Turning around, Tsuna connected with something solid with a thud. He groaned.

Did Reborn put something weird and dangerous in his bed again? Too tired to face whatever his tutor came up this time, he hesitantly reached out a hand anyway.

Tsuna frowned as his fingertips brushed over something soft covering a cool and damp surface. Small roots entangled in his fingers.

"Hm?"

Rubbing his eyes, he looked around. All around him were patches of mose and fallen leaves on the earth. Roots enclosed the space, light of the day shining through gaps.

"Ah, that is right. I am not at home."

Sighing he examined the tender spot on his temple. He had most likely hit it against the tree trunk while sleeping.

Probing the slowly forming bump he nearly smacked himself three times due to having coordination issues. His smaller size still needed getting used to.

"Well, what next…"

Trailing off at hearing his own voice again. He tried to imagine Reborn speaking with it instead.

Tsuna giggled. Never could have taken his tutor seriously like this. Though he knew for a fact that Reborn would have shamelessly taken advantage of sounding so sweet and innocent.

Shuddering, he quickly shook that thought off. No one wanted for Reborn to have even more weapons at the ready. Especially none to improve his charm. He was bad enough already.

A small smile tugged at his lips. Tsuna loved him anyway. As he had come to love all the Arcobaleno over time. They had been there for him, when few others were. Supporting and cheering him on each in their own way. Some more…forceful than others.

Grounding himself by breathing in the fresh smell of wood and earth, he focused. No time for this now. He needed a plan.

So, he had a hiding spot already. Few could enter here, though something with long arms or paws could still reach him.

The forest outside was unfamiliar to him. Now that he considered it, it made sense. He had died after all. Maybe he had been reborn in another world? But then, why was he a toddler and no infant…

Due to having seen the Arcobalenos daily, he was grateful for the small mercy. Though it brought about its own difficulties. Opposite to them, he obviously lacked his adult strength.

Still maybe his condition was an after-effect of the Arcobaleno Curse despite the differing circumstances? Maybe because he lifted it instead of being cursed directly?

Did it prevent him from being properly reincarnated? Was there even such a thing as reincarnation?

Attempting to ruffle his hair in frustration, he promptly poked himself in the eye instead.

"Ow."

Yup, coordination would definitely be off for a while. However did the Arcobaleno ever manage in their small forms? He felt like his whole being was out of balance and needed to readjust. A terrifying sensation for a Sky, whose very nature was about harmony.

"Not lingering on that thought." Nausea spread through him at the very concept. Maybe it was why the Sky Arcobalenos were the only ones able to choose their size? To protect their sanity?

"Anyway, Is there a way for me to know if I am in a different world?"

Musing on that for a moment, he finally shrugged. In one way or another, he would find out soon. There had to be differences. So he would cross that particular bridge when he came to it. No time for fretting over it now. For now he would go step-by-step.

On that note he had recognised only a few of the plants so far. Mainly common grass, mose and such. None of the berries had been even remotely familiar.

Tsuna's stomach rumbled. Now that he became aware of it he felt the hunger gnawing at him. Food and water first then.

A lesson from Reborns survival training came to him then. Always go for water first. Gave you more time to search for edibles. Dehydration was to be avoided at all costs.

Crawling out of his hiding spot, Tsuna went on his merry way. Always paying attention to all and any sounds indicating potential danger. Everything was calm though.

In the back of his mind he noted that his eyes and ears were sharper than he remembered. Sounds that had previously been out of his hearing range, were now clear as day. Birds flying far above him are easily visible with one glance.

Even little details like that some of said birds were some kind of eagles were obvious to him. Thankfully though they had not spotted him. Having the attention of birds of prey might be a hassle.

An image of Hibari flashed before his eyes and he hastened his steps. Nobody ever looks up, the leader of the Disciplinary Committee had once told him. The smile on his face, had caused Tsuna to quickly excuse himself. Since then he had made it a habit to regularly check above him for threats. Usually that being Hibari himself.

Being too distracted by the birds above, Tsuna ran straight into a bush.

"Oomph!"

Picking twigs out of his hair he froze. His fingers brushed against something pointy. Nope, not going there. He did not mind the twigs anyway.

Standing back up from where he had landed on his behind, he paused. He had seen something out of his peripheral view. Turning, a bright smile formed on his face.

There was a tree branch at a level he could reach. If he went on his tiptoes and went at it from just the right angle. There, now-

"Ha!"

Hauling himself upwards, he panted from the effort. His muscles strained to hold onto the branch, but kicking himself off from the tree, he managed it.

Settling himself down to rest for a moment, he glanced around. He was too far down still to see anything but his immediate surroundings. It was beautiful though. Unblemished nature he had never seen before first waking up here.

Small animals were hastening by, branches swaying in a gentle breeze and the forest itself emitted a feeling of ancientness. Acting on a whim, he turned towards the tree trunk and tried to put his arms around it.

Tsuna giggled. It looked like he was trying to engulf a mountain. He knew a few people, who would actually try that. Heck, Reborn would even succeed. In one of his absolutely ridiculous stunts, he tended to pull off.

Laughter bubbled up at Reborn dressed in one of his over-the-top costumes somehow engulfing a whole mountain. It would seem easy too. Reborn was special like that. Another burst of laughter escaped and he quickly put his hands over his own mouth.

Being loud in an unfamiliar setting like this was a bad idea. Did one of the eagles actually change course? Better hurry. It was only being paranoid if the world was not out to get him. Which it was. His tutor had made sure to plant that firmly in his mind.

Eyeing the next highest branch, he carefully calculated the distance and jumped.

"Hie-!"

He fell. Promptly biting his own tongue before more than the smallest sound could escape him. Especially so soon after making his resolve to be quiet.

His back collided painfully with the harsh forest floor. His head thudding on it right after.

For a moment he lay there stunned. Everything was hazy. A headache forming. He just knew there would be another bump forming on the back of his head now. His back arched. Especially where a twig was digging into one of his ribs.

Tenderly touching the back of his head, he winced. It was sticky with blood.

Slowly sitting up he held still until the dizziness faded. Sighing in relief he decided to put any further climbing adventures off for a while. Good vantage point or not.

Looking down he saw a small puddle of blood. Droplets still dripped down even as he watched. Pressing one hand against his head injury, he put pressure on it.

Closing his eyes he nudged his Sky Flames where they were curled up in his chest. They were sluggish to react and acting erratically. They snapped out of his control within seconds.

Tsuna leaned against one of the nearby trees for support. Hissing and shifting position when that jarred the spot, where the twig had dug into his skin.

Reaching out for his Flames again, he nudged only a small part of it this time. It was easier. Still it took countless attempts before he managed to guide it to the spot beneath his hand.

Yet he was a Sky and no Sun. So, all he could do, especially with his inability to properly control them currently, was to gently harmonise his wound with the skin around it. That caused it to scab over faster, even if it did nothing for the pain or any internal injury.

A good way to prevent bleeding out at least. A neat trick his tutor had drilled into him for situations just like this, where no capable doctor or Sun was around to help.

Taking a momentary break, he took a deep breath. Then he nudged a part of his Flames to his back. Focusing especially on the spot just beneath his Scapula, which still sent shooting pain through him.

Wincing he realised that the small tumble had bruised his rib at the very list. Broken it even if he was unlucky. Well, nothing he could do about that. So merely scabbing the wound over, he resigned himself to slower progression from now on. No running with an injury like that.

With the immediate problem fixed, he opened his eyes and blinked as he saw how much time had passed. It had grown colder and darker as evening approached.

His tiny form trembled as a gust of wind blew against his bare skin.

Still he needed to find water at the very least.

Gathering his will power, he slowly made his way forward. Making sure to be mindful of his potentially broken rib. Listening to the sounds of the forest and enjoying the feel of the earth beneath his feet as he went.

For the moment there were few stones on the ground and he avoided them as best as he could. From time to time though, they would dig into his soles, making him wince. This was going to get pretty uncomfortable if he had to go without shoes for much longer.

Thick bushes lay ahead. Pushing through them, he gritted his teeth as their thorns dug into his skin. Small bloody scrapes forming on his tender skin.

On the other side he paused as he could finally hear the soothing sound of a river nearby.

Moving as fast as his battered and tiring body allowed, he walked, jumped and subsequently stumbled towards it. Eyes gleaming as he licked his parched lips.

Coming to a stop before the riverbank, a smile spread on his lips. Only a few stones between him and his prize now.

Carefully climbing over them, he bent forward and scooped up water with both hands. The water turned red.

"Ah, right." He had forgotten that he had touched his wound earlier.

Washing them swiftly and as best as he could without soap, he bent down further to drink directly from the steam instead.

The liquid running down his throat felt heavenly. Each gulp reduced the burning sensation in his throat that he had not even noticed before. A sign of how used to pain, Reborn had made him. An advantage and a disadvantage, depending on the situation.

Tsuna knew Reborn would have scoffed at him. Saying something along the lines that it was important for a Mafia Boss to be aware of his own condition at all times.

A small chuckle escaped him. His tutor was such a worrywart, even if he would never dare to say that to his face. Valued his life too much.

Then again, he had given it away willingly. Or at least agreed to help despite knowing there was a high possibility of dying in the process. If the Arcobaleno had known, they would have stopped him. Which is why Tsuna had made sure Kawahira kept quiet about it.

None of his friends knew either. Though he made sure each of them would be alright without him. Had someone to hold on to and a purpose in lie to strife for. Even his mum. None of them had been the wiser when he went to the meeting with the Arcobaleno never to return again.

Except maybe for Mukuro and Chrome. He had noticed them stopping their hushed conversations multiple times once he came into earshot. Or they were just being themselves. One could never tell with Mukuro. And Chrome was also a Mist after all.

Tsuna intentionally ignored his intuition reminding him of a glimpse of heterochromatic eyes just before the agony had finally ended. His intuition had been weirdly quiet recently, he saw no reason to listen to it now. No matter what Reborn would say to that. Not like he would see him ever again.

Tsuna winced at that thought, drinking one last sip before standing up.

Taking a moment to view the sunset, he was mesmerised by the beauty of it. It coloured the sky in a shade of orange that reminded him of his own Flame. Illuminating the surrounding in a warm glow.

It reflected off the surface of the calm river and made his lips tug upwards. Even the fish appeared to like it as they were now jumping out of the water as if in joy.

A giggle came over his lips as he watched the fish splash into the water and causing water droplets to glimmer in the fading light.

Apparently his assumption of the different world was right as the stars reflected in the water were unfamiliar. Not letting that thought or the temperature dampen his cheery mood, he went looking for another hiding spot.

After all night was quickly approaching and he was not deluded enough to think that the creatures coming out at night were all friendly. So far he had been lucky. Not having come into contact with anything dangerous. But he knew it was only a matter of time.

In his tiny body he could only do so much. He had no weapons to defend himself. Not even clothes to provide the slimmest protection. Heck, even basic control over his limbs was difficult.

If his own body would not bring him in a perilous situation than this unfamiliarity with this new world certainly would.

In the back of his mind his intuition tingled in agreement. It sent a shiver down his spine.