Chapter 9: And so it Starts!

Tsuna awoke in Cielo. He sat up and looked at Tsune, who was asleep at his desk. "Tsu-sama..." He got up and walked quietly up to him. "Tsu-sama?"

His other opened one eye and looked at him, then lifted his head up. "Tsuna," he said, yawning. He scratched the back of his head. "I must have fallen asleep while I was reading..." He closed the book, then removed the glasses from his face. "Are you feeling alright, kid?"

Tsuna nodded, then smiled. "Your eyes are blue..."

Tsune returned his smile. "Yeah...I'm more human when I sleep. I'm not fully awake yet..." He stood up and stretched. "Time for coffee...you want anything?" he asked looking over with one eye. The younger shook his head, and watched as the older walked past. He followed him down a flight of stairs and into his kitchen. "May I ask you a question?" Tsuna asked as he sat in a chair. Tsune get a tea pot on the stove. "Anything."

"Er..." He hesitated. "Why is your house so big?"

His other stared sadly at the stove as he scooped coffee into the pot. "I used to have a family...you may think that because I'm your alternate, we don't live as separate entities. Well, I've been 20 for 13 years. I was born before you were even in existence. Though we are two parts of a whole, what happens in my life never happens in yours , and vice versa."

"But you got hurt when I did..."

"I absorbed the damage done to you. If I hadn't, you wouldn't be alive. I have that choice, but it wouldn't have effected me."

"Oh..."

"I had two children, and a wife...but about the time you turned 7, they died in an accident."

Something clicked in Tsuna's mind. "The single mother and her twins! I remember that, it was all over the news. You've been alone here for 6 years..."

Tsune grabbed a cup from a cabinet. "Not entirely...I've had you, I watched you grow up."

"That's not the same!" Tsuna looked at his hands. Tsune walked over with the cup and the pot. "Same or not, I am content with my life. I can't change what has already happened."

Tsuna looked up at him. "Lies."

The remark prompted a look of shock from his alternate. "You're lying...my mom used to say the same thing. How can you be content in life when things like this happen so fast."

Tsune frowned and stared down at the table. Tsuna extended his arm across, his hand open. "I won't take being a replacement for your lost family, but I can help you through it."

He took his hand, and smiled. "You're all I've got, kid."

"You always have your memories, Tsu-sama."

He saw a tear glisten on Tsune's cheek. He rose, then hugged him from behind. "I'll be here for you like you're here for me..."

Tsuna woke up in bed, tears running down his own face. He smiled, then wiped them away. He jumped out of bed and walked into the living room where KT was talking to TC. "Ah, Tsunayoshi! You're awake."

He gave a short yawn. "Yeah...what's going on?"

"You, lucky dog, get to start training today! Congrats!"

He blinked. "W-what? Today! But-but..."

"Don't worry, you're not fighting anyone. You need to learn to control keeping your own form when you go into Hyper Mode."

"I don't have any choice, do I?"

"Nope."

Tsuna closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, then let it out slowly. He reopened his eyes. "Then let's do this."

KT and TC exchanged glances. -His resolve...it's astonishing...where did it come from?-

I don't know...

"Alright Tsunayoshi. You learned yesterday what you need to do to enter Hyper Mode. But you need to learn control. By the end of this lesson, Tsu-senpai should not show up."

Tsuna nodded. Cans of Pepsi were lined up on a table. He raised his hand "Question!"

"What?"

"Why Pepsi?"

TC's eye twitched. "Because Santa already has dibs on Coke, okay?"

"Oh, okay...but-"

TC clamped his hand over Tsuna's mouth. "No more questions. Just...listen."

"Yes sir..."

"Good, now...the faster you chug, the faster you are to change over."

"Is it just Pepsi? Or does it work with the company products?"

"All Pepsi-cola soda products."

"Okay."

TC handed him a can. "You have a few seconds between the last drop and the change. In that time you must concentrate in order to keep your form. Understood?"

"Mhm."

"Try. I will not penalize you for your first."

Tsuna popped the tab. He downed the drink, but didn't concentrate within the time window. Tsune stood there laughing. "Come on, TC. You shouldn't expect so much. He's just a kid."

"So were you."

"Yeah, but there is a difference between being born with a flame on your forehead, and being born without."

"Fair enough. Bring him back, I have a feeling this is going to be a long day."

They tried for hours to perfect his changing process. Then finally, they hit the nail on the head. The tattoo on Tsuna's back started to glow, and a flame ignited on his forehead. He felt calm, contradictory to being in a "Hyper" state. "From now on, Tsunayoshi, you will not switch forms with Tsu-senpai. You have awakened yourself."

Tsuna sat on the couch back at home deep in thought. ~I've awakened myself? What's that supposed to mean?~

~"He meant you awakened your hidden power, who you're meant to be."~

KT sat next to him. "You're going to find that who your are right now is going to change drastically. I don't like it one bit, but you're the only one who can save the world."

"How am I going to save the world? Isn't the bad guy here, I don't know, a god? He's so much stronger than I am!"

There was a knock on the door. KT patted his shoulder and walked away. ~"Don't doubt yourself, Tsuna. The power that has been put into your hands is stronger than you realize. You won't be fighting alone, either. TC has as much of a part in this as you do."~

~I still don't understand...~

~"I promise I'll explain as much as I can later, but you've got company. Try to be a kid for a little while longer, okay?"~

"Tsuna! Come here!"

"Coming!" ~I'll try...~

He ran to the door. Standing there was an older man with silver hair and gray eyes. He smiled, remembering the face well. "Wow. you've grown kid."

"Mr. Gokudera!"

"I would have dropped in sooner, but I had some things to deal with. How are you doing? Lord knows I almost shot the bastards that let this happen to you."

Tsuna scratched his cheek. "Heh...well, I'm okay now."

"It's been like...7 years since I saw you, kid..." Same feeling of intense power, but more concentrated now...

KT gestured on. "Let's talk in the living room." Gokudera stared on as he walked, but couldn't help notice a section of Tsuna's tattoo that lay on his neck, above his shirt collar. He grabbed Tsuna's arm. "Your tattoo..." Tsuna yelped in surprise. "It's an array..." The source of his concentrated power! He let go and stepped back. "You...you're the one..." He knelt on one knee. "You're the tenth."

Tsuna blinked. "T-tenth? Tenth of what?"

Gokudera rolled his sleeve up. Engraved on his arm was the number nine in roman numerals. "There are ten of us that have been chosen to protect the world. You...I knew you had power, but...ACK! It was so obvious!"

A numeral exposed itself on KT's arm too: I. "I was the first to be chosen."

An "X" appeared on the palm of Tsuna's hand, glowing a bright orange. The tattoo was glowing as well. KT and Gokudera's numerals resonated with his, hers an earthly green, his red like blood. "The color symbolizes the attribute you use. Mine is Storm and yours is Sky."

"What about KT's?"

"I haven't been told of all the Guardians...so I don't know." He stood. "We all have the duty of protecting you, Tenth, thus, we protect the world as well."

"Y-you don't have to call me 'tenth'..."

"I do! You're practically my boss! I'm you're right hand man! You would think that number 1 would be the boss, but the system is backwards."

Tsuna sat on the couch. "S-so...there are seven other people out there who have the job to protect me, and protect the world?"

KT took a seat beside him. "Mhm...they're the people you'd least expect. Just relax, okay? Let it unfold as it does."

Tsuna stared at his alternate. "Why would he give this power to me?"

"Because you were planned to have a bad life, and that made you the prime candidate."

"Does that mean there are more kids out there like me?"

"There were...but CT managed to destroy them all. One of my children were, but you know how that turned out. You're the only one left. It's good that TC got to you first."

Tsuna nodded. "I'm hungry...I want a cookie."

"I don't have a cookie."

"A cracker?"

"No..."

"What about a taco!"

"W-what? No. I don't have any of that."

"But I want one!"

"I can't help you."

"Mean, mean, Tsu-sama. You won't give me a cookie, cracker, or a taco."

"I told you, I don't-" He paused when he saw the smirk snake across Tsuna's face. "You...Tsuna!"

He got up and ran, looking behind him. "I'm sorry, Tsu-sama, but I had to!" He turned to face forward, and stopped. Tsune stood in front of him with a smirk of his own. "H-how...?"

"Magic."

Tsuna laughed, and tried to run, but got caught in a tight hug by his other. "Let-let me go!"

"Never, muahahaha."

He relaxed, knowing resistance was futile. "Tsu-sama...can you tell me their names and what they were like?"

"My wife's name was Hana...she was beautiful in every way. Her smile could light up the night sky, but there was always something sad in her eyes...she never did tell me."

"What about the twins?"

"Destiny and Micheal. Des was a candidate, and she was very smart and very creative...her brother was just like her that way...I was blessed with two healthy and happy children and a loving, devoted wife. I do miss them, very much. I used to ask why they had to be taken from me...I never got an answer."

Tsuna turned quickly and hugged him. "They love you, Tsu-sama...love is like a cycle, it never ends...no matter where you are or what you do...they won't ever stop loving you..."

Tsune smiled. "Thank you, Tsuna...once again, you're right." Tsuna smiled up at him.

~Flashback~

"Papa! Papa look at me!" Micheal ran down the stairs. He was wearing a solid navy polo and khaki pants. "We're getting our pictures done at school today! Mommy said all the girls are going to be staring at me."

Tsune laughed and ruffled his son's hair. "You'll knock 'em dead, Mike."

"Daddy!" Destiny flew down the steps, then leaped into her father's arms. "Isn't it pretty, daddy? It used to be mama's!"

"Speaking of, where is your mother?"

"Here! I'm just finishing some laundry." A head poked around a corner. Hana walked in carrying a basket full of clothes. He kissed her forehead. "Do you want me to take them to school, Hana?"

"No, it's alright." She set the basket down. "Pile into the car kids, I'll be right out."

Mike grabbed his backpack. "Bye papa!"

Destiny kissed his cheek, then jumped from his arms. "Bye daddy. See you later!"

"Goodbye."

He sat reading the paper while drinking his coffee. The house phone rang. "Hello?"

"Tsu! Tsu, thank god you picked up."

"What is it, Melly, I've got work to do..."

"Your wife...the kids..."

"Speak, Melly."

"They were in a car accident!"

His mug dropped from his grip and shattered. "W-what!"

"They swerved off the road, but there was nothing at the scene that proved a verdict! The car is off in a deep ditch!"

"Where, Melly! Where!"

"By the general store..."

Tsune dropped the phone and ran out the front door. "Tsu...Tsu!"

He flew himself to the scene, police cars and ambulances were parked, creating a parameter. A crane was also stationed next to the ditch. He landed and ran up beside Melly. Down the side he could see the car. "There's no way they could have made it, Tsu...I'm sorry..."

Tears ran down his face, he fell to knees in anguish. "Why...why her? Why them! Why, why, why!"

~End Flashback~