iIIi
Red
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...
Life as Sawada Tsunayoshi continued normally for the next couple of years.
Now that he's officially twelve years old, his mother had been more lenient on Tsuna's afterschool activities. She had found out about his little school escapades after he had forgotten to come home before curfew, he expected to be chewed out when she found him hunching over at his favorite table in the public library going over several notes on his previous finding and comparing it to the ones on the screen in front of it, but-- instead of doing what normal parents do, she only scolded him lightly. She was more amused of the fact he tried to hide his detours rather than focusing on his rule-breaking habit.
His mother was too good for this world. Even despite her problematic son, she was never harsh with him. A little airheaded, yes. But she had no single mean bone in her. Honestly, sometimes Tsuna wondered why his mother married his father. He could see why he would want to tie the knot with her, but he couldn't see the reason why she wanted to even marry him.
Of course, once she found out, she had extended his curfew from 17:00 to 20:00 and told him that he's free to go to the library whenever he wanted.
And another reason why his mother had allowed him to be out so late without supervision despite being a sixth-grader was because Tsuna had shown a level of maturity not a normal twelve years old would have.
Instead of wasting his time trying to make friends with kids who will most likely never be in the same page with him, he spent his days researching, studying, and being a generally good-boy that she doesn't have the heart to stop him.
Tsuna knew he worried his mother with his lack of attention in his supposed field of study (whatever they were learning in school wasn't as interesting as the reading material he usually divulged himself in), but she also trusted him enough to not obsess over his well-being.
She trusted him enough to let him spend his days away in the library without questioning his reading material. And that, was a big deal.
For a normal pre-teen, this would be the most unexciting activity. No one liked to waste four to five hours inside the public library, learning and reading 'adult-stuff' that would suck the joy out of any fun-loving children.
But then again, those normal pre-teen had no identity crisis and certainly didn't have their life-force shattered by their own absentee father and his Boss.
Tsuna had finished reading the reports months ago, but there's still a lot he doesn't understand. He knews the numerous theories like the back of his hand, but he didn't know how it works. Practically. Not that Tsuna was complaining, of course, he found researching to be as fun as people-watch! Every day there's always something he could learn. In Tsuna's case, research. But, it was always frustrating when Tsuna did not obtain the answers he needed.
And so, whenever he was stumped in one area, he would take note of it in his notebook, grab his bag and phone, before going to the public library to use their computers.
For some reason, even without owning a library card (something that he could only get once he's thirteen), the librarian and numerous staff had come to accept him like some sort of biological extention to the library itself. Judging by how much he spent his time in the building, it was safe to assume that he only needed a spare tooth brush and blankets before he would feel right at home.
It also helped that the place was quiet, and people minded their own business and didn't mock him like the children in his class usually did.
...
Upon his arrival, Tsuna didn't waste any time before going to one of the computer in the farthest corner in the library near biography section. As usual, no one occupied it, and so far he didn't see anyone within ten meters radius from the table.
There's privacy, somewhat.
Tsuna settled his bag down and turned the computer on with a tap of a random button in the keyboard. Every one of them were always set on stand-by, so whomever wanted to use it doesn't have to wait for the cold boot.
Tsuna typed the password ('123456Password' seriously, how had no one changed it in years? The password was as good as an open door to a castle full of gold), and waited for it to load.
Once it did, Tsuna wasted no time to open his notebook.
There were scribbles of notes from his previous visit regarding Dying Will Flames, but now, his attention was on a more interesting subject.
Arcobaleno.
They were said to be the Strongest Seven, seven individual people with the fate of their world riding on their shoulders.
The most respected group in the underground, placed upon pedestal, Family upon Families fought over their favor. And some even led a chivil war to win their allegiance.
But, as Tsuna began to peruse pages after pages of their supposed existence, it was clear to him that these Seven individual was not as lucky as many think they were.
For one-- according to the report currently displayed on the screen, they were the main pillar of Tri-ni-sette which (he thought with a disbeliefing snort) were cursed into infancy. How could these Elder think that mere Seven individual babies were able to hold the pillar that held the balance of the whole goddamned world was beyond him. And this was coming from a twelve year old core-less kid.
Secondly, they were supposed (forced; enslaved) to feed the pacifier with their own flames to 'ensure the safety of human race'.
And lastly... oh God, no. One of them has even bigger responsibility that the others. If that's even possible, the Sky Arcobaleno has the unluckiest fate- ever. He doesn't envy anyone in that position.
... What's with these mafia and their obsession on sacrificing other people's life? They weren't even given any choice.
No, they were choosen by some psychotic man known only as Iron Hat.
Arcobaleno was only one-third of the set, Tsuna couldn't bear the thought of the other two set having to do the same thing as them, but he still couldn't fathom what significance they hold.
Now that he thought about it, why only them? Weren't they a set of three? What about the other two? Did they have any significance on holding 'the world fate's upon their shoulder' as the Arcobaleno? What even were they? Did they even exsist?
Thinking about the possibilities made his head throb, and he doubted that sitting there would answer his never ending questions.
Tsuna glanced at the far corner of the screen, looking at the digital clock blankly before letting out a girlish yelp once he realized he's almost late for curfew.
He would make it home if he run.
Somehow, at the back of his mind, his instinct urged him that he should make haste.
Tsuna hastily shoved his notes and pen inside his bag, he looked on the opened browser before going into the settings and deleting the search history along with its cookies, caches, and anything else that had been running for the past few hours. Once he was done, he shut off the computer, knowing that this particular one wouldn't be used until he'd need it.
...
It was quiet.
Tsuna slipped into the house in confusion, the front door was slightly ajar, it wasn't even closed nor locked when he arrived. No lights were turned on, and the only source of lightning had been the glow of the moonlight.
Something about this situation was terribly wrong. And he doesn't need that voice in the back of his mind to urgently whispers him to run. Run where when he's already at home?
There was a muffled curse coming from the hallway in the direction of his mother's room followed by a loud, echoing, thud.
Tsuna's heart hammered inside his chest, suddenly grateful that he never made a habit of announcing himself when he arrived.
Despite his instict screaming at him to run and never come back, he crept towards the sound, trying to see what ruckus that caused it.
He stopped when he stepped into something wet, a sticky puddle on the otherwise clean house.
That's weird, his mother always made sure to clean their home, so why?
He crouches down and swiped at the wet floor, nose wrinkling at the strong smell of iron and the sticky sensation it brought as he touched it. Tsuna brought his wet hand to his face to observe the watery substance closer.
His hand was smeared with red.
Tsuna could feel the bile rising in his throat as he recognize what it was.
It was blood. There was a warm, sticky blood inside his house.
And he had yet to see his mother.
...
iIIi
"Forget painting the town red, I'd paint the world red. Starting with Them."
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...
AN: told ya guys shit would go down.
And so! The warning this fic has is now... in motion. IDK if I would change the rating due to the nature this story is going but... nah...
Guys I can feel your disbelief and irritation, but, I promise I'd update within a day or two after this horrible cliff-hanger lol.