Hello Everyone! This is Chapter 8 of Countdown! Well I'm out of words to say! SO let's start the story! PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!

NOTE: (..) This means they are talking in sign language.

I do not own KHR if I did the genre would be Shounen-ai/Yaoi in the anime and in the manga. XD

Countdown

~ Uncertainty ~

05 days before Shoichi transfers to Melone Base.

"I was the one who made you like this. If I hadn't wanted to change my future you would have not become a monster that destroys. This is my entire fault."

"I love you so much so please stop this destruction." He says in his sleep.

"I love you too Shou-chan. I love you so much that I had to destroy everything around you that would take you away from me."

Shoichi woke up with tears on his eyes. He looks around and Byakuran was not there. He felt as if he had really slept well or that he had said something that he felt so relieved but he could not remember, the moment he had opened his eyes. He had forgotten the words. But there is one thing he is sure and that is. He doesn't want to see Byakuran at the moment. He runs out of Byakuran's room and heads to his office, ignoring the destroyed places in the Millefiore headquarters. When he gets to his room he feels like he could not breathe. Every time he thinks of what happens it hurts both in mind and in his heart. He looks at his watch; it was already 9:30 o'clock in the morning. Shoichi felt that he needs to get out of the headquarters, he feels like he has been trapped here for ages even though he had went out yesterday. He changes for new clothes and grab his jacket. He called one of his subordinates to prepare a car. In 20 minutes Shoichi was heading to the city again, unknown that Byakuran was watching him the whole time, he ordered two of his so-called-trusted-men to follow Shoichi to make sure nothing happens to his sweet Shou-chan.

Shoichi got off the car near a park it was the biggest park of all in the city. You might even say that there was a small forest in the park.

"When should I get you Shoichi-sama?"

Shoichi breaths the fresh air near the park. He smiles. "I will just call for you, alright?"

"Very well then Shoichi-sama, please do be careful."

"I will" Shoichi says, the car then drove off back to the Millefiore headquarters.

He slowly walks observing everything the sounds of everyday normal life, children's laughter and even the sounds of the birds tweeting. A strong gust of wind came and he saw a balloon pass above him and then felt something bump his knee he bent down only to see a cute blond girl almost 9 years old.

"Are you alright?"

"Mmm.." The blond girl says. "I'm alright my nose just hurts. I'm sorry I ran into you mister."

Shoichi smiled seeing the innocent face of the girl. "Why were you running?"

The girl then pointed at the balloon that was now stuck below a tree. "That was the balloon that passed earlier." He then looks at the girl and ask. "Is that yours?"

The girl nodded. "I was holding it but then a strong wind came and blew it out of my grasp. I followed it not looking so I bumped into you."

Shoichi chuckled not because of the explanation of the girl but he chuckled because he felt that it has been so long that he had been in a conversation like this. He said smiling. "Do you want me to get it for you?"

The girl smiled innocently. "Yes! Thank you so much mister!"

"Shoichi, my name is Shoichi. What about you?" He ask taking the girl's hand and walking to the tree where the balloon was stock. The girl said smiling. "My name is Reminence."

"Reminence? What a unique name!"

"Wah!, really?" The girl said excitedly. "Do you want to know how I got my name?"

Shoichi pondered and said. "Yeah, I want to know but first let me get your balloon."

Shoichi climbed the tree and got the balloon easily. "Here let's tie it to your hands so you won't let it go next time alright?"

"Okay, like my mommy always said. You really have to hold on to what's really important not just now but for the past, present and future." The girl said trying to impersonate her mother voice, she then giggled.

Shoichi then ask. "Where is your mother?"

"She's coming here. We always meet here and walk around the park."

"Why? Can't your mother accompany you?"

"She is very busy, and I don't want to be a burden to her or to anyone else that's why I want to be strong. Can you stay by me until she comes here?" The girl said smiling innocently.

"Yeah, sure"

The girl smiled again. "Come on Shoichi, let's go take a seat. So I can tell you already how I got my name." She pulled Shoichi and they sat on a bench near the seesaw.

The girl then said. "You see my mommy is an author she writes many kind of stuff, and she was just like any normal person but them because of an accident she lost her sense of hearing. I was just a baby back then; we originally live in a rural area. It was a peaceful town but then mommy said that there was a fight going on by these two large famiglias and our town became the battlefield that was when mommy lost her sense of hearing." The girls smiled sweetly.

Hearing the story the girl just said he wandered how could she smile like that. "How can you smile? Aren't you angry that they were the ones that made you mother deaf?"

The girl answered. "You see mommy said, you can't do anything that has already happened, you can just prepare for the future but that does not mean you should forget the past completely. So mommy named me Reminence so she still can remember the past even though it's painful. She said that past is part of her so she doesn't want to forget." The girl suddenly put her arms around Shoichi's face and said. "Don't cry Shoichi."

"Heh?" Shoichi questioned, tears dripping from his eyes. "When did I start to cry?" Shoichi remembered it as the girl was telling her story that first time where the Vongola and Millefiore Famiglias clash and the town that was nearby got caught in the crossfire, the town was obliterated and there were only survivors since the Vongola protected the town. He never thought that he would meet a survivor in the town. Shoichi covered his face.

"Ah.. its mommy." The girl said suddenly. "I'll go get her." She jumped joyfully and run toward her mommy she has blond color hair. She dragged her mommy to Shoichi. The girl them made a sign language telling. (Mommy this is Shoichi. He helped me got my balloon back and he also accompanied me until you got here.) The mother smiled to Shoichi and made a sign language to the girl telling. (Tell this nice young man thank you from me.)

Luckily Shoichi knows sign language and understood what the mother said. Shoichi made a sign language to the mother. (You don't have to. I know about sign language.) The mother smiled.

(Thank you for accompanying my daughter.)

(It was my pleasure; she has a strong spirit and is very fun to be with.) The mother giggled a little even though there was no sound produce by it.

(Do you want to have lunch with us? This is the least I can do for you.)

"Yeah! Mommy is right. Please have lunch with us."

Shoichi pondered, it was already 12:30 in the afternoon he should be getting back to the headquarters, he did leave without permission but the girl tugged his jacket and said with puppy eyes. "Please?"

Shoichi smiled weakly. "Sure"

They went to a diner and sat at the corner. (Please wait here, me and my daughter will just order. Do you want anything?) The mother asks. Shoichi then replied. (I'll just have anything.) The mother smiled and she and her daughter went to the counter to order.

Shoichi just sat there while watching outside through the window, this happening was really relieving him. He can't take everything and just shut it down completely there will be a point will that Shoichi would break and this happening is making him relieve all the bent up emotions he can't express. He had a feeling that Byakuran already knew that he left and had sent somebody to follow him. He does not know where the person is but Shoichi could feel it. He closed his eyes.

He then accidently imagined what the scene would become after Byakuran had ruled the world. He saw through the window the destroyed cars everywhere. The leafs of the tree were burning with fire and people walking in line being held in chains and the diner he was in right now it's roof was torn off and even though it was in the middle of the day the skies were painted with the color of red-orange. Shoichi opened his eyes quickly and closed it again to stop the tears going out of his eyes.

"Shoichi?" The girl said. "Are you alright?"

"Ah… yes.. I was just spacing out a bit."

The mother and her daughter came back with their lunch and they talk about some topics. After lunch they decided to visit a bookstore that had published the books of the girl's mother and she gave her a book entitled. "The Cruelty and Happiness of Life" Noon then came and they decided to go home. The mother made a sign language that said. (I hope all the things we talk about and the book I gave you will help you and you can't keep everything for yourself. Be strong. That is my advice to you.)

Shoichi replied. (Thank you so much Elena.)

They separated ways and Shoichi then decided to go back to the park, talking with the girl and her mother made Shoichi's resolve to ascertain a happy future stronger. Then he saw near a store a family picture, he thought of his family he dialed his family home number and a familiar voice answered. "Hello, this is the Irie residence."

"Ahm Mom.." Irie says. There was a long silence before he hears the joyful scream of his mother. "Shoici! My baby boy, how are you? It has been a long time since you called. We don't know what has happened to you. Where were you? Have you been well?"

Shoichi smiled. "Mom.. I'm alright, I'm sorry that I haven't called in a while I was really busy with work and all. Anyway I called you because I'm going home in 4 days."

"Really?" Her mother's happy voice said. "Do you want us to pick you up at the airport?"

"Ah.. no. I still have things to do. I'll just be the one to come home." Shoichi heard her mother sigh.

"Shoichi?" Her mother said. "I am very happy that we will be able to see you again. You have become really successful, you are not that little Shoichi I know that gets stomachache every now and then. I don't know if you will accept this advice or not but my mother's intuition is tingling me. I just want so say be brave, we will be waiting for you to come home."

"Thank's mom." Shoichi smiled. I'll be going now. Bye mom."

"Bye my son."

Shoichi cut the line. He sighs. "I'll be going home in 4 days."

On the other hand in the Millefiore Headquarters, Byakuran was listening to the recorded conversation that Shoichi just had with his mother. Byakuran listens as he eat his favorite marshmallows. "Shou-chan" He says silently but deadly. "You really do want to leave me. Why Shou-chan?"

Shoichi watches the sky it was already painted red-orange and the sun was already setting. He suddenly then imagined the image again when Byakuran had ruled the world. The park now was empty and sounds of the rusting metal echoing. The trees had all disappeared. "I have to." He says silently. He decided to go back to the headquarters. He had to make sure a happy life for everyone for the past, present and future.

As Shoichi cell phone was ringing waiting for the other line to pick up. He heard a tree crash to the ground and a scream; he thought that the man Byakuran had ordered to follow him had targeted the girl and her mother so he ran to it. Only to see two men dropped to the ground with holes in their stomachs his eyes followed the collapse man, he then felt death and vengeance Shoichi then look forward and it almost made his heart stop. The 3 Vindice was there with their cloaks and their chain weapons. One of the Vindice said.

"Irie Shoichi, your sin is you're very existence, your irresponsibility of your past and future has driven this world to destruction." He was then suddenly surrounded by chains and they disappeared into thin air

Shoichi's cellphone dropped to the ground and on the other line you can hear. "Shoichi-sama! Shoichi-sama!"

YES! I have finish Chapter 8! YEAH I know this is kinda a boring chapter. But hey there's a cliff hanger. Hehehe I made this so there is a bit excitement in the next chapter. Poor Shoichi! It seems like everything he has done is always wrong. Alright in the next chapter, Byakuran to the rescue!