Whoo! Trying to get back into my old rhythm of updating my stories and thought you guys could use an update ^^ hope you like this one. you all get to see a different side of Natsu! so be sure to tell me what you think and review!~

Right after the fight, Tsuna wasn't the only one to collapse. Natsu had attempted to actually carry him home before finally allowing Gokudera to do so and falling unconscious the moment Tsuna was taken. It had been two days since and as much as Tsuna was worried about her condition, he was more worried about the current situation.

"Reborn! Where are you?! Where have you gone?! Reborn!"

Tsuna had begun running all over the place in search of the baby after Lambo had hit him with the 10-year bazooka the day before and he never returned. He told Gokudera and the look the silver-haired student gave him was not something Tsuna would soon forget. Come to think of it, this is all the 10-year bazooka's fault. But even if I asked Lambo about the 10-year bazooka, he doesn't seem to know anything about it.

"Ah!" Tsuna suddenly had an idea and changed his direction, heading back towards his house. "Maybe if I asked adult Lambo, he'd know something!"

Bursting into his room, Tsuna quickly spotted the afro cow sleeping on the floor.

"Hey, Lambo! Please use the 10-year bazooka and become your adult form!"

Lambo rolled over and rubbed his eyes. "What are you saying, Tsuna?" What 10-year bazooka? Mr. Lambo knows absolutely nothing. Whatsoever."

Lambo fiddled with a leaf nonchalantly, but Tsuna wasn't falling for it.

"It's sticking out of you head, isn't it?!"

"Oops…" Lambo was caught.

"Come on. Take it out."

Tsuna grabbed a hold of the weapon but Lambo continued to fight with him over it before he did something stupid. Lambo pulled the trigger. Tsuna instinctively closed his eyes, but when he opened them, he found himself in an expanse of white, very confused. Eh? No way…Did I get hit by the 10-year bazooka? That means…I've gone 10 years into the future?! He suddenly began falling and screamed his lungs out before landing rather painfully onto something. Trees? No…the smell of flowers? It's completely dark…He brought a hand up and found that the top moved. Finally, he pulled the lid off and sat up, trying to organize his thoughts.

"Could this be 10 years in the future? If I've changed places with my future self, that means 10 years later, I'm here…I-I wonder where this is…hm?"

Tsuna looked down at the box he had been in and looked at the cover before paling and freaking out.

"Isn't this a coffin?! Then…Eh?! Why am I in a coffin?!"

"Who's there?!" Someone shouted behind him and Tsuna quickly turned to find someone…unexpected.

"You…You are-"

G-Gokudera?

I awoke back in that darn hospital and groaned, trying to sit up, but giving up as my body ached painfully. Sighing, I went to look at the window to just maybe get a look at the sky but there was someone there. My vision was still a bit blurry from just waking up and I rubbed my eyes to try and focus on the person better, but the sun was blocking my view now and all I could recognize was the person's red hair and glasses. Who?…

"D-Do I know you?" I questioned, sure I had seen him somewhere before, but with my bad vision of him, I couldn't tell for sure.

He turned a bit more and I noticed him holding his stomach before I looked up and just caught the end of what he was saying.

"I'm sorry."

He pulled something out from behind his back, the 10-year bazooka I realized, and hit me with it, throwing me into darkness just as I remembered who he was. No way…Irie?

Tsuna laid in his bunk in the base quietly, silently remembering his conversation with Reborn about what was going on and what they had to do. Gather the guardians…But what about the others? I know they're getting Haru and Kyoko, but…where's Natsu for all of this? I forgot to ask…I hope she's okay…Tsuna pulled out his charm that he'd gotten from Kyoko and hugged it tightly, trying to keep the tears from falling as he begged God and Buddha to keep everyone safe.

The next morning, him and Gokudera headed in to get more information from Reborn, Tsuna clenching his fists tightly as he prepared to ask about Natsu. He got distracted though when him and Gokudera overheard the ending of Reborn speaking to Lal Mirch. Avenge Colonello?

"Did the two of you sleep well?" Reborn asked. "It's about time we start our mission to gather the rest of the guardians."

"Eh?! W-Wait a minute! I haven't prepared myself yet! T-That's too sudden!"

"If you keep worrying about Kyoko and the others, you'll never be ready. The whole point of gathering the guardians is to protect Kyoko and your friends."

Tsuna gulped, realizing that Reborn was right and finding a familiar feeling in the words he was speaking.

"N-Natsu!" He blurted out, confusing the others in the room as his face flushed in embarrassment. "W-What happened to N-N-Natsu? I-Is she here too?"

Reborn looked at Yamamoto who had a serious expression.

"Natsu…has been out of contact since the future you died."

Tsuna's mouth dropped open, eyes wide. "S-She's…gone?!"

Yamamoto rubbed the back of his neck with a sigh. "She's been spotted here and there, but none of us really know where she's at exactly."

"B-But she's safe, right?"

Reborn frowned at Tsuna. "Don't underestimate her, Dame-Tsuna."

Yamamoto nodded with a grin. "He's right. She was one heck of a fighter here, believe it or not. Gave Hibari a run for his money sometimes."

"W-Wah!?" Tsuna shouted, surprised.

"That's freak?!" Gokudera shouted beside him.

Yamamoto just laughed and Reborn got them back on track by announcing that their first guardian that they needed to retrieve was Hibari. The only issue was, their hint to finding him was a tiny yellow bird. I just hope everyone is safe. Tsuna thought as him, Gokudera and Yamamoto went out in search of Hibari.

I woke up, curled in a ball of pain as I tried my best to study my dark surroundings. It was a room, that much I could tell, with an average bed and a few basic necessities but there was a few things that weren't exactly what one would call…basic.

For one thing, there was a small switch I could just barely see from my position on the bed that was under the edge of a desk propped up against the wall. I struggled, but managed to get up and press the button, but it did the most unexpected thing. A panel on the wall adjacent from it hissed quietly and opened up to reveal the most weapons I had ever seen in one place, lined up on the wall. Knives galore and a few easily concealable hand guns here and there, and I couldn't help but get up and brush my fingers against a few of the blades, admiring their craftsmanship. I flinched though, when I accidentally pushed another small button and the wall turned itself over to reveal numerous computer screens displaying various video feeds and codes. It's like I'm in my own little cave…Is this where I live in 10 years?

I stepped back, falling onto the bed as my side caused me to cringe, red soaking the bandages once more. I cursed under my breath and began trolling the small room for a door, finding it and exiting into a small hallway where I soon discovered the bathroom and found some left over bandages and even some healing ointment that I used on my wounds. Removing the bandages over my burnt arm, I frowned. It had scared a nasty red all the way up my arm and surely onto the bottom portion of my face as well. I looked for a mirror or something reflective to check, but found none which only confirmed what I had thought. Ten years into the future and I must hate looking at myself. Either the scars got to me…or something really bad happened.

"I can only hope it's the first one and not the second." I muttered, sighing and leaving the bathroom to search for food.

The future me was very smart, because I had a whole fridge stocked full of food, but as I sat at the empty table with a laptop I snatched, I silently wondered what was going on. I swear that was Irie, but I hadn't seen him since…a long time ago. He apologized for shooting the bazooka too, not that I mind, but shouldn't I have gone back by now? And what happened to the others? I'm sure they're freaking out since I'm not at the hospital, unless they're here too. Maybe I should head outside and take a peak at what's going on exactly. I tried my best to see what I could find on the laptop about what had happed first, but everything it told me made little to no sense.

The Vongola was pretty much destroyed and some group called the Millefiore had taken over. Then there was information about some sort of boxes and a new kind of ring that I hadn't heard of. Even more confused than before, I shut the computer and went back to the room, loading myself up with weapons and snacks, praying that my future self wouldn't mind, and grabbing the small boxes and rings I saw lying on the desk. I had no idea how to use them, but I was sure I'd figure it out sooner or later and grabbed a backpack on the ground and began stuffing one of the laptops into it so I could discover what I could later.

Finally ready, I was about to walk out when something on the desk shone, catching my eyes. It just appeared to be a plain old beat up silver watch, but something told me it was very important so I picked it up and put it on before heading out the door. I was cautious once outside though, having borrowed some of my future self's clothes, and I quickly pulled the hood up and snuck out into the heavily forested area. If a war's going on, I best be careful about not being seen. Especially if I have no idea where I'm at. For all I know, I'm smack dab in enemy territory and I won't know it until I find out my location or run into someone. And I can only hope that someone isn't going to try and kill me the moment we meet.

I spoke too soon though, because as I ran through a small field without any cover, I knew I was being chased by someone. I couldn't hear them, of course, but I think the dark purple flames they were throwing at me was evidence enough. Dodging them, I quickly looked back and spotted two more joining my original opponent and mentally groaned as I focused on escaping. Shouldn't be too hard, hopefully. I just need a distraction and some cover. I hurled myself over a log as I reentered the forest, cringing as my wounds disagreed with the activity and soaked my bandages once again. Clutching my wound, I grit my teeth against the pain and finally spotted something not too far off.

I pushed my legs to carry me towards the log and hopped over it before ducking under it for the element of surprise. Sure enough, the guys flew over me and flew a little further before realizing that I was gone. Taking my chances, I launched myself out of my hiding place, tekagi-shuko appearing on my hand as I managed to take one man out with my surprise attack. The other two soon attacked though and I did my best to dodge and attack, but with my injuries not fully healed, I was slowing down quickly. Not good. I need to end this, but they're stronger than I first expected. I need a plan quick.

Checking what was around me, I found nothing of use and remembering what I had brought with me didn't leave much of an option since I didn't know how to use any of it. I launched a few knives at one of the man, managing to hit his leg, but the other took that chance and hit my shoulder with his own weapon. Grabbing the end of it, I held the guy in place and gathered a ball of flames in my right palm, thrusting it into his chest and finishing him off. I fell to my knees right after though and pulled the weapon out of my shoulder, somehow managing to keep my eyes on the final man.

"You're not getting away, you brat. There's already reinforcements coming." I read from his lips and mentally groaned.

Really not good. I forced myself to move as the man attacked once more and, deciding that I couldn't just stay there and fight as his reinforcements arrived, I ran. I hated running away, but I knew I couldn't do much in this condition and desperately searched for a safe place to hide out. Luckily for me, I spotted smoke coming from just past the forest and I headed towards it. The smoke was apparently coming from an old looking area with a bunch of worn-down warehouse looking structures. Unfortunately, whoever had battled there was gone, but the place gave me the perfect cover and I ducked into one of the buildings and hid.

I was suddenly more aware of my deafness at this point. It was a weakness that I really wished I didn't have right now because everything scared me. The guy could come up behind me and I wouldn't know until it was too late all because I couldn't hear him. This also meant I wouldn't know when he was gone, so I knew I might end up being stuck here for a long while. Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself down and glared at my hands as they shook. Come on. Can't be scared. Fear makes thoughts irrational. If I can't think, I can't come up with a plan. I need to stay strong. At least until I'm out of danger.

I reached into the backpack and carefully pulled out a roll of bandages, holding an end in my teeth as I tied off the wound on my shoulder, keeping an eye out for the man but seeing no sign of him. I chose to wait where I was for an hour at least before I moved out and did so, nerves on edge as I waited for him to pop out and finish me off. Even when that hour had passed, I ended up waiting just a bit longer before finally coming out and leaving the decrepit building. Heart pounding away in my chest and hand on my shoulder, I scanned my surroundings and kept as quiet as I could before spotting something on the ground near a broken building. I knelt down, checking for anyone before touching the dark stain with my fingers.

"Blood…"

I got up and followed the scuffled footprints in the dirt to a small building and went inside, searching for something, anything that could help me or keep me safe. There's footprints leaving the building, so that doesn't necessarily mean that they came from here, but why go in this building if there's nothing here? There has to be something. I walked further into the room and searched the walls for something similar to what I found in my future self's room. I found it too, at least, I think I did. It was small, only a little rock, but it seemed out of place to me and when I tried to pick it up, it didn't budge.

This has got to be it. Either that, or I've finally lost it. Taking a deep breath, prepared to be made a fool of, I pressed on the rock. At first, nothing happened and I sighed in disappointment, but then a chunk of the floor to my right shifted and I nearly grinned in happiness when it gave way to a set of stairs.

"Thank Kami." I muttered, heading down the stairs as the hidden door closed behind me. "Now I just hope this isn't an enemy base I went into."

I walked slowly, cautiously, but groaned when I met up with a dead end. It wasn't really a dead end, but a door with a hand scan was about as dead as it could get for me.

"What now?" I grumbled to myself.

Either I try it and get rejected, thus setting off the alarm most likely and alerting whoever is in here. Or…Well, there is no or. Maybe, if I'm lucky, whoever is in here will at least give me medical attention before they lock me up. I bit my bottom lip, reaching a hand out to try it, before I sighed, dropping my hand and turning back the way I came. Stupid. I'm so stupid. I should leave before something worse happens. I left the hidden hall and started aimlessly walking, but I could tell that my body was just about spent and my knees shook as I stumbled around.

I was just about ready to spend the night inside one of the buildings, when I saw something in the corner of my eye. It was the same man I had evaded earlier and he had company. Cursing, I hurried back to the hidden hall and managed to get down inside it again and decided to just try the hand scan in the hopes that someone, anyone, could get me away from the people chasing me.

Black spots were fogging up the edge of my vision as my breathing got faster and my chest ached with just trying to breathe. I kept telling myself to calm down, but I couldn't. Not when I didn't know what was on the other side of this door, and especially not when the lights changed that dangerous red, alerting me that the alarm had gone off upon my hand touching the scanner. I kept glancing back and forth between the still shut doors and the empty hallway behind me, until the door finally opened and a tall figure stood before me, arm glowing with flames pointed in my direction.

Fear clenched my chest and I quickly summoned up my own flames, to fight back, when the person suddenly stopped and turned around. Behind them, was Reborn all dressed up in some spandex suit and I never felt so happy in my entire life.

"R-R-Reborn?"

"Ciaossu, Natsu."

My knees suddenly gave out underneath me and tears filled my eyes. I was just so relieved. I thought I was going to die. And now…Now I was safe. I had found Reborn and I was safe.

"R-Reborn…I-I was…I d-don't…"

The tears flowed freely down my face and I cried, head bowed as I desperately wiped my face to try and stop them from falling. Reborn came over and pat my head, and no words were needed for him to know how grateful I was to have found him. Because I was scared. That was my one greatest weakness. Being alone. Being lost….Being deaf.

"I-I'm so glad…I found you…" I cried, before blackness engulfed my vision and I finally collapsed exhausted, tired, happy, and safe.