Date: Saturday, September 18, 2010
Title: The Journal of Memories
Author: Gin Nanashi
Creation Type: Fanfiction
Main Rating: K+
Main Genre: One-Shot Series; Fluff, Friendship
Disclaimer: Katekyo Hitman REBORN! belongs to Amano Akira; Sasaki Li, Sasaki Xue Fang, Sasaki Daisuke, Sasaki Kiyoshi and every other non-identifiable characters belongs to me (Gin Nanashi).
Summary: Sasaki Li came from a bloodline that allows her to gender-bend. Unfortunately, Li has yet to figure out how to control her ability. Fortunately, it leads to a whole bit of fun for the readers!
The Journal of Memories
Omake: Because You're My Partner.
Why did it happen...?
Hands gripped each other tightly as two brunettes walked silently through the forest.
How did everything end up like this...?
Dazed light-brown eyes kept their gaze on the dirtied sneakers of their owner.
"Come on!" A dark brunette encouraged while waving to the people behind her, "Let's go check out that cave!"
"Li-san," A redhead sighed exasperatedly as he pulled himself up a particularly high ledge, "Wait for us!"
A light brunette poked his head up and sighed tiredly as others trailed behind him.
Li gave a sheepish grin, "Sorry, Shou, Tsuna. I'm just excited. I've never visited a cave before!"
Tsuna blinked before sweatdropping with a nervous smile, "But, neither have we."
The girl paused and thought for a moment.
"... Oh."
An awkward moment passed by before she coughed and turned around, pointing into the distance.
"Anyway~! Let's GO-ACK!"
Tears coursed down the gender-bender's face.
The boys sighed at the sight of a black-haired woman holding Li by the back of her collar.
"Mama~!" The girl whined with clenched eyes while waving her arms in annoyance, "Lemmego~!"
Fang raised an eyebrow and promptly released her grip.
THUD!
"Itai!" The dark brunette flinched before sniffling and sulking, "Mama wa hidoi yo~!"
A vein throbbed on the woman's temple, "What was that, Kyuu-chan?"
"Pbbft~!" A lovely raspberry was her response.
Arms wrapped around the twitching woman as a man chuckled, "Now, now. Calm down, everyone."
The woman huffed as the girl stuck out her tongue again, but both relented rather easily.
A blur tackled Li as a happy voice cooed, "Don't worry, Xiao Li~!"
A smirk appeared on Fang's lips.
"Kiyo-chan'll make everything better~!"
Li twitched before swiftly elbowing the boy, making him keel over, "Don't want it."
Waterfalls coursed down Kiyoshi's face as he huddled under a tree in shame, "(Boo hoo...) Xiao Li no me gusta…"
Everyone ignored the dramatic act as the sound of panting and rustling was heard from behind the group.
Fang looked behind her before holding out a hand with a worried look, "How are you holding up, Nana?"
The less athletic woman took the hand gratefully and smiled, "I'll be fine. Thank you, Fang-chan. And, Daisuke-kun."
The man flashed a smile, having played the role of a gentleman and helped the brunette woman to a seat on a boulder.
Tsuna gazed worriedly at his mother, "Kaa-san, maybe we should take a break?"
Besides him, Li and Shouichi nodded in agreement as Kiyoshi straightened up with furrowed brows, "He's right. You could run a heat stroke, Nana-san."
Nana smiled at everyone's concern with a faint blush, "It's okay, everyone. You can go on ahead. I'll just rest here for a bit."
The light brunette hesitated before squeaking when Fang pushed him towards the Li and Shouichi.
"Don't worry, Tsunayoshi-kun," The woman said as she leaned against the same boulder, "We'll just be lazing around here."
Still, the boy hesitated before his mother continued with a smile, "Go on, Tsu-kun."
The light brunette paused and looked over to his friends, who grinned encouragingly at him.
"All of us will be here when you get back." Nana assured, smile never leaving.
Tsuna opened his mouth before blinking when a blur passed him.
Kiyoshi attempted to glomp Li, but was held back by Daisuke who gave his signature smile.
"You three have fun, okay?"
The light brunette sweatdropped at the crying boy before smiling and nodding, "Un!"
Light-brown eyes came to focus as their owner bit the bottom of his lips.
His eyes moved upwards to their interlinking hands.
The warmth emanating from the other's hand brought a sense of tranquility to the younger boy.
But...
Small lacerations marred that comforting hand.
Not only that...
The eyes trailed upwards, along the marked arms and rested on the scratched-up face, particularly on the dried blood.
Light-brown eyes dulled again as his heart constricted painfully.
"I think we're near!" Li cheered as she shielded her eyes from the bright sun.
POOF!
"Ah!" Shouichi piped up, ignoring the white smoke, as he stopped besides the gender-bender, "I see it!"
Tsuna panted heavily as he stumbled a bit and bumped into the dark brunette, "S-Sorry!"
The gender-bender merely grinned and grabbed his hand, pulling him close, "Do you see it, Tsuna?"
His cheeks flushed a bit but Tsuna tightened his grip on the other's before light-brown eyes widened.
Being on a hill, the three had a panorama of the wildlife park.
It was a vast forest with several visible clearings, but one held the unmistakable sight of the cavern.
In the distance was the familiar glittering of the large river.
A warm summer breeze played with soft locks as Tsuna whispered in awe.
"Sugoi…!"
A light grin played on the dark brunette's lips before he tugged him and the redhead forward, "Come on!"
Excitement was evident.
"It's time to explore!"
They climbed the hills together.
They trekked through the forest together.
They went to the cave together.
They even held hands when they went inside of it!
He swallowed thickly as tears began to cloud over his eyes.
All he wanted to do...
"Wow!" Shouichi was in awe as green eyes ran over the curtain-like walls, "Flowstones!"
Two pairs of brown eyes blinked as each owner echoed, "Flowstones?"
"Yeah!" The redhead nodded without looking away, "I read in some books that they're caused by the building of minerals in water and that they can show when droughts happened long, long ago!"
"Heh~?" Li hummed as he looked over the designs on the wall, "So they're kind of like history books?"
Shouichi sweatdropped at the simile, "That's one way of putting it…?"
The dark brunette hummed once more before crossing his arms behind his head, "Well, I guess it beats the school's teaching."
Cue the sweatdrops from Tsuna and the annoyed sigh from Shouichi.
"Li-san…" The redhead deadpanned, "You need to lay off of the school."
Dark-brown eyes widened in mock-innocence.
"Datte~!" Li pouted while exaggeratedly puffing out his lips, "Gakkou wa tsumannai desu~!"
Shouichi dropped his head and sighed as Tsuna blinked and asked innocently, "Is it really?"
The dark brunette perked up as his eyes sparkled and opened his mouth, "YE-mmrph!"
Li blinked before pouting and grumbling through the hand.
Green eyes rolled upwards before the redhead shook his head.
A thought occurred as dark-brown eyes lit up.
Shouichi jumped and released his grip with wide eyes.
Li grinned cheekily, "Whoops. My tongue slipped."
A vein throbbed on the redhead before he waved his wetted hand around, "How did your tongue (of all parts) slip?"
Li merely flashed his canines in a wide grin, making the redhead sigh as Tsuna laughed softly.
Finally putting aside the annoyance, Shouichi turned around and stretched his arms as if to embrace his surroundings, "Anyway, let's explore!"
All he wanted to do was explore with his friends.
So, why was he the only one who got lost?
Was it his fault?
Drip.
The light brunette froze with wide eyes.
Drip.
Something cold and wet was plopping onto his cheek.
Drip.
Slowly, Tsuna looked upwards.
Light-brown eyes widened as their owner paled.
Up above, on the high ceiling of the cave, was a plethora of jagged dripstones.
All pointed hazardously at him.
He shut his eyes tightly as tears began to build.
It was, wasn't it?
"It's okay, Tsunayoshi-kun!" The redhead called out as he stepped around the.
"They're just stalactites! They're stable!"
Tsuna merely shook in response before tensing.
Crack.
Light-brown eyes widened as his heart thumped loudly in his ears.
Was that his imagination?
He began hyperventilating and took another step back.
"Tsuna?"
He only vaguely heard the dark brunette's worried call.
Crack!
Did it suddenly sound louder?
"Don't move!" Li shouted as he began to make his way past the stalagmites.
He tried to stop, he really did, but his weight suddenly tilted backwards.
CRACK!
'Eh…?'
First, he was weightless.
(Two pairs of eyes lost their shine and widened fearfully.)
Then, he plummeted.
"TSUNA/YOSHI-KUN!"
The light brunette bit harder on the bottom of his lips.
He should've paid attention to his surroundings.
If he had…
He tightened his grip.
If he had, then he wouldn't have fallen.
Without realizing it, the light brunette stopped.
The other paused in her walking and glanced backwards.
The smaller hand trembled in the other's grip.
Dark-brown eyes lost their shine in remembrance.
The stopping of his heart's beat.
The freezing of his insides.
The disappearance of confidence.
The feeling of emptiness within.
All he could do was watch when the brittle floor collapsed.
All he could see was the reflection of his own horror.
All he wanted to do was run towards him.
All he wanted to see was him by his side.
To reach him, he ran forward.
To grab him, he held out a hand.
To pull him out of the darkness…
He failed.
His movement was stopped by the fearful redhead.
His hand grabbed nothing, but air.
His best friend had fallen.
He had failed.
"TSUNA!"
Thin brows furrowed as their owner looked away with glossy dark-brown eyes.
Even now, when Tsuna was right besides her, her heart still thumped painfully.
Li clenched her jaws together as she continued to remember.
"No..." He had whispered, outreached hand touching nothing, "NO!"
Eye flashed as the dark brunette turned sharply to the wide-eyed redhead, "WHY DID YOU STOP ME?"
He had roared, baring his canines at the wrong person, "I COULD'VE REACHED HIM!"
"Th-That…" The redhead responded hoarsely, "You would've gotten hurt, Li-"
"WHAT DOES THAT MATTER?" He snapped, wrenching his arm away, "TSUNA'S IN DANGER SO WHY ARE YOU STOP-!"
"I KNOW!"
Li froze in mid-rant with wide eyes, staring at the shaking boy in front of him.
Aside from the dripping of solution, only heavy breathing was heard.
Red hair covered his eyes as Shouichi continued softly, "I know…"
Dark-brown eyes caught the slight shaking of the other's body.
"I know that Tsunayoshi-kun might be hurt…"
His voice came out as a soft whisper.
"I know that…"
He bit the bottom of his lips before teary green eyes met with wide brown ones.
"I KNOW THAT BUT I CAN'T HAVE YOU HURT TOO!"
Hands covering his pained eyes, Shouichi whimpered.
"What would I do then…?"
The gender-bender stayed silent before opening his mouth to retort.
"…"
But, found that he couldn't.
He looked away from his hurt friend and clenched his eyes shut.
(Poof!)
They barely registered the sudden transformation as Li's fists trembled by her side.
She released a shaky breath before dark-brown eyes slowly opened.
With silent resolution, Li stepped towards Shouichi.
Her arms wrapped around the redhead, bringing him close as he tensed.
Lips barely brushed against his ear as Li rasped lowly.
"Go…"
Green eyes widened in shock, fear and, most of all, worry.
Dark-brown eyes looked skywards, 'Shou… Ora wa… honto ni… gomen ne…'
The gender-bender then turned to look over the light brunette.
Soft sobs were heard from Tsuna's trembling body.
When he fell, he fell through a tunnel.
The rushing of wind.
The roughness of rocks.
The blinding light at the end.
They were all powerful, yet vague, in his mind.
And then, his senses were assaulted by the vast forest.
His guts churned again and again as his mind flashed through the memories.
Never again did he want to feel that way!
The pain...
The fear...
The loneliness...
Never again…!
Warmth engulfed his being.
Light-brown eyes snapped open and widened.
His voice trembled, sight blurred by unshed tears.
"Li…"
Light-brown eyes slowly drooped before finally closing.
He raised his hands and grabbed onto the other's dirtied shirt.
"Li…"
His grip tightened as his voice became a bare whisper.
A tear strayed down his cheek as he leaned closer to the warmth.
"Please don't leave me…"
The arms tightened around the younger boy, bringing him close.
A nuzzle against the light-brown hair reassured him of the reality.
"I won't..." She started hoarsely as she shifted slowly.
The dark brunette moved until her forehead rested against the other's.
Warm breaths mingled as they moved closer.
The tip of their noses touched gently.
"I won't leave you."
Her eyes closed.
Dakara to…
Was the silent afterword.
Omae wa ora no aibou desu.
(Extended Ending)
A hand shaded dark-brown eyes as they peered at the orange sky.
"Li-san! Tsunayoshi-kun!"
They shifted from above to across the horizon.
The hand waved tiredly as its owner smiled at the approaching redhead.
"Yo, Shou."
Shouichi stopped in front of the ruffled pair and panted a bit.
Green eyes looked over their dirtied appearance in worry.
The dark brunette softened at the pained expression before she ruffled the red hair.
"Daijoubu desu."
Shouichi hesitated at the answer as his gaze landed on the light brunette.
Tsuna was half-hidden from sight, still gripping tightly onto Li's shirt.
The redhead frowned to himself before looking sharply at the dark brunette.
The gender-bender stared back, unwavering, and brought a forefinger to her lips.
Shouichi bit the bottom of his lips before sighing and nodding in agreement.
We won't tell them.
The agreement was unanimous.
"Xiao Li~!" Came a familiar cry as a blur attached to the girl.
"I missed you~!" Kiyoshi sniffled and nuzzled Li, "You should've stayed with me~!"
The recipient of the affection twitched but did nothing more.
The older boy paused at having not been hit and blinked.
Grey eyes widened at the scruffy apparel, "L-Li! What happened-?"
He paused as he noticed Tsuna's similar condition.
Kiyoshi narrowed his eyes and steeled at the one clinging onto the youngest Sasaki.
The light brunette flinched at the look.
An arm whipped out as dark-brown eyes challenged grey ones.
Li stood defensively in front of her best friend.
From the side, Shouichi glanced worriedly between the two Sasaki members.
Kiyoshi frowned and looked at his sibling for a moment.
His grey eyes were calculating.
Finally, they closed and he sighed, relenting to the other's will.
"Ara?" Came the startled cry from behind the children, "Tsu-kun! Li-kun! Daijoubu desu ka?"
The gentle woman ran up to the scratched up children, kneeling in front of them.
Her hands gently brushed against the shallow cuts as her eyes looked on in concern.
Li blinked before her expression changed from distant to sheepish in a split second, "Hai desu~!"
She scratched the side of her face with a lopsided grin, "I tripped over some loose rocks and accidentally dragged Tsuna-Fish down with me."
"So that's it…" Nana pressed a hand against her pattering heart and sighed in relief, "When Shouichi-kun said that you were held up, we were worried…"
Li met eyes with the redhead as they remembered.
"Go…" The dark brunette had rasped in his ears, "Go and tell them: we'll be late."
The dark brunette snapped out of it and flashed a goofy grin, lightly knocking her forehead with a fist.
"Don't worry! I just didn't see them. It was like they jumped out at me, or something!"
A taller woman stepped forward from behind the kneeling one and raised an eyebrow, "Becoming an airhead, are you?"
Dark-brown eyes clashed with each other for a moment.
One pair determined, the other sharp.
The Sasaki females stared each other down for a moment.
Then, the latter narrowed before shifting to a casual expression.
Fang rubbed her youngest child's hair before stepping away, musing, "We should get back. Papa-san is waiting for us."
"Oh!" Nana startled as she paused in her cleaning off the cuts, "That's right! We should get back since it's getting late."
"Hai~!" Li chimed, still holding onto Tsuna's hand.
The women, now relaxed at finding the two, began to trek back to the distant campfires as the others followed.
Kiyoshi continued to fuss over his sister, but a swift kick to the older one's leg forced him to cry from a distance away.
Shouichi stuck close to the tousled duo, glancing back every so often.
The dark brunette walked casually while the lighter one never strayed from her side.
Green eyes glanced away to see the distancing three in front.
None saw the grasping hands tightened.
For a brief moment, the differently toned brown eyes met.
The fear… the pain… the loneliness...
A silent message was shared between their owners.
That'll be our secret, ne?
Author's Note:
:x
This chapter basically explained how Tsuna and Li got into their predicament and what happened after it.
It also ends the whole trip to Okinawa, so the next one will definitely be more light-hearted!
:3
But, that's all I'm saying since there's a preview at the bottom.
ALSO, THANK YOU FOR READING/REVIEWING/ETCETERA-ING THE JOURNAL OF MEMORIES~!
Loose Translation:
(1) Mama wa hidoi yo~! - Mama's so cruel~!
(2) Xiao Li no me gusta... - Xiao Li doesn't like me...
(3) Sugoi...! - Wow...!
(4) Datte~! - I can't~!
(5) Gakkou wa tsumannai desu~! - School really is boring~!
(6) Ora wa... honto ni... gomen ne... - I'm... really sorry...
(7) Dakara to... - Because...
(8) Omae wa ora no aibou desu. - You're my partner.
(9) Daijoubu desu. - We're okay.
(10) Daijoubu desu ka? - Are you okay?
(11) Hai desu~! - Yes~!
Preview:
It's the seventh of July and that means that the Star Festival has arrived!
There's excitement in the air, but Tsuna's feeling particularly worried that his wish won't come true.
Just what is his wish?
And what about Li's and Shouichi's?
Find out in the up and coming Event 23: Omae Wa Tanabata No Hoshi Da!