Title: Let Me Leave Three Words Behind

Rating: M

Warnings: OCs included, Character death, 6918, 6927, Mpreg, OOC-ness, 8059, attempted suicide, suicide

Note: Hihi! Last chapter for 'Let Me Leave Three Words Behind'! :D I hope you will all enjoy this super duper long last chapter! Thank-you to everyone who has accompanied me through this long dream of mine, I have had quite the fun writing and then typing it all out. I know it's weird to have an Epilogue without a Prologue, so please forgive me! xP

If there are any questions, please feel free to leave a review behind or PM me, I'll try my best to answer. ^-^

Disclaimer: I don't own Katekyoshi Hitman Reborn!

xxx

Epilogue: A Long Dream

All that the Cloud could see was the Mist.

Looking out of the window, Kai scowled at his reflection, it marred the view of the scenery outside. He loved looking at the trees as the bus drove past; he loved the bumpiness of the road that made the bus go up and down. He loved the chatter in the background as his classmates told jokes and he loved the soft snores that came from the sleepy ones.

Kai thought about what colour the sky was as he looked out the slightly blurry window. Was there going to be splotches of fluffy white clouds spread over the blue sky? Or perhaps it was covered in clouds, so that the blue sky was hidden with the sun. The cold morning mist was still lingering, and he thought about, just briefly if clouds looked like mist, just in the air and not hovering above ground. He chuckled softly at that thought.

Smiling broadly, Kai leaned back into the chair, it was warmer that way, and he wondered what Ren was thinking when he was on an excursion, sitting on a bumpy bus ride. Kai chuckled again at that thought; he could picture the other's uncomfortable expression, plastered clearly on his face, a scowl.

He hadn't seen Ren in a very long time, and sometimes, he found himself not even able to remember his half-brother's name. Maybe it was due to their short encounter. It was weird, it was like the boy suddenly disappeared, but the school wasn't fazed when he asked about Ren. The office lady telling Kai that Ren must've transferred out of the school without telling anyone, including the school.

But seriously, can you even do that?

It was a little daunting, and somehow, it didn't make sense. But, Kai smiled, he was sure that no matter how many years go pass, even if he could no longer remember Ren's name and that photo he took with him, he was sure he'd still be able to remember his face and that fluffy yellow bird, that was always with him. Ah, what was it that his parents called it, Hibird or something like that. A weird name.

xxx

Chrome knelt silently in front of Kyoko's grave. The Christmas lily was there, and so were the irises. She smiled softly as she placed a small cup cake next to the beautiful flowers. She never really liked visiting graves, and she knew that Kyoko knew that. Nevertheless, she still visited graves, and paid her respect to the lost ones.

"I don't really know how we have all been coping these past years" Chrome told Kyoko softly "After Hibari-san's disappearance, you and then Ren too. I wonder how we're all able to smile so cheerfully when everything is so clearly covered in lies"

The rustling of the leaves seemed to respond to Chrome as she stared at Kyoko's name on the grave.

"You're here again" a voice came out from the shrubs behind.

"I am" nodded Chrome. She smiled a little as Ryohei kneeled down beside her "Oh, cake this time?"

Ryohei had a sheepish smile on his face as he placed the small slice of cake on the grave "Yeah, I thought it'll be a nice change, especially since Kyoko loved cake so much"

Chrome could only smile lightly

"And it seems like you thought so as well" commented Ryohei as he looked at the cupcake.

Looking up into the sky, Chrome spoke softly "Nothing has changed" before she dropped her gaze. Nothing has changed; it's the same as before.

"It's all the same" came Ryohei's coarse whisper, as if he were reading Chrome's thoughts.

And it was through this that the both of them found the slightest of comfort, because their thoughts were the same. Nothing has changed, everything is still the same. These giddy every-day lives, smiles that seem to have forgotten something important, yet the curve of the mouth was beautiful anyway.

"And we still remember such memories, probably, forever and ever."

xxx

Her footsteps are light as she walks down the familiar street, passing by the familiar scenery.

It has been a year.

Haru stops right outside of what was once a beautiful house. Her eyes lower a little as it sets on the now rubble with weeds growing around it. And gently, she places the bouquet of flowers she was holding on the burnt patch of land.

It was a miracle that the houses beside Ren's house were not damaged after that fire. And it was strange, that the house that had been flooded by water would come alight so easily.

She wondered as she looked at the left overs of the burnt house if Ren really was dead. She wondered if that thing that resembled a corpse was really Ren. One touch and it turned into ashes, the wind carrying it away. As if it was magic.

Silently, she hoped that that was not Ren's ashes.

Ah, but why bother; it was obvious that was the boy, clearly burnt to the point that his body turned into ashes, yet it was unimaginable.

Haru stood there for a while, she felt saddened every time she looked at the house, the people that lived there, she loved them all. And yet, she could not quite understand their pain at times. How could they not have gotten over it? Or at least, tried to look forward? Why were they both so adamant with so many things in life? It wasn't natural.

Life is precious, she knew it herself. And Haru imagined what Ren must've grown up like if he had the right parents, guiding him.

Holding tightly onto the box she was carrying, Haru was just about to leave when she noticed a small and fluffy yellow bird land on top of the bouquet of flowers, chirping.

Smiling a little, Haru walked off, she was going to deliver the strawberry shortcake to Mukuro.

xxx

"Ah, so that girl has already dropped by" whispered Shamal

Placing his own bunch of flowers next to the ones that Haru had left, Shamal took out a cigarette and looked at the ruins. The grass the entwined around the charred wood and the brightly coloured flowers that bloomed randomly on the burnt land made Shamal smile just a little bit.

"Hibari, Ren" Shamal spoke into the wind as he kept look at the rubble, as if it were a grave in itself.

"I've erased his memory for you" Squatting down, Shamal ruffled his hair before he spoke again

"You know, when I approached him, his eyes opened, he was crying. I bet you've never seen him cry like that before. I told him I was going to erase his painful memories for him." Shamal took the cigarette out of his mouth, allowing for him to just gather his words

"And he smiled up at me and then whispered a soft 'I'm sorry'. I don't know if the sorry was for you or for me, but he really is troublesome."

Standing back up. Shamal let go of the cigarette, not watching as it fell onto the walk path, however his feet automatically moved to step on top of it, twisting a little.

"One day, I will find my chances and erase everyone else's memories. And then, I will erase my own. So, before your day of peace comes, I will have to apologise, for being so slow with erasing their memory, to fulfil our promise"

He'd make sure that no one ever remembers again, such painful memories.

Hibird looked up and watched Shamal leave. The scent that the wind carried was blissful, as if it were sincerely saying 'thank-you'.

xxx

"Are you really going back already?" Basil asked Fuuta as he sat next to the younger man

"Yeah" Fuuta answered. They had been going on with the same question and answer for what seemed like forever. Ever since Fuuta started packing up his luggage (a few hours ago), Basil had asked him the same question over and over again.

"Something happened back in Japan, right?" Basil asked, curious as he sipped silently on his tea, watching as Fuuta cleaned up the kitchen, preparing to leave the country.

Fuuta looked up at the slightly different question. Just a little surprised. "I don't know, but I've been summoned"

"By Reborn-san?" Basil asked

"Yeah" Fuuta smiled a little "I really don't want to go back before I can find Hibari-san, but I'll come back as soon as my business is over in Japan.

The phone rang.

Excusing himself, Basil picked up his ringing mobile and stared quizzically at the unknown number. "Hello?"

xxx

Tsuna smiled softly as he sat next to the hospital bed. Today seems like it'll be a gentle day. He didn't know what was right whenever he looked at Mukuro. It's already been a year ever since Mukuro woke up, smiling weirdly, his memory hazy. He couldn't remember what happened when he woke up, why he was there and if it were he that had lit the house opposite him on fire. Well at least, that was what Tsuna had heard from Mukuro.

Tsuna had silently thanked God that night for allowing Mukuro to remember him and his family.

The Vongola boss sat there silently, watching Mukuro as his brain slowly processed his thoughts. It has been 365 days ever since Haru had found an unconscious Mukuro outside Ren's burning house. And it has been 365 days since anyone has last seen said teenager. Tsuna wondered just briefly if the boy was dead.

He cringed.

He knew Ren's house was burnt down, probably by an arsonist, or even possible the boy himself, however, there was no corpse found, only something that resembled a human body, yet when it was touched, it collapsed, turning into ashes, blowing it all away with the wind. Impossible to find any traces of it.

He never liked thinking along those lines. However, it would make him feel better if he knew where the boy was, whether or not the boy will become a threat to him again. But there was no one that could find him. Perhaps, Ren was with Hibari, Tsuna had thought, but quickly dismissed that thought as he now believed that Hibari-san was most likely, dead. The puzzle pieces would all fit together, if that were the case.

"Tsuna, what are you thinking about?" asked Mukuro's soft voice.

A little surprised that Mukuro was awake, Tsuna gave his partner a small smile "Good Morning"

Mukuro chuckled softly "Good Morning" before he leaned in and placed a small peck on Tsuna's cheek "though it isn't much of a good morning waking up in a hospital bed"

"I suppose" commented Tsuna, his tone a little light-hearted.

"So, what were you thinking about, Vongola Decimo?" asked Mukuro, a playful smirk on his face.

"Just Hibari-san and his son" spoke Tsuna, his voice laced with concern. He never knew why, but he found it hard to refer to Ren as Mukuro's son. He supposed his subconscious just forced him to do so.

"Hibari-san?" questioned Mukuro "An acquaintance of yours?"

Tsuna looked weirdly at Mukuro for a second before he sighed. He had forgotten, Mukuro had woken up 365 days ago without a single memory of Hibari-san, Ren and their situation. "Yeah, an acquaintance" He hated lying to Mukuro. And he was sure that everyone else around him hated lying to Mukuro as well.

"So how was the check-up?" asked Tsuna. He could wait for Mukuro to gradually remember those memories. It wouldn't hurt.

Sighing, Mukuro leaned back on the bed "Same as all other months"

"I see" nodded Tsuna, he didn't know whether that was good or not. His feelings were still as messy as a year ago, just like mixing Mah-jong tiles, ever-changing.

"However"

"However?" questioned Tsuna, wanting Mukuro to hurry up and continue.

Looking up at the ceiling, Mukuro spoke so softly that Tsuna had to strain to hear his partner "I can hear a voice, I don't know if I'm imagining it or not, but I know it's there, like, at the back of my head"

"A voice?" Tsuna asked "I can't hear it"

"It's like a whisper, repeatedly saying 'cherish your family'. It's weird, isn't it?"

xxx

Gokudera mused softly to himself. The topic that had come up so quickly, Hibari and his son has over the past year died down too quickly. Maybe it was because of Ren's death leading to the lack of his appearances, and consequently, debate over the bizarre situations. Or perhaps, it is because of Mukuro and his sudden memory loss, which has caused all talk to subdue.

The dead are the dead.

They don't come back.

Gokudera wondered if Ren was where Hibari was. Wherever that was. He wondered if the two of them were eating cake, like they loved to do when they were alive.

"What are you thinking about?" Yamamoto asked Gokudera as he placed a slice of cake in front of Gokudera

"Nothing" stated Gokudera in a monotone.

"It's rare to see such an expression on your face."

At this, Gokudera looked up at Yamamoto and gave him a hard stare. He wondered what kind of expression he was wearing before.

Giving Gokudera a soft smile, Yamamoto placed a reassuring hand on Gokudera's shoulder, squeezing softly, as if he were telling the other that he understood, that he found himself thinking such thoughts as well. That he was not the only one.

"It's good to be alive."

xxx

Lambo did not know why he was the one sent to be waiting at the airport. He should still be at home in his pyjamas and drinking milk. Checking his watch again, Lambo sighed. I-Pin was more than 30 minutes late. And it did not make it any better knowing that the flight was delayed. Maybe that Chinese Girl knew, but just didn't bother to tell him. If that was the case, he is going to be so annoyed.

"I'm sorry I'm late!" I-Pin's voice rang throughout the crowd as she made her way to Lambo "I was running late with delivering ramen"

Closing his eyes, Lambo nodded. He was bored. And he has heard that excuse; reason so many times before that he didn't even want to say anything anymore.

"How are we going to explain the situation here to Fuuta?" I-Pin asked.

Lambo shrugged. He literally had no idea. "Maybe we should bring him straight to Tsuna or something."

"Maybe" I-Pin nodded slowly "I mean, I think everyone is confused here. No one really knows the whole story"

"Yeah, I still wonder why Fuuta has decided to come to Japan now" agreed Lambo

"It's better than coming back last year, when everyone was in a mess" commented I-Pin "Though that may have been better than knowing nothing at all"

"I don't think he was able to find the former Cloud Guardian"

"And that's why he's coming back?"

"Yeah. I'm sure Tsuna was expecting this result anyway."

Nodding, I-Pin sighed "We're just here to carry his luggage, aren't we?"

"No" a voice rang out from behind I-Pin and Lambo.

Surprised, the two turned around, intending to ask 'Why not!?' but stopped when they looked at who it was that had said 'No'.

"Basil-san!" gasped I-Pin

"We didn't know you came to Japan!" cried Lambo.

"Oh, I only knew a few hours before my flight. I was called and hopped onto the same plane as Fuuta" explained Basil, a cheeky smile on his face.

As if to prove Basil's point, Fuuta came running, carrying the luggage in which Basil had forgotten.

"I heard, from Reborn-san, on the phone, that Hibari-san is dead?"

"He is!?"

Basil and Fuuta looked curiously at both Lambo and I-Pin, whom they assumed would know more than themselves.

"It was only a rumour, because he's been missing for so long" I-Pin stammered out slowly

"But we never thought he'd actually be dead" continued Lambo "And his son as well, it's all just been a rumour, we haven't found the corpses yet, if there are any"

"And if it was something heard from Reborn-san, then I suppose it must has a relative amount of truth in it"

"How can you have a relative amount of truth in something?" Basil asked "It's the truth, if not, it's a lie. There are no in-betweens."

Looking away from the people he were talking to, Basil took his forgotten luggage from Fuuta's hands and then began to walk away "Come on, we have to go see what Reborn-san has to tell us"

xxx

"Is he coming?" Reborn asked, holding the phone against his ear with one hand, his other hand preoccupied with stroking Leon's head.

"He is" replied Bianchi from the other end of the phone "Cavallone and I managed to persuade him to come to Japan. He should be there in a few days."

"I see" nodded Reborn "That's good" he sank back into his leather chair, smiling.

"Is there something wrong in Japan, Reborn? Why are you asking Basil and Fuuta to go back to Japan?" Bianchi's worried tone was just a tad bit too worried.

"No" Reborn answered. He didn't want to elaborate, but, he thought, might as well "Since they've got no mission anymore, I thought it would be nice if there were more people to greet him into the Vongola Family"

"I will ensure his safety on the way to Japan" laughed Bianchi "Not that he needs my protection"

Reborn agreed as he took his hand away from Leon's head to pick up his cup of coffee, sipping, enjoying the smell of homebrew coffee. It was delicious.

"I'm going to pass the phone to the Cavallone; he says there's something he needs to tell you. Reborn, I love you"

Reborn turned around and looked out the window. It was a cloudless day; the shimmer of the sky was brought out perfectly clear. It was going to be a peaceful day.

"Reborn?" Dino's voice came from the phone. "I have a request"

"You don't have to come back. Stay there and take care of your wife and family" Reborn spoke into the phone, his voice void of the usual apathetic tone it has.

"Thank-you, Reborn"

Reborn could hear Dino's smile from the phone. And it made him smile. "Bianchi is enough to escort Vongola's new Cloud Guardian to Japan"

We have to move on.

xxx

Nana hummed to herself quietly with a bright smile plastered on her face. She was making apple pie, the perfect welcome home gift for cold days. It would be something nice to warm up her grandson Kai and his parents when they come home.

The doorbell rang.

Looking over to see if her husband, Iemitsu was going to get the door, Nana giggled a little as she saw the now, old man lie on the couch with a carefree expression, sleeping. Washing her hands, Nana slowly made her way to the front door, opening the door, and for a brief moment, she hoped that the person on the other side of the door would be that someone she has not seen in so many long years.

Her eyes did not meet black hair and sharp gray eyes.

If only just once more, Nana had hoped that boy, that man would ring the bell to her door, smiling softly to himself. And then, maybe in that chance, he would stay for her homemade apple pie.

Nana smiled warmly at her guest "Haru"

Smiling back at the now old woman, Haru politely asked if Mukuro was home.

"He's not back from the hospital yet" explained Nana, as she invited Haru in.

Shaking her head, Haru handed the box with the strawberry shortcake to Nana "It's okay, I've got to get going anyway"

And just as Haru was about to leave, Tsuna came walking through the front gate, cheerfully greeting his mother and Haru.

"Tsuna-san! Where's Mukuro?" Haru asked, a little surprised at the coincidence.

Smiling Tsuna answered Haru "He said he'll be home later, there was something he had to do"

"So is his check-up fine this month as well?" Nana and Haru both asked simultaneously before they both giggled after an awkward silence.

"Same as all the other months" quoted Tsuna. He didn't know if he should tell them that Mukuro was hearing voices in his head, but thought better, it was probably just a onetime thing.

"That's good, well then, I'll be leaving now, bye" Haru adjusted the bag she was carrying on her shoulder and walked off, waving.

"Wait! Haru!" cried Nana "Won't you stay for some apple pie!?"

"I'm sorry!" Haru apologised "I've really got to get going! Maybe another time! Thank-you!"

It was similar, Nana noted. Just like the last time she saw Hibari Kyoya. She was just thinking too much, Haru wasn't going to leave. And one day, wished Nana, before she passes away, Hibari Kyoya would come back to this town for apple pie.

xxx

Mukuro wandered aimlessly down the streets, weaving in and out, he was following that voice that was calling to him, and he could hear it, clearer and clearer as he kept on walking.

He could see it, soft yet piercing eyes at the back of his head, yet he did not know who they belonged to. Raven black hair, messy. It was blurry, but as the voice became louder and louder, the image became clearer and clearer.

Why could he not remember whose face it was.

Did he even know the face? Or was it all in his imagination?

And because he had forgotten…if he had known the face in the first place, it just means that it wasn't important enough to be remembered, right?

Yet he was curious as he kept walking, the voice leading him into a road that seemed more than familiar.

He found himself standing in front of the leftovers of a burnt building. There was a familiar scent blowing in the wind. But that didn't disturb him.

It was the bouquets of flower that lay on the burnt land that caught his attention. And then, everything clicked. This was the place he was in front of a year ago.

'Flowers' thought Mukuro. And instantly, he knew that someone had died in that fire. Perhaps it was the owner of the house.

'Cherish your family' whispered the voice in Mukuro's head, yet it was as if there was someone beside him, whispering it into his ear, tenderly.

Taking another look at the remains of the burnt house, Mukuro wondered if he had known the person that lived there, and maybe, next time, he should come over with flowers as well.

"Cherish your family" repeated Mukuro softly.

Closing his eyes, Mukuro found that he could see the image of that person clearly now. That familiar smile, those gentle and piercing grey eyes and that messy charcoal hair.

"Kyoya" was the name that rolled smoothly out of Mukuro's mouth; a familiar yet unrecognizable name. So far away. Warm tears slowly made its way down Mukuro's cheeks. He did not know why he was crying, but he registered that his heart was wrenching.

Just as quickly as the image had surfaced clearly, it had disappeared, bringing the soft whispers of 'Cherish your family' with it. To an endless abyss, assumed Mukuro.

Mukuro's mind was blank when he heard three soft words in his ear "Sayonara, my Papa"

Blue eyes, the colour of his eye. Why is it so similar?

He instantly felt the need to cover his own eyes, to close his mouth, to muffle the sounds of his sobs, to hide away his tears. He could not remember that familiar voice, he's supposed to be able to recognise it, but he couldn't. It was agonising.

"Sayonara" muffled Mukuro. It felt as if he was supposed to say this word many years ago. Yet to whom, he could not tell.

And all that the Mist could see was the sky.

End.