Lost and Found

by Phantom Hitman 1412

Summary: Tsuna failed the representative battle. Checkerface won. The Arcobaleno died. Gone. But ten years later, the new Sky Arcobaleno meets a very unusual Vindice….

Chapter 1- I lost you

"Hn. To think I would meet you like this. Can you not do anything without me? Naughty Naughty."

No… It couldn't be. But the orange banded top hat, the tight fitting cloak, those sideburns poking out of the bandages. This Vindice was…

It was Him

"And the winner is: Team Reborn"

Those who can turn towards the voice- although many are knocked out or injured. It's Wonomichi, standing before them, announcing the results. Tsuna sighs in relief. He'd done it. He'd defeated Bermuda. God was it hard work though, shown in the number of fallen around him.

"Well done Tsuna"

Tsuna spins around, making sure that the words match the voice. Reborn had… just called him Tsuna. There was no 'Dame' in sight! He'd finally done something worthy of the Hitman's respect. But there was little time to be overjoyed over the name. What happened next was far more important.

It was time Checkerface showed himself at last.

Or at least that's what Bermuda had planned for. And it's true. From behind them comes slow, sarcastic clapping, making even Reborn jump ever so slightly. No one had felt Checkerface come near them. Even now, staring directly at him, no one could feel his presence as if he didn't even have a Flame.

"Congratulations." He says, jumping down from the tree branch he was sitting on. Those still conscious tense, ready for whatever Checkerface threw at them. For they had a plan after all. Tsuna knew exactly what he needed to do, and even now, Flame matches were slowly manoeuvring to be closer to each other. He'd worked the plan through with everyone, mainly Talbot, and he was confident that it would work. It had to work.

"You'll turn Reborn back into an Adult now, won't you?" asks Tsuna. He was pretending, acting, of course. He knew all about Checkerface's fake promises. But he had to hold up the pretence for the plan to work. He needed to get close to Checkerface, close enough to defeat him.

Checkerface smiles and spreads his hands out wide. "The winners have been chosen after all" he says, not really answering the question. Those in the clearing tense, knowing the true meaning behind the words; Checkerface had decided who he wanted as the next Arcobleno. Tsuna and Reborn walk forwards, ready to 'claim their prize'.

Closer and closer to Checkerface Tsuna gets until he is only a step away. Readying his flames (which had never been turned off after the battle with Bermuda) Tsuna goes to take a flaming punch at Checkerface. But the man smiles, broadly and assuredly. Before Tsuna can even pull his hand backwards, the man claps.

There is a bright white light, blinding everyone. Tsuna hears a hiss from Reborn on his shoulder and guesses that the process has already begun. Spinning around whilst squinting his eyes, he takes a few steps forwards, reaching for the only other Sky Flame close to him- Yuni's. He finds her and grabs her hand, both squeezing the other in reassurance. Tsuna feels a hand bang into his hip, large enough to only be Ryohei. Grabbing Ryohei's hand, he drags it up to where Reborn is sat on his shoulder. Once he knows the pair have made contact, he concentrates on the girl before him. She quickly pulls his hand upwards, wrapping it around the pacifier hung on her neck.

He can feel it immediately. The Power draining from the Pacifier. It's so weak… so empty. But he was going to change that. His resolve burns brighter than ever before, flames flaring in an aura bigger than even he thought possible.

This was going to work. The Arcobaleno were not going to die. He was not going to fail. They would live.

Reborn would live.

Or so he thought. But the more he puts his Flame into the Sky Pacifier, the quicker he can feel the remaining energy leaving it. Even his own Flames aren't staying there for long. It's all draining away quicker than he can fill it. Tsuna grits his teeth and turns his flames up even more, determined to save everyone. Even if the others couldn't fill the pacifiers, Yuni could resurrect the rest of the Arcobaleno. It was all down to him. If he didn't save Yuni then nothing was going to work.

He feels another hand grab the pacifier too. "Hummhumm. We can't have Yuni-chan leaving us now can we? She's far too fun to play with" sings Byakuran, forcing his Flame into the Pacifier too.

But to no avail.

The Flames leave even quicker than before. And that's when he hears it. Laughter. Winning, deep laughter. He could barely hear it over the noise of his Flames, but it was there. Checkerface was laughing. Laughing at them. "I love to watch the struggles these Representative battles bring. That's why I do them so often. You didn't think I knew what you were planning? Boy how many times do you think I've created the birth of a new generation of Arcobaleno? I've seen every trick in the book there is. Admittedly Bermuda's cute antics made this time even more interesting, and I'm guessing this plan was the idea of that Chaser Talbot. He can try all he likes but he's only ever witnessed what I wanted him to see, no more. Now I am sure that the strongest people alive will be watching over the Pacifiers." Of course he couldn't include a battle each time since the current generation would know the warning signs. That's why every other time he called them all to the top of a mountain and made the switchover there instead, just like he'd done with this lot.

Tsuna's eyes go blurry, even though all he can still see is white. Running out of Flames meant game over and he was so close, even Byakuran was. He could tell the others were running out of Flames too.

"I… I will not let you win!" shouts Tsuna. Everyone else perks up at that. "We… are going… to beat you… Right Guys?" There are shouts of agreement from the others.

"Vongola….!"

"FIGHT-O!" All shout out as one, even if they aren't Vongola. A tradition taken from way back in the Ring Battles. With their resounding shout, they use the last of their power, hoping hope against hope that they can succeed.

But the Sky turns black as the Sun eclipses. No Storms will blow again, no Clouds will wander the skies. Never will Rain or Lightning fall to Earth, nor Mist ever rise from the ground.

For once I've written most of this beforehand instead of creating it as I go along. Which is new for me. But a plot bunny attacked and had to be written. I have not forgotten my other fics don't worry, work just got in the way.

Phantom Hitman 1412

First Published 04 August 2012