Title: Slumber to the Depths of Release

Fandom: Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Pairing: YamamotoxTsuna, MukuroxGokudera

Genre: Angst

Status: Three-shot

Warning: OOC, Violence, Language un-beta'd (this chapter)

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the story and I'm not making any money. Katekyo Hitman Reborn! belongs to Amano Akira-sensei.

Slumber to the Depths of Release

Chapter 1: Blood

With heavy gulps of air, I propel myself to move forward. My legs lunging weakly, muscles screaming in agony as I push my body harder. I blink the tears away as blood continues to gush all over my form. I refuse to fall into unconsciousness, to let myself die. Focusing on the biting pain, I power forth, launching myself farther into the forest, unwilling to let hopelessness and terror catch me in their grasp. Not without fighting.

"Tsuna."

He called. Pure malice dripping in his voice. I grit my teeth, the voice resonating in the entire forest. Where the hell was he?

Invisible blades fly at me in all direction. I curse under my breath, barely dodging the violent weapons. I can't keep fucking up!

Desperately, I keep running, shutting down my urge to look back. In a flash, a metal ball shaped like a morning star dashed past me, barely missing my left arm. The weapon lodging deeply into an evergreen tree, beeping in a panic manner. Anticipating it to detonate, I swiftly jump to the right and take cover, weakly dodging the small explosion and shrapnels. Smoke immediately envelope the forest in an impossible haze.

"Shit!" I screamed through clenched teeth, clutching my left arm. Tears prick my eyes, I try to catch my breath. A deep cackle surrounds me again. By now, the tears are burning, falling madly on my cheeks. I lower my breathing, trying desperately to hold my watery sobs, failing miserably.

I push my back against a great oak tree, leaning my head against the old barks. The debris dissipate, revealing his outline as he walked leisurely towards my fatigued form. I glare defiantly at him. Again, the bastard had the audacity to cackle. Then, as if the steel katana weighed nothing, he launched the savage weapon through my right shoulder, pinning my debilitated body against the massive trunk.

I shrieked. Unable to contain the screams from the stabbing pain that tormented my body. It was as if my body didn't know another feeling. My body trembled in agony, frozen in this state of torture.

"Oi Tsuna." Yamamoto greeted, lips shaped into a wide grin. He kneels down next to me, unaffected by the amount of blood pooling around my battered form. "Why do you keep running away?"

Tears continue to fall from my eyes, obscuring my vision. I bite down on my lips, trying to control my weeping. His smile grew. Slowly, he trails his hand on my cheek. Disgust racked my body, a million maggots crawling under my skin. A scorching heat burns my skin from where he touched.

"I caught you, Tsuna." He cackled, his delight not reaching his dark eyes. I start shaking uncontrollably, unable to hide the fear terrorizing me. He continues to stare at me, his face coming close to mine. "Don't be scared anymore, Tsuna."

Those inky umber eyes locked into mine.

"I love you Tsuna."

~::pOq::~

I jumped awake, drench in cold sweat. Alarms blaring widely on top the mahogany side cabinets. I keep staring into space. Unable to, refusing to let a frenzied hysteria seize me. With shaky hands, I examine my body. Finding no sign of lacerations, I release a shaky breath I didn't know I was holding. Closing my eyes, I take soothing gulps of air, willing myself to calm from this mad paranoia.

"Just a dream." I puffed, voice trembling. "Yamamoto…"

I shuddered visibly, incapable of speaking the desired comforts out loud. Terror grips me. An ominous abyss of blackness clutching at me, as if daring me to vocalize the horror I scarcely escaped. And I swallow the words in my throat, for fear that the words may materialize into the forbidding darkness, becoming real. Another steady breath and I'm ready to stumble through the day.

I leave the house with a soft smile, genuinely amused at my household's morning antics. With a shake of my head, I willed myself to relax. Already, in a lighter mood than before.

~::pOq::~

"Oi Tsuna."

The sinister darkness claws at me. I stilled, staring wide-eyed at the head of my manifested nightmares. He frowns worriedly, my frozen stature troubling him. I shake my head again, trying to catch my resolve.

'No,' I told myself firmly, 'this is Yamamoto.'

"Ne Tsuna, are you okay?" Icy hands clutch at my cheek. The same mad grin stretched across his face, the smile not reaching those dark eyes. "Don't be scared anymore, Tsuna."

Those same inky umber eyes locked into mine.

"I'm here now, Tsuna."

Fear sank its talons at me. Images of last night's terror flash rapidly before my eyes. The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end as the cold morning breeze sweep over me. Blood paint my vision, a familiar haze. I feel my perception becoming murky, consciousness slipping steadily. 'No… no… This is not real!'

"Tenth~!" Gokudera's cheerful voice broke through the internal war I was losing. The biting cold hand recedes discreetly, taking with it the suffocation blackness. Yamamoto smirked, his eyes closed in a mock of his bright smile. A gasp leave my lips, snapping back into myself. The insidious darkness gone. Was my frenzied mind just playing with me? Hysteria and paranoia inducing its devilry play.

"Ah, Tenth?" Gokudera's frowned softly, concern written on his face. "Are you okay?"

I gaze at my self-proclaimed right-hand man, searching for words to ease his worry. Shakily, I tried to utter a greeting, but no sound will leave me.

"He's fine~!" Yamamoto laughs, the sound piercing and empty. He places his arms around my shoulders in a friendly banter. I flinch reflexively, jumping from the close contact causing Gokudera to look at me curiously. Yamamoto seems unfazed, again laughing that hollow tone. "Ne, you're energetic, Tsuna!"

"Tenth?" Gokudera questioned, his voice doleful. He levels a glare at Yamamoto, eyes calculating, but Yamamoto doesn't waver. His face lit up in cheerful bliss.

"Ah!" I regained my senses, forcing myself to move, to do something. "Ah, we'll be late!"

With that I stormed off, running past my two friends hurriedly.

Author's Note: I love sadistic Yamamoto~! (haha) You just know he's hiding something...