QVR: Tsuna has a new set of friends, namely Gokudera and Yamamoto, and cannot hold his spiked drink. Reborn needs an answer, but it'll have to wait until later. Emna hates his fate, but he must accept it. Moving along…

Chapter Four: Both Magic and Miracles Exist

"Looking back, I still didn't know anything. Neither the meaning of the miracle that I wished for, nor what it would cost to me."

Tsuna has always hated Snow White. Not just the princess but the whole entire story in general. But yes, she is his least favorite Disney princess. She was just so… annoying.

It was also after reading the tale that his mother began to flip out. In a way that only his mother could.

He had to admit though, what really creeped him out the most was the Magic Mirror. Very few people know this, but Tsuna has never seen a mirror in real life. He never used one; his mother had banned them from the house. There weren't any in his house that he was aware of, except perhaps for in his mother's room, which he was forbidden to enter anyway. She was a woman after all, and appearances matter to them. She requested that when he goes to the Nurse's Office that there be no mirrors in his presence, and considering the circumstances it was done. So no mirrors for Tsuna.

It's not like it mattered anyway. There were so many glass windows in his house that Tsuna could see his reflection from there. The various windows in Tsuna's room reflected that.

Besides, windows were also portals to other places, one that a person could actually see into. Unlike mirrors, where you can only see what's reflected. At least, that's what he was told that mirrors do. Not that he would actually know.

So Tsuna was very curious when he found himself in a sealed white room with only a mirror inside. He approached the mirror slowly, turning to observe his surroundings and finding nothing else there. Eventually, he found himself blinking at himself. He stared at his reflection, who stared back. Every move he made, his replica did the same, in a mirrored effect of course. Which was slightly strange, but what did Tsuna know, he didn't know how mirrors actually worked save for talking faces telling queens how pretty and fair they were across the land.

Why not? He smiled, amused at his planned antics. He cleared his throat and proclaimed, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all?"

His little giggles of laughter were cut short.

"You, of course."

Tsuna widened his eyes as his reflection stopped mirroring his movements as it replied to the original, smiling widely. The image grew larger and Tsuna stepped back just as it grabbed the frames of the mirror. That sound Tsuna made was a sound of sheer horror as Tsuna's reflection stepped out of the glass and into the white room, adding an additional person into the otherwise void room.

"W-what?" Tsuna stepped back slowly, scared. He started to back away slowly as the reflection approached him, causing for him to trip on his feet. He fell to the ground, landing on his behind, and began to tremble in fear.

His double gave him a small frown, placing its finger over its lips. "What's wrong, Tsuna? Don't you remember me?"

Don't forget.

A wave of pain flashed over Tsuna's head as he staggered back, about to fall as he clutched the right side of his face. His reflection caught him before he hit the floor, cradling him carefully as he whimpered in pain.

"Shhh." Tsuna's replica gently brushed the hair away from Tsuna's eyes, closed shut. It ran his fingers through his hair, murmuring, "It was my fault, I was too careless." His fingers moved down to his right eye, gently caressing it, coaxing for him to open it. Hesitantly, Tsuna complied and noticed that his reflection had mandarin garnet in contrast to his chocolate diamonds. It kissed Tsuna's eye, directly on his cornea before grazing its tongue on it, causing for the boy to shiver, before it moved to whisper in his ear, "But I'll fix it. Just let me handle it, and you will be fine."

Tsuna gasped, bolting right up in bed, covered in sweat. He placed his left hand over his eye, feeling a slimy feeling over it. Take calming breaths, calming breaths. What the heck was that?

A knock on his bedroom door made him jump. "Tsu-kun, are you going to school?"

Best not to worry about it. "Y-yes please!"

In Tsuna's opinion, his mother was the greatest chief in the world. He savored the warm buttermilk pancake in his mouth. "Om nom nom," he said, stuffing his face. His mother smiled at her son, too preoccupied to his meal to pay any attention to it, and it faltered slightly as she turned to the door, when their doorbell promptly rang.

"I'll get it, Tsu-kun," Nana said, getting up from the table to answer it. Tsuna paid it no mind, too busy eating. Hmm, it was strange – he's never been so hungry for food after a night's rest.

"Tsu-kun, look who it is!"

Tsuna looked up from his breakfast with a bit of pancake sticking out to find Byakuran, smiling wide and waving next to his mother, who escorted him inside.

He dropped his fork, appetite suddenly gone.

But Millefoire-san always told us to stay away, told everyone to stay away from you.

"Byakuran… san."

"Tsu-chan, good morning! Have you heard the news?" he asked, taking his place next to the brunet. "There was a murder last night."

Tsuna widened his eyes, jerking back to face his friend. "W-what? W-who was it? Was it someone we know?"

He lowered himself into Tsuna's ear, whispering, "Sho-chan."

There was a moment of shock as Byakuran pulled back, smiling as Tsuna choked on his breakfast.

He managed to get out, "W-what?"

Irie-san... is dead? He was killed?

How could Byakuran be so cheerful?

Byakuran paid him no mind as he pulled him up from his chair. "I hope you don't mind, Nana-chan, if I walk Tsu-chan to school today? It's been very dangerous these past few days."

She nodded. "Perfectly fine, Byaku-chan, perfectly fine. But Tsu-kun, are you done eating?"

He could no longer eat even if he wanted to. He nodded numbly as Byakuran exclaimed, "Great! Bye Nana-chan! I'll return him safely!" and dragged him out of the kitchen. He grabbed his book bag along the way as Tsuna was unable to in his state. He gently and slowly placed his shoes on Tsuna's feet, who just let him do as he wanted and pulled him outside to go to school.

It was strange, usually Shoichi would be talking right now, countering Byakuran's childishness. Sure he wasn't there yesterday, but that was only once a week. Now it would be forever.

"Tsu-chan," Byakuran said, linking his fingers with the brunet's, "Don't be so down."

"I-Irie-san..." Tsuna whimpered out, wanting to cry.

How could he suddenly be gone from this world? How? He was perfectly healthy and had a bright future in front of him. He had already received a scholarship for his advances in science and had his life set out to be a brilliant man as the prodigy that he was.

He was someone that actually had a reason for living.

"Tsu-chan, don't think that. Sho-chan never had as much value as you," Byakuran broke into his thoughts, staring directly into his eyes with only a few inches of space in between. Tsuna widened his eyes and tried to jerk back, but Byakuran's tight grip wouldn't let him. "Hie!"

"Tsu-chan, you need to be careful, there are dangerous people around," Byakuran murmured as he pushed himself closer to Tsuna, blocking him from view to certain people. "After all, it was Rokudo Mukuro who killed Sho-chan."

Tsuna's mind grew blank at that revelation.

"Millefoire," Gokudera growled, causing for Tsuna to jump slightly and move forward to peek over and see the honor delinquent. Right behind him was the baseball star, who was not smiling and was actually looking quite mad. "Release Juudaime."

"Gokudera, what's the sudden interest? As far as I knew, you've always hated Tsu-chan," Byakuran replied, moving to block Tsuna from seeing anything at all.

"Shut up. I should have suspected when you warned everyone to stay away from Juudaime. I was too foolish and distracted with the other failure." He made a reach for Tsuna, but Byakuran quickly dashed to block him from doing so.

"Don't you remember, Tsu-chan?" Byakuran whispered in Tsuna's ear, "That Gokudera was one of the many people that teased you as a child?" Byakuran's voice had an eerie tone to it, but Tsuna found himself captivated by it. An image of himself being kicked in the face as a child by faceless people was revealed to be Gokudera sneering among them. He found himself dimly nodding at whatever his friend said, tears streaming down his eyes at the memory.

Gokudera bit his lip as Yamamoto countered, "What do you mean, Millefoire-san? Hayato only came into our class just a few months ago! How could he have teased Tsuna as a child?"

Tsuna blinked. Yamamoto was right. Gokudera only transferred into their class a few months ago. But then who was that child? His head started to hurt. He groaned, clutching his head as fatigue started to come back to him. Byakuran turned to him, eyes wide as he held Tsuna steadily. "Be careful, Tsu-chan. You went to bed late last night, didn't you? Talking to Kozato and Reborn as well as these two?"

The brunet froze as Byakuran smiled. "Don't worry, I forgive you. But you shouldn't listen to any of these liars, Tsu-chan. They're going to hurt you at this rate." He gently took hold of Tsuna's waist and picked him up bridal style. He ignored the yells of the two classmates coming from behind them as he carried Tsuna to school, who had closed his eyes.

He wouldn't mind taking a nap right now.

"Tsunayoshi, Tsuna, you need to be careful. Things are moving much faster now."

Four year old Tsuna looked up from his seat of pretzel legs and tilted his head at his older reflection, who was smiling sadly at him in reply as he ran his fingers through his sienna hair.

Odd, why was he four? And his reflection… he was pretty sure that he had brown hair not blond.

And since when was his eyes mandarin garnet?

"Do I know you?" he asked in a childish tone, giant doe eyes wide in confusion. It came to him. "Am I… you?"

His older self that yet wasn't him at the same time choked up. Tears started to stream down his eyes as he cried, "I am so very sorry, Tsuna."

"Don't worry," Tsuna heard himself say, "I'll make sure to be more cautious."

And back he was at the Nurse's Office. It was to be expected. After all, as sickly as he was he was not to be disturbed if he was sleeping. He was a special case, and while Tsuna hated special treatment it was given to him regardless.

Dang, now he missed Spanner's lecture. Not that he was really complaining, if anything it was a welcomed thing. He really didn't want to listen to tales of random tidbit facts that would not be on his tests anyway.

Actually, maybe it would have been nice; a nice distraction from what was going on and perhaps a sense of normalcy to return. Again, an illusion of course, but it was still welcomed regardless.

"Herbivore."

Tsuna widened his eyes as he turned towards the window to see Hibari Kyoya leaning by the window, looking as if he's been waiting there for a while. Of anyone of Namimori Middle School, he was the one who followed the rules to the wire. Usually. He narrowed his eyes, and Tsuna could see the small glint that it held. "I can smell him off you, the omnivore. Is he here?"

Oh, they're back to this again? It's been a while. Tsuna sighed. "As always, Hibari-san, I have no idea what you're talking about. Who is this 'omnivore' of which you speak of?"

Hibari refers to Tsuna as a 'herbivore', considered himself and begrudgingly Byakuran 'carnivores', but occasionally asked Tsuna about the whereabouts for a certain 'omnivore'. No other names were categorized or mentioned. Not that Tsuna had an answer to the question, as he didn't know who he was talking about.

But that 'smelling' thing, that was new.

Hibari tsked. "So he's still away? Very well. I can tell that it won't be for long. He'll know where to find me. Tell the baby that he has no control over me. Also, I don't like you hanging out with the other herbivores. Desist that immediately." Before Tsuna could reply, he jumped out of the window, making Tsuna widen his eyes, but he sighed. After all, he was used to this by now.

"Hmph. I know that."

Tsuna turned to see Reborn playing with a syringe needle. He swayed it back and forth, watching the liquid obey the forces of gravity as it flowed to where it was carried down to. "Only you can control him, Tsuna." He jumped off the table and walked over to Tsuna, still fiddling with the needle. He held it over his eyes and looked at Tsuna through the transparent glass. "Dame-Tsuna, why are you still with Byakuran? Did you already forget what I told you?"

Tsuna blinked, edging slightly away from the tip of Reborn's needle. "I-I don't know what you mean, Reborn." He didn't feel that there was a need for an honorific, as if it wasn't necessary. "This is only the third time we've spoken."

Reborn frowned. "Just as I thought." In a split second, Reborn jabbed his needle in Tsuna's arm and injected him with the drug it held. Tsuna winced, but it was already in his system. "This'll take off that pesky mind block."

Tsuna sighed. He was used to the drugs already. Ooh, his mind stared to fizz a little. He placed his hand to his forehead, feeling its temperature. It flashed hot for a moment before returning to a normal heat. He placed down his hand and looked over to the infant in front of him.

"So, Dame-Tsuna, since we're alone," Reborn closed the door and it locked with a click. "Can I have an answer now?"

He stared at the door. "… An answer?"

"Your wish?" The infant smiled.

Oh, back to this. Tsuna thought about it. Reborn seemed really intent on getting his hands on this certain piece of information, a piece of information that Tsuna didn't know the answer to himself. "Hmm, well, before I go off and telling you something and having myself bound by my wording, could you perhaps explain what's going on first?" Yes, that was a smart answer.

Reborn widened his eyes slightly, but then smirked. It was obvious that the drug was working. "Smart answer, Dame-Tsuna. Perhaps you're not so stupid as I thought. Very well, I shall explain it to you, in an abridged version, of how this will work. Too bad Enma's stuck in class.

"Basically, in the broadest sense, I find people with qualification, which so happens to be you in this case. I give you a ring, which assesses your potential on how your much skill will bring you, and in exchange for you telling me your wish, there is a possibility for it to come true if you play in this little game my associates and I like to call 'Mafia'."

That version was way too broad for Tsuna's liking. "Wait just a minute. Okay, first of all the only reason I found you was because I heard your voice in my head."

"That's how we find people," Reborn curtly replied, raising his arm for his green chameleon to come out. It took a glance at Tsuna before sticking out its tongue. It turned back to Reborn, who shook his head, before retreating back into the infant's suit sleeve. "Leon's waiting for an answer as well."

"But you called me by name," Tsuna retorted, still confused on the situation. "How did you know my name?"

"That's how we find people," Reborn repeated, in the exact same way as he did before.

Tsuna stared down at Reborn, too preoccupied with Leon to meet his gaze. The brunet sighed. "Okay, so how did I get the ring then?"

"Dame-Tsuna, that's your fault for not remembering. I gave it to you in your dream, remember?"

Tsuna blinked. "M-my dream?"

Reborn nodded. "Your dream. I was there, you were there; people were there. Good times. That one was your fault."

"Sorry," Tsuna mumbled, slightly embarrassed. "But I don't remember my dreams."

"Dame-Tsuna, I know that." Reborn was annoyed. "Regardless, that's where your ring came from. Your very special ring that signifies that you are to be a Boss when you decide to play. Not only is your first stone significant, but the second one could already be seen this early in the stage. Clearly you should tell me your wish now, less you waste your opportunity."

"R-Reborn, wait, I still want to know what you mean by this game of yours, this 'Mafia'," Tsuna said, "And why do you call me 'boss' but Gokudera-san and Yamamoto-san 'guardians'. What even is that?"

Reborn didn't answer just yet, instead looking over to the clock. "We have time, I suppose I can explain. In 'Mafia', there are teams that are known as 'Famiglia'. In the Famiglia, there is a singular Boss with subordinates to protect them, known as Guardians. Usually it is unknown until after a set period of time of what the person's status will be, and if one does not pass the test, he will remain as a Guardian. In your current state, it is already confirmed that you will be a Boss, even though you have yet to tell me your wish. That's why I need to know it, Tsuna, so that you can formally enter the ranks. Many of your friends are playing this game, Tsuna, don't you want to join them?"

An image of playing Tag as a child trickled into Tsuna's mind. "W-what exactly do you do in this game?"

"It's easy, Dame-Tsuna," Reborn started, watching Leon crawl over to Tsuna to lick his hand. Tsuna wanted to retract it, but his hand was paralized under the chameleon's saliva. The clock chimed noon as Reborn finished, "All you have to do is kill the other Bosses."

There was a moment of dead silence as Tsuna let those words sink in.

"W-was Irie-san a Boss?" Tsuna croaked out, needing to know. "W-was that why Rokudo-san killed him?"

Reborn frowned. "No."

"O-oh." Tsuna allowed for himself to sigh a sigh of relief. Irie-san... wasn't involved.

The infant narrowed his eyes. "Who told you that?"

The way that Reborn glared at Tsuna made him shiver and somewhat hesitant to answer. Regardless, he found himself muttering, "B-Byakuran-san..."

Reborn tsked, obviously displeased with the answer he had been given. "Stay away from that man, Dame-Tsuna. He will give you only misery."

"So... So I've been told," Tsuna murmured as he closed his eyes, fingers itching to draw something.

Something poked him in the arm. "Do you want your notebook, Tsuna? Do you want to draw something?" Reborn continued to jab the book at him.

Tsuna didn't even answer as his hands took the pencil out of the spiral and turned to a fresh page, letting his pencil roam free. There was only the sound of Tsuna gliding his pencil over the paper, not paying attention at what he was drawing while Reborn watched him and his work with interest. Time passed with this the only sound before he sighed, done with his work. He stared at it. "Please tell me about the Bosses and Guardians?"

Reborn looked up from his picture. "... Interesting picture, Tsuna. Very interesting. Very well.

"Think of it as a chess match. The Boss, obviously, would be the King. He is the one who rules over the pawns, which would be the Guardians. However, what is unique about this match is that the Guardians are not as bountiful as many pawns, but they are as powerful as the Queen. The King does have also power, much more powerful than the Queen. However, he can only utilize this power if he is in certain imperil and if accepted by the ring to actually use said power to defend himself if the Guardians have been defeated or if he himself had no Guardians to begin with. It is in this when it is truly revealed the difference between a Boss or a Guardian."

"How?" Tsuna asked, curious as Reborn took back the notebook. Tsuna let him have it, it wasn't his after all. "How then is it known that I would be a Boss instead of a Guardian?"

Reborn sighed as he placed the book under his fedora hat. "I've already told you this, Dame-Tsuna, it's seen in your ring. Your gem has that twinkle, which proves that there is another hidden underneath." He smiled. "Never before have I seen someone with so much potential as yourself.

"But, in the end, it's all up to you, Tsuna. All I can do is hope that you come to me or that I'm with you when you have your wish made up. I'll be waiting," Reborn said just as the bell ring. Tsuna looked up to the clock to see that almost two hours has passed and he had spent all of his school day in the Nurse's Office. When he looked back to Reborn, he had found that he'd disappeared like before.

He wondered what he drew in that notebook for Reborn to like it so much to call it interesting.

The door slid open and Tsuna watched a silhouette creep along his curtain before deciding to ignore it and bent down to reach for his bag to leave. Suppose he'd have to go meet Byakuran by the gate. Usual routine. It was all he had left to fall back on, even if Shoichi was no longer there.

Hmm, since he wasn't in class today due to his condition, Byakuran would have to buy Tsuna a snack of his own choosing. The brunet wondered what marshmallow treat he would be subject to today. There were only so many desserts made with the sweet confection of sugar and gelatin.

The curtain was pushed aside and another hand grabbed Tsuna's bag before the brunet could even graze his fingertips on the straps. He looked up to see who picked it up. His heart stopped for a split second as his eyes caught the figure in front of him.

Rokudo Mukuro.

After all, it was Rokudo Mukuro who killed Sho-chan.

"Tsunayoshi-kun, are you alright?" The statement went through one ear and out the other as Tsuna could not move, too terrified to do anything. Tsuna was frozen, and was unable to move as Rokudo smiled sadly at him but Tsuna saw his right eye burn in anger. He started to tremble in fear. Oh god, was he going to die? But…

He gasped when Mukuro caressed his finger along Tsuna's face, trailing up to his eye. The heterochomic man looked annoyed.

"I'm too late, aren't I?" Tsuna heard him curse in that same language as yesterday under his breath as he took him by the hand. "Sorry for the sudden intrusion, Tsunayoshi-kun," he said, pulling him out of his bed, "But you seem to be meeting everyone today, and it wouldn't be fair if I wasn't included in that number." He pulled him to his feet as he grabbed his bag and dragged him to the door to leave.

"Change of plans, Tsunayoshi-kun, you're spending your afternoon with me."

"Kufufu. Tsunayoshi-kun, you're spilling your tea."

"H-huh? O-oh…" Tsuna placed down his cup before he could spill anymore, but he couldn't stop shaking. Usually he was a shy introvert but his current situation wasn't helping him all that much.

This had to be the… seventy-second time he's been forced to go somewhere against his will. Mukuro would be his fourth person. First it was his mother - who did it on occasion to get him to go to the doctor - then Byakuran - who did it too many times for no reason whatsoever except for looking for orange clovers - last night added Emna and now here he was in what he assumed to be Mukuro's home, being served tea. On very nice china he might add.

"S-sorry, Rokudo-san…" Tsuna stammered out, terrified out of his wits.

He was a dead man.

"Just 'Mukuro' is fine, Tsunayoshi-kun," he replied, smiling eerily as he folded his hands and placed his chin on it. "Tsunayoshi-kun, does it bother you that I call you by your full first name?"

"E-eh?" Tsuna just couldn't stop trembling. "U-uh, I suppose it must be a mouthful to say…"

"Why do you prefer to be called 'Tsuna'?" Mukuro pressed, needing to know.

"U-um, again, because it's less syllables?" Tsuna half-answered, half-asked. If he didn't want to call him by his nickname, it was his personal preference! Tsuna just thought it would be easier for others if he was called a shorter version of his name. He shook his head, and his hand brushed over his tea cup.

"Please don't be afraid, Tsunayoshi-kun," Mukuro said as the tea cup slid off the table and shattered on the floor. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"I'm not -"

"In fact, I'm one who's supposed to protect you. I am, after all, one of your Guardians."

There were too many revelations today.

Tsuna got up from the table, the sudden movement and shift making him woozy for a few moments. "W-what?"

"Kufufu," Mukuro chuckled in that creepy laugh of his as he too stood up. He reached over the table and placed his thumb on Tsuna's forehead, knocking over the tea and snacks of assorted cookies and cake pops placed in the middle all over the table. "You forgot, remember?" He pulled the brunet into a hug.

"Don't worry, I'll protect you this time. And I won't let those others get in the way. Except maybe for Hibari, just because he's like a little gnat that won't go away."

"O-others…?" Tsuna managed to choke out.

"I won't let you run away, Tsuna. I can't. Never again," Mukuro replied as he moved his fingers over Tsuna's right eye. He caught the shadows of the sun lower from the window behind him, and cursed once more under his breath.

"I've got to get you home, less your mother gets upset." He stepped over the table, taking Tsuna by the hand as he grabbed the brunet's stuff with his free hand. "That wouldn't make a good impression at all."

Nana blinked at the people at her front door. There were two of them. One of them was her embarrassed son, who stared at the ground and arrived at his exact curfew time as the sun was currently setting. The other was one holding onto her son's hand with one hand and a box in the other. The strange man holding her son's hand smiled apologetically at her, but she'd address him in a moment. She turned to her son. "Tsu-kun, who's this?"

"O-oh, he's… um…" At a loss of words.

"It's a pleasure to actually meet you in person, Sawada-san." He bowed slightly to her. "I'm Rokudo Mukuro, a classmate of Tsunayoshi-kun. He was just showing me around town since I just recently moved here. I'm sorry that I took him for so long, so please accept this box of pastries." He held out the box, and Nana had no hesitation in swiping it off his hands.

She inspected it carefully, checking for any deformities before she caught a whiff of its contents. Her eyes sparkled. "Is this... from Starlight Sweets Bakery? And from this smell… No, their special bacon brownie? How did you know?" She smiled widely as she ushered both boys inside, obviously not paying attention to her son's discomfort as she opened the box to find the exact treat she claimed it would be. "Oh, don't worry about it at all, Tsu-kun. I approve of your new boyfriend."

Tsuna blushed cherry red. "R-Rokudo-kun's not my boyfriend!"

Mukuro smiled, the Nana-hurdle has been leaped with great success. He decided that she was too distracted to notice as he quickly pecked Tsuna on the lips. "Good night, Tsunayoshi-kun. I wish you sweet dreams as I see you on the morrow." He bowed before he quickly retreated as Nana was finished with the brownie.

"Tsu-kun, is he the replacement for Byaku-chan?" she asked bluntly, but Tsuna was too dazed to answer. He just shrugged as he moved to his room, not having an appetite to eat and just wanted to sleep.

Let's just pretend that this day never happened.

That blond man was there again, and Tsuna found himself tripping as he tried to run over to him, trying not to cry as he fell on his face.

The man walked over to him and plucked him up from the ground, and tried to comfort the child trying to put on a brave façade.

"It's okay, Tsuna," the man whispered as he brushed his fingers on Tsuna's head before lowering down to his hand. "In here, it's okay to cry."

And Tsuna let those tears run free.

"Oh, Dame-Tsuna, it's futile," Reborn said as he watched the brunet sleep restlessly, tossing and turning as his drug continued to run through his system. "Just hurry and accept it already, I'm starting to get tired of waiting."

A/N: Everyone seems to be quite confused with this whole story. Here are those explanations, somewhat anyway, as well as character-related elements. Are people still confused now?

Nothing to say really… I'm quite tired.

Thanks for reading! Reviews are lovely~