Tsuna woke up with the urgent sensation of wanting to puke. He lurched to a sitting position, twisting on his side, blindly seeking the edge of his bed…only for his stomach to settle after a few more somersaults. The brunet blinked blearily, feeling something like grass under his hands, brain still trying to process what he was seeing, as his surroundings were of an open area instead of his cozy bedroom-

Where was this?

The Sky shot to his wobbly feet, ice running down his spine as he was suddenly aware he was not in his room. Let alone inside a building.

He heard some rustling behind him and he turned around to see Iemitsu climbing up the soft slope Tsuna had found himself on, carefree smile in place.

Understanding washed over him and his core snapped in reply. Tsuna could feel his flames burning his insides, shaking the air around him, rising and coiling around everything like his temper. "You kidnapped me."

The man in front of him, waved a hand in the air, dismissively. Either not noticing or not caring the burning inferno threatening to escape his son. "No, no, we just took you away. We didn't have time for petty discussion, so it was decided we would bring you to Mafia Land for some training. Now, stop with your fit, young man. Listen to your elders."

The holder of the world balance stalked forward, every step leaving its imprint on the earth, weighing far too much as it crushed the world underneath.

(Weighing far too much for a feeble, sickly teen to bear.)

His golden eyes were ablaze with fury. He pointed a shaky finger at the blond man.

"You-!"

Before he could get any more words past his fury, someone else also reached the top of the slope, piercing baby-blue eyes aimed at Iemitsu for a brief second. Instantly his attention was drawn elsewhere, the carefree smile sliding off his face as he locked eyes with a smoldering beast of flames-

In one fluid, practiced move, the assault rifle slung at his back was suddenly in his arms, aimed at the threat. Falco rose to the skies, ready to help his master and Colonello was prepared to shoot when the dark gold energy reached a sudden halt. The fury and anger and lethal intent came to a lull as the stranger stared at him as if he had seen a ghost.

Out of nowhere a spark blew off near the child's face, making him wince in pain and fall back on his butt. The tension broke like glass shattering and Colonello was surprised at the strength of that little spark of Sky flames; so achingly familiar that-

"Colonello, put your gun down, he's-" was as far as Iemitsu got before he was attacked. The little Rain barely had time to kick Iemitsu out of the way of the knife- but weird there was no knife, just a flicker of flames that danced off the unconscious Iemitsu's chest. Stunned, the Rain arcobaleno stared at the oddly inconspicuous teen standing just feet away Same teen that was staring back at him with blazing golden eyes that spoke of a great hunger.

"Colonello…"

A drop of cold sweat rolled down his back.

He aimed his riffle again, this time slowly and carefully. The disturbing creature looked at it with mild curiosity.

Gold burned away to brown next time Colonello raised his eyes to meet him. "Who are you?" He whispered uneasily.

The boy cocked his head, as if finding him interesting. "Finally I meet you, Colonello."

"Who are you?!" Colonello demanded, pretending not to notice how his grip tightened over his weapon, or the way Falco cried, up in the air at sensing his distress.

The teen smiled beatifically, ignoring or not caring about Colonello's reaction. The only gesture he did to acknowledge it was move as slowly and unthreatening as possible as he lowered a hand to his pants pocket, pulling out a chained pacifier with care. With far too thin fingers, he loosened the chain as he projected his flames forward.

Achingly familiar flames enveloped Colonello, making him feel at home for the first time in a very long while as his pacifier blew up in clear light, resonating with kin.

(At the same time, a pit of dread settled on his stomach as he stared at black eyes, behind the beautiful blazing lights of the flames and their own pacifiers.)

(X)

"What do you mean it's not there? Bluebell?"

"Must have gone out of the window!"

Byakuran sighed into his palm, as Bluebell reenacted how her medicine had escaped the room. The Gesso boy still hadn't recovered from his injuries, and ever since he had found his own little Rain sequestered and alone in her hospital room, he had taken to visit her every single day.

Byakuran loved it, feeling himself melt as the girl greeted him with as much enthusiasm as the previous day, if not more. The head nurse in charge of her had finally given in and somewhat accepted Byakuran's presence by the girl's side, quickly realizing that was the fastest way to get the girl to behave. Byakuran still wasn't let alone, nor did they spend much time together and he hadn't quite figured out why she was in the hospital in the first place, or where her parents were, but he had taken on the role of making sure she went through the path to her own recovery.

Even if he had to convince an eight-year-old into taking her medicine. "Bluebell, medicine doesn't just jump off the third floor on its own."

"How would you know!" Bluebell exclaimed, her mouth open wide, to indicate how scandalized she was. She shrunk a little when Byakuran suddenly looked dead serious, a hand to his chin.

"I made a deal with your medicine." He said, making the girl gasp. Byakuran suppressed a smile, trying to inflict his made-up-story with some sort of seriousness. "They'd behave if I promised to visit you, remember?"

The girl pouted as she shifted in place, giving in with endearing ease.

"…What will you do?" The tiny girl asked, admitting the charges.

Byakuran pretended to think this through, tapping a finger against his chin. "Well what should I do?"

Bluebell lurched forward, leaning on him as she giggled, "Nuthin'!"

"Nu-uh. You didn't take your medicine, so I can't stay."

"What?" All cheer drained from her face in a split second, her face scrunching as if she wanted to cry. Byakuran felt his face freeze and he had to muster all of his willpower to pull through with his scheme. Kids were a frightening force.

"We made a deal, Bluebell." Byakuran said in his best grown-up voice, quickly looking away from her puppy dog eyes.

"But- It makes me feel bad!"

Byakuran's smile turned a lot more forced, as he tried to swallow down his paranoia. "How does it make you feel?"

"I dizzy and sleepy. And, and, and I don't like that."

Byakuran inwardly sighed in relief at recognizing those as normal side effects of common medicine (he had read what the hospital was administering them both) as he sat down at his dear Rain's bed. "That's normal, Bluebell. But if you don't like it, how about whenever you start feeling sleepy or dizzy because of your medicine you tell me and I watch over you so nothing bad happens to you?"

Blue eyes sparkled with joy. "Really?"

It was so odd. To have someone look at him like that. Eyes sparkling with joy, a strong faith, an undeserved trust.

(So of course, the first person to ever look at him in a similar way had to be hurt at his hands.)

Bykuran's throat clogged up and he couldn't really tell if it was because of his disbelief, or his guilt.

"If it means you taking your medicine then, yeah." He whispered, trying to keep the heartbreak out of his voice.

.

The strange teenager smiled softly at the sleeping child, not minding he couldn't move as she had used his lap as pillow, nor he cared about his awkward position, between the cold bed railings and the child.

Calloused, slender fingers brushed the hair out of her face as he hummed a made up tune. He was content.

For the first time in a very long time, Byakuran Gesso was content.

(Would it last?)

(x)

Tsuna wasn't stupid. He knew he had unnerved and possibly scared his precious Rain, but this stunt his father had pulled had left him on edge. He was actually going to head back home after knocking the obnoxious man out, but he had been unable to at discovering that his Rain had finally appeared.

But after that first meeting where he had been on the verge of losing his mind, the Sky arcobaleno had abstained himself from seeking the other out, knowing that the man was probably extremely wary of him. He also wanted to be more in control of his temper, to give the other a better impression. It wasn't long, however, before curiosity got the best of him, and Tsuna decided to damn all consequences and talk to his Rain.

Bond or no bond, it was incredibly easy to find his Rain. Tsuna just had to close his eyes and follow the tug within his half-empty core, that led him to a secluded shed, away from the main Mafia Land compound.

"Hey," Tsuna had said, walking up to the cautious soldier. Colonello was already staring at him before Tsuna even opened his mouth, hands hovering over his disassembled rifle he had been in the process of cleaning.

"Hey," he returned, a bit awkwardly. He continued cleaning his weapon but seemed to be open for discussion. At least he tried. He still couldn't believe this was their Sky.

Tsuna smiled, taking a seat on the ground beside him. There was silence for a couple heartbeats as both strangers gauged each other.

"Disappointed?" He asked, abruptly breaching the subject.

Collonelo froze completely, like a deer in headlights. He slanted a look up at him, as he sighed. "No, Tsuna, that's not-"

"It's alright. I would be too." The lonely Sky replied, fast to put his Rain at ease. He cleared his throat and looked away when Collonelo's eyes widened in surprise. "I'm sorry, I didn't come here for that. Um, I was wondering. If I could… ask you some things?"

Wary, the Rain pacifier holder nodded stiffly. What kind of questions would he-?

"What's his name?" Tsuna asked, pointing at the bird of prey now standing next to Colonello, almost shoulder to shoulder. The soldier blinked, caught off guard by such an innocent question.

"What?"

Tsuna smiled. "He's your partner isn't he?"

True to his soldier upbringing, Colonello simply decided not to question it. "Yeah, his name is Falco. Best partner I could ask for. And he tops that little reptile of Reborn for miles!"

Tsuna arched an eyebrow at that, and Colonello couldn't help the sheepish smile it brought. "You and Reborn don't get along, do you?"

"We're rivals!"

Tsuna stared a bit longer than was necessary, that ancient longing returning to his gaze. "How old are you?"

"What?" The soldier asked, his body stiffening immediately as their small moment burst.

"You're younger than Reborn? I get the feeling. I-I know it's a weird question but… uh. I… how did you end up working for CEDEF? Through Reborn?" Tsuna broke his composure at realizing just how private his question might be. Certainly bad for any sort of first meeting.

(But it wasn't his first meeting. He felt like he had known Colonello his entire life.)

"Nah. I had…" The baby hesitated, throwing him a discreet glance. Tsuna smiled apologetically as he understood that he was putting his Rain on the spot.

(Would he be forever distant to everyone he had ever loved?)

"You don't really have to answer. I just want to know a little more about you."

Colonello accepted the sentiment, but it unnerved him by equal parts. "Why?" Why now? Why you? After leaving me alone for so long?

Tsuna sighed, shoulders forced down by the weight of the world.

"I don't know, I…" Tsuna's voice got caught in his throat, unable to continue or not knowing how to proceed.

"You don't have to answer, either." Collonelo offered back with a little confidant smile that just melted Tsuna. There was a brief moment of silence as Tsuna gathered his thoughts, and in the end he couldn't help the murmur of,

"I lost my Rain."

Colonello stiffened, not sure what to make of that. It made it sound as if someone had…

Tsuna understood even before he finished the thought as he hurried to clarify, waving his hands in the air. "H-he's not dead!" That said he sagged in place, as if that much emotion had drained all of his energy. "He was taken away from me. I… I'm sorry I'm not making much sense."

Colonello stared at the traces of loneliness on a thin face. Who was he talking about? He had been the Rain arcobaleno way before this brat was chosen… unless he was talking about-

Did he know Lal? Had something happened to her?

Colonello shook his head. No, he had mentioned a 'he'. There was no way.

Tsuna hugged his knees close to his chest. "It's a long story. But… before you… before I was chosen as the arcobaleno boss, my destiny was something else."

Curious despite himself, Colonello asked, "What was it?"

Dark brown eyes looked at him, "I was the Vongola Decimo."

Colonello felt a chill run down his spine. "And you can't be that still?"

Tsuna laughed hollowly as all reply.

The boy was in love with Colonello. The cursed man seemed to be wary of him, but still sought him out whenever he could, always there to hear him out, and always had a nice word for him regardless of the time. Tsuna felt, as always, a little guilty, but the other never quite appeared in his almost daily visions of his own funeral. So…

That was a good thing, right?

(X)

When Iemitsu finally felt alright again, he decided to ignore everything that had happened and just tossed open the door to the base's kitchen one calm morning.

Disrupting one of the last breakfasts Tsuna would have with his Rain.

Iemitsu's sharp eyes found his son and stared at him with a scary intensity even as he smiled at the boy.

"Good morning, Tsuna." He said as if he was just a father, and Tsuna just his son. "Be sure to eat well and prepare yourself, we'll be training you so you can take Vongola away from Xanxus."

Colonello looked on blandly, sipping his morning coffee; and here he–a complete stranger to the boy– had been thinking he had dropped a couple kilograms since his arrival and was wondering as to why. His eyes returned to the brunet whose taut shoulders were a premonition of something about to go very wrong. The boy lowered his –shaking– hands from his scrambled eggs, one hand turning into a fist before hiding below the table and the other one pressed open-palmed on the wooden table.

"I'm not." He mumbled in a quiet voice that promised retribution even if his eyes couldn't hide the betrayal.

"What was that? Speak louder if you want to make yourself heard." Iemitsu admonished, a sneer growing on his lips when the boy stood up so abruptly his chair screeched against the floor before toppling backwards.

Tsuna had both open palms on the table now, as he tried to not let the raging fire inside him out again. Not in front of his Rain. "I said," he repeated in a terse manner, each word pointed and sharp. "That I am not doing that."

"Who gave you the right to refuse?" Iemitsu chuckled twice with no humor. He rounded on the boy like a lion stalking his prey. "Do you think we can just let the Ninth's death be in vain? Will you let his death be for naught?"

"He died on his own accord!" Tsuna finally snapped, wood creaking underneath his hands and the fire inside him began to burn, begging to be let out –to let loose, to destroy everything. "I told you I wasn't leading Vongola since the very beginning and you just never listen-!"

Iemitsu stalked forward and with a mighty slap, threw the thin boy clean off his feet collapsing in a heap in the resounding silence. The boy slowly sat up, wiping blood from his mouth and looking positively pissed. He did not try to stand up probably because he didn't have any strength left. His face paled and his breathing turned labored but he held himself with pride. "What was that for?" He asked, tasting blood and flames on his tongue.

"We didn't raise you to behave in such a filthy way, Tsunayoshi!" Iemitsu bellowed, staring down at the boy.

That did it.

"'We'? Who's we? Certainly you don't think you had a hand in raising me? In protecting me?" Tsuna laughed hollowly, the ever present weight of his Pacifier heavy against his leg. Iemitsu was looking at him with new eyes, as if he was finally registering that Tsuna was a poor wretched soul.

"What happened to you?" He mumbled, concerned. Tsuna continued to laugh, a hand pressed against his forehead as if to hide his eyes. As if trying to escape, very dark flames, a tad too dark to be considered orange, seeped from his hand, bathing his face in it for just a brief moment before Tsuna regained control over himself.

Black eyes stared back.

"Who are you?" Iemitsu could hear himself asking the boy at his feet. He stepped backwards, suddenly looking unsettled.

Tsuna returned his stare, before looking away. He looked tired. "Does it matter?

"I'm not your puppet."

(X)

The fan overhead whirled annoyingly as Reborn and Nana stared at each other in silence. The woman cocked her head, smiling at him, "is there something wrong, Reborn-kun?"

The epitome of innocence.

How had he been able to be fooled like this? And by a housewife no less?

Reborn sighed, no that was not correct. He had been fooled by a protective mother. Who was willing to risk everything for her child. But still… he couldn't take this slight to his pride just because. And he would not stand lies and pretend in the house he was raising Tsuna in.

"Nana-san, I believe we need to talk."

"Hmm?"

Reborn stared right back at her clueless mask before dropping the bomb. "I know you know a man named Checkerface."

Instantly, as if it had been an illusion, her cheerful demeanor disappeared, leaving behind only delicate but sharp angles on a tired face as her eyes made of steel pierced him, her chin raised high. Reborn briefly wondered if this woman was actually a holder of Mist flames before he forced himself to focus. He mentally prepared himself as if he was going head to head with another hitman –and judging by the way she had been able to fool even him, that might actually not be far from the truth.

"Nana-san, I'm here to help Tsuna. When I got here I did not know about his full circumstances, but I am on his side. On your side. After all, I too, was cursed by Checkerface."

A gasp.

Well, at least she did not know everything. It would have been the last straw if both the mother and the son kept all the secrets of the world hidden behind their lips.

"Nana-san," he repeated. "I'm going to protect your son. But to do that, I need some answers from you."

Her eyes narrowed, challenging him. "I sure hope you know what you're getting yourself into, Reborn. This is not an easy game I'm playing. It's one where a wrong word, a wrong step can get you killed. You and me and Tsuna. Are you prepared for that?"

"Well," Reborn said with a cocky smile as he let his aura loosen a little, letting his shadow extend behind himself, drawing the woman's attention to a fully grown adult shadow coming from his figure. "Nana-san, that's the kind of world I was raised in. I've been prepared since I was born."

(X)

Colonello had ordered a physical examination and had been displeased by the meager stamina of the kid. That displeasure had morphed into horror upon discovering that this child had just recovered from basically dying.

"Why didn't you tell me, Iemitsu?" He had whispered angrily at the kid's father. The man rubbed his face tiredly.

"We really don't have the opportunity to relax right now, Colonello. Tsuna is resilient, I'm sure he will make it through. I believe in his spirit."

Colonello looked back to the huffing figure of the far-too-thin Sky that hadn't even finished his first lap. They wanted to pit him against Xanxus? "The kid has a better chance at beating a puppy right now and even that's a tossup. This is madness, what would Timoteo say about this? Surely he wouldn't think this is a good idea."

"We know it's hard, but right now this is our only shot." Iemtius' cold eyes bore into his. "Are you willing to go through with this or are you going to back out? Tell me, so we can get Tsuna a better trainer."

"Well I don't like bullying practically children –sick children at that–, but I'll do my part." Colonello muttered, shooting Iemitsu one last look before going to Tsuna. "Just try thinking if it's okay your son won't ever forgive you for this."

"I'm… sorry… I've never… been the best at sports…" Tsuna huffed out, trying to regain his breath as he watched Colonello draw parallel to him. The Rain didn't miss how Tsuna shamelessly used Colonello's approach as a break from jogging, but he didn't call him out for it.

"No surprises there. You really have your plate full, eh kid?" Colonello said as he looked for any signs of pain or of injury on the boy. Other than being completely exhausted and leaning heavily on his knees, he seemed alright.

Tsuna offered him a weak smile. "Can't really deny that."

"Feel like completing this lap or want to call it a day?"

Tsuna stared at him curiously. "Wasn't I supposed to run twenty of these?"

Colonello rubbed the back of his head, leaning back on the balls of his feet. "Are you complaining, kora? I don't think you can pull it off anyway. Also, five minutes ago I didn't even know you had been in a hospital. I've made some readjustments."

Tsuna blinked in surprise. "And that man is okay with it?" Shooting a quick glance at the distant shape of Iemitsu still watching them like a hawk.

Colonello scowled darkly. "He better." He caught himself and focused again on the boy. "Okay, Tsuna. Since I didn't know your circumstances, I just made you take standard examinations. I'll have to ask you to complete a couple more to gauge your health."

Tsuna righted himself with an exasperated face. "Man, can't you just ask Shamal? He did a checkup barely days ago."

Volonello decided to temporarily ignore the implications that the Trident Mosquito, "I don't treat men" Shamal had treated Tsuna for the moment. "Is he currently with you?"

The boy looked away, "not exactly."

Colonello just arched an eyebrow. "Okay then, I'll try to get Iemitsu to contact him. Meanwhile go wash up before coming to dinner."

(x)

The Rain left the kid to his own devices, still trying to puzzle through what he thought of his Sky. He was a dangerous person, of that there was no doubt, but he was willing enough to go through whatever Colonello decided just because he had liked him and because he really didn't have anything else to do at the moment. Once he was not raging or feeling betrayed, the kid had taken on a very much innocent persona whenever he had to deal with Colonello, as if he was honestly glad he had met him, and enjoyed his company.

Which, would be okay if it weren't for those black eyes that had stared at him like a meal that first time they had met.

And there was also the problem of the Vongola Feud. Or future feud. Iemitsu had been a complete fool by letting it slip about Timoteo's death while Colonello had been in the room. While he held no ill-intent towards the Vongola, or had any need to sell such information, he still had been forced under an omertá. He hadn't taken much offense given the gravity of the subject and at least he had been fed some more bones to keep him busy.

It pained him to admit it, but Iemitsu was right, they had no time to waste if they wanted to avoid the feud and Tsuna's presence was the only thing that could stop a pillar of the mafia society from collapsing.

If Vongola ever entered such a bloody war, of one that would split the famiglia almost evenly, it would drag their allies and enemies down with them. It wasn't a matter of whether they agreed or even liked the idea, Iemitsu's hands were tied and his child would have to bear the brunt of the repercussions.

Colonello was more of a soldier than a Mafioso, but he did have ties with the mafia. He lit up a cigar as he stared at the sky. He would have loved to be uninvolved with this drama but it was impossible for several reasons.

He just hoped that this was the worst case scenario- the kind of stuff that never does actually happen. He looked down from his seat above Falco to see the sweaty teen trying to run a couple meters more. Maybe Tsuna didn't have to reign for long, maybe all he needed to do was stop the coup from happening and then he could be succeeded by someone else. Maybe Tsunayoshi could find solace in that.

(X)

Blood.

There was blood.

It dripped down the walls, painting everything a sick shade of red.

Betrayal colored red, like that person's eyes.

Colonello looked on as the boy who claimed to be his Sky, tossed around in his sleep, in apparent agony as a nightmare or vision threatened to drown him. Taking pity in the boy but still not done assessing him, the man reached for his gun, carelessly aiming at a wall on his side of the building and firing. The bullet ricocheted and went harmlessly by Colonello's side but he was more focused on the sudden gasp as the child woke up, drenched in sweat. The boy muttered darkly under his breath, probably all just curses as he grabbed at his head. There was fear on his face, which started looking like anger before he was hurrying to the bathroom to puke.

He heard violent dry heaving.

He watched the little Sky come back out, tiredly rubbing at his face. He bypassed the bed to stand at the mirror besides it. He lifted a hand to it. "What do you want from me?" He said in an exhausted whisper. "My own suffering isn't enough now?"

After those hauntings words, Tsuna returned to a more mundane activity– changing his drenched clothes but Colonello was too concerned with the red handprint the boy had left on the mirror.

Was that blood?

(Tsunayoshi was back before he could corroborate this; Colonello returned in the evening, but the mirror was as clean as always.)

(X)

Tsuna had been dropping weight again and Iemitsu had apparently decided to leave everything to Colonello and chance, and instead spent his time in heated debates over the phone. Colonello still was unsure what or how to feel about his Sky (fighting the innate need to crowd closer to him) but he thought that it wouldn't hurt to try to listen to him, to give him a way to channel all his fury, to temper his emotions.

He talked to him, he worked him to the bone, gave him triple the portions he had initially prepared for him and simply listened to what he had to say. The boy hadn't been impressed with Colonello's plans that Tsuna just needed to show his face and then he could disappear because,

"And do you think that once they have me in their grasp they'll make it easy for me to step down?" He had told him, his voice echoing in the empty bedroom, as Tsuna prepared himself for bed.

"Not saying it's going to be easy, kora. But you are essential. They… we need you, Tsuna. I'm sorry because it's not fair, but we can't do this without you."

He was startled to notice the kid had begun to cry. He covered his face as he sobbed quietly, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"H-Hey!"

"I'm- I'm sorry it's just… " Tsuna shook his head, unwilling to share. "It's just that… my role in this world, my destiny…"

There it was again, Colonello looked down, then back at the boy. He looked tired. "Why are you so hung up 'bout your destiny, kora?"

Tsuna opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.

"Because when you have limited days to live… it's the only thing that I get to decide."

Colonello felt like straining his ears, as if that would make him able to hear everything Tsunayoshi was not saying.

But, as he stared as Tsuna finished wiping the tears off his face, he couldn't help but see the child hiding behind that mask.

Endearing, certainly. But probably not the best for being the supporting pillar of the entire world.

(x)

Tsuna stared, feeling conflicted as his vision suddenly had more people in it. She couldn't possibly be there for him, and he wasn't sure if he felt bad over seeing Byakuran crying or jealous that he had found someone to be there for him.

Since the boy had abandoned him, all he could manage to feel was sad.

He should be happy, really, that his Sky had someone else to bear the grief with but…

What grief could he possibly feel if the other had abandoned him to his own luck?

Maybe those tears were actually from guilt.

Even as vindictive as Tsuna felt, he couldn't help but be relieved that his Sky would have someone to help him carry on. Even if he could no longer be that person, at least…

The broken Sky hugged himself and cried.

(X)

Colonello had attempted to bring Shamal over to keep Tsuna healthy.

Key word being, attempted.

"I do not treat men, or assholes." Shamal said through the phone, cutting him off after hearing Tsuna's name. "For all I care he can die in a ditch."

Colonello grimaced, both at the stone cold voice, and harsh words. "Is that really a way to speak about Vongola's heir? I'm pretty sure they have done-"

"I saved his life plenty of times, arcobaleno. I am not obliged to continue to do so. Besides I'm currently busy."

Colonello was silent for a moment. He sighed. "So there's no way of changing your mind, huh."

"I'm hanging up."

"Wait!"

"I'm busy, what is it?"

"…Why are you so against treating the Vongola boy?"

Shamal just laughed.

"Have you met the kid?"

(X)

"I don't want to." Tsuna whined like he was a little kid as he dragged his feet towards the medical tent provided by Mafia Land.

"Ain't got no choice korra. Shamal was busy." Colonello said, discreetly watching Tsuna's face grow bitter. He didn't hesitate much before the words slipped his lips. "Did something happen between you two?"

Like a mirage, all emotion disappeared from Tsuna's face. He was silent for a moment as they trudged on. Before Colonello tried to break the silence, the brunet stated, "I just did what I had to do."

This kid really…

"You're just mystery after mystery, aren't you?"

Tsuna smiled a little at that. "A man has to have a couple of secrets, don't you agree?"

"Grow a couple centimeters more and then say that to me again." Colonello shot back, mirroring the smile, giving him a playful shove at the entrance of the tent before turning around. "Go inside already brat, I'll be back when you're done. Don't fight this doctor as well."

"I'll try." Tsuna called back, hands desperately clutching at the hem of his shirt as he was met by a stranger. As Colonello's presence vanished, his nervousness won over him. "H-hi, I'm… Tsuna." The dark-skinned man was unimpressed, as he flipped through some papers and ordered him to undress in a thick Italian accent. "Yeah, before that, there's a couple things you can't report back."

"What?" The man said, as he eyed the feeble kid up and down. "Are you trying to threaten me?"

Tsuna who was already tossing his shirt aside nodded, a wide innocent smile on his face. The man's eyes widened significantly at seeing the emaciated features of the sick boy. Layers of hematomas covered his chest and stomach as if he had been beaten recently, but the blackness on his chest looked almost like… death tissue.

The doctor looked back into black eyes as Tsuna stepped closer. "So, you can't report that thing on my chest. Could you do that for me?"

The doctor scoffed, "I have a job to do, kid. Stop being so ridiculous, especially about that. We need to determine the cause and start treating it-"

"You can try, of course, I can't stop you from that –but I warn you that it won't work." Tsuna shrugged. He summoned all his courage and looked him square in the eye. "But as Vongola Decimo I have to warn you. If word of this goes out of this tent, if my- if Colonello or Iemitsu hear about this… well, I can and will sic the Vongola on your ass. Just a thought."

The doctor smiled sharply, anger creasing his face. "Let's get to work, shall we, Vongola?"

The little scared boy continued mimicking Mukuro and smirked back. "Let's."

(X)

The boy swung his legs, feeling the air flowing between as he tried not to think of how miserably lonely he was. For the first time in his life, he truly had no one to turn to. To confide in.

Even when he was alone and miserable, his mother had been there for him. She might have made a lot of mistakes; she might have made him feel even worse some of the times but…

"Tsu-kun." His mother called him in his mind's eye, smiling brightly and looking at no one but him. She had been the first to see his spiral into madness. And she had also been the first to hear about his sentence.

And laughed about it.

….

Tsuna curled into himself.

His mother turned into his classmates who turned into Byakuran.

They continued to laugh.

(Colonello stared from afar.)

(X)

And so Tsuna continues.

He carried on, kept on living, waking up morning after morning and sometimes he'd feel good enough to go on a run.

It worsened the pain on his chest–his chest, his ribs, his soul–, but pain had long since become a constant in his life. At least he had been managing to put on some weight by actually keeping the food down long enough to be useful.

Thinking about it could make him burst into tears, but it had all been thanks to Colonello. The baby soldier had watched him puke two bites into his apple and had scrambled his brain for something he could do. This resulted in him imbuing Tsuna with his own flames, using the power and control bestowed upon him as a Rain arcobaleno to soothe Tsuna's stomach.

He directed it into Tsuna's abused, irritated stomach cells, giving them the strength they lacked, telling his body that it was time to eat.

It helped.

After the gradual degeneration, Tsuna cried into the first meal he managed to eat whole and not puke right back up. Colonello had been glad, almost happy at seeing that this child wasn't quite lost forever.

But it also worried him.

Because despite him trying to direct his flames into his stomach, he was also trying to coax Tsuna's own flames into existence so they could do this job when he wasn't there anymore.

Not only did he find nothing.

Inevitably his own flames were sucked into a bottomless pit. They were eaten, and whatever he was feeding just never seemed to be sated.

He would be lying if he said it did not scare him.

But he could still keep his distance from whatever it was that Tsuna harbored. And slowly and painstakingly he saw him regain a shine to his eyes, a bit of fat on his emaciated cheeks.

He wasn't healthy by a long shot, but he had stopped resembling a walking corpse.

(X)

Iemitsu had kept his distance, still wrapped in his own plans, as he tried not letting Vongola sink as it remained leader-less and with the Varia lurking in the shadows.

Word had gotten around faster than even he would have expected, with the Carcassa having attempted to take them down at least twice. It was a very small, powerless famiglia from which they could easily defend, but Iemitsu was worried this would only be the first step for the mafia as a whole to turn to its leaderless pillar and decide to attack.

And to make matters worse…

He needed to find some leverage, some bribes or something enticing enough to swindle his own son.

Iemitsu looked down at his hands, remembering the darkened hue of Tsuna's flames.

Why did the entire world order depend on a weak, sick, angry boy?

(X)

"You could have said no. You could have taken the easy way out." Colonello said, not as a judgement but more as a statement.

Tsuna didn't reply für a long moment. He hugged himself and just mumbled, "I know."

What he doesn't say, what he had never said is that he drew strength from the visions of people who had been friends with him. They became the reason he got up from bed every morning.

...

Maybe things would have been better if he had just never cared.

Maybe he'd have been happier if he had slit his throat the day after Checkerface had chosen him, all those years ago.

(But perhaps even then would have been too late.)

(X)

Tsuna's health had been getting marginally better, but somehow the shadows in his eyes only grew bigger.

It wasn't really in his job description, but either because of his duty as an arcobaleno, or just plain sympathy for the young boy, Colonello had been trying to cheer him up. With limited success.

"Hey, it's not like I like him or anything, but isn't Reborn your tutor? Besides him being the Sun arcobaleno, shouldn't he be with you?" He said, trying to find someone else in Tsuna's life. Someone who cared for the boy. Someone who could return the smile to his face. Or at least, wash away the tears.

Tsuna flinched. It was a minuscule gesture, but it burned yet another plan in Colonello's mind.

"Some stuff happened." He explained vaguely. "We- he decided to stay and take care of other things."

Colonello stared at him. "So you guys fought?"

Genuine surprise colored dark-brown eyes. "Eh, well-"

Maybe it wasn't all lost?

"I don't think it's really my business but… Reborn can be a major dick at times. Just keep that in mind before jumping to the worst conclusion."

His offer was bland at best, too tentative, too fearful of making the matters worse, and Colonello couldn't really decide if Tsuna's silence was of thoughtfulness or sorrow

The boy sighed. "Why are you so nice to me, Colonello?"

Confused, the soldier rubbed his arms. "What do you mean? I'm just… normal I guess."

"I guess you are." Tsuna smiled. "I hope you can continue to be the calming rain for a long time."

For a moment, Tsuna could swear there was pain in his expression.

"Somehow… that sounds way too cruel." Colonello muttered as he stared at his abnormal baby sized hands.

Tsuna didn't understand. What was wrong with wishing the other to live a long life? Even if it was a cursed life, Tsuna would exchange that over dying anytime.

But even if he didn't understand the reason– his Rain had been good to him so he would reciprocate. He settled on the ground, cross-legged and stared at his tired Rain as he lowered his defenses and dug up his feelings.

He reached out slowly, letting Colonello see his every motion as if he was a skittish animal. The Sky reached for his baby hands and gently clutched them. "I'm sorry." He mumbled. Ice-blue eyes pierced him. "I'm sorry you had to suffer so much. But please, if you ever see yourself despairing at least know that you will be fine. You will pull through and be happy, you and Lal. And also…" Tsuna hesitated, not sure if this would be correct. If this could be called a white lie. "Maybe, maybe there is a way for you not to be arcobaleno forever."

Colonello inhaled sharply as his eyes glimmered with hope. He smiled at him, looked down and with a croaky voice he excused himself. He left in time for a new vision to assault Tsuna.

Colonello was mourning.

Why? Why would the steadfast man be?

And then it struck him. Lal. It had something to do with her.

Tsuna blinked out of his vision.

He wasn't sure of the circumstances or even if it had to do with Lal but…

His vision blurred.

Now even his words were a lie.

Life hated him so much that even Tsuna's promises were a farce.

(For the first time he thought, did he really want to be alive in such a world?)