(PREAMBLE)
I still could remember when I was four years of age.
I was pathetic in the early days of my life.
It is no the fault of my own though.
Hard not to live to my fullest potential when a crucial part of me was sealed off when I was four.
One day, I am going to gut my father for allowing such a travesty to happen.
That being said, I could still remember when I was four years old as if it was yesterday.
From four years of age to eight years of age, I learned how cruel this world could be.
Children can be complete monsters and adults are as useless as common garbage at times, most of the time to be honest.
Belittled by your peers and then ignored by those task to guide you to the future in favor of your tormentors.
How cruel.
So cruel
Regardless, I survive such a treatment until that faithful day came.
That day when my flame was unleashed.
That day when I learned how to be a monster.
That day when I choose to have a willing weakness.
That day when I finally became a sky.
Two years in the road is quite an enlightening experience.
(PREAMBLE)
She had died once and she was born twice.
In her first life, she could only recall isolation, neglect, and cruelty.
Her first life was filled with misery.
In her first death, she could only remember a single sentence from her mother:
"Do you honestly expect me to risk my life saving that useless girl?"
She would have welcomed death there and then.
After all, what kind of daughter would live after being discarded by her own mother?
In her rebirth, she could remember bathing in flames and words that would forever tie her to her savior.
"Stay with me."
Those words ignited her will to live.
"I need you"
Those three simple words held so much meaning and longing that it breathed a new life into her.
Her second life was filled with happiness, joy, and love.
So much love that it spoiled her rotten.
Her second life was much more enjoyable than her first, and she would protect and treasure her second life from any threat that would dare endanger her current life.
And she would protect and love the one that gave her this life.
She owed him this and much, much more.
(PREAMBLE)
Her life was like clockwork.
Predictable, yet it was enjoyable and it has a certain charm to it that she never got tired of living it over and over and over again.
And like clockwork, she entered the room of the person who gave her the life that she is currently enjoying and cherishing.
"Tsuna-sama, it is time to wake up." She called softly, almost in an inaudible way.
Most people, especially those in slumber, would not have had heard her, considering how monotonous her voice is, but Tsuna was different.
Tsuna has been different for quite a while now.
Opening his one good eye, Tsuna gazed at the one being that he valued above everything else.
He saw her standing above him, giving him a smile that was reserve only for him.
It was enchanting, and it made him want more.
"Five more minutes." Tsuna whispered as he turned on his bed so that his back was turned to her.
They play this game every morning. It was a game that they enjoyed playing with each other.
Chuckling to herself, she leaned down towards Tsuna and placed a feathery kiss on his lips. "Please get up now. It would be bad manners to keep Maman waiting."
"Don't wanna." A soft whine escaped his lips, causing her once again to chuckle.
She gave him another kiss. This kiss was soft and lingering.
She dropped to her knees before resting her forehead on his shoulder. "Please get up, and then we can use that five minutes for something more productive and enjoyable for the two of us." She whispered in the most seductive way that she could.
A second later, Tsuna sat up, a light blush on his cheeks, eye fixed on the girl that had become a welcome constant in his life.
His single, doe eye lovingly drink the image of the woman that would one day be his wife.
He then turned his attention to her eyes.
He loved her eyes.
Her eyes were so pretty and it held so much meaning to him.
One eye was hers, a symbol of her beauty.
The other eye was formerly his, a symbol of his pledge, of his promise to her.
Her violet right eye, a reminder of his will.
Her brown left eye, a reminder of his innocence lost in flames.
She was beautiful.
"Chrome." Tsuna whispered as he offered her his hand, his eye brimming with need.
"Good morning, Tsuna-sama." Chrome greeted as she took his hand.
An excited yelp escaped Chrome's lips as Tsuna pulled her on his bed, right on his lap.
And before another sound could escape, Tsuna's lips had covered hers.
Tsuna kissed Chrome tenderly, unhurriedly, lovingly, and it was enough to take Chrome's breath right out of her lungs.
She had always enjoyed the way Tsuna kissed her.
His kisses were a reminder of how much he needed her.
Of how much he wanted her.
They parted after several seconds of kissing.
Chrome's face was bright red and Tsuna had a bashful look in his eye.
"Good morning." Tsuna greeted once again, his attention focused on Chrome.
"Good morning." Chrome greeted once more before the two once again indulge in each other for pleasure.
Tsuna's gingerly wrapped his arms around Chrome's slender waist.
Chrome placed a single hand on one of Tsuna's cheeks.
And without any more fanfare, the two shared a long and passionate kiss.
They have five minutes.
(PREAMBLE)
Sawada Nana could still remember the tragedy that had befallen her family six years ago.
Six years ago, she and her dear son took a vacation in Italy, at the behest of her beloved.
Six years ago, her son was taken away from her due to a freak accident.
It was not anyone's fault, but for a period of two years, Nana thought her son was dead and that haunted her to the point that it almost drove her to self-destruction.
A mother losing her first-born is very painful. Even if it is just the thought of it.
But she lived-on, thanks to her husband and a new bundle of joy that brought a new light to her life.
Regardless, the memory of her dear son, of her first-born, and the fact that she had allowed him to die under her watch killed a part of her.
That part of her came back to life four years ago, in a Wednesday, on the tenth birthday of her assumingly dead son.
On that day, her son came back to her life, scared, with one eye missing, bruise, and looking lost and unsure that it was heartbreaking.
Still, her son came back after two years of absence from her life and Nana thank every God she knew that her son returned to her.
The girl that was with him was an added bonus, Nana admitted with a delightful smile.
Nana heard two distinct footsteps entering the dining room.
Turning her attention to the two new comers, she smiled at the sight of her son and his girlfriend, her eyes zeroing on their intertwine hands.
Nana did not know how the two met, but considering that Chrome was extremely devoted to her son and that her son's left eye was transplanted to her, and that her son was positively enamored with her, she knew that the love story between her son and Chrome was something to behold.
Nana prayed that that story would be told to her someday.
"Good morning, Tsuna-kun, Chrome-chan." Nana greeted cheerfully.
"Good morning, Maman." Chrome greeted meekly but happily.
Tsuna did not spoke. He merely let go of Chrome's hand and walked towards his mother. When he was near enough, Tsuna tiptoed until his lips were gently press on his mother's cheeks. "Good morning, Kaa-san."
Nana smiled happily at the affection that her son gave her. Four years since his returned, he was still very sweet and affectionate towards her. At age 14, most boys would be avoiding showing affection to their mother's, but not her Tsuna.
Tsuna then moved towards the chair occupied by a young, female girl.
The girl was five years of age and was currently resting her head on the dining table, sleeping.
Tsuna knelt down and kissed the crown of the young girl.
"Setsura-hime, wake up." Tsuna spoke softly as he nudges the little girl to consciousness.
The little girl woke up after a few nudges from Tsuna. Sitting upright, her blue eyes blinked a few times before her attention was focused to Tsuna. "Nii-chan…" Setsura whispered gingerly.
Tsuna smiled before placing another gently kiss on her forehead, causing the young girl to giggle.
"Good morning, Setsura-hime." Ruffling her blonde hair affectionately, Tsuna turned his attention to Chrome.
Chrome nodded before walking towards the two siblings.
Kneeling down, Chrome copied her boyfriend and gingerly pressed her own lips on the forehead of the young girl.
"Good morning, Setsura-chan." Chrome greeted lovingly on the girl that she views as her younger sister.
Setsura giggled sweetly at the affection given to her before attempting to embrace both her brother and Chrome, although her small frame made it impossible for her.
Regardless, Tsuna and Chrome merely took the young girl in their arms.
Nana smiled at the sight before her.
Four years ago, when her son came back from the dead and returned to her, this had become her family, and it was her own personal paradise.
She was thankful that her son had returned to her.
Even though her son had changed drastically, he still returned to her.
(PREAMBLE)
Chrome marveled at how beautiful Tsuna is.
In her mind, it was a crime for Tsuna to be a boy.
He would have made a beautiful girl.
Maybe in a different world, Tsuna is a beautiful girl.
But in this world, Tsuna is a beautiful boy.
And Chrome was very intoxicated by his beauty.
His lone eye shined as if it was a gem.
His body was lean and slender, with curves that most women would die and kill for.
His face, even with the surgical scar on where his right eye used to be, is exquisite. A baby face with an innocently bewitching gaze from his eye, framed by a long eyelash.
And long, at least waist level, silky yet untamed spiky brown hair.
Tsuna can masquerade as a woman and none would be the wiser. Hell, he would probably have boys lining up to him for courtship.
That is how beautiful he is.
Adjusting his necktie, Tsuna turned his eye to Chrome.
Chrome, seeing the look that he was giving her, rose from where she was watching him dress and proceeded to make her way towards him.
When she was within arm's length, Chrome reached upwards and secured an eyepatch with a skull and lion etching on his eyeless eye socket before pressing her lips on the accessory.
In reply, Tsuna press his lips on the eye that he had given her all those years ago.
"Time for school."
(PREAMBLE)
As they had since their late grade school, Tsuna and Chrome entered the class together, hand-in-hand. Customary to what they had expected since they started attending school, their fellow students looked at them for a split second.
In that split second, they were subjected to numerous looks of varying emotions.
Envy, confusion, were among the myriads of emotions directed at them.
They promptly ignored those looks.
They did not care about those who will never understand their relationship.
"How is the happy couple today?" Hana asked her two friends as she approached them, together with her best and longtime friend, Sasagawa Kyoko.
Chrome gave the two girls a shy smile before bowing her head in a greeting. "Good morning, Kyoko-san, Hana-san."
"Good morning." Tsuna greeted the two in lackluster manner, although his voice was very respectful and welcoming. "And for your question, Hana-san, we are doing quite well. Thank you for asking."
Hana giggled at that casual answer. Among all the boys in her year, she liked Tsuna the most. He wasn't immature as most boys in their year.
'Most likely Chrome-chan's influence on him.' Hana thought smugly while looking at the shy purple haired girl.
Hana was quite proud of her friend for training her boyfriend properly.
And also…
"Courtesy of my mother and Chrome." Tsuna handed bento boxes to the two people that he had grown to tolerate. "Hopefully, you guys don't mind curry. It was Setsura-hime's turn to pick lunch today."
Accepting the bento boxes, Kyoko smiled at the young boy. "We don't mind. Sawada-san's curry is the best, and Chrome the best cook in our class." In return, Kyoko handed a box wrapped with orange and purple clothe to Tsuna. "I hope you both don't mind brownies."
"We don't." Chrome answered with a friendly tone.
"We like your homemade sweets." Tsuna assured his friend with a nod.
"We like yours more." Hana stated with a smirk.
"Swing by this weekend then. I have a new recipe that I would like all of you to try." Tsuna invited the two, as he was accustomed to since his returned to Namimori.
Sasagawa Kyoko and Kurokawa Hana. They were normal. They were the most normal people that he had ever met.
Aside from their looks, there is nothing extraordinary about them.
They are normal.
Normal means boring.
Boring means safe.
And safe is a comfort and a commodity that he had surely miss in the two years that he was crawling back to Japan.
Before the conversation between the four friends can go any further, the teacher entered. The class representative of the class ushered everyone to their seat.
When the morning ritual was completed, they all settled down to another day of class.
(PREAMBLE)
"Do you miss the road, Tsuna-sama?" Chrome inquired quietly as they ate the bentos that she had prepared together with the Sawada matriarch.
"No," Tsuna replied immediately with no hesitation.
The two of them were alone in one of the school's rooftop. Although they were acquainted with quite a few people in school, they still prefer to be alone as much as possible.
"Do you?" Tsuna asked with a soft look in his eyes.
"No." Chrome answered with the same swiftness as Tsuna. "This is a good life."
"Yes, it is." Tsuna agreed wholeheartedly. "If you grow tired of this life, just tell me. You know who I will choose."
Her face turned red when he said that. His words were not sweet. His words were not meant to sweep her off her feet. Regardless, the truth in those words was endearing, very endearing.
"I will not force you to choose?" Chrome assured him, a determined glimmer in her
"I know." Tsuna nodded in appreciation. "That is why when the time comes for me to choose, I will choose you."
Finishing his bento, Tsuna casually lay down and rested his head on Chrome's legs. He immediately entered the land of dreams, although not before saying words that were meant to render his longtime partner and girlfriend breathless.
"You are my Mist. The other half of my Twilight. I am yours."
Chrome's face was bright red.
That phrase was their creed, a symbol of their faith and fidelity to one another.
(PREAMBLE)
Class, as usual, ended without any fanfare.
After class, Tsuna and Chrome headed to their own respective clubs.
Chrome was a member of the Arts club.
And Tsuna, he was a member of the Boxing Club. Specifically, he is the manager and the trainer.
The moment Tsuna entered the gym where the boxing club practices, he was met with a familiar greeting.
"EXTREME AFTERNOON, LITTLE BROTHER!" Everyone with earshot cringe as Sasagawa Ryohei greeted the ever patient manager of the boxing club.
"Afternoon, Onii-san." Tsuna greeted politely and in a much more well mannered tone. "Everyone already warmed-up?" Tsuna asked casually while removing his tie, coat, and polo shirt, leaving him with a simple white shirt and gray pants.
As Tsuna was removing his shirt, everyone around him diverted their eyes.
Tsuna had the looks of a beautiful girl, a very beautiful girl, and watching him undress made most males question their sexuality.
Not to mention, all of them were terrified of Chrome, the current girlfriend of their esteem manager/trainer.
In fact, most of them would have mistaken Tsuna for a female if it were not for the well-defined muscles on his arms and legs.
For someone with a slim and slender body, Tsuna was quite muscular in certain areas.
"Yes, sir/ EXTREMELY FINISH WITH THE WARM UP!"
"Good, good…" Putting on the boxing mitten, Tsuna hopped onto the ring and glanced at his boxers scattered around the gym.
"Who's first?" Tsuna inquired while flexing his shoulders, preparing himself for a workout.
"I'll be first." Ryohei announced but a glare from Tsuna made him stop on his tracks.
"You are last." Tsuna stated bluntly, much to the depression of the Boxing Captain but he did comply.
Without any volunteers, Tsuna threw a look to a random boxing club member.
Said member gulped but obey and went to the ring without complains.
"Do the exercises that I instructed all of you for you cardiovascular and endurance training. Find a partner. I will call out those who would be facing me in the ring after ten minutes." Tsuna instructed his boxers, and all of them complied without any talkbacks.
Tsuna then turned his attention to the boxer in the ring. Raising the boxing mittens, he nodded at the boxer.
"Begin."
(PREAMBLE)
Nagisa Chrome is known throughout Namimori Middle School as one-half of the school's sweetest couple, with Tsuna being the other half.
She was also known as the school's resident artist.
Chrome has great affinity for the arts, and her artistic talents is comparable to Hibari's ability to pummel herbivores to a bloody pulp without breaking a sweat.
That being said, regardless of Chrome's prowess, her art has always two signatures.
First, the color orange and indigo is always present in all the art that she makes.
Secondly, the sky has always been incorporated in her art.
Regardless of theme, Chrome has always found a way to incorporate the sky in her art.
To those who had seen any art that Chrome makes, they can understand the first signature.
Chrome's favorite color is indigo while Tsuna was orange. To the observers, this was a way for Chrome to showcase the affection that they both have with each other.
The second signature was the source of confusion.
"Another masterpiece, Nagisa-san?" Hinata-sensei, the art clubs, instructor, spoke as she overlook the painting that Chrome was making.
It was a beautiful piece, with the theme two worls.
On the upper portion of the pointing, there was a utopia.
On the bottom portion, there was a graveyard.
Myriads of colors were utilize but the orange color and indigo color was very much highlighted in the piece.
A bright orange color palette signified the heaven of the utopia.
The indigo color was use expertly to depict the despair on the graveyard.
It was a magnificent piece, worthy of any art gallery.
"I won't call this a masterpiece, Hinata-sensei." Chrome replied softly while writing 2796 on the bottom part of the portrait. "I just made this for fun." Chrome added with a bashful smile.
The art teacher merely chuckle while shaking her head. "Well, if you make this for fun, I can't wait to see what you make for the next art competition. With your record and talenr, you will get a scholarship to any art schools of your choosing by the time you reach your senior year."
"That would be nice." Chrome said in a mindlessly.
Hinata-sensei smiled at Chrome before addressing the other members of the club.
When the art teacher was outside of earshot, Chrome spoke in a whisper.
"The mist will go where the sky goes."