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Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn. Any characters and/or familiar plots in this fan fiction belong to Akira Amano. Anything unfamiliar with the audience belongs to me.

Chapter 1

Pilot

I could say that this is the worst day ever.

But then I'd sound like every other teenage protagonist.

Either way, to me—in my eyes—this could, possibly, be the day the world ends.

This is the part when,a character on the sidelines would say, "Don't push your luck."

Yet, I was more than certain that it had ran out already. If me being on the verge of a mental breakdown was anything to go by.

For one, long, moment that seemed to extend into eternity... I genuinely loathed my life.

I... hated it.

I inhaled deeply, nose and mouth buried in my cupped hands, bundling all of my feelings into a tight tight ball and swallowing fiercely, the tears just waiting and waiting to trail down my cheeks in a rush of—

Damn… Damn. Damn! Damn! Damn it! God! Damn It!

How is it that a human being could endure so much, yet the littlest thing could break them up from the inside out?

It seems, that in my case, my mother's little words could annihilate any will I had believed myself of possessing.

I could feel something breaking...

"Mel?" I jumped, acutely aware of what was going on inside of me and what that might look like to anyone sneaking a peak into the staff room.

"Yeah?" I responded reflexively, voice cracking in the middle. I cleared my throat in embarrassment, trying to keep my facial expression neutral and hoping the girl wouldn't say anything.

The new hire continued, but whether it was out of consideration or because she genuinely hadn't seen the water pooling on my lower lashes, I don't know, "There's a girl asking for you."

"Ah," I said, knowing who she was talking about, "That's my little sister. Thanks."

"No problem." She replied easily, "Have you clocked out, yet?"

"Yeah," I responded, standing and feeling mildly relieved that my knees were still working, "you're closing right?"

"Yeah."

"People have been complaining about the temperature in the lap pool. It's still at eighty-five degrees, but there's no harm checking on it every now and then." I advised, grabbing my duffel bag and throwing it on my shoulder. "See you tomorrow."

I walked out of the staff room and tried to remember what her name was, but I gave up soon enough when I made eye contact with familiar brown eyes.

"Hey, bola*." I greeted, lifting a hand and running it through her hair. I felt the tension in my diaphragm dissipate at the simple motion. The texture of the smooth strands between my fingers was mundanely intimate, and I was never more glad for the feeling.

"Mami's mad at you." She said.

All of a sudden I was keenly aware of the argument I had had with her not even five minutes ago.

"Yeah," I said, trying to calm the raging emotions inside of me, "I know." I forcibly turned us away, as if walking away from that one spot would make everything better again, "Let's go. What time does Lupe* get out?"

"I dunno. Ask her." I sighed, more at the prospect of having to pull out my phone than actually texting the six little words. "Okay, give me a minute."

I pulled out my phone and proceeded to open the texting app, feeling my littlest sister getting bored and turning away to anything that could grab her attention.

What time do you get out? I promptly sent, taking note of the time and wondering how much time we would have to spare.

"Hey, bola, wanna get food while we wait?" I asked, opening up a social media app.

"Hey, there's a ball in the water." I heard her call out.

"Hm?" I glanced up to see her crouching on the deck, pointing to a ball floating on top of the water. "Leave it," I said, turning my attention back to my phone, "The new girl will get it. Do you wanna get food or nah?"

"I can—" I looked up at the same moment she fell into the water with a shriek.

Somehow, I was able to process that I wasn't on duty and that the new girl should be hopping in. I was able to process that I would be a liability and that it would cause the company trouble if I were to do anything. I was able to process that I don't have experience in how to handle active drowning but—

None of that mattered.

Because—

That body drowning in the water—

That person visibly struggling to reach the surface of the fifteen foot pool—

—is my little sister.

My little sister was drowning in front. Of. Me.

How could I not actively save her?

How could I not do something?

Fuck it.

Fuck everything else!

I yelled her name dropped everything in my arms ran across the deck and jumped into the water before I could properly think of it.

The water was cold and dragged at my clothes, but I was more worried about her being alright by the end of this. "Hey!" I called again, growling in panic and frustration at her flailing limbs, "Calm—!"

I was close enough for her to latch on to me, and the moment she did, I swallowed a mouthful of water as she pushed me down. My first instinct was to go up and breathe, but I managed to calm the brief flutter of panic in my chest and keep myself from fighting my way to the surface. I pushed at the girth of my little sister's abdomen and let her head pop up enough for her inhale and calm the fuck down because if she continued to panic we would both drown.

And somehow, between the struggling and thrashing and treading, I realized—

I'm not strong enough to pull her out of the water.

I'm not strong enough to save her.

I am not strong enough to save her.

And to my racing heart and mind, I could only think, She just needs air, she just needs air, she just needs to breathe, someone will help, someone will pull her out, she just needs air, she just needs air, she just needs to breathe—

My lungs were about ready to burst, and I slowly exhaled to give them more time to last—but this only made me sink and god—

My thighs were burning from my beating treading, and the more I exhaled, the more I sank, and the more and more my arms strained to keep the girl above water.

My fingertips left the skin of her belly, and I heard a gurgle that set my heart ablaze and thoughts racing desperately with, No! NotHerNotHerNotHerNotHer!—WHERE IS EVERYONE?—WHY WON'T ANYONE HELP?!—They'll come soon! They're coming!—They'recomingThey'recomingThey'recomingThey'recoming!—Breathe! Just breathe! She just needs to breathe!—Comeon!Comeon!Saveher!Saveher!She's drowning!—WHY AM I FAILING?—Heretheycome! They'realmosthere! Justalittlebitmore!Justalittlebitmore! Just a little bit more!

There was a pressure building against my temples, and my eyes stung from the chlorine in the water. I unconsciously inhaled and felt a familiar, yet unfamiliar, feeling encase my chest and throat—my ears popping at the sudden invasion and depth—It hurts! It hurts! Make it stop!

My mind was slowing down, and my muscles were getting heavier and heavier. I found it harder and harder to think or even will myself to continue, but the words continued to repeat themselves over and over—Ihavetosaveher!Shecan'tdie!Ihavetosaveher!Shecan'tdie!—COMEON!COMEON! COME ON!—Justalittlemore!Justalittlemore!Almostthere!—DON'T YOU DARE DIE ON ME!

I was sinking I belatedly realized, and any sudden movements would send everything inside of me to—AAHHH! It hurts! It hurts! It hurts!—WHERE IS EVERYONE?!—Make it stop!—She's dying! Sheisn'tbreathing!No!No!Not yet!—COMEON!COME ON!—WHAT KIND OF BIG SISTER AM I?!

The splashing sounds of flailing limbs were gone, and the sudden silence made everything go numb in relief because—

Thank god.

THANK GOD!

She's okay.

—someone pulled her out in time.

A vague instinct pierced my mind at the previous thought: Swim. Surface. Air. I kicked once, twice, and felt the tension in my mind pop.

The world went dark.

Glossary

bola—literally translates to, "ball"; here, it is used as a term of affection

Lupe—common nickname for, "Guadalupe,"; here, it is a nickname that has no relation to the name itself (i honestly love telling this story, so if any of you guys are curious PM me!)

Hello all,

Let me know what you guys think!

Please review!

—prince