A/N: I suppose I should apologise for my lateness, but things got really busy and then I got myself in an accident and couldn't write much. I'm sorry, even though I promised myself to post a chapter a month. I ended up missing five months! Also, I'm really sorry if this chapter feels rushed or crappy...I'm feeling like shit.

And thank you for all the reviews (wow!), follows and favorites. It helped me so much in my recuperation.

Chapter Eight: The Prelude of the End - Part I

The room was strangely cold and stuffy, however, despite this, his hands were sweating like crazy. He would wipe it away if he could. In fact, nothing else would make him more comfortable at the moment. As he was now, it was nearly impossible considering that his arms were chained in each arm of the chair. He also felt that if, perhaps, he wanted to go to the restroom, he'd have to endure. Therefore, his thirst was not so important. He should bear it. No, he would have to bear it. Even though, no matter what, he desperately wanted something to quench his thirst.

Almost as in reflex, he lifted his hand, only to remember that he couldn't. His throat was dry; he wanted to massage it. Pushing the unpleasant matter to the side, the boy occupied his mind with something that required better of his time.

How in the holy earth had he gotten in the past? He nearly voiced his thoughts. Obviously he knew that he wasn't the right person to know the answer to that, given that even the specialist ones didn't know yet. Though, he couldn't help but keep wondering. Supposing Tsuna somehow managed to live after being shot in many places, then he'd also suppose that he managed to go to the past through a wish — Vongola ring must have something to it. If that was so, what does he have something to it? He wasn't part of Vongola family, just a friend's. Their rings, though they did have some similarities here and there, were essentially different.

He thought of the implications of going to the past and as he presumed, it was for an undetermined time. It was just so wrong. Everything could happen and it'd be disastrous. Well... he though, it was not like it wasn't disastrous enough already.

He brought to his mind the recent events that happened ever since he stepped in the sole of the 19th century. He would've endured the presence of a mysterious mafia family attacking him, obviously because he was in the wrong, not the otherwise as one would've assumed the situation would be — for as much cowardly as it seemed. As a mafia man, he had been trained for many different situations he'd one day face. However, he hadn't been trained for something like that. The fatal blow came when he saw who was the one in the command of those mafia men surrounding him like hungry wolves. He couldn't let the matter slip past so easily. Hadn't he gotten in a rather strange predicament with Tsuna and his family some months ago, he wouldn't have known who the man a few feet away from him was. At first, he assumed that he somehow had died. It was a normal assumption. A minute ago he was at the hospital buying a drink for himself, after paying a visit to Vongola guardians, and now there he was...in the past of Vongola Primo. Anyone with the head in its place would think in the worst-case scenario. In this case, the worst-case scenario was seeing a dead man after he himself supposedly died.

Then, all of sudden, he let out a little laugh. Lowering his head, he wiped a single tear coming out from his right eye. A ghost of a smile appeared at the corner of his lips and he sighed briefly. He probably must have felt the same way as Tsuna did, he was sure of it. The both of them had the tendency to act alike when they faced strange situations.

He still remembered the coldness of his hands, his shaky lips and his wild thoughts at the time — he was almost sure that they must have pretty much the same reactions. The face he made when Vongola Primo gracefully stormed in between the guards of the mansion must have comical, he thought in shame. He wasn't at fault, after all, he had been caught off-guard. Seeing someone who was surely dead in their time is not an easy thing. He didn't know what to do. Heck, he had almost had a panic attack and fainted! He surely took some damage.

The young Shimon boss sighed tiredly and gave a thoughtful look at the door. Five minutes, if he wasn't wrong, since he had been left alone in that room. After Primo's cloud guardian decided to take a brief stop in interrogating him, he finally had time to breathe since he had the sensation that he had stopped breathing when Alaude was in the same room as him and looking at him with those cold blue and interrogating eyes.

Enma wanted to escape, but the only thing he could hope for was that someone unaware of his situation would appear through that door and free him with no second thoughts. And that mere thought was enough to make him not withstand the damn thirst. How longer would it take until everything was finished? They should just free him now since they didn't have any proof that he was an enemy, and they wouldn't ever have. He wasn't from their time. They wouldn't know who he is unless he says something — and that surely wouldn't happen.

And again he sighed. Enma was caught in a dilemma.

Regardless of escaping of there or not, there was something he wanted to be sure of first. For that, he needed to stay at that mansion for a time. He didn't have the so-called Hyper Intuition Tsuna had, but there was a voice inside his head telling him that the other boy, the first person outside of his family with whom he befriended, was somewhere nearby. Truthfully it was a contradictory situation; on one side he wanted to satisfy his ego and escape, and thus he could guarantee his life, but on the other side, he didn't want to. Another invisible force struggled to make him act upon idealistic standards rather that upon realistic principles. Since he was in the past, in Vongola Primo's past, he had to search for Tsuna.

Suddenly, his senses sharpened as he heard a noise coming from outside the door. He frowned and his eyes narrowed. His hands were sweating even more than before and he was almost sure that, due to the silence in the room, his heartbeats were even louder. The next seconds passed as if the time was in a slow-camera like effect. He could see everything happening at the moment. Perfectly. The door slowly opened; his sudden sharp eyes caught the moment the knob turned, making a loud grinding noise, and the shadow of a person came to view.

He recognized the person. The brown, fluffy and gravity-defying was undoubtedly his. The warm and innocent brown eyes were definitely his. Enma felt happiness rise in his chest and a heat and tightness feeling rise on his throat. The person was, like himself, very surprised at who he had found on the room. Though he doubted that he was even more surprised than himself.

Enma wasn't relieved that someone had appeared through the door, it was far from that. He was relieved at who had appeared. It was something completely different believing that someone that was said to be dead could actually be alive, but it was a case on a complete different level if you actually see that person alive and kicking. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was seeing a ghost. Though his complexion was apparently even more fragile than ever, and his somewhat big and innocent eyes were with worry in them, it was his face and eyes. It was undoubtedly him.

Enma caught himself smiling to the person, and the person smiled back at him. His smile was so warm and comforting that it was like all his worries were washed away; he felt so light. The person before him was so bright that his eyes hurt. And suddenly he lowered his head — it could be pathetic to be seen that way, his eyes were burning, surely they'd be reddish by now. The boy lifted his head a little as the person stepped on the room and made his way to Enma, who watched his steps carefully and with sudden interest. The floor never seemed so interesting before. A hand touched on his shoulder and his attention changed to the person before him, whose smile didn't faltered yet.

The redheaded boy could see with his still sharp senses that Tsuna's lips parted to say something, but he couldn't complete it. At that moment they heard a noise coming from outside the room and the unspoken words were long forgotten. Enma realized that Tsuna had changed to a defensive stance and he, too, prepared himself in whatever way he could be useful. The footsteps were getting even closer and in someway it was creeping him out. He couldn't help but think that it's not the right time to let his nervousness get the best of him. Though, his actions said otherwise when the third person stepped on the room.

Not even once in his life he left so scared for his life — that is, not with someone other than Adelheid. The person looked at them with extreme cold eyes, piercing through them, and Enma wondered if he would ever see the next sunrise again.

"What are you doing here?" Alaude's cold and imperative voice echoed throughout the room, sending chills through Tsuna and Enma's backs.

Tsuna wasn't sure of what he was feeling at the moment. It may have been because of the coldness in the room, or perhaps the fear he was feeling for being caught by the person he didn't want to be seen the most at the moment, he was not quite sure, but he'd to bite his lips so that they wouldn't tremble. The second option, however, had been proven to be the right one a second later. A smirk made its way in the blond man's lips alerting the two boys. Alaude didn't miss the Tsunayoshi boy's hand on the redheaded boy's shoulder. It was just like he thought; they were connected in someway after all.

"So that's how it is," he said more to himself than to the two boys in front of him. His smirk never faded. His voice becoming even monotone than before, "I see. I understand now."

Whatever Alaude, Vongola Primo's cloud guardian, understood made Enma scared. Usually, it was never a good thing when someone said that, and he had a few good experiences about that in the past. Alaude took a step closer to them and Tsuna retreated a little, very attentive to any sudden movement the other man could do. Since that man was very similar to Hibari, in both appearance and behavior, he needed to be extra careful – who knew when he could accidentally piss him off.

"I never fail in discovering things supposed ought not to be discovered," the blond man said, making sure to emphasize the word. Although his expression was still blank, devoid of any feeling or thought he could be having, Enma could practically see Alaude doing a cheeky smirk. "That's my job and I shan't fail today. Tsunayoshi Sawada, Enma Kozato, you both are to be imprisoned for conspiring and invading Vongola's territory. I will have Primo join me in interrogating you both."

The two boys could only hope that Primo was more understanding. And true enough, they couldn't be luckier. It was an understatement with Primo's subordinates and acquaintances that he was a forgiving man, even to his foes. He would outstretch his hands to help a foe just as he would to a friend; he was that kind of person. Tsuna didn't have doubts about that; he could not have met Primo in person, alive, but deep in his heart he had faith that the other man could give them a right judgment.

Primo, however, like anyone else, was a normal human being. He also got angry sometimes. He also lost his temper. He had feelings like everyone else had; he felt disgusted to see an unfair situation and he felt sad to be betrayed by someone he trusted. Tsuna couldn't be more wrong to think that Primo could be completely complacent to them. Though, he would have to wait for the man's verdict.

The said blond man was in front of a wooden door. Primo knocked twice, which was the normal, but as there was no response he knocked twice again. Nothing again. He decided to call the boy, but as he feared, no answer again. Giotto thought it was strange; his eyebrows knitting together as they always did when he thought deeply. Maybe he had fallen asleep, considering that he was still a bit weak, but that wasn't favorable time for a nap. He decided to open the door and to his surprise, after calling the boy's name once again as he entered, there was no one inside the room. Yet, he scanned the room one more time looking for Tsuna, but found no one. And it was unlikely that he had decided to take a nap under the bed. Primo began to get nervous; sweat trickled down his temples and a strange sensation emerged in his stomach.

It couldn't be, he told himself repeatedly. Giotto shook his head, refusing to accept that probability.

"He..." he began, but stopped such was his fear and surprise.

He did not know what to do or how to behave. He was shocked, and it was no wonder. A thousand thoughts went through his head. Though, only two words kept appearing in his mind.

Kidnapping. Betrayal. Kidnapping. Betrayal. Kidnapping. Betrayal. Kidnapping. Betrayal-

Giotto kept thinking how Tsuna could have been kidnapped, or at worst, that he had betrayed his trust and was an enemy who had come to kill him as G had said so many times and he refused to listen. A sickness feeling engulfed his stomach as he thought about that possibility. He raised his right hand to his mouth and looked at the floor, breathing slowly as if the air was heavy, and shook his head.

No. No. No, he repeated endlessly to himself in thoughts. It was not possible that such a thing happened. However, he couldn't shake the strange feeling that something very wrong was happening. And that headache he felt every single time his Hyper Intuition wanted to alert him of something, which didn't help him calm down really, only proved that it was true. Something must have happened to Tsuna, and if he thought calmly he could get to the answer.

The window was closed and intact, he realized. There were no signs of struggle in any part of the room; there was no bloodstains or the presence of a stranger. There was nothing that could indicate that Tsuna had been kidnapped, but that just meant that this person was on a completely different level. Without further ado, Giotto left in a hurry out of the room and ran toward the conference room or anywhere else he could find one of his guardians. He had no time to lose. Whoever kidnapped the boy could be far away or in the worst-case scenario, Tsuna could no longer be alive.

Giotto closed his eyes for a second, letting himself be engulfed by the warm and welcoming feeling of wanting to save someone. It was his determination. It was as if a faint wave of fever had took place in his body and at the same time he felt so light; it was like his body was made of paper. Soon his body had accustomed to its new condition. When his eyes snapped open, they glowed in a bright orange color. His eyes narrowed in a colder and calculating manner and it was exactly like if looks could kill. There was an almighty flame burning on his forehead and even his gloves were involved with the same flame, burning with an unburning flame.

In his way, Giotto collided with some of his subordinates or maids and he apologized quickly, never stopping, and sometimes he even stumbled on a wall. He had no time to lose; he repeated those words in his mind every time he collided with a wall. Something inside his mind was telling him that something bad had happened to the Japanese boy, and before it was too late Giotto needed to get some help.

Giotto searched for all possible places in the mansion where he could possibly find one of his guardians. He searched the tearoom but no one was there, he searched the gardens but there was also no one there and not even in the training room, which was in the dungeons of the south side. Giotto could only find someone when he stopped in front of the kitchen; Lampo was there, eating a strawberry pie that Giuliani, their chef, had baked for him. Seeing Lampo eating the pie with a happy expression made him sigh wearily. At the moment, he wasn't looking for Lampo. Shaking his head, but not before giving a small smile towards the younger guardian, Giotto resumed his running. Suddenly, an idea occurred to him. The Library! Of course, how hadn't this ever passed through his mind before?

Primo quickened his pace and after two long minutes, having gone up a flight of stairs and have gone for a huge corridor, he stopped in front of two huge wooden doors. Breathless and with sweat dripping on his forehead, he gave a quick inhaled in the air and opened the double-door. His eyes quickly scanned the library until they found a red haired head, four shelves away from where he was. He smiled; a feeling of relief passed through him, which made his shoulders relax a little.

"G-G!" he called out, running up to the man.

G immediately turned on his heels when he heard someone calling him — and it was none other than Giotto, running up to him with a desperate look in the eyes and sweaty to the toes. And if that wasn't enough, Giotto was in HDWM inside the mansion. He placed his hands on his friend's shoulder, waiting for him to caught up his breath, and asked in a low voice, concerned:

"Why…why are you with your flame activated? What happened Primo?" he asked slowly, frowning at his friend behavior. His eyes narrowed as he realized in what condition Giotto was. It was even worse now that glanced at it closely. He couldn't be like that, all sweaty and worried, if it wasn't for something serious, very serious. And even worse, he was back with an old habit of his — biting his lips whenever he caught himself in a situation he found difficult to deal with.

When he noticed that Giotto was finally breathing normally, he encouraged him to speak out. Still, he couldn't help but notice that Giotto must have ran for many places before he came to him, given that he wasn't completely recovered yet.

"I think…I think that…someone might have…kidnapped Tsunayoshi…" said Primo, regaining his breathing. "…I need your help." The next moment they were running out of the library.

Primo told everything he knew, but G was not sure about what they could do. It was possible that the person who kidnapped the boy was still close to the area of the mansion, or at best, he could be staying in one of those dirty and cheap hotels in the city suburb. Regardless, what was even more worrisome at the moment for G was the fact that someone managed to invade the mansion without anyone noticing. And heck, it was the second invasion in less than a day! This thought brought him a headache…they would have to review the security plans after this. But obviously that would have to wait, for now, as they had something more troublesome in their hands. They needed to get as much help as possible.

G knew exactly where he should go. Although he would never admit it, not even in one billion years, he knew the perfect person to help them with matters like this. Well, too bad for Cozart's copy, but he would have to wait.

As they ran by the many doors of the mansion, G wondered why did they live in a huge place as that. It was so troublesome trying to find someone in the mansion, mostly when you're in a hurry. For as far as they knew, the boy could already be dead by then and there they were wasting their time searching for someone in that huge place. He'd seriously ponder about moving to a smaller place if Vongola hadn't grown so fast in the past two years.

After two stores of ladders the two of them stopped, to caught their breath, and sprinted to a door in the left side. The dungeon was as cold and dark as ever, sending shivers down to G's spine.

Knock. Knock.

"Enter," said a voice from inside. The two Vongola were relieved, as they had gambled that Alaude could be in his office.

G opened the door and rushed inside, Giotto following suit.

It wasn't a spacious room. The stone walls were littered with many kind of books, all involving investigation, interrogation and espionage. And as G looked over the room, he couldn't exactly tell which was freakier; Alaude apparently being comfortable in a cold room, without any windows or a fireplace or Daemon and Alaude in the same room without breaking anything. Alaude sat in his comfortable chair, bending over his desk as he read some papers. Daemon was leaning against one of the shelves, with a ghost of a smirk in the face as if he was still enjoying a joke told five minutes before.

"What is it?" Alaude inquired, arching an eyebrow as he noticed that it was G and Primo. Normally it couldn't be a good thing when the two of them came together to his office.

G didn't do ceremonies; he explained everything briefly because he knew the other man would be able to understand their predicament even with few words. And sure enough, Alaude didn't need much explanation and then shook his head when G finished speaking. Daemon remained silent, with only a wry smile on his face and an amused glare at the way he looked at Primo and his right-hand man.

"Alaude, we need your help," Primo intervened after G. "He's in danger!"

G didn't miss the way Daemon's wry smile widened — almost as if he knew something…but he sure didn't, right?

Alaude just went around his desk and walked over to the two men, ignoring the smirking man that leaned on one of his shelves. "It will not be necessary," he said simply.

Primo frowned. "Wh-what? What are you talking about? He might be-"

"What makes you think he was kidnapped?" And with that simple but direct question, Alaude motioned with his hand for the two to follow him. They left his office, leaving an amused Daemon behind.

The three men didn't have to walk far, with few steps, they stopped in front of a room — and this same room was already familiar to Giotto and G, but they failed to understand why they were there. The two men looked at each other, but said nothing.

Alaude took a bunch of keys from his pocket and after finding the correct key, he put it in the lock, turning it three times to the right until he heard a popping sound echoing by the spacious cold and dark stoned corridor. The huge wooden door creaked, revealing a room colder than the corridor, and Giotto couldn't suppress a shiver.

G and Primo looked at each other again, entering into a silent agreement, before entering the room when Alaude finally gave way to them. When Giotto was crossing the doorframe, though, Alaude stopped him with his arm and looked straight into his eyes. He shook his head slightly, as if in a kind of code and waited for Giotto to understand it — who obviously still seemed confused.

Giotto looked away. No, he purposefully averted his gaze for a moment before looking at him again, with concern in his eyes, and then gently pushing away Alaude's arm from before him, Giotto walked into the room.

For a moment, his mind went blank. When he came out of his blankness state, a huge load of thoughts invaded his mind. At every knew thought, Giotto understood less and less. He looked to his side, where G was, and the poor redhaired looked as confused as him — although Giotto knew as much that he should be burning in rage deep inside somewhere and Giotto could almost hear him saying 'I told you'.

Turning his head back to the person in the room, Giotto couldn't suppress not trembling his hands, shoving his nails into his skin, drawing blood.

"…You?" his voice trailed off, letting for the echo to repeat it infinitely. A lump formed in his throat and he had to swallow hard, slowly, in hope it could go away. But it didn't. "What are you doing here-"

The boy just stared at him with pleading big brown eyes.

Giotto narrowed his eyes and a mix of emotions painted his face.

Confusion.

Relief.

Fear.

He didn't know it could be possible to feel all that at the same time but he felt overloaded in strong emotions.

And betrayal was one of them.

"...Tsunayoshi?"