The story of Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (I am in search for that novel, for starters, since I got interest in it thanks to a certain quiz I took somewhere) interests me, so I suppose that was the reason I created this for my Special Part two... a 'Sneak Peek' for my still-planning Dystopian/Angst/Sci-fi KHR fiction, 'Freedom at Infinity' (The title might change if ever I might actually manage to pursue this; otherwise, it'll just stay here or something). And, unfortunately, since this is AU, you won't see the usual 'helpless but heroic' Dame-Tsuna that we all know and love. No, because of me, we'll change things around, making this one twisted story after the other.

Yes, my dears, I will deviate this a bit and make it as twisted as possible; Tsuna, however, is not the protagonist but a Villain and a lot of twisted changes will be made to the KHR universe (hence the AU part.)

For summary, this is based on a Alternate universe, twenty years after the Varia event (though the current events hadn't happened until fifteen years later after the Varia arc and after Tsuna and co. returned from the Future) The summary might change depending on what element to be put here or if there is anything to change, but I suppose this will suffice for now.

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Sawada Tsunayoshi, the current leader of Vongola, is declaring a supreme regime (more so, a Martial Law) over Namimori as he proclaim the whole town under his own ruler ship, the unseeingly Bright Dying Will Flames Smudged with black, tainted with Greed, Power and Tyranny, preventing any of the residence of Namimori to move in or out of Namimori nor to let them have any contact with the outside world, not to mention preventing them from ever saying anything about the outside world; disobeying means death. Most of his Guardians were under his leadership still though they started to question his motives and sudden change of heart, while some decided to step down from their position and defy the current ruling of the Supreme Vongola. Underneath the grounds of Namimori, away from the tyranny of Tsunayoshi and the hardship, war and poverty due to closing the town itself from the rest of the world lies a resistance that yearns not for the downfall of the Vongola leader but for the main resolve of everyone; Freedom. Calling themselves as the 'Ala Rubra' the enigmatic leader known as 'Ciel' planned a coup d'état against the current parliamentary reign to make Namimori liberate itself once more.

Young Journalist-to-be, Namikaze Sora, decided that the civil war between the Vongola Leader who wants to take over Namimori for the 'Greater Good and Safety of all' and the human rebellion force had to stop after opening his eyes about the real meaning of 'freedom' as he tries to uncover the secrets of the conspiracy within the walls of the whole affair. With the help of some members from the Ala Rubra, a mysterious 'Phantom' and a person who once taught the Vongola leader, can he find a way set things on its own path before unnecessary bloodshed runs from within these enclosed walls?

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Apparently, I'm no good with summary, so if ever I might post this as an individual fiction or not, this would do for now. I'm still not sure, but it depends on you guys if you want this to continue or not for you to read. For now, I'm just going to show you, like I said, a 'Sneak Peek' of what would be the content of this.

You'll see familiar LoT faces (Sora, Kanata, Nana, etc.) in here, as well as the usual casts of KHR, but they're not the main characters in here anymore.

This would be rated, though, so a little warning much. If, ever, I do publish this... well, I might determine the ratings to see if I could put this on M for some reasons or not.

Anyway, other than these things, enjoy the Second part of the LoT Special!

For the sneak peek, this will be done in 1st Person POV.


=Freedom at Infinity=

"Please, spare us, we didn't mean to say such things!"

It's been always like this; everyday, people would plead to these men in black suit that they are not saying such things while they would punish them. We were told that speaking anything about the outside world, let alone even make any reference to it, was forbidden... or, so that's what the current ruler wants it to. Apparently, said ruler also banned everything that has something to do with the outside world as Namimori was completely isolated itself from the rest of Japan, if not from the rest of the world. It was hard times, really, and I don't even know how in the world I can cope with such things at hand as I continued watching these men in suits dragging the pleading woman to God-knows-where.

Don't take me wrong; I'm a budding journalist, part-time may I add since I'm still studying in the local Namimori College, and I know things happening here. In fact, I know what's happening to the society ever since five years ago when this happen. I just don't get it how or why did this occur all of the sudden, but I got the feeling that there's something going on in the scenario that I need to grasp at.

"Oi, Sora!"

Looking up from the book I was reading, I turned my head towards the direction where someone called me as I was greeted by my co-worker as I returned a wave towards him.

"Hey, any luck?"

Shaking his head, he drew another chair from the next table as he sat down across me and leaned onto the table, careful not to bump his elbow to the coffee I was drinking. We were resting in this coffee house for a few minutes, trying to look for some scoop to publish in our newspaper but with no luck whatsoever... save for these things. Unfortunately, we can't publish this one for one reason.

Martial Law.

Yep, you heard me, Martial Law. I don't understand why so many restrictions, but I suppose there's nothing we could do about it; we're just novice journalists doing our job.

"None so far," He replied back, a sigh escaped his lips as he looked once more to me. "How about you, found any scoop so far?" I only shook my head in reply as I gave a sheepish grin to my accomplice.

"Nah, except that another one was taken by the 'Men in Black', I got nothing." I said in my laid-back tone, not even bothering to think as of why. Why would I risk my ass just to know these things, I'm not involve into them, right? Ah, I would probably just want to keep things as it is; as long as I'm alive then I'm all good with it, nothing to it.

"HEY, CATCH THAT THIEF!"

"Finally, something to add for the newspaper!"

Looking at the streets, I noticed someone running only to be followed by two or three of those person wearing a black suit as they chased the 'thief' who seems to be holding something from his hands. His khaki-colored bucket hat over his slightly-shaggy brown hair bobbed as he ran as the male looked worse for wear with cuts from his face and arms and, yet, still doesn't show any signs of tiredness. From the looks of it, he must have stolen something (Duh, which explains the 'Thief' part) but what compels me is that those things grasping with both of his arms...

"Hey, dude, are those books or something?"

"Books?"

I stood up from my place as my slate optics followed this uncanny thief run towards the alleyways, escaping the clutches of these men completely.

"Why would that guy been chased by those men when he only stole some books?"

Come to think of it, any books related to the outside world are prohibited and anyone caught holding it would be punishment. Yeah, like the 'don't talk about the outside world' and all those stuff, it's kind of inter-connected.

I wonder why they decided to do those things.

I heard from majority that it's for the 'Safety of Namimori' but, lately, I've been hearing protests from some rebels that it's a lie and that the person who is ruling Namimori was said to want nothing more than power. I don't know, normally I just don't care.

But lately...

Lately, I've been having this urging feeling to know the truth. To know why this person who has the power to control over us wants us to be locked in from the outside world. It intrigues me so, not to mention about this 'Vongola' who said to run the whole joint with an iron fist. Kind of makes me wonder what kind of person he is.

It wasn't long before I decided to call it a day and went straight home to my apartment flat, maybe working on my assignment for tomorrow or something. Just as I was about to turn around the corner, I heard an explosion not far from my place as I decided to head in there, like what would any person would when they hear something intriguing, only to arrive at one of the houses aligned in this street smoldering in flames. In front of it stood someone I have only seen in the news or in the papers;

The Tenth Mafia Boss of the Vongola Family.

Don't take me wrong, I know about the mafia and all, and definitely I know this case, but I was told that this person is the one responsible for what's happening in the whole darn place. Yes, he's the one who's running the whole Namimori at the palm of his hands. The flames on his forehead and hands, which seems weird for some reason, were blazing with orange embers though a hint of black was seen every once in a while. Never knew much about them, but why would I bother? The only thing I know about him is that his name is Sawada Tsunayoshi.

"Hm?"

I noticed him looked at the direction where I am as I retreated myself in hiding, daring not to make any noise. I heard something about taking down someone as I wondered what he was talking about, until something poke from the side of my temples.

"Don't make any sudden movement or I'll shoot you."

Oh, crap, he must have found me! They must have think I must be one of the radicals as I tried to compromise myself not to loose cool. Really, Sora, no sweat, right?

"Er, is there something wrong?" I asked as I (and failing) to act cool as if nothing happened.

"What is it?" I could tell that the head of Vongola finally joined up as I could feel him gazing towards me, his orange optics glaring as if sucking the life out of me. "What seems to be your business here?" He asked with authority. I decided only to give him my sheepish smile as I made sure I had my head up by the next minute or so.

"Ah, sir, didn't really notice you here," I said, sweat visible to my temples as I gulped the invisible lump from my throat. "I just accidentally passed by, not sure why I ended up here, but I suppose if you could just let me go on my way I won't bother you or question anything." I could feel the nozzle of the gun lowered from my temple as I bow in appreciation that they let me escape. "Gee, thanks, I don't know what'll I do without you, thought I was a goner, set me free like a bird!" As I turned around, slowly walking my way out, I could hear a gunshot as I knew that I must have said something that made him change his mind and decided to tell his goons to shoot me. Good Lord, what is this, conspiracy? Being a (sane) human that I am, I only did the most possible thing I could think of; Run. Yes, I run, and fast, as I ignored their call on me to stop seeing that they would only ask me questions and harm me. I think I know how it feels like for these people who are caught in an everyday basis to live.

And, that would probably why I am currently hiding behind the trash bin within the alleyway, panting for breath as I wonder back then what have I said that had made the Vongola boss to suddenly assault me. I was bothered by it, to be precise, but not long before one of those black-suit men was about to find me.

"Over here!"

I could have sworn that voice wasn't familiar.

"Uh-what?"

"I said over here you idiot!"

Before I could even realize what was going on, I was pulled behind by someone, not knowing what had happened as the goon managed to bypass my hiding place thinking that no one is in there.

"Phew! Hey, thanks for the save, whoever you are!" I said with relief as I turned my head around and noticed that I was greeted by the same person whom I saw running from the 'law' a while ago. "Hey, aren't you that guy who they shouted 'thief' or something?" He only grinned back at me as he patted my back in a good-natured manner.

"Well, not really a thief, but close." He said, confidence seem to brim to his voice despite the doom and gloom atmosphere that we're having. "Just got caught holding a book I found from the armored van and decided that 'hey, these books are for the masses to read' and the jazz!" Throwing one over my direction, I caught it with reflex as I flipped the pages of the book this person gave me and noticed that nothing's different about them. "Heh, makes you wonder why would Sawada decided to take these, huh?" I nodded silently, curious as of what he meant by that as he pulled out another book from his bag I didn't notice he had and flipped a random page, showing it to me. From those words alone, I could tell that it was a dictionary, but he used his fingers and pointed to a specific word for me to see.

Freedom.

"What's so dangerous about that, it's just a word?" I asked in a skeptic tone, hand still holding a book as he shook his head at my question.

"Ah, you're just like the rest of 'em." He said with a sheepish grin as I returned the book to him. "Anyway, I do hope by the time you're out, they hadn't ransacked your home or anything, though just look for me if you need more information or help."

"Wait, who are-?"

"See ya!"

And, before I knew it, he disappeared from the depths of the alleyway as I only stood there, wondering what in the world he was talking about, hell I didn't even get to ask him who he was to begin with!

Must be a bum, perhaps.

The turn of events must have been crazy even for me as I finally arrived home (thank goodness), shut the door as soon as I entered and went straight to make my dinner, the sudden actions from a while ago still boggling within my mind. But what made me wonder the most is his statement:

"Ah, you're just like the rest of 'em."

What does he mean by 'the rest of them'? And what's the word 'Freedom' had to do with anything to begin with and the ongoing feud between the masses and the Vongola hierarchy had to do with any of this?

I just don't understand.

Knock! Knock!

"Ah, coming!" I wonder who in the world would want me at this time (though I'm feeling that it might those goons that this Sawada-dude summoned a while ago to get me) as I peeped through the hole and noticed someone whom I had no idea who. Doesn't seem to be those guards, so probably someone asking for directions. "May I help you, sir?" I noticed how he is wearing a brown trench coat over his Armani suit, the fedora covering his upper half of his face as he nodded and gestured if he could enter for a while. Well, it does seem raining, and I don't think he has any umbrella or anything. "Er... sure, you can come in?" That was in question but I let him in anyway as I silently instructed him to remove his shoes and went back towards the kitchen.

"The world seem to be in complete conspiracy where ever we go, yes?" He spoke out of the blue, voice deep yet suave as I looked at him as if he was asking for trouble, though I decided to just answer back with a shrug. "Everywhere people go they can't seem to be able to escape the trouble, though judging from them they sometimes are the one causing it."

"How should I know," I replied back, scratching the back of my head in wonder. "That's typical human nature; we can't escape trouble either way." I could notice his smirk forming from his face as I gave another skeptic look at him.

"Do you know why people are suffering here even if it seems like they claim this to be for the 'benefit of everyone'?"

Wait, stop... rewind!

What did he just said?

"Er..."

"I don't blame you if you don't want to; like you said, it's typical human nature, so I understand." He seem to head towards the door, grasping the knob as he opened the door but not before looking at me despite his eyes hidden from the brim of his fedora. "But, sooner or later, you have to look for the truth; open your eyes and you might just find it."

I didn't realize much what he had said, nor to a fact that he left as soon as that, but that had made me wondering what in the world is this person trying to tell me.

What have I caught myself in this time, Namikaze Sora?


Well, there you have it for the sneak peek! Kinda short, really, but it'll do. Not even sure if ever I might pursue this or not, but from the looks of it, I got it off just fine. Please do note that this Sora is not the same Ichiroku Sora (nor he is related to Marina/Namikaze Haruka in any way or matter) that I used for the reason that this is a guy, to begin with (Wow, first time in my book that I used a OC guy out of the blue) and this happens twenty years from the original KHR timeline. And, yes, that mysterious person is, in fact, the famous Hitman himself, Reborn. The scrawny alleyway guy is the same guy from the special Part one, Yamato Saotome (His signature item seems to be that khaki-colored bucket hat he is wearing) and Tsuna already made his appearance as the bad guy.

And, like I said, the inspiration was based from Ray Bradbury's work, Fahrenheit 451. I don't own KHR, or its characters, since the only thing I own is this story and my own characters.

Message might give a possibility of me actually continue this as a separate work... though I rather debate myself if I should continue this or not. Ah, well, it was nice to write this while it lasted in my brain.