Chapter 1

Tsuna didn't have the energy to run to school anymore. A small jog would hurt his leg even more. He was encountered by a couple of bullies and ended up having to protect his precious sketchbook for dear life. He couldn't let them see or touch it, and he'd be damned if anyone did. The sketchbook was like his lifeline, full of things that he didn't want anyone to see.

He was tempted to cut classes but knew that Nana wouldn't let him hear the end of it nor his sister. He let out a sigh and clutched his knapsack even tighter, afraid that his sketchbook would somehow disappear. Just thinking of it being in the wrong hands was even worse. He shuddered, looking around, his unusual heightened senses picking up a small presence.

He looked at his watch and widened his eyes. Only ten minutes to get to school on time before the infamous prefect would bite him to death. He quickened his pace despite the pain and let out a sigh of relief when he got there just a minute or two away from the bell to start ringing.

"Hurry up and get to class, herbivore," a deep voice said. "Or else I'll bite you to death."

Tsuna flushed in embarrassment before rushing to class. He kept his head down and tripped over a leg that was sticking out from a nearby desk. He didn't try to save his fall; he only hugged his knapsack even tighter to his chest to prevent his sketchbook from falling out and slipping into other people's hands.

"Oi, Dame-Tsuna, you fell again?"

"Tripping on thin air. How unmanly."

"He wasn't manly to begin with."

There was a roar of laughter and it made Tsuna's stomach churn. He blocked them out, stumbling to his feet before a foot slammed down on his back. It was Hiro, one of his main bullies.

Shit ran through Tsuna's head.

"You look fresh this morning," Hiro said. Tsuna could tell that the taller boy was grinning. "Did you like our present? Just to let you know, it'll be daily from now on. We'll give it to you every single day."

With each word, he gave more pressure on Tsuna's back. Tsuna bit his lip and could taste the metallic blood in his mouth.

The doors slammed open, causing everyone to jump and scramble for their seats.

"Tomoko-chan!"

"Good morning, Tomoko-chan!"

"How's your day, Tomoko-san?"

"You look so pretty today, Tomoko-san!"

Tsuna crawled on the floor while Hiro's eyes was on his sister. He finally reached his seat, which was situated all the way in the back next to the window. Sadly, that's the only (small) aspect of school he liked.

When the teacher came in, apologizing for her lateness, class immediately started in its usual boring, dull way. It didn't take long for Tsuna to doze off, entering la la land.

He was in a beautiful meadow with lush grass and the bluest sky. The fragrance coming from the vibrant flowers soothed him.

"Hello, Tsuna," a voice said. It was a man's voice, deep and warm.

Tsuna jumped, looking around frantically with wide eyes. There was a small laughter. It wasn't taunting but kind and gentle.

"You cannot see me yet, Tsuna," the voice continued. "You are not ready. However, I have faith in you."

"W-what are you talking about?" Tsuna said, hugging himself tightly as if ridding an imaginary pain.

"You will know in due time," the voice said softly.

"Wait! D-don't leave." Tsuna wanted to know this man, see this man. He didn't care if he was just some figment of his imagination or some symptom of an illness. He just felt so alone...

"I will never leave your side, Sawada Tsunayoshi."

A sudden pain exploded in his forehead and he entered reality again. Tsuna groggily looked down to see pieces of chalk on his desk. The whole class laughed.

"Sawada-san," the teacher said, her eyebrow twitching, "since you were paying attention oh-so-well, please solve the formula on the board."

Math...oh, he hated math with every single cell in his body.

So he said the smartest thing he could think of. "Eto...34?"

He prayed to every single god he knew out there to, at least, make the number he said right.

"Nice try, Sawada-san," the teacher said, turning her back on him. "But what you said is wrong."

"Dame-Tsuna can't even solve anything for his life!"

"The problem is for elementary kids!"

"You should go back to kindergarten, Dame-Tsuna!"

They should think of better insults, Tsuna thought unconsciously.

"I'm sorry, sensei," he said quietly.

"Anyway, Tomoko-san, please answer the question," the teacher said, ignoring him.

Everyone silenced, their eyes on the cold, calculating girl in bated breath. Tsuna couldn't help but roll his eyes at this. His sister wasn't God or anything, and yet they devour her answer like some kind of fountain of youth.

"It's 16, sensei," his sister said, pushing up her glasses.

"Good, good," the sensei praised with a glowing grin. "As expected, Tomoko-san."

Tsuna just went back to sleep, making an attempt to block out all the jeers and insults.

"If only Dame-Tsuna was like Tomoko-chan," a girl snickered.

Yeah, there was nothing wrong at all.

Tsuna hid on the roof during lunch, knowing that no one would really have the guts to disturb the prefect. He closed the door carefully, tensing slightly when it made a small squeak. He crept quietly to his side of the roof and took out his sketchbook, laying it carefully on his lap. He didn't have much of an appetite so he just sat there, gazing at the blue sky above.

There were no clouds. It was blue, vast, and just beautiful. A strong pull came in his chest and he immediately reached out for his sketchbook, wincing in pain. He flipped to a blank page, took his pencil, and started to draw rapidly.

There was a scream in the background, the sound of metal against metal. A sharp and loud gunshot rang through his head, echoing painfully as it faded. He could smell the metallic scent of blood and felt fear seize control of his body. It was hard to believe that this only happened in an instant before it passed. To Tsuna, it felt like an eternity.

He covered his mouth with his hand as he looked down at his creation. Terror took ahold of him.

No, he thought. Impossible.

But death seemed to like the idea of impossible.

Tsuna looked both ways in case anyone was watching. The school was already dismissed. The hallways were empty. He let out a small sigh of relief before taking out a brown envelope from his knapsack, hoping that this would work, and slid it under the door quietly. He bolted out of there, ignoring the sore pain in his leg.

"Hey!" a voice shouted from behind him.

Adrenaline pulsed through Tsuna's veins. He had to keep going. He couldn't get caught.

When he thought that he was a good distance away, he limped all the way home. He didn't know whether the warning would be enough or that the method of doing so was such a good idea. The prefect was smart enough to guess, right? Hopefully he wouldn't take it the wrong way.

He just prayed to whatever god out there to give him some reassurance that he did the right thing. There was none. Not even the wind blew. There was only uncertainty and dread.

Hibari wasn't happy. A few herbivores were stupid enough to bring a couple of firecrackers to school and ruined the peace that he cherished with every single fiber in his body. Another group was smoking and doing drugs near the school. They weren't students but Hibari bit them to death anyway. No one disturbs the peace of Namimori under his watch and, clearly, no exceptions.

When he entered his office, his brow twitched slightly at the amount of paperwork on his desk. Too much damage, too many rules broken, not much discipline. He would have to enforce the rules a bit harder.

"Ah, Kyo-san," Kusakabe said, "there's something you need to see."

The taller male handed him a brown envelope. "Someone slid it under the door. I tried to go after the person but he was too quick."

Hibari opened the envelope and took out the piece of paper within. He kept his composure in check when he saw the content. It was him, vividly and accurately drawn, but he didn't have the time to appreciate the accurate lines and depiction. It was how the person drew him.

The sketch was just gruesome. Blood streamed down his face and was splattered all over his clothes, his limbs strewn on the floor; his eyes were wide in shock and lifeless. Hibari couldn't help but smirk slightly. Even in death he was still graceful.

Call him egotistical but this was too interesting to let down. A challenge. He believed it to be worthwhile.

In the top corner, words were written in neat but shaky handwriting: Be careful.

"Kusakabe," he said, handing him the sketch,"find the person. I expect it to be done quickly."

His companion widened his eyes as he looked over the gruesome depiction of his president. "K-Kyo-san, what is this?"

"Go before I bite you to death," Hibari said with a small scowl.

"Hai!"

As soon as Kusakabe left, Hibari looked out the window with his arms crossed over his chest.

Yes, he thought with a smirk. It'll be interesting to meet death again.

A/N All mistakes are mine. I'm sorry if any of the characters are too OOC. I actually just started this anime (Yes, I know...I'm so late...TT^TT) and thought of all of the possibilities. It's a good anime, but can someone tell me when it gets a bit serious...?

I've been reading a bunch of fanfics about this kind of topic where Tsuna isn't the Vongola Decimo and this idea struck me. I'm sorry if it isn't original but I couldn't help it! Haha.

I've noticed there isn't much of an interaction between the characters but the next chapter will introduce Tsuna's family and this chapter is basically a set up so you can get the general idea of what's going on.

Pairings are undecided. Major AU. Suggestions? Haha. Sorry! I just wanted to put my own twist.

I'm only making this longer...-_-

Anyway, please review and tell me what you think! Thank you! ^^

Ciao~