sawada Tsunayoshi?"

He stared at Reborn. "I really don't have anything to do with this mafia… supposedly, but everyone's being dragged into this. Even Haru and Kyoko, and now, Tsuki-nee. I really don't want to be a mafia boss. I never dreamed of being one," he said earning a specialized kick from his hit man tutor. This time, he had a painful head bang with one of his room's beloved walls.

"Man, Reborn, when will you stop doing this to me?" He yelled and held that part of his head suffering from physical trauma.

"When you stop saying unnecessary things, dame-Tsuna. I was asking you what you want to do. I did not give you any permission to do some dramatic monologue in front of me."

You jerk.

"You should have some respect for your tutor, aye, Tsuna?" Reborn said and cocked his gun which was probably Leon who does all the transformation trick.

"Hiee! Hai, hai!" He replied quickly, showing how much he loved his life. But her face became serious, "Reborn, I want to see Tsuki-nee."

"And how will you do that?"

"We'll travel to Italy?" He asked. He knows Reborn. He wouldn't let him travel anywhere unless something had to be done.

"Are you asking me?"

"Was it not that obvious?" Tsuna attempted to deadpan but Reborn wasn't even a bit amused.

"I'm easy to talk to, dame-Tsuna."

"Then, we'll travel to Italy," he said, frowning at him and meeting his eyes. Tsuna didn't even believe that the arcobaleno would let him to do that.

Reborn gave him a smirk.