Chapter 23: Tsune's Adventures

(A/N: BECAUSE I NEED SOME RANDOM FILLER STUFF TO MAKE THIS LONGER!)

"Hey, Tsu-sama?"

"Hey, yeah?"

"You've never really told me much about what you did before I was born..."

"It's not really that interesting...just training."

"Yeah, but there has to be some memorable things, right? Like, how you met Mel-san!"

"Hmm...yeah, I guess I could tell you that."

~Flashback~

(In Cielo; 7 years old)

"You're such a weirdo! Can you hear me now, weirdo?"

"I'm sorry! It's not my fault!"

"It isyour fault, weirdo! Weirdo, weirdo!"

The group of 12 year old boys sang the word repeatedly. A seven year old Tsune was walking through the park. He heard the commotion, and walked over. "Hey."

The boys turned and looked at him. "What do you want freak? Have you come to help your weirdo friend? Maybe we can help you into the trash can, too."

The little red headed boy they were picking on looked out of the trash bin quickly. "No! Don't touch him! He's not a friend of mine, please! I'm your target, aren't I? Don't drag him in too!"

One boy hit him with a glass bottle. "Shut up!"

Tsune stepped forward. "Leave him be."

"What are you going to do about it, freak?"

He stepped forward again. "What did you call me?"

"Freak!"

"I'm not a freak!"

The boys were pushed back and the trash can fell over. The bullies got up and ran away. He walked up to the trash can. "Hey, are you okay?"

"Uh…yeah…This happens all the time."

He held a hand out for the boy to take. He took it and stood up. "What did you do?"

"Nothing big, just used their fear against them."

"No way! Who are you?"

"My name's Tsu. What about you?"

"I'm Mel. Are you some kind of superhero?"

"If I was, I couldn't tell you, could I?"

Mel smiled. "I guess not...I've never seen you around here before."

"I don't go to school. I'm home tutored."

"Oh…well, thanks for your help."

"What happened, if you don't mind me asking?"

Mel pulled a hearing aid from his ear. "I have a hearing deficiency…I didn't hear him well enough…I told him this, but he just made fun of me for it."

Tsune crossed his arms. "Do you not have anyone to advocate for you?"

"No. You're the first person to ever stand up to them."

"Stick with me then," he said and held his hand out. "You'll be safe with me."

"Thank you…"

They both sat on the top of the playground. "How come you're home schooled?"

"My mentor teaches me everything."

"But don't you ever want to meet other kids?"

"Eh…after what I've seen today with those kids, I definitely do not."

"I wish I could be home schooled."

Tsune looked around. "Okay…I'm going to tell you something, but you can't tell anyone."

"I promise I won't."

He let his defenses fall, and the flame on his forehead appeared. Mel watched him curiously. "Whoa! You are a superhero!"

"You can't tell anyone, okay?"

"I promise I won't!"

"I think we'll be great friends, Mel."

"Friends?"

"Well, yeah. You'll be my only friend."

"Okay, yeah…friends."

Mel was walking through the park while skipping school out of fear. He heard a cry. He started to run and stopped when he saw Tsune on the ground with smoke rising around him. "Tsu!"

He ran forward and knelt down.

"Mel? What are you doing here?"

"Don't worry about me, are you okay?"

TC walked forward, and the smoke dispersed. "Who are you?"

"He's my friend!" Tsune called out, and held a shaky arm out in front of Mel. "Don't touch him."

TC watched as the resolve in his eyes changed, and he knew that he would protect the little boy he called his "friend" at any cost necessary. "We are done today…Good job."

He let his arm collapse, and he laid back. He looked over at Mel, who was crying out of pure terror. "Hey, it's okay."

"Why did he hurt you?"

"He's my mentor. I won't ever learn if I don't fight. Being a superhero requires a lot of pain."

"But, why?"

Tsune closed his eyes. "My job is to learn all I can, and use it to teach my other self in another few years. This power…" He looked at his hands. "…The power we both will hold is going to save the world."

Mel was trembling. Tsune sat up and shook his head to get the dust and dirt out of it. "So, you see, I can't give up, or else the entire world will be destroyed…"

He looked over and gave a reassuring smile. "But don't worry, though. I'll protect you."

(Years later; 15 years old)

Mel was sitting in his backyard doing homework. He heard the gate open, and then a loud thud. He got up and walked to the corner of the house and peeked around the side. "Tsu!"

He ran forward and knelt on the ground to help his friend. "Tsu! Talk to me! Are you alright?"

Tsune coughed violently. There was blood soaking into the ground. "Dad!" Mel called out. "Dad!"

An older man ran out of the house. "What happened?"

"I don't know! He won't say anything!"

"Let's get him inside then."

Mel nodded.

They brought him inside and laid him on a cot. He coughed again, even more violent than before. Mel's father walked into the room carrying a flask. "What is that?"

"Medicine."

"He already thinks you're an Alchemist, are you really-"

"Going to help him? Yes."

Mel sighed. His dad sat on the edge of the cot and placed a hand on Tsune's forehead. He poured the liquid into his mouth. "Just swallow it," he instructed softly. "The pain will go away."

He swallowed it and opened his eyes slowly. "Tsu, what happened?"

"You remember…those jerks that used to pick on you? Yeah…we did a little…catching up."

"Why!"

"I could never forgive them."

"You're not invincible, Tsu! You can still get hurt!"

"I know…but it was worth it."

He tried to sit up, and took a sharp intake of breath. "Sh...it."

"Don't strain yourself too much, son….you're recovering."

"What did you do, old man?"

"I merely gave you some medicine…Nothing special."

"Tsu…You're an idiot."

"Sorry, Melly. I did what I had to do."

"That's a lie! You didn't have to do anything! You could have left it be…Then you wouldn't have shown up in my backyard coughing up blood after trying to get revenge on those jerks!"

He patted Mel's head and laughed. "Mel, it's not like it's your fault. They called me a freak. I can't forgive that, nor do they deserve to go on without feeling the slightest bit guilty about how they treated you. I'm sure they still don't, but now they have something to remember."

"What did you do to them, Tsu?"

"Well…I just recently learned how to freeze people…"

"You what!"

"I'm joking…I canfreeze things, though."

The red head sighed. "What did they get you with?"

"A broken beer bottle." He looked at Mel's father. "Thanks for the help, old man."

He got up slowly. "But I need to go…"

"You need additional treatment for those injuries, son."

"I'll be fine."

"He's right, Tsu…dad can help you."

He looked between both father and son and sighed.

"Don't touch me with that!"

"It's just a-"

"I said don't!"

"It's a needle, son. You can save the world, but you can't face a needle?"

"I hate the feeling of needles as they drive through my skin and into a vein and—OUCH!"

"See? Easy, right?"

"I hate you, so much…" He rubbed his arm where the needle was. He yawned. "What the...hell did you give me?"

"Something to put you to sleep so I can fix your wounds without you hollerin' and screamin'..."

He laid his head on the pillow. "Damn you..."

Mel patted Tsune's head, and he closed his eyes to fall asleep. The flame on his forehead disappeared. "Okay...time to get to work."

"Tsu...hey, Tsu...can you hear me?"

He opened his eyes slightly to look at his friend. "Good...How do you feel?"

"Like shit."

"It's a start..."

"What did he do to me?"

"What do you mean? He helped take care of your wound."

"I swear to you, Melly..." He looked around the room, and pulled Mel to his level. He brought his voice down to a whisper. "Your dad is an Alchemist...for real..."

"Tsu...you're on too much pain medication...my father is not an Alchemist, alright?"

"Are you absolutely sure? He used some weird ass potions or something..."

"He used regular medications on you."

"How'd he get them, hm?"

"He's a home doctor!"

"Alchemisssstt!"

Mel sighed. "He helped you...You can at least give him your gratitude..."

"Oh, always."

"I'm just glad you're alright."

Tsune looked at him, then turned his head. "I'm a lot stronger, you know...I won't be killed that easy."

"You're still human."

"Yeah..." He looked back at Mel. "Hey, Melly..."

"Why do you call me that?"

"Because it's fun..."

"Yeah, what?"

"If I were to die...I want you to chose what happens to my body."

"You're really talking loopy now!"

"You're my best friend...You always have the right answers, so I trust your judgement."

"O-okay...Do you plan on dying soon or something?"

"Hell no. I just wanted to be prepared for anything in my future."

"Amen to that...Hey, you hungry? I can go grab you something."

"Thanks, that sounds great."

~End of flashback~

"Oh, I see...I think that's nice."

"What?"

"That you treated Mel-san so nice..."

"He's still my best friend...I talk to him about everything...He was here the day CT took over your mind...it got to me too, but he stayed right by my side the entire time."

"Wow..."

"So how are things going with your girlfriend?"

"Good...she's always there after I get hurt...she takes care of me."

"Keep her close kid..I'm telling you."

"Definitely..."

"You know...I caught a glimpse of a one of your dreams last night, and that shit was-"

"EH..."

"You're not embarrassed by that, are you? It's just male nature."

"KT doesn't help it at all..."

"Do you know how many times I tried to get with her? Even after you were born, I would see her occasionally...and DAMN..."

"Eh..."

"I'm sorry. It will be okay."

"Thanks...I appreciate that."

(December 25th, 2014)

The air was chilly as Tsuna stepped onto the sidewalk of the park. The playground in the distance was deserted, no children romping through the mud. Lambo raced up to him. "Can I go play now?"

"Sure, just don't get too dirty."

"Ha-ha!" He ran off. Tsuna, who was clad in new jeans and new boots, walked slowly towards the excited child. He watched him slip slightly. "Be careful! I won't be able to do much with my handicap..." ~Thanks TC...~

-You're welcome!-

His wrist was held in place with a brace, subject of the quarrel he had with TC only days before. He watched the little cow child slide down a twisty slide, then run up the stairs to do it all again. "Is there anything you want to do while you're here, Lambo?"

"Yeah! I have lots to do. I can slide down the slides, then swing on the swings, play hide-n-seek, and eat the candy you brought for me!"

Tsuna laughed and patted the backpack on his back. "I wasn't secretive enough was I?"

"Nope..." He walked up to him. "But that's okay...I can pretend."

"You can now? So, what do you want to do first? There's a bunch of exercise spots we can run through."

"Yeah! Let's go!" He darted off on a head start. "Catch me if you can, Tsuna!"

"Just stop at the first one! I'll catch up!"

"Nyahahaha!"

He jogged the distance between them. "Okay...it says all you have to do is lift up your feet while you're sitting down. Easy enough, right?"

"Lambo-san can do anything!" He positioned himself on a bench and did as the thing instructed. "See?"

"I do. That's very good."

"I'm bored...can we play hide-n-seek?"

"But we just started..."

Lambo ran from the spot towards the playground. "HIDE-N-SEEK TSUNA!"

Tsuna sighed. "Fine..." He heard running footsteps from behind. He turned fast, only to be tackled by Habira, who was holding a gift bag. "Merry Christmas, Tsuna-kun!"

He smiled. "Well, Merry Christmas to you too..." He sat up. "Whatcha got there?"

"Your present!"

"TSUNA! I WANNA PLAY!"

"That's right, you have a babysitting job today...I'm sorry."

"No problem...He's a great kid. Lambo! Come over here!"

"Coming!" And like lightning he appeared. Habira smiled, and then stood up. "You're Lambo...I've heard about you before. You go to the elementary school my grandmother works at...Mrs. Mizuk. She said you are very intelligent."

"Thanks. You're Tsuna's girlfriend! Aren't you a little too pretty to be with someone like him?"

Tsuna's face beaded with sweat. "Thanks, Lambo."

She laughed. "You're so funny...how old are you?"

"I'm 6 years old. I'm a Second year at Namimori Elementary. Tsuna-san is watching me today. He's being paid 20 bucks."

"He's lucky; his family is the only family I'll do this for. So many mothers ask me to baby-sit their kids...I have other responsibilities, you know like...saving the world?"

She giggled. "I know...I'm glad you're giving your arm a rest...you shouldn't strain it too much, or at all even."

Lambo tugged on Tsuna's hair. "Come on, Tsuna! I want to play!"

"Hey, watch the hair...that hurts..." He rubbed his head.

"Get up!"

Habira put a hand out for him to take. He grabbed it and hoisted himself up. "Thank you...I will be back in a flash, alright? Just a quick round of this game..."

She smiled. "I'll be waiting..." She kissed him lightly. "Now go have fun..."

He ran after Lambo. "What am I counting to?"

"30! READY...GO!"

"1...2...3...4...5..." Lambo climbed the steps of the playground. He struggled to get into the covered slide quietly, and stay put. "28...29...30! Ready or not, here I come..." He quietly walked to the opening of the slide, and started to climb up. He took Lambo's foot while he tried to escape. "I found you!"

He jerked his foot away, and Tsuna went tumbling out of the slide. He landed on his back, his head spinning. Lambo appeared above him. "Sorry, Tsuna..."

Habira was laughing as she walked over. "Are you alright?"

"Y-yeah...just dizzy..."

She took his good arm and lifted him up, brushed the dirt and mulch off his back and picked it from his hair. "You win, Tsuna...Can I have a piece of candy now?"

"Sure...let's sit down..." They all walked over to a pavilion, and sat at a table. Tsuna pulled some Tootsie Rolls from his bag. "Here, knock yourself out."

Lambo unwrapped one and popped it into his mouth. "Here, Tsuna-kun...your gift..."

He smiled and took the bag. He pulled out a box wrapped with tissue paper. He unwrapped it all, and inside the box was a home knitted sweater, with alternating blue and orange stripes. "Seeing as you get so cold in the winter, I asked grandmother to make you a scarf...I hope you like it."

"I do..." He wrapped it around his neck. "It's warm and cozy...Thank you...let granny know I thank her too..." He kissed her rosy cheek. "I'll be forever warm..."

"Are you two going to get married?"

Tsuna choked on his own saliva. He started to cough. "Uh-um...We're only 14, Lambo..."

"So? You can think ahead, right?"

Habira blushed. Tsuna shook his off. "I don't know Lambo...we have to finish school first."

"So, you've thought about it?" he asked. Tsuna couldn't shake the blush he'd developed.

"Well...yeah...I-I mean...I really love her...I don't think I can see myself living my life with anyone else..."

A siren went off down the street, and Tsuna's iPhone beeped its signal. He gave a sigh. "I really don't want to..."

"I'm sure you can tell Mr. TC to handle it, right?"

~TC...?~

-I'll sprain your other wrist if you don't get your ass down here...it's a house fire, and there are children inside.-

~Ugh...~ "Nope...it's a house fire...Come with me, though...Watch me in action. I'll fly us." He reached into his bag and grabbed a Pepsi and his gloves. He threw the bag on his back, and pulled the gloves on. He chugged the soda. Flames ignited from his forehead and his hands. "Habira, get on my back...I'll carry Lambo in my arms..."

He let Lambo jump into his arms, and Habira jumped on his back. "Hold on..." He took off, the flames propelling his flight. It wasn't long before he could see and then smell the burning house. He lowered them to the road out front of the house with the rest of the crowd. "I gotta go do my Hero thing...Be right back!" He handed Habira the scarf, then rocketed off into the house. -Top floor, first bedroom closet. Burglars started the fire. The kids were hiding from them, and the door got barred.-

~Got it...~ He tried to land on the floor, but it crumbled beneath him. "Damnit...too weak..." He hovered above the ground. Firefighters ran up the steps. "Wait! Stop there! The floor is weak...I'll get the children, just stop this fire!"

"Got it!" They had a hose and started to spray the burning walls. Tsuna flew to the first bedroom and kicked down the door. The floor was sturdy enough to walk on. He grabbed the metal bar, which had started to melt under the heat. He pulled open the closet door. Two little girls were huddled in the corner. "It's alright...you can come with me...I'll get you out of here..." The wall where the door was, crumbled and fell, along with most of the floor. He jumped in and grabbed them before they fell with it. The outside walls collapsed. He looked around for a way of exit before they would all be crushed, but didn't find it soon enough. Outside the firefighters continued to spray, but with less hope for survival as they stared at the remains of the three story apartment. Habira held Lambo from running through the crowd. She was in tears, holding him very tight. "Where's Tsuna? Did he save the day?"

A light appeared through cracks in the rubble, and then a blast blew away a giant hole. Tsuna stood up, the little girls in his arms. He jumped from the wreckage, and set them down. They ran up to their father. Habira and Lambo ran up to him. "Wow! You're awesome, Tsuna!"

He coughed. "Th-thanks..." His face was bloody, as were his arms and chest. The father walked over. "Thank you so much...I was so scared when I got a call that my girls were trapped..."

"All in a day's work, sir..." His knee gave out, and he crashed to the floor. "Ouch..." Habira knelt next to him. Lambo went to talk to the little girls. A medic ran over. "Tsuna-kun..."

He tried to sit up, one eye closed. "Sorry about that...Heh...I couldn't find the escape fast enough."

"Don't joke like that! You're really hurt!"

"Tsu-sama is taking most of the damage...but I do believe my arm is now broken instead of sprained."

She hugged him. "I've thought about it too...having a life together...and as much as it scares me that you'd be hurt like this all the time...I want to be there to mend your wounds, and help you recover...I love you..."

He hugged her back. "I love you too..." He closed his eyes, and passed out in her arms.

"Tsuna...Tsuna...Tsuna! Hey, kid, wake up!"

He jolted awake. "Wha-what?" He blinked away blindness. "Tsu-sama..."
Tsune breathed a sigh of relief. "Have you not learned anything?"

"I'm sorry...I wasn't thinking..."

"That's obvious..." He grabbed him in a hug. "Please, I know I've asked you a million times before, but please be careful..."

"I know..."

TC appeared in the room. He grabbed Tsuna by the shirt. "What have I told you? You don't fucking HESITATE!" He tossed him against a wall. Tsune cringed. TC stalked up to him fast, and grabbed him again. "DIDN'T I?"

"Y-yes!" He coughed and blood trickled down his chin. "Yes, you told me! I'm sorry!"

He was hit in the face backhanded. "I'm sorry doesn't cut it, Tsunayoshi! Your stupidity almost cost your life, and the life of two innocent children! Did you even realize that?"

Tsuna was breathing heavy. "I...-" He was cut off by another slap to the face. Tsune stepped forward.

"TC..."

"Stand down...this is his problem, not yours!" He looked from one half to the other. "And you realize, Tsunayoshi, that your other half is not here to absorb your injuries! You're hurting him as much as you're hurting yourself! I don't even fucking care what made you hesitate, but if you ever do it again, so help me, I will beat the living SHIT out of you. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"

Tsuna shook in TC's grip. "Yes..."

"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"

"Yes!" Tsuna cried.

"Good!" He dropped him. Tsuna hunched forward and tried to hold down his nausea. "Don't comfort him, Tsu-senpai...he's a man, he'll live."

Tsune looked away. "Understood..."

TC disappeared in a flash. Tsune looked at Tsuna. "Tsuna..."

Tsuna's attempts at holding back his stomach failed, the floor was stained blood red. He coughed violently in between breaths. Tears left his eyes non-stop. He shook, and sobbed, and coughed. He wiped his mouth, and then placed the bloody hand against the wall in an attempt to stand. He succeeded, and walked forward until he had reached the front door. He opened it and walked outside into a storm. "Tsuna..."

He collapsed on the sidewalk. He let the water soak his clothes and his hair. He coughed, and then looked up at the dark sky. Tsune couldn't hold back. He ran outside and grabbed Tsuna, sitting on his knees beside him. "I'm sorry I didn't stop him, Tsuna..."

"Don't be sorry..." He looked at him with one eye. "He would have gone after you too in his rage...it was better that you stayed out of it..."

"Why...why did you hesitate...?"

"I don't know...I blanked out...I've had so much on my mind..." He coughed. Lightning lit up the sky, and a boom of thunder followed. Tsuna got up, and kept his face up to the sky. Tsune watched him with curious eyes. He lost all strength and fell backwards, but never hit the ground.

He awoke in the hospital. There were beeps of the monitor as he came to. It was dark in the room; the clock said 1:16 AM. He sighed. The door opened, and someone walked into the room. When the person was closer, he realized it was just KT. He closed his eyes. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine..."

"What did he do...what did he do to you..."

His body shivered. She punched the wall. "He's gone too far..."

"Don't blame him..."

"Then who can I blame? It wasn't your fault! And you don't deserve to be brutally beaten for it either!"

He let her calm down before he spoke again. "I'm sorry, KT...I should have been more careful..."

She sat on the bed next to him and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm just glad you're okay..."

"Yeah...so am I...is Lambo alright? I was supposed to be with him tonight."

"He's fine...he's asleep in the waiting room with Habira. She was so scared...she called me in tears. Lambo wouldn't stop talking about how cool you are." She smiled. "You've got someone looking up to you now."

"Great...no pressure..." He rolled his eyes. "What about the people who lived in the apartments?"

"They came by, the little girls you saved wrote you a card. You're Namimori's own Captain America..." She chuckled. "Just rest for now...I'll be back in the morning.."

"Okay..." He closed his eyes. "Oh, wait...KT..."

She stopped at the door. "Yeah?"

"She was the reason I hesitated..."

"I figured...Goodnight."

"You too..."

She walked out and closed the door behind her, leaving him in complete darkness and quiet.