DISCLAIMER is in CHAPTER 1.

Previously…

Tsuna tries to come to terms with the fact that his actions were inherently evil yet done with the best of intentions. Takeshi is worried about Yoshi and resolves to become a better friend. Meanwhile, the man who sent the Hitman after the young Sawada attempts to contact said Hitman. Unknown to him, she had been killed, and Tsuna receives his message.

Early January, (Year Five)

The pencil, gripped tightly in a diminutive hand, flew across the paper beneath it frantically. Lines darkened, shades formed, and slowly a picture of black graphite came together on the stark white fibre material. Two-dimensional trees rose up threateningly on the borders of the paper as they created a path that lead to a figure surrounded by darkness. It was a woman and she lay prostate on the ground, face tilted up, and mouth strained open to a horrific degree. Her hair was strewn wildly behind her and her stomach was elevated as if the stretch would relieve her of the pain she—

Tsuna abruptly ceased his feverish sketching. He breathed in deeply and listened intently for any indication that his mother was up. Reassured that he was the only one still awake, he released his breath and returned his attention to his sketch. Then he flipped to the previous pages of his sketchbook.

Childish as they were, they told a story. The first page was full of trees with an unknown light source further inside the forest. Then as each page passed, the trees grew thicker, taller… darker. A path began to open up and, at the end of it, was the body of a woman in unmeasurable pain.

The light in Tsuna's eyes dimmed. He traced a finger over the pencil marks and felt exactly how hard he had pressed against the paper. Just a little more pressure and he would have punctured straight through the coarse material.

He thought that, if he gave the images he saw in his mind physical form, they would finally leave him alone in his sleep, but…

'When will the nightmares stop?' He despaired. Then he shook the thought away.

He needed to sleep. If the man from Italy meant what he said, then another Watcher will come tomorrow.

OMNISCIENCE

Arc I: Childhood Days

Chapter 5: A Checker Face and a Cloud

"Everybody's damaged. It's just a question of how badly, and whether you're healing or still bleeding." ~ Angela N. Blount

A man with a metallic eye mask attached to an iron hat sat in the tree outside the Sawada home. Beneath his left eye was a faded scar and beneath his right was a black-and-white checker tattoo. He wore a dark trench coat, white pants, and checker-patterned gloves and shoes. He sat casually on the branch, one leg bent up while the other dangled beneath him, as he observed the boy inside the house with curious eyes.

Truthfully, when Checker Face arrived in Namimori and discovered that a murder (of all things) had occurred at the time his machine sensed the Sky Flames, he had been ready to pack up and leave. Any Sky with the resolve to kill for the sake of killing would be unsuitable as the next Sky Arcobaleno.

However, experience had him stay and proceed to do what he did best.

He observed.

He watched as the case stumped the police. With a body burnt beyond measure that the slightest touch caused it to crumble, they could not identify who it was. With no identity, they had no suspects. Their only witness was a minor—a four-year-old boy traumatised beyond measure.

Therefore, their solution was to question the townspeople about any missing persons.

That took a total of three days, by which time the murderer would have had ample time to escape. When no new missing persons were reported and no further information came in, the investigation was halted and labelled as a cold case with the hopes that the killer really was no longer among them.

Checker Face's own resources, however, were much more extensive, so he managed to get a clearer view of the incident. That the woman was from out of town, a Japanese-Italian half-breed, was an interesting fact on its own. Such a unique ancestry was suspicious, especially when one thought about why someone like that would drop by a quaint town like Namimori. He double-checked his information and confirmed that, yes, the woman had been Mafia, but that was really none of his concern.

However, her dead body burnt by Sky Flames definitely interested him.

The Flames used were raw, as expected, but were strangely not wild, as he initially thought. They only burned the woman; the rest of her surroundings remained intact. That meant that the owner's Will was strong enough to control the outcome, an amazing feat when one considered the strength of the Flames. However, he had been correct in his assumption that the Flames were ridiculously pure in quality. The proof being that the Flames had reduced the body to ash… the most curious aspect of his discoveries.

Flames released with the intent to destroy did not result in a high level of Purity.

The subsequent Flame Trace he made led him to the Sawada house and he was somewhat surprised to sense Sky Flames within the child. It was rare to find a Flame-Active child not in the Underworld… and what was more curious was the fact that the child already killed in spite of his civilian upbringing. Was he aware…?

He continued to observe.

He had been there, hidden, when the Chief of Police questioned the mother and he alone saw the child's reactions. He concluded that yes, the boy was aware of what he had done. Checker Face felt faintly amused by the mother's attempt at a lesson to comfort her child when clearly she had the opposite effect, as the supposed "murderer" and thus "monster" was the very boy she held in her arms.

He felt uneasy when the mother and son clung to each other for comfort. The memory of a green-haired woman in a large hat protectively cradling a blond child superimposed itself over the scene. It disoriented him but what unsettled him more was how Sawada Tsunayoshi was the spitting image of Giotto, the orphaned boy Sepira took in and cared for as her own.

He observed how, over the course of the week, the Tsunayoshi's mental state slowly deteriorated until he periodically woke up from recurrent nightmares. How the child would desperately sketch out the memory that replayed in his mind, each one more disturbing than the last until bags formed underneath his eyes and he grew reluctant to rest. He saw how the mother saw all this but could do nothing to stop it as her own attempts at comfort fell short of what the boy needed.

Checker Face watched how, as each day passed, Tsunayoshi grew more withdrawn.

He observed with mounting astonishment as the child received a message from a man out to kill him. He saw how the child's eyes dimmed and darkened… then suddenly light up with fire and determination. He watched as the boy made his way downstairs and walked into the kitchen where his mother was. He watched Tsunayoshi initiate a hug and cling tightly to his mother, who was surprised but smiled down at him with tears in her eyes.

It occurred to Checker Face, then, that perhaps the reason for the Flames' release had been Tsunayoshi's relentless and steadfast desire to protect his mother.

Two days passed and Checker Face observed nothing odd about Tsunayoshi's behaviour, even as the threat of another Hitman loomed over him. The boy went out with his mother more often, certainly, but that was most likely because of the protectiveness he felt over the woman. Although, he did not quite act clingy. He was at least able to leave his mother's side for a certain amount of time and walk off a certain distance away, but that was all that had changed.

Then, in the early hours of the third day after Tsunayoshi received the threat, Checker Face felt a hostile presence approach the Sawada home. As stealthy as the Hitman was, no one—with all the experience he had gained from the many millennia he had lived—could hide from him.

However, Checker Face did nothing. It was not his place.

He was only here to observe.

The Hitman, it seemed, only intended to watch the house. He made no further movements and simply stood there silently.

After a moment of this, Checker Face tilted his head.

For some reason, Tsunayoshi had awoken.

Checker Face watched as the boy tumbled out of his bed and landed softly on his floor, his feet covered in socks. The boy rubbed his eyes and looked around, obviously bothered by something. Then the boy quietly walked out of his room.

He did not turn on any lights, even as he slowly made his way downstairs. Once he was on the first floor, he turned around and headed for the bathroom at the end of the hall.

'Strange,' Checker Face thought. There was another bathroom on the second floor and he could see no reason for the boy to use that one, specifically.

Then the boy flipped the lights of the bathroom on and, even from outside, the fact that someone was awake was obvious. The Hitman tensed and then—after a single, suspenseful minute—he moved to enter the house. Checker Face wondered, with some amusement and more intrigue, just how much of this situation was intentional, and how much was incidental. Then, with his presence still hidden by Mist Flames, he moved his vantage point to get a better look at the events that would unfold.

Tsunayoshi stood quietly in the bathroom, his head tilted in the direction of the front door. Although the Hitman was certainly silent enough, the boy evidently expected to hear something so his ears managed to catch even the faintest of sounds the infiltrator made. It seemed that, once the boy was sure that there was someone there, he realised that it was the Hitman sent for him, as panic appeared on his face. He looked around frantically and Checker Face saw the moment an idea popped into his head, for he looked at the bathroom window as though it were his salvation.

The Hitman had begun to pick the lock on the bathroom. Tsunayoshi, his mind made up, climbed the toilet and unlatched the window. Just as he crawled out into the open air, the bathroom door quietly swung upon, and both target and assassin locked eyes with each other.

Then the boy ran and the Hitman hastily turned to escape through the front door and intercept his target's path.

Checker Face moved to keep up with the two as they sprinted through the streets of Namimori, and continued to observe. Tsunayoshi had a head start, and he knew his town better, so there was quite a distance between him and his assailant. Another point in the boy's favour was the fact that the man did not bring out the gun he had with him. It was most likely because he did not want to cause a commotion so early in the morning. However, the Hitman continued to catch up. If the boy did not do something soon, he would be caught.

The boy turned to an alley and Checker Face raised an eyebrow. That was a dead end.

Then Tsunayoshi surprised him and proved that his move was intentional. He jumped on a rope and pulled on it with all of his body weight and a fire escape ladder crashed down on the Hitman's head just as he entered the alley. A stray cat yowled at the sound and ran away as Tsunayoshi climbed down the rope, but after that was silence. The boy heaved in gulps of air as he shook and finally fell to his hands and knees.

Checker Face was impressed. 'Now, Tsunayoshi-kun… What will you do?'

Tsunayoshi stood up slowly. He was evidently exhausted but still he stood. He timidly approached the downed Hitman and looked him over. Checker Face passed an uninterested gaze over the man as well and noted that blood had begun to pool around his head. Head wounds bled the most, though, so it probably only looked worse than it actually was.

Tsunayoshi stumbled away and puked. Checker Face blinked. He had lived so long that he had become accustomed to such things. He had forgotten that, what with his extraordinary display, the boy was only a few months older than four years old.

'Perhaps that contributes to the Purity factor in his Flames?'

Tsunayoshi wiped his mouth and move towards the Hitman again. This time, he did not puke, but he still looked sick. Then he crouched down and searched through the man's pockets. He came across a wallet, a passport, a phone, and finally… the gun. The boy stared at it for a long moment. He seemed to want to leave it but after many conflicting emotions crossed his face—an indication of his warring thoughts—he placed it with the other objects he had pilfered.

Then he turned around to puke again. Nothing came out of his mouth so all he could do was heave dryly until tears fell from his eyes and his shoulders shook with stifled sobs.

Checker Face continued to observe dispassionately.

When Tsunayoshi managed to collect himself, he proceeded to gather the items he had taken from the man and relocate them a good distance away. Then he looked around and spotted a piece of wood. It was slightly taller than he was lengthwise but thinner width wise. He took it with both of his hands and walked towards the manhole in the alley.

Checker Face realized what the boy planned to do. 'So, this is why he went out with his mother constantly for the past two days…'

It took a long time and many tries, but the boy finally shifted the manhole aside ever so slightly. It took him a longer amount of time to remove it completely and when he did he was breathing heavily again, his pyjamas sweaty and grimy. Tsunayoshi took a moment to catch his breath before he turned to the downed Hitman. The boy looked at his hands, clenched them into fists, and closed his eyes.

Then Checker Face felt himself be swept away by magnificent Sky Flames. They were so young, so sickly-sweet it was cloying but Harmony, the likes of which he had not felt in centuries, enveloped him. Embraced him.

Accepted him.

He inhaled deeply and regained control of himself. The Flames were not enough to ensnare him but it had been enough to entrance him, if only for a second. However, he could attribute that to how young they were. If they were developed and refined over time, when they mature… How much more powerful would they be then?

The smell of ash invaded his nose and broke him from his thoughts. He returned his attention to what was before him.

Tsunayoshi, his hands still alight with pure Sky Flames, pushed the Hitman with all the strength he could muster towards the open manhole. His Flames continued to spread over the man's body and the boy's face, alight in the dark with the bright of his fire, displayed tears as they silently fell from his eyes.

Checker Face tilted his head. He obviously did not want to do this. What made him do so anyways?

He continued to observe the boy as he pushed the Hitman. With one last shove, the man finally fell into the manhole. There was a splash, yet through the dark of the sewers, one could still see a faint orange light, an indication that even water had not doused the Dying Will Flame.

The Flames disappeared from young Tsunayoshi's hands, as did his tears, and he silently proceeded to cover up the manhole. Then he took what he had swiped from his attacker's body and made his way home. Checker Face followed him, still shrouded in Mist Flames.

The boy entered through the window he had used to escape. He locked it, climbed down the toilet, and stared at his figure in the mirror. When he began to strip off his pyjamas, Checker Face returned to the tree in the front yard of the Sawada home.

He thought about it and realised that this would be the first time Tsunayoshi would bathe without his mother's assistance.

Later that same day, when the sun broke through the horizon to indicate that morning had fully come, the boy's mother awoke. She opened the door to her son's bedroom and smiled when she saw him in his bed, fast asleep and for once, it seemed, peaceful. She was altogether ignorant of the events that had occurred, unknowing of the heinous act that her only son had committed.

However, she was also happy. That much was obvious to anyone who saw her.

'Perhaps,' Checker Face thought, 'that is all that matters to young Tsunayoshi.'

He observed as the boy smiled, tiny but bright enough, with obvious adoration in his eyes as he and his mother ate breakfast together.

'A love so pure that it drove him to kill. This world is cruel enough, after all, to make sinners out of saints.'

Checker Face continued to observe as the days passed. He watched as the boy practiced with his Flames, as he tried to find the extent of its power, curious but ever so wary it. He watched as that beautiful flame grew stronger and, even then, it still bent to the will of its wielder.

He watched as the nightmares grew into night terrors, as the boy grew weaker by the day.

He watched as the boy's resolve turned tainted and the purity of his flames dwindled.

'Now, now, we can't have that,' Checker Face's eyes narrowed. 'It seems to me that you think that killing these people is the only way to protect your mother. I will have to show you otherwise if I am to keep your Flames pure. After all, I've decided.

'One day, you will be the Sky Arcobaleno.'

[Location Unknown], Italy

The man called the phone of the new Hitman he hired and the line would not connect. Again. He cursed. This was the second time this had happened and he was not about to risk a third. It was obvious that the Sawada Family was more protected than initially assumed, and if he tested his luck, they could trace the recent Hitman activity in that area back to him. He was in no position to handle the Vongola, even if it were only the External Advisors, so his revenge on that bastard Young Lion would have to wait.

For now, all he could do was use whatever resources he still had available to him to fund the Estraneo's experiments.

'Then again… it doesn't have to be me who sends Hitmen after the Young Lion's family.' A manic grin formed on his face. 'That bastard has enough enemies. All it would take is a little… information slip of their location.'

He chuckled darkly to himself and tucked away his phone. Then he made his way back to the observer's platform to see the most recent experiment.

"What'd I miss?" He asked as he entered.

His blue-eyed acquaintance glanced at him briefly before he returned his focus to the girl restrained on a medical bed. "Nothing. Although, you seem to be in a good mood. Did your new Hitman succeed in his mission?"

"No. He's probably dead."

The other raised an eyebrow. "And you are pleased… why?"

The man scowled and curtly replied, "It's none of your business."

The blue-eyed man sniffed primly. "I suppose not. Though, you should know, we have developed a new experimental concept based on your Hitman issues."

"Oh? Do tell."

"The idea is to genetically enhance a person to possess the abilities an ideal Hitman would have. Skill, of course, intelligence as well, and we discussed that the ability to have emotions would only be detrimental to a killer—"

"As a killer, yes, but a Hitman still needs to have at least a sense of honour or loyalty so that their employer could trust them to not betray their contract."

The other frowned thoughtfully. "I suppose… Then perhaps it would be better to genetically hinder the production of certain biochemicals and hormones? They would still possess some modicum of emotions but the lack of intense feelings would make them more apathetic and thus more agreeable."

"Maybe…"

April, (Year Five)
Apartment above Takesushi, Yamamoto Household

"Yoshi-kun!" Takeshi smiled brightly, thrilled beyond belief. "You're here!"

He ignored how his parents shared exasperated looks at his exuberance and how Aunt Nana gave him a smile small. He only had eyes for the shy face of his little friend. Takeshi noticed how the smaller boy shifted shyly and he frowned when he saw the bags under the other boy's eyes. He looked tired!

Takeshi thought about it then nodded to himself. He moved forward and grabbed his friend's wrist, to which Tsuna looked up at him with confused eyes. The taller boy smiled widely as he pulled him towards the stairs. "Let's go up to my room!"

Tsuna smiled weakly but said nothing and allowed Takeshi to lead the way. Once they reached his room, however, Tsuna was visibly surprised when Takeshi pushed him towards the bed. "Eh? Uh… Oniichan, what's wrong?"

"You look tired!" Takeshi answered brightly. "I don't like playing when I'm tired and you always let me rest then so you're going to rest now!"

"Ehh? Um… that's because… I've been practising… but… um…" Tsuna mumbled something unintelligible.

"Hm? What was that?"

"I… I wanted to make it up to you…" He looked away with a bright blush on his face. "I… I haven't played with you for months… and I even missed your birthday yesterday and I forgot to get you a present…" He hung his head in embarrassment. "I'm sorry…"

Takeshi blinked. True, he had been sad that his friend had not been around yesterday, but he was here now! That was what really mattered so instead Takeshi hugged his friend; tight enough that he managed to lift the shorter boy a few inches off the ground. Tsuna squealed and the taller boy laughed at the sound.

"Yoshi-kun really is so cute! Okay, apology accepted, but you know I'm just really happy you're here today!" He set him down on his bed. "And as for my birthday present, let's take a nap together! I'm still a little tired from all the Baseball I did yesterday." He felt somewhat annoyed by that. He already played Baseball every other day. Can his friends not invite him to do something else for his birthday?

Tsuna blinked and let out a yawn. He rubbed his eyes. "Y'sure…?"

Somehow, Takeshi's grin grew wider. "Yeah!" He climbed into his bed and his friend scooted aside to make room for him. Tsuna started to snuggle into the pillow, his eyes lidded with exhaustion, as Takeshi moved the blankets to cover their legs. It was not that cold as it was the start of spring, but it was nice to know that if they did get cold, they could just pull up the blanket.

"G'night…" Tsuna mumbled then promptly dozed off.

Takeshi laughed softly. "It's just morning, silly." Still, he smiled, more gentle than wide like the ones before, but infinitely warmer. He carefully curled around the smaller boy next to him and laid his head beside the other's own. His eyes took in the tired features and limp hair. Even with those, his friend still looked cute. He laid his hand over the other's curled fist.

Takeshi noticed that, ever since Tsuna's birthday party the year before, his friend felt warm. Not as though he had a fever, but… warm. It had always been nice to spend time with him, doing anything, but ever since that day, he noticed that he felt warmer whenever he was with the other boy. It was as though there was a permanent hug around him, one that comforted rather than inhibited.

Takeshi did not know how to turn these feelings into thoughts, however. He just knew that he liked being with Tsuna.

He laid his forehead on Tsuna's own, closed his eyes, and let the warmth he felt lull him to slumber.

Hours later, Takeshi woke up next to a sweat-soaked Tsuna, the boy's body swelteringly hot.

"Yoshi-kun…? Yoshi-kun!" Takeshi laid a hand on Tsuna's forehead and immediately pulled back. "You're burning up!" He jumped out of his bed in a panic and burst out of his room. "Mom! Dad! Aunt Nana! Yoshi-kun's sick!"

The adults immediately ran up the stairs, concern on their faces, and Nana was the first to reach her son. She tried to touch him but flinched away. Instead, her hands hovered over the boy's body frantically. She wanted to hold him but she could not even touch him. "Tsu-kun? Tsu-kun! Wake up!"

Tsuna remained unconscious, his eyebrows scrunched in pain. His cheeks had begun to flush red and sweat continued to coat his body, yet he remained motionless.

"Something's wrong. This can't be an ordinary fever!" She bit her lip.

Amaya laid her hand on the other woman's shoulder. "We should bring him to the hospital, then, right?" She answered in a soothing voice.

"But… But I can't even touch him. He's burning up so much it feels like he's on fire…!"

"Tsuyoshi, can you carry him to the car? Maybe wrap him up in a blanket?"

"Alright, I can try."

Takeshi watched, all the while incensed that he could do nothing to alleviate the pain his friend felt.

Namimori General Hospital

Visiting hours were long over, although the special circumstances allowed Nana to remain overnight. The doctor in charge of Tsuna simply requested that she alert the hospital staff of any changes in her son's condition. Currently, she laid curled up on the only couch available in the room, her sleep fitful.

At Tsuna's bedside, Checker Face continued to watch over the slumbering boy, his hands folded over his cane as he towered over him. He had been nearby ever since the Sawada and Yamamoto families arrived at the hospital, his presence unnoticed by anyone. After the doctors conducted their diagnosis, when every illness came up inconclusive and when the situation finally stumped every one of them, he had sighed.

He knew that they would not be able to diagnose what Tsunayoshi suffered from; they had neither the tools nor the knowledge to do so. However, he could not afford them to question the oddity of the boy's condition, so he interfered a bit and had the next set of tests they conducted indicate that the boy had experienced a Heat Stroke, one that was bad enough to warrant a trip to the hospital but nothing life threatening. It did not hurt that the treatment for a Heat Stroke was exactly what Tsunayoshi needed to stabilise his body long enough for Checker Face to step in.

Now, he could finally do something to fix this unforeseen event. He conjured up a chair with his Flames and sat. Then he leaned forward and laid his gloved hand over the boy's forehead.

He had been right when he thought that Tsunayoshi's Flames would be too dangerous if left unattended. Already the boy's Flames sought out worthy Elements to bring into his sphere of influence. The Yamamoto boy was a strong Rain, almost in a Flame-Active state because of his continued exposure to Tsunayoshi's presence and recently unlocked Flames. Coupled with the fact that they had close and undisturbed contact with one another for hours, the little Sky's current state was obviously due to attempted Harmonization.

Harmonization was dangerous enough with a strong Sky and a complete set of willing Elements. To do so without knowledge of the procedure and at such a young age was practically suicide. Checker Face could have hit himself (if it were not so beneath him) for not realising what was going on sooner.

Now, with his Mist Flames, he found the fledgling bond between the Sky child and the Rain boy and forcibly broke it. Beneath his hand, Tsunayoshi convulsed once, then his Flames ceded their attack on his body and he relaxed. Luckily, the bond had not been strong enough to harm either one of the children if it were broken and the Harmonization process had only begun so it was easily destructible. It was also fortunate that Checker Face was far too powerful for Tsunayoshi's Flames to ensnare him and so he was able to break it without further consequence.

He sighed and removed his hand. He had come across a troublesome little Sky.

Checker Face waited to see if any more changes would occur in the boy's Flames. There was one instance, near dawn, when the boy's Flames had receded into him so much that his body temperature began to fall. He had to use his Mist Flames once again, this time to coax the Flames out and return the boy to homeostasis.

'It's Giotto all over again,' he frowned. 'We never could figure out what made his Flames recede in such a way, and when he grew up he learnt to control it. It seems this boy's Flames behave similarly. Not to mention there's that issue with the dwindling Purity of his Flames…

'I wanted to observe him some more before I made contact but if I do nothing now who knows what will happen? I suppose it can't be helped…'

He stood, dismissed the chair he had conjured, and faded into mist.

Dawn broke and, with it, Nana awoke. She stretched and yawned before she stood up from the couch and walked over to her son. Timidly, she checked his temperature and her face expressed her relief when she found that she could touch him. She assumed that his fever broke overnight and called a nurse to look him over.

She teared up in relief when the nurse told her that he had stabilised for now.

Once the nurse left, she trailed her fingers through Tsuna's hair and over his peaceful face, and then promised to bring him good food to eat for when he woke up. Then she left for home to cook something up, assured that her son was safe. She also made plans to call the Yamamoto Family and tell them the good news.

Minutes after she left, Checker Face reappeared in Tsuna's hospital room. He conjured up a chair again, sat, and cast an illusion on the room that would subtly suggest to anyone who went near it that they go somewhere else. Then he made himself visible to young Tsunayoshi's eyes alone and used his Mist Flames to wake him up.

Tsuna woke slowly and blinked multiple times before his eyes finally focussed. There was a faint orange mixed in with the brown of his iris. His eyes roamed the room, disoriented, until they finally landed on the strange man beside him. His body froze and his hands clenched. A touch of fear crossed his face as he slowly sat up. "Wh… Who are you?"

Checker Face considered the best way to answer. "I am not someone who wishes to harm you or your mother, if that is your concern."

Tsuna blinked, still wary, but less so. "R-Really? Then… where am I?"

"A hospital. Do you know why?"

He bowed his head and mumbled to himself. "… I was at… Oniichan's house… and… we took a nap together…"

"What do you remember after that?"

He looked at his hands then clenched and unclenched them. "… Burning. My… fire…"

"Yes," Checker Face softly confirmed. "Your Flames were burning you. I managed to stop them, however. You're safe for now."

Tsuna blinked. "You know about the fire…?"

"Flames, young Tsunayoshi. They are called Flames."

He tilted his head. "How do you know my name? Who are you?" He asked innocently, curiously, and with far too much trust; the way all children did.

The man bowed his head slightly and crossed his right hand to touch his heart. "You may call me Checker Face. As for how I know your name… a doctor told me."

"You're lying."

Checker Face paused and his eyes narrowed at the factual reply. He re-settled into his chair. "Pardon?"

"I can tell when people are lying," Tsuna elaborated, not seriously, but as though it were an inexplicable truth. "What you just said… That was a lie." His eyebrows scrunched together. "Why are you lying to me? Mama said it's bad to lie."

'This boy…' Checker Face thought. He felt more intrigued by the minute. "How were you able to tell?"

"I have a Feeling. It tells me things." His frown deepened. "You're a… a-voy-ding my question. Why did you lie to me? And how do you know my name?"

Checker Face stayed silent as he sorted through his thoughts. He should have confirmed it before he approached the boy but the thought had never struck his mind. He had assumed that Giotto's and Tsunayoshi's similarities were a mere coincidence but the presence of a "Feeling" eerily similar to the Giotto's "Hyper Intuition" was too much. It was entirely possible that this boy was a descendant of his. He would have to make a thorough background check of his lineage but for now he needed to fix the situation he brought upon himself. He needed the boy's trust.

"I apologise for lying to you, Tsunayoshi-kun. It's just that I have… methods… of finding out things; methods that I don't really want to share. I hope that's okay with you?"

Tsuna blinked. Then thoughtfulness crossed his face. "You're not lying anymore so… I guess that's okay." He smiled shyly even as his eyes remained guarded. His Feeling, although not overly concerned about the situation, still told him to be wary of the man. "So… I guess that means you're not a… a doctor, then?"

The corner of the man's mouth lifted. "No. But I am the one who healed you."

Tsuna's face scrunched up. "I thought doctors healed people."

"Your sickness was not something a doctor could heal. Luckily, I could, but I am no doctor." He crossed his legs. "However, that is not what I came here to talk to you about. Would you mind explaining to me… your reasons for killing that man and woman?"

Tsuna stilled as fear overtook him.

Namimori Eastern Forest

'I can't believe it,' a tiny figure, dressed in red robes with his long hair tied into a braid, thought. 'They managed to catch up even though we switched trains and walked through wooded areas so many times? Just what kind of trouble did you get yourself into, little sister?'

The sound of a child's coughs grabbed Fon's attention and he looked at his nephew worriedly. "Can you move, Kyōya-kun?"

The child's grey eyes narrowed at the cursed infant. His tiny hands clenched into fists. "Of course I can. I'm not… weak…" He staggered on his feet and fell forwards.

Fon caught him before he could hit the ground. The Storm Arcobaleno sighed even as his senses stayed alert for any indication of their hunters. 'It's just as you said, little sister. His spirit is strong but he had been born with too weak of a body. He must despise it.'

Then Fon heard the sound of movement from somewhere deep in the forest. Their hunters had begun to close in on them.

"It appears they've finally managed to catch up to us," he muttered as he gently laid his nephew against the trunk of a tree. Then Fon nudged at his torso. His animal partner promptly popped his head out of his collar. "Lichi, I need you to check which way is the nearest town."

The monkey nodded obediently and took to the trees.

Kyōya breathed heavily. "What are you… going… to do…? You can't… fight them off… You're just… a… baby…" He winced when he felt what little injuries he had throb throughout his body. Injuries he had sustained when he attempted to fight their hunters.

Fon took a deep breath. "Appearances can be deceiving, Kyōya-kun." He readied his position as his eyes darted about and his other senses strained to locate their enemies.

Then, men jumped out of the woods to surround them. There were five in total. Fon took another deep breath and shot forward.

He kicked the man immediately in front of him in the diaphragm and the man choked, fell, and curled up on the ground. Another man crouched down to sweep kick the infant. Fon jumped and delivered a blow to his temple that knocked him out. A third man moved to kick him out of the air but Fon managed to flip away from the attack. Then he took out a gyōza bun from his sleeve, ate it, and unleashed his own attack on the third man, who convulsed, rammed into another one of his comrades, and then fainted from the stench. Fon landed on the grass and continued to eat his bun. There were still three enemies left; the first one he attacked had recovered, the hunter that the third man had crashed into was already back on his feet, and a fifth man who had made no move against him at all.

Fon finished his bun and took another deep breath. Then he shot attacks at the last three men. It directly hit the first and fourth men and they convulsed. Their bodies, at the infant's direction, ran full force towards each other and they knocked themselves out.

The fifth man had merely plugged his nose. The infant noted this and stared up at him.

Before tensions could rise any further, the man spoke, his Chinese harsh. "Our business is not with you, Fon of the Arcobaleno."

"It becomes my business when you threaten my nephew," Fon replied calmly.

"That boy does not deserve to live. He is weak and he serves the Triads no purpose. His mother was a fool for letting him live so long when he has failed every test we have given him."

Kyōya gritted his teeth as he tried to rise from where he sat. "You…!"

"Perhaps a deal can be made instead," Fon cut in. "I am quite ready to offer up my services in return for my nephew's life."

The man considered it. "That… is a matter I would have to take up with the Dragon Head."

"And how long would that take?"

He thought about it then answered slowly, "A week at the very least… two, at most."

"Then, in two weeks' time, we shall meet back here, and you will tell me what your Dragon Head proposes we do."

"Will you truly return to bargain with us?"

Fon bowed. "I have spoken it and I stay true to my word."

The man nodded. "Leave, then, and we will meet in two weeks' time. But make no mistake, Fon of the Arcobaleno. Should you not come… our hunt for that boy will continue and you will not be able to stop us, for even you are bound by our laws."

The Storm Arcobaleno bowed again and jumped backwards to where his nephew sat. He grabbed hold of the boy but Kyōya pushed him away with a scowl.

"I can stand… on my own…" The child shakily rose to his legs with some support from the tree and glared hatefully at the man who agreed to let them go… for now.

"Come, Kyōya-kun," Fon said briskly in Japanese as he walked forwards. He made sure to keep the hunter in his peripherals and his body prepared in case of a sudden attack. Kyōya followed the infant reluctantly and, after one last glower at the hunter, turned his back on the man and refused to look at him again.

They walked at a steady pace for a few moments. The boy coughed every now and then but refused to allow his condition to hinder their progress, even when it became difficult for him to breathe.

"You're… strong…" Kyōya finally spoke through his ragged breaths. 'Even a baby is stronger than me. How much more pathetic can I get?' He gnashed his teeth together and felt his eyes tear up. He wiped at them furiously. They were a show of weakness and he did not want to be weak anymore.

Fon glanced at him and could immediately tell where his thoughts were. "You're not weak, Kyōya-kun. In fact, your mother and I agree that you have one of the strongest wills we've ever seen."

"A strong will… doesn't let me fight."

"On the contrary, because you remain standing in spite of everything that has happened to you shows that you are still, in fact, fighting. And that is an impressive feat."

Kyōya scoffed then immediately coughed. It felt like his throat ripped apart at the force of it. He looked at his hand and saw blood. However, when he noticed the concerned glance of his… uncle, he clenched his hand into a fist to hide the blood, and stuffed it into the pocket of his ratty shorts. "I'm fine," he said hoarsely. "Let's keep walking."

When the infant turned his head away, Kyōya discreetly rubbed his hand over his clothes. He hoped that they would hide the colour.

"If you are… so strong," Kyōya coughed, lighter than before but still painful, "then why did you… let my mother fight… alone… when you could have… fought with her and… defeated them all."

Fon's shoulders, ever so slightly, slumped. His voice softened so much it was nearly unintelligible. "Your mother is stubborn. She made me promise long ago to never interfere in any of her fights and she reminded me of that shortly before we left. Although, at that time, I believe it was more because she wanted me to take you as far away from the Triads as I could." He glanced at his nephew from the corner of his eye. "And you should know, Kyōya-kun, that even had I fought with her… there would still be no guarantee that we would have won with only the two of us against majority of the Triads." 'Because this cursed body, as strong as it is, also has its limits…'

Kyōya turned his head away. "I could have fought… with the both of you."

"You would have died," Fon replied softly.

"Both of you… said… I am strong."

"Yes, but… Kyōya-kun," he sighed. "You are not yet strong enough."

"And is that why you had to 'offer your services' to them in return for my life," he snapped and was instantly reduced to horrible, hacking coughs that made him sink to his knees and elbows. "Damn it—!" He coughed again and felt a small hand rub his back.

"This is bad," Fon murmured. "You need a hospital…"

Just then, a familiar chatter reached his ears and a red-faced, white-furred monkey burst through the foliage and landed on the infant's head.

"Lichi!"

The monkey gibbered at him and pointed west.

"You found a town? Good job, Lichi! Come, Kyōya-kun. If Lichi has returned this quickly we must be near…!"

The boy collapsed.

"Kyōya-kun…? Kyōya-kun!"

Namimori General Hospital

Tsuna sat and waited. He had told this strange man everything about those two incidents and could not help but feel vulnerable. What would he think of him? He knew what he did was wrong but…

'… But nothing,' he bowed his head. Killing people was inexcusable. And he knew what he did, he understood that it was wrong, but that did not matter to him. Even if he wished that he did not have to kill them, he had no other choice. It was to protect his mother and… and him. He had to protect the both of them because no one else would, because his father was not around and he had to be the man of the house.

'Even if it hurts… even if the nightmares get worse… I'll protect us! I definitely will!'

Checker Face sighed and Tsuna snapped out of his thoughts to gaze at the man fearfully.

"You really are too kind, Tsunayoshi-kun."

Tsuna blinked. "… Eh?"

He had not expected that at all. He had braced himself, ready to hear the strange man call him a monster, not… kind. There was certainly nothing "kind" about what he had done.

Checker Face did not seem to share his thoughts. In fact, he had noted the boy's body language and facial expressions as he told his side of the story. The man was certain he had a good grasp on what young Tsunayoshi thought about himself and his situation and, really, the boy was too kind. He had no firm morals yet his desire to protect his mother caused his Hyper Intuition to show him the fastest route to that goal. Now he believed that it was the only route and Checker Face had to set him straight on this matter as soon as possible if he wished to keep the boy's Flames pure.

"Kind…?" Tsuna wondered. "How am I kind…?"

"You've been suffering all this time, I'm sure. You haven't been able to tell anyone about your situation and you won't tell your mother because she wouldn't understand what you're going through. Am I right?"

He nodded reluctantly.

"And still you insist on doing this to protect her. You don't even want her to acknowledge your efforts; all you want is to keep her happy."

He nodded again, more vigorous this time.

"But do you really think that doing all these things for your mother will make her happy?"

Tsuna froze. His eyes were wide and confused.

Vulnerable.

"But she… doesn't know. And what she doesn't know… won't hurt her…"

"She may not know… but that doesn't mean she cannot see what your actions are doing to you. She cares about you. Your happiness is her happiness, and if you continue to suffer because of this, she will suffer as well."

"But…!" Tsuna protested as he gripped his bedsheets tightly. "I have to protect her…!"

"But you also want to keep her happy. And believe me Tsunayoshi-kun, killing all these people will not make you, or her, happy."

The boy deflated. He wanted to argue further but the strange man's words made sense, and his Feeling gave him no impression that the other was wrong or that his words were lies. "Then… what do I do? I don't know… what else I can do anymore," he sniffled.

Checker Face conjured a handkerchief and gave it to the boy. "Now, now, Tsunayoshi-kun," he soothed. "Allow me to tell you this: there is a way to protect your mother without you resorting to killing."

Tsuna wiped at his nose and looked up at the strange man, hope in his eyes. "Th… There is?"

"Yes, there is." Checker Face's eyes glinted behind his mask. Finally, the root of the problem. "That Feeling you have is what directed you to kill that man and that woman, yes? It told you what you had to do to protect your mother."

He nodded.

"But you don't want to have to kill anymore, yes?"

Another nod.

"You have to keep that in mind when your Feeling tells you to do things. If you don't want to do what it tells you, you have to find another way. And since it's your Feeling, once it understands that you want another solution, it will help you find it. You just have to be clear about what you want."

"I have to be… clear about… what I want?"

"Yes, exactly. You have to continuously ask yourself things such as… hmm… Well, for starters, do you want to kill again?"

Tsuna shook his head furiously.

"But you still want to protect your mother, yes?"

He nodded frantically.

"That is why you always have to keep what you want in mind when you do something, Tsunayoshi-kun. Those are called 'conditions' and if they are not met then you should not go through with the action. Meaning, you need to find another way. And there are other ways to protect your mother other than killing the people after her. You could, for example, go to the police instead of handling the situation yourself."

Tsuna adopted a thoughtful expression. Checker Face, personally, felt as though he had been going around in circles with this conversation. It was much more difficult to persuade a child than he thought.

"I guess… there are other ways…" Tsuna mumbled. "After I knocked that guy out… so, instead of that, I could have just brought him to the police…?"

"That would work quite effectively," Checker Face agreed. "See? There are other ways to protect your mother."

"I guess so, but…" His Feeling nudged him and he recalled how his first Watcher had wanted to take him away from his mother, how she had no qualms about killing anyone who got in her way. "What if there's no other way…?"

Checker Face's eyebrows twitched upwards. 'This boy… in some ways he acts his age, in others he is far too advanced. Is this the power of Hyper Intuition?' "Well, my only advice for that… is that you should try all your other options first. Killing is far too final so you should only do it when everything else has failed."

"But then what should I do now?" Tsuna raised his knees to his chest and clutched his hair with both hands. "I… I know more of them are coming but I can't think of anything. I don't know what to do if a lot of them come after us and I don't want to—!"

Checker Face placed his hand on top of the boy's head. "Calm down, Tsunayoshi-kun. Panicking will not help you think."

Tsuna bowed his head and took in deep breaths. Checker Face patted the boy's fluffy head once then removed his hand. "If I may make a suggestion…?"

Tsuna gazed at him inquisitively.

"Perhaps you should tell your father about this."

"Papa…? But… he hasn't been around in a while… Mama says he's busy with work and I think she said he's in Italy right now…?"

Checker Face's eyes narrowed behind his mask. 'As I thought. There is no logical reason for Mafiosi to be after civilians, Giotto's blood or not. And the absence of the father was already quite suspicious… Whoever he is, he would have to be informed of this situation, and since I can't do it myself…' "Nevertheless, the next time you see him, you should let your father know. I'm sure he'll help you deal with these people."

Tsuna stared at him then nodded slowly. "... Okay. When I see him again, I'll tell him." He fidgeted in his bed. "By the way, Checker Face-san… you called my fire 'Flames', right…? Wh-What do you know about them…?"

As the man opened his mouth to reply, a familiar presence invaded his senses. 'This Flame…! What is the Storm Arcobaleno doing here?' He gazed at the boy speculatively but, as he took in the earnest expression, he dismissed the thought that young Tsunayoshi could have attracted the infant. His Flames were strong, yes, but not so strong as to be able to manage such a feat. 'But what a coincidence. A current Arcobaleno is in the same place as a prospective Arcobaleno at the same time. It would be prudent to investigate this further.'

"Pardon me, Tsunayoshi-kun, but another matter has been brought to my attention. I promise, however, to talk to you about your Flames at another time."

Tsuna appeared taken aback, and more than a little disappointed, but he accepted the man's words easily enough. "Okay. And, uh… thank you for talking to me about all that… stuff, Checker Face-san," he smiled shyly.

Checker Face smiled back thinly and used his Flames to urge the boy back into slumber. Tsuna's eyelids began to droop and he laid back down in his bed, curled up in a foetal position. Then the man in the iron hat stood and dismissed the chair he had conjured. He proceeded to mask presence, removed the illusion on the room, and then vanished into mist.

Minutes later, Nana peeked inside her son's room and wondered to herself why she went to other places in the hospital first before she went here. Then she saw how her son had curled up, still fast asleep, and she let the thought go as she smiled. She closed the door and turned to the Yamamoto Family. Tsuyoshi and Amaya's hands were busy as they restrained their son and ensured he stayed in his seat and did not make too much noise.

"So? How is he?" Amaya asked with a wide smile.

Nana smiled back. "He's asleep. I'm sorry, Takeshi-kun, but I don't think Tsu-kun can see anyone right now."

Takeshi slumped in his seat. "Oh. Okay."

Emergency Room

Checker Face felt, once again, astounded by what he saw. 'This town is just full of surprises. If this keeps going on, I might decide to live here permanently, if only to keep watch over so many prospects.'

The boy the nurses fussed over, a relation of the Storm Arcobaleno's from what he could see, quite possibly held the strongest Cloud Flames of his generation. He listened in on the conversation between another nurse and a disguised Fon. The obvious lie was where the boy's external injuries had come from; they were clearly from a fight but Fon claimed that it was because the boy's body was weak and he got into (minor) accidents often because of how outgoing he was. The weak body, Checker Face sensed, was the truth. He had already seen as much with one look at the fragile boy. Now the problem was… what internal ailment did he suffer from?

They brought the boy to an examination room where he began to cough up blood. It appeared that he had regained consciousness.

Checker Face tilted his head when he saw the boy's terror at the number of strangers that crowded him. He looked around frantically, no doubt for his uncle, but the nurses kept him down on the bed. They told him to relax as they removed his clothes in order to get the boy into a hospital gown but he continued to struggle. It was fruitless, however, as he could not even push any of the nurses' hands away. It looked as though he could not breathe.

Then he convulsed and puked out a mixture of vomit and blood. The nurses squealed and adopted disgusted expressions as they frantically attempted to clean both the boy and the mess.

Checker Face ran his palm down his face. 'Well, it's not like they have the experience necessary to deal with this…'

Namimori was an average town and, while they had their fair share of accidents, possible life-threatening conditions were not so common. The staff was simply unaccustomed to them. Luckily, they were still professionals, and they managed to get their wits about them quickly enough.

He waited patiently as they diagnosed the boy. He listened as the nurses reported to the emergency room physician that it was possibly a severe case of pneumonia. All the medical personnel present turned anxious at the report. Checker Face immediately understood why.

They were a general hospital in a town where these things did not happen often. It was likely that they were ill equipped to deal with the boy's sickness.

Still, Checker Face had to give them credit. They did what they could but he was sure they all knew that it would be touch-and-go for them. Apologetically, they explained as much to Fon, the boy's guardian. They even recommended that he take the boy to another hospital.

The Storm Arcobaleno, to Checker Face's surprise, politely, if a bit tiredly, refused. He only requested that they do their best and give as high a chance of survival to the boy as they could.

"Kyōya-kun is strong," he insisted firmly. "He will pull through."

'But he won't be able to,' Checker Face thought. He knew that, without something more to help the boy, he would not survive. He thought about it and an idea formed in his mind.

Truthfully, he cared not if the boy lived or died. He had merely been curious about the presence of one of the Arcobaleno at this hospital. He could leave now and his conscience would not plague him, he knew. He had lived far too long to be affected by the mortality of children—and to him, the world's population were practically children.

However, he could use the boy's, Kyōya's, condition. Tsunayoshi, after all, needed to understand that he could use his Flames as more than just simple fire, and that they would not hurt others if he so willed it.

Sawada Tsunayoshi's Hospital Room

Tsuna felt the side of his head itch and he absently scratched it away. He blinked then yelped in surprise. "Checker Face-san…!"

The man had literally appeared out of thin air!

Checker Face could not help but smirk slightly. "Good afternoon, Tsunayoshi-kun. Did you sleep well?"

Tsuna smiled happily. "Un! Mama brought me breakfast and even lunch—I had something called Salisbury steak for lunch today—and it was so good! Then my Oniichan came to visit me and we talked a lot. I tried to say sorry because I worried him but then he told me I should just get better soon so we could play together again and he brought me papers and crayons and pencils so we could draw together and he really liked the pictures I made today!" He took a deep breath and his smile softened. "Back then… I used drawing to try and get rid of my nightmares so I haven't gotten to draw nice pictures. But I think it's because of Checker Face-san that I got to draw nice pictures that make people smile again!"

Checker Face chuckled. "That's good to hear. So, Tsunayoshi-kun, do you still remember what you asked me earlier today?"

"Um…" He thought about it. "My fire—I mean, my 'Flames'… right?"

"Correct. Moreover, do you know why they are called 'Flames' and not 'fire'?"

"Um…" Tsuna shook his head.

"Because, unlike fire, Flames do not always burn."

The boy gazed at him with wide eyes.

"Come with me," Checker Face held out his hand. "I want you to help someone in need. Your Flames can do that."

Tsuna's wide-eyed gaze lowered to his hands where he clenched and unclenched them. He felt his Flames thrum just beneath his skin. "My Flames can… help someone… in need…" He raised his head to look at the man with painful hope. "They… They don't just… hurt people…?"

Checker Face tilted his head and gestured with his outstretched hand. "Come with me."

Tsuna took the hand and felt something foreign, yet warm, wrap around them. Indigo mist covered all his senses and when he blinked, he found that he now stood in a different hospital room, the sound of intermittent beeps the only thing that broke the silence.

"Whose room is this?" He asked the man.

Checker Face used his cane to point at the hospital bed in the room. However, Tsuna could not see who was in the bed.

"Um…" He rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Checker Face-san… I'm too… short…" He pouted as recalled that fact.

The man was silent—as, admittedly, he had just realised that—before he sighed and crouched down to lift the boy. Then he unceremoniously set him down on the hospital bed.

(Of course, he could have used his powers to levitate Tsunayoshi, but he would rather avoid the excitement the abrupt "flight" would cause.)

Tsuna took in the sickly pale visage of the gaunt boy who laid in the hospital bed with a sweat-soaked body. His dark hair had tangled up, he had a split lip, and he had a bruise on his right cheek and another one over his left eye. The arms over the bedsheets were also far too thin for his age and looked incredibly fragile. Every breath he took sounded raspy and haggard, as though the supposedly simple act required great effort. Immediately, Tsuna felt sorry for him.

"What happened?" He asked with sadness and horror. He was not quite sure which one was the dominant emotion.

"He's sick," Checker Face simply answered, "but you can help him."

"You mean… with my Flames?" Tsuna's eyes widened and a tinge of fear entered them. He waved his hands in hysterical protest. "But I… I've never done that before! All my Flames have done so far is… is…"

Checker Face caught the boy's hands in both of his. "Tsunayoshi-kun, you have to trust me on this. You have to get over your fear of your Flames. They are here to help you. You have to trust them."

Tsuna bit his lip. "But…"

"Just try it. Call out your Flames—"

The boy opened his mouth to protest but Checker Face cut him off.

"Call out your Flames, but think about how you just want them to come out. Think about how you want to see them. Don't think about hurting anyone, just call them out."

Tsuna closed his eyes tightly, mostly out of fear, but he decided to trust this man, and he would. He grasped on the warmth within him and pushed it outwards and onto his hands.

When he heard no screams of pain, he hesitantly opened his eyes.

The sight that met him was orange fire dancing across his tiny hands and over the larger checker-gloved hands that held them.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Checker Face murmured. "These Flames are yours, Tsunayoshi-kun. And they do not have to hurt anyone."

Tsuna could only nod, full of wonder.

"Now," the man glanced at the sick boy in the hospital bed, "I want you to lay your hands over his chest and see for yourself how your Flames can help him."

Tsuna grinned widely then turned so he could face the other boy. His expression morphed into one filled with determination.

'I want to help him,' he thought as he crouched down and gently laid his hands on the other's chest. 'I want to him get better. Please,' he pleaded with his Flames, 'help him.'

Orange Flames seeped from his tiny hands. They buried themselves into the sick boy's body until, slowly but surely, they enveloped his whole being, right down to his core. Checker Face held his hand over his eyes as faint orange light turned, not blinding, but impossibly bright, yet still its intrinsic warmth remained. He could almost imagine what the boy's pure Flames did to Kyōya's body together with all the other Elements present only within the Harmony of the Sky.

Storm, to disintegrate the viral infection in his lungs.

Sun, to activate and amplify the boy's healing factor.

Lightning, to harden his body's composition and bone structure.

Rain, to tranquilise any other substance within him that would bring him harm.

Mist, to construct what had been broken by the years he had lived with his body in this condition.

Cloud, to propagate his cells in order to resupply him with the blood he lost and finally…

The Sky's Harmony, to bring the Elements' work together and return Kyōya to a state of no conflict and no contradictions.

Tsuna felt his eyes begin to droop and he removed his hands from the sick boy's chest. He rubbed at his eyes and yawned as the light of his Flames faded away. He looked down at the boy and frowned. He looked better, more at peace and his breaths were no longer so ragged, but he still looked far from healed.

"You did a good job, Tsunayoshi-kun," Checker Face praised him.

"Is he healed?" Tsuna asked with a frown.

"Not quite," the man admitted. "But he will get better soon."

"Can I continue to help him like this?" Tsuna asked hopefully.

"Of course," he smiled at the boy. 'I had hoped you would. This is good Flame control practice.' "However, keep in mind that once his body temperature rises, you must stop immediately. Overexposure to your Flames will hurt him instead."

Tsuna nodded seriously. "How do I know he's completely healed?"

Checker Face hummed. "That's difficult to say but… quite possibly if he wakes up while you're helping him." 'Exposure to Harmony usually tends to make those subject to it drowsy and, well… drunk. If my calculations are correct, with Kyōya's strong Cloud Flames and an improved constitution, he would be able to fight back against a Harmony-induced sleep and actually wake up. Though it's an entirely different story if Tsunayoshi-kun was actively trying to make him sleep…' He held out his hand to the boy. "Shall we return to your room, Tsunayoshi-kun?"

Tsuna yawned then took the man's hand. Before he knew it, they were back in his room, and he flopped back down onto his bed.

"Hey, Checker Face-san, what room was that boy in?"

"Room 1-0-8," the man replied absently as he searched through his coat. "He's just a few doors down the hall from your room… Ah! Now, Tsunayoshi-kun, before we part, I wish to give you something."

Tsuna sat up, now wide-awake. "You're leaving?" He asked sadly.

"I'm afraid so, little one," Checker Face chuckled.

"Will I see you again?"

"I do not believe so… not for a long time, at least."

"Oh…" He bowed his head glumly. Checker Face, to the boy, was a strange man overall, but he had been kind to him and had taken the time to talk to him. Even though Tsuna barely knew him, he felt close to him. After all, he was the man whom he had told things about himself that he had not even told his mother.

He looked up when he felt gloved hands slip something on his head. He blinked and lifted his own hands to touch it. He felt stretchable cloth rest just over his hairline, hidden by his wild hair and, in the middle of it, just above his forehead, what felt like a rock of some sort.

"A headband…?" He thought aloud.

"Yes, a headband," Checker Face confirmed. "A special headband. It will hide the fact that you have Flames from other people who can sense those things. However, if you actively use your Flames, they will be seen, so keep that in mind."

"Eh…" Tsuna hummed thoughtfully. "So other people can sense Flames? Does that mean they have Flames too?"

"Yes, that is what it means. This way, you will be safe from people who will try to take your Flames away from you."

Brown eyes widened. "People will try to take my Flames away?"

"Yes." The man leaned forward slightly and carefully looked into the boy's eyes. "Promise me this, Tsunayoshi-kun. Never let anyone take your Flames away."

Tsuna blinked then nodded. "I promise. Thank you for everything." He frowned slightly. "I-I wish… I want to… I want to pay you back somehow…! You've done so much… so much just to help me…" He trailed off, subdued.

Checker Face smiled as he tipped his hat to the boy. "Do not concern yourself with that, Tsunayoshi-kun. Instead, let's just say that… you owe me one. Expect a favour from me in the future."

Late April
Room 108

This would be the third time Tsuna has succeeded in entering the boy's room. The first time had been with Checker Face and the second time had been the day after that, quite early in the morning because Tsuna had wanted to see the boy again. He had not been able to enter afterwards because more and more people had begun to check up on the boy. He did not want anyone to see him inside the boy's room because then they might see him use his Flames, and he did not want anyone to take his Flames away. He was glad that his Feeling helped him make sure no one was around before he attempted to sneak in.

Excitedly, he climbed into the other's bed and took a good look at him. This would only be the third time he attempted to use his Flames on the boy and he felt ecstatic because he could now see visible improvements on the other. He actually helped him!

Giddy with happiness, he proceeded to lay his hands on the boy's chest and call out his Flames. He noticed that if he used them too much he ended up tired, so he tried to keep the output down. Slow and steady was better than fast and rough. 'Just like what Mama said!' He hummed a small tune under his breath.

"What are you doing?"

The sudden voice made Tsuna freeze. He slowly looked up and locked gazes with a pair of steel-grey eyes.

Immediately, he squealed and jumped off the (formerly) sick boy's bed.

"Wait—!"

Tsuna felt his face burn. 'Hieee! I didn't think he'd wake up so soon!'

In his embarrassment, he had not heard the amazement in Kyōya's voice when he had asked what he had been doing, and that he had sounded frustrated and disappointed when he called out to Tsuna just as he ran away.

"Once you choose hope, anything's possible." ~ Christopher Reeve