A/N: I AM A TERRIBLE PERSON AND I AM SORRY.

I honestly didn't expect myself to get to chapter 5! This is really a breakthrough for me because I usually get bored with the plot or whatever, but thank you guy! And over sixty reviews! WOW!

It's a terrible thing to give you angst for the holiday season, but I hope you'll enjoy it anyway.

Esley: You might get your answer this chapter!

Ic3: ? What did you forget?

Dino Chiaverone was not having a good day.

The first thing he did that morning was fall off the bed and into the bedside cabinet so his head throbbed, and the economy crash was proving to be a greater challenge than expected. Then rumours were floating around that an ally Family was being pressured into selling all their stock for shady purposes and finally the latest raid in a drug-trade Family ended in failure.

Well, they did manage to capture all the cocaine and gain the location of several shipping spots, but three men died during the mission and any mission that made Dino lose his men was considered to be a failure. They were never nameless mooks to him, Dino knew they all had family, and each death is one more widow and father-less child and one less son and brother, and since he was the one that sent them to their deaths and he felt personally responsible he visits each family personally with a bouquet of flowers, a cheque and terrible news.

So there he was, sitting on his bed with a mug of coffee and thinking of the best way to apologise to their families. Would they cry? Would they hit him? It's happened before but should he go by himself so they don't feel threatened-

Did that lamp just move?

"Hello Reborn," Dino said tiredly, pressing his fingers to his throbbing temples. "What's up?" The lamp spun around seemed to materialise a mouth and eyes.

"My new student ran away and he's on one of your ships," said Reborn. No nonsense as always, thought Dino. "I want him back immediately."

Heir of the Vongola? Dino questioned silently, a terrible, sinking feeling manifesting in his gut. It was going to be a long day, he knew. He was promptly shown a picture. "Oh wow," he said, looking at the photograph from different angles and poking it a bit, "He looked just like me when I was at his age." Deer-in-the-headlights look down pat. His inner Big-brotherly instinct approved.

Reborn snorted. "And just as useless. He has the Smoking Bomb and some other civilian boy with him, which is the only reason he hasn't tripped, fell off the ship and drowned yet. Though he'd wish he had when I get my hands on him."

Dino stared. "Reborn, you said he had PTSD."

"So?"

"So you're going to threaten him?" Dino's mind was reeling a bit. A subconscious part of his mind acknowledged that the family visits would have to wait. "I'm no expert in psychology, Reborn, but wouldn't that trigger flashbacks?"

"He'll have to get used to them," Reborn stated smoothly. It was unnerving how such an innocent face could have a voice that could freeze the air around him, "Or he could learn to control them under my watch."

"He'll need medication, Reborn," Dino knew his tutor had some screws loose but this was a bit-"If he keeps having flashbacks he won't be able to function as a human being, much less the Vongola Don!"

"I know what PTSD is Dino." Reborn hated it when someone challenged his intelligence. "I can handle it. Do you doubt my abilities?"

"I don't doubt you, I doubt the kid." Dino had slight depression when his father passed away and left him a crumbling Family, a massive debt and the lives of all his men, so he knew what it was like. "He'll break."

"You turned out fine," Retorted Reborn. Little bastard could read minds or something. "And when I say 'fine' I mean 'just barely competent'."

Dino heaved a long-suffering sigh. "Lemme talk to him first though, kay? He'll be less threatened around someone my age. And I won't bring my men with me. I'll be walking into doors and tripping over my own feet, I'll barely be a threat." He felt he was babbling, but it was justified; he couldn't have Reborn breaking the soul of a kid that reminded him so much of himself.

Nothing.

Dino sighed again, feeling a migraine coming on. He absently reached for the aspirin. "Please."

The Arcobaleno smirked and hopped onto his former student's shoulder "Only because you said please. Now move those no-good legs, I have an idiot to discipline and people to shoot."

Some things never change.

Tsuna stood in total darkness.

Where am I? He wondered, but stayed still-he didn't want to fall over. He couldn't even see his own hands. "Hayato-kun? Enma-kun?" He was in the dark, it was utterly silent and some primal fear gripped at his heart. There was that numb buzz in his head again; his hands began to tremble. "E-Enma-kun! Are you there?"

"Tsu-kun?" He heard, and his breath hitched. It couldn't-it can't possibly be-

But it was. Nana, in all her beautiful serenity, was beside his bed (he just now realised there was a bed) with a bowlful of corn gruel, eggs and toast. She was stroking his head fondly, but there was a sheen of sadness and disappointment in her eyes as she swept over his failed tests. Tsuna gulped; he couldn't cry, not now. Reborn would have his head-

And things went to hell.

Just as he thought of Reborn he was standing behind his mother, a pistol in her side, and Nana didn't seem to feel a thing. "Dame-Tsuna," He growled, his voice suddenly deep and gravelly, "How dare you run away from me."

It's just a dream, Tsuna repeated to himself, Just a dream, all I need to do is pinch myself and I'll be awake in no time. But his mind refused to comprehend; how could he make himself believe that this woman, this fragile, beautiful woman was a figment of his imagination?

"Tsu-kun?" His mother chimed, the sadness overridden by motherly instincts, "Are you alright? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Kaa-san," Tsuna choked, and Nana's face tightened with worry and distress. "Y-you're a-no, I'm f-fine…" A small twinge of pain blossomed into an agonizing ache, but he paid it no heed. Not when he had his mother.

She traced her hand down his face and Tsuna relished it; it was warm and smelt of apples, Nana's preferred washing liquid scent, and he could even feel the small scar on her finger (from when she nicked it on a peeler) against his skin. "Was it a nightmare, Tsu-kun? Do you want me to heat some milk up for you?" Her fingers traced his jaw and his fists clenched. "I'll put some honey in."

Why did his cheek hurt so much? "Y-yes please," Tsuna managed to croak out without leaking tears, "I love you kaa-san." She smiled, gave him a quick peck on the forehead and turned to make her son the warm milk.

In the turmoil of his emotions, he had forgotten Reborn was still there, his eyes shielded by the rim of his fedora, the gun now aimed at his mother's back, and Reborn's little fingers pulled back-

He didn't wake up screaming, which was a welcome development, but he had discovered why his cheek had been hurting in the dream; he had bitten it the moment Nana appeared, and his teeth gnawed at it ever since. Wetness misted over his body in a mixture of sweat and tears under his makeshift pajamas, and he could taste blood. Why did he have that dream? He was only grateful he woke up before-before that. But his gut lurched, quite different from his travel sickness, but he just felt, deep in his heart, that something was not right.

Moments after that thought the door to the cargo bay burst open to reveal the Captain of the ship, his face a stark white in contrast to his dark clothing, and Hayato all but leapt out of his sleeping bag wielding sticks of TNT screaming bloody murder.

"I didn't know, Vongola Decimo, Sir!" The captain squealed and Tsuna felt sick. He hated it; hated the Mafia, hated it for involving his family and friends, and now some poor man who was just trying to make a living is being threatened. A deep loathing swirled in his stomach and Hayato gripped his shoulder, shoved him behind himself and Enma, who had just awoken from his slumber and is now subtly clutching his rings. "If I had known the Vongola Decimo would be on out ship we would have welcomed you with open arms! Please forgive us, we will find you more suitable accommodations-"

"Sawada has not accepted the title of Vongola Decimo," Hayato hissed. "And how dare you break our oath! You promised to keep us out of your shady business as long as we held our end of the deal!" He spat on the floor. "I curse you, miserable worm!"

"That's enough, Hayato-kun," Whispered Tsuna. "I'm sure the captain had a good reason to interfere." The captain nodded so fast Tsuna was afraid his head would be flung off. He led them up from the cargo hold to the business suite, where a young man had already been seated.

"He has his back against the wall," Hayato murmured to him and Enma. "He doesn't trust us." The young man seemed to notice his seating position, and he gave a sheepish smile, scratched the back of his head, stood up to greet them with his hand extended towards him-and was smacked right in the face by a mass of projector wires and toppled spectacularly into a pile of chairs.

Tsuna would swear till his dying day that the captain of the ship had slapped his hand across his face and was uttering something about idiot bosses and buying better quality shoes. To his credit though, he got straight up no worse for wear and smiling still, and Tsuna saw some tattoos when he shook his hand. "My name's Dino," he chirruped merrily, and Tsuna suddenly felt at ease. Friendliness permeated from his every pore and he knew he could be trusted. "As you probably heard, I own this ship and all the trading bases related to it." A nervous chuckle. "No easy feat, but hey, neither is pulling a disappearing act on Reborn. Boy, is he angry!" Dino saw Tsuna's tense face and mentally slapped himself while guiding them to seats close to him. "Not with you, of course, but with himself for letting you slip from right under his nose, and in broad daylight no less!"

Romario served tea and let his boss alone with the other three teenagers while he guarded the door. He had already compiled a list of words and scenarios that Dino should never use should he trigger flashbacks and other mentally-damaging events, and this time Dino sat near the door while the three were seated beside a window and with no other seats behind them; this showed that they have the option of escape and nobody was going to backstab them at any point. He quashed the urge to chuckle; his boss was far more insightful than he seemed.

This, however, was also Hayato's opinion. "You want something, Chiaverone," He grunted. He had not taken a sip of the tea or had a biscuit out of fear of poison. "How did you know Sawada was the heir?"

Dino placed his hands down, careful not to ruin his jacket by soaking it in the tea he spilt earlier. "I am well acquainted with your Tutor, little bro." He grinned at Tsuna's flabbergasted expression at his new nickname. "In fact, he used to be mine as well. Whi-worked me into shape, he did!" He reached for his teacup but knocked it off the table instead in his almost-use of the forbidden words. "Aw," he groaned, "And he's going to get me for that too later, I'm sure of it."

"You were Reborn-san's student?"

Dino waved a dismissive hand and accidently knocked some files off a shelf. He winced. "Way back in the days. My dad passed away," mentally slapping himself again for mentioning a forbidden topic, "and I was left with this." He spread his arms wide, thankfully nothing fell. "A Mafia family on the brink of bankruptcy…so I changed it." He smiled. "The men in the Family are everything to me; I had grown up with them since I was a kid. I would hate for any of them to come to harm."

"Forgive me Don Chiaverone," said Hayato though he didn't sound the least bit apologetic, "But your view on your Family seems quite…idealistic and whimsical."

Dino hummed. "Ah, yes, that is true. But those are the best kind, wouldn't you agree?" He cast his eyes over the room. "Nevertheless, my bonds with my men have carried us to where we are today; we are the most numerous and one of the wealthiest compared to before." Dino stood up now, his eyes distant as he remembered a quote from Reborn. "A Family without bonds is no Family at all; to gain your men's respect you must earn it. A neglectful guardian results in an angry child, and it's the same principle with true Mafia Families. Only with diligence and friendship can a man be truly loyal to you, and that's what I've been doing. I am friends with every person in the Family and I am glad for it. Fear can only drive someone so far," he sat down again and Enma poured his tea, because when Dino last tried he burnt himself.

"You sound very close to them," Tsuna said quietly. Dino smiled.

"Family isn't dictated by blood," he said and poked his 'little brother's' nose, ignoring the murderous glare from Hayato. "It is forged by trust. After all, a family is created by two people, perhaps knowing nothing of the other but decided to get together anyway. Why? Because of trust-and that is what makes my family stro-Tsuna?" Tsuna looked faraway and thoughtful. "What's up, bro?"

"A Family…is forged by bonds?"

"That's right." Dino moved his chair closer, but just a little because Hayato's scathing gaze was still fixed on him, "Blood is important, yes, but it shouldn't bind you to anything. Once you get old enough to start thinking for yourself it hardly matters anymore. See when you hit eighteen, or twenty-one or whatever, you have full legal control over yourself, change your name, get married and all that?" Tsuna nodded, "It's because you're smart enough by then to distinguish good and bad for yourself without family guidance by then. Kinda like training wheels really, like you really need them when you're first learning, but once you get the gist of it you will never need it again."

Tsuna blushed. "I never learned how to ride without training wheels."

"Then we can learn together," Dino chortled. "I drive like a demon, but put me on a bike and I'll end up breaking every bone in my body!"

Hayato cleared his throat. Very loudly. "Your point please, Don Chiaverone."

"Right, right," said Dino, settling into his 'Boss' mode. It was ruined slightly by his jacket catching on and felling another stack of chairs. "Reborn wants you back, obviously. Now don't give me that face," he begged at Enma and Tsuna's crestfallen expression and Hayato's angry one, "It'll be utter hell, I know, but he's trying his hardest to make things right for you so you'll adjust back into ordinary life."

"And take over the most nefarious Mafia family on the planet?" Hayato commented almost casually, but Dino could hear the underlying threat of 'force him to do anything and die'. He almost smiled at how loyal the boy was to Tsuna but he had an image to maintain, no matter how badly mutilated it was.

"Well, yes. But not right away! I'll make sure Reborn doesn't push it too hard and that you can make your own decisions when the time comes. Right now he's just worried about you, disappearing into thin air like that."

"I'm not sure if I want to," Tsuna murmured. "I-I can't trust him. I'm terrified. Every time I do something wrong he points a pistol at me and I remember."

Dino winced. "I'll have a word about that with him as well." Inwardly he knew that Reborn would ignore him and drag the kid screaming and bound in chains back to Namimori, but it wouldn't hurt to try. Or maybe it would, but it was still worth a shot.

They sat in mostly silence. Now that Dino had drank the tea and had not toppled over foaming at the mouth, Hayato finally allowed himself a drink and a nibble of the biscuits and Enma quietly sipped his tea while the said Boss was trying to engage Tsuna in light conversation and failing. Not that he wasn't interesting, but Tsuna was socially awkward and had little to say beside his failures and the incident, so he mostly listened. Not that Dino minded, he loved to talk.

"What's wrong, Kozato-kun?" He hummed, "You haven't been very talkative."

"O-oh…" Enma squeaked, "I-I mean it's none of my business…"

"Of course it is," Hayato grunted back. "Reborn-san knows we're together so we're involved no matter what."

"You got that right," Dino sang. A nod from Tsuna as well, and Enma began to speak.

"W-well, I don't think it's a v-very good idea to let Reborn-san t-teach Tsuna-kun. E-especially if he'll be using a gun. W-we've all l-lost family because of v-violence s-so-"

"I agree completely," Dino chirped. Enma blinked.

Really?

"Romario didn't want me to say anything, but you guys probably have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder," Dino explained, "Reborn told me how a whiff of gunpowder from Gokudera knocked you out and sent you into weeks of nightmares. That's common for those suffering from the condition."

"Oh…"

"Don't get me wrong!" He hollered desperately, "It's not your fault. It's a physical condition, one you can't control. It'll get better, I promise." With a long line of medication and therapy, he neglected to mention, but it wouldn't win him any favours…

"B-but Reborn still w-wants me to be a Mafia boss," Tsuna stuttered. Dino sighed.

"Yes, I suppose he does, unfortunately. There's no escaping it, all of Nono's sons are dead except one, and he's a complete psycho. On one hand if you leave, the Vongola will implode on itself, sending the Mafia society and by extension every single black market in the world into chaos, which will end up in a huge economic and security disaster. On the other hand, you and your friends get involved and countless people will live their lives in misery, yourself included."

Hayato sighed as well. "It's a lose-lose situation, no matter how you look at it."

"Plus Reborn will kick my ass all over the ship if I let you go," Dino said with a shudder, "And I REALLY don't want that."

Hayato folded his arms and planted his feet on the table. "Is Sawada really the last candidate?"

"The last one that isn't batshit insane," Dino added helpfully. "Of course, Xanxus is probably the least favourable of them all, running around with a group of assassins and all."

"Assassins?!" Tsuna and Enma squeaked, and Hayato groaned.

"Xanxus? The bloodthirsty head of Varia? The one with the most ruthless assassins on the planet under his wing and has a huge violence-loving complex?"

"That's him," said Dino, tipping over yet another cup with a badly-placed elbow. "Oh crap."

"Oh my God," said Hayato.

"That's my line," Dino said, "So yeah. There's really not much of a choice, sorry bro."

Tsuna shrunk into himself. "D-does it have to be R-Reborn?" Dino stared.

"Now that's an option I haven't considered," the Chiaverone boss admitted. "Frankly, Reborn won't be amused by the suggestion he's inferior to someone else, but Nono's an understanding guy. Reborn will have to keep an eye on your progress, obviously, but we can get you another guy?"

Hayato nodded. "Someone that doesn't use guns."

Dino nodded back and stood up to leave the door. "I'll go and talk with Reborn. I'll be right back."

To say Reborn was not amused would be an understatement. "Nono gave me this mission personally, Dino," he stated as he traced Dino's outline with bullets. "And what did I say about doubting me?"

"He's terrified of you!" Dino screamed as leapt over another barrage. "Intimidated! Wobbly-kneed! Out of his mind with fear! You can't teach him anything if he's so scared of you!"

"It worked with you," Replied Reborn.

"Reborn, he stopped breathing when he heard your name!" Dino cried has he dodged yet more bullets. Seriously, did the guy never run out? "I only snapped him out of it by saying you wouldn't shoot him! Ever!"

"I will have to shoot him. Otherwise how would he activate his Dying Will?"

"You're the world's greatest hitman! You can surely think of something!"

The shooting stopped and Dino collapsed into the table, panting and sweating like a pig. Reborn considered the idea…if Tsuna truly couldn't function while he was around, then perhaps Dino's idea had merit. "Dino," He said slowly, "I have a compromise. But on one condition."

"What?" Dino gasped, though he was not clear on whether if this was out of surprise or lack of oxygen.

"So he agreed on one condition, that you become a Mafia Boss." Dino said. Hayato whipped out another stick of dynamite. "Whoa there tiger, woah. He'll be supervising your progress, but you'll be taught by someone else. You probably wouldn't even see him while being taught ever. And this guy, if we get a hold of him he might even keep you away from the mafia for GOOD if you manage to convince him, though that will take some doing. He's probably one of the few people on this planet who can go toe-to-toe with Reborn and come out alive."

"Who is this person?" Tsuna asked, amazed that everything had gone so smoothly.

"Fon, another Arcobaleno," Dino replied. "He's a very strong martial artist and he has a peaceful temperament. He's really busy and involved with the Chinese Triad, but Reborn said he would be willing to relinquish his position as your main tutor if you promise to become a mafia boss, or he'll just 'beat the mafia boss into you'." He shrank back from Hayato's glare. "His words, not mine!"

"That's barely a choice!" Hayato screamed. "Either way, he has to become a mafia boss!"

"Y-you could maybe meet Fon first?" Dino suggested, inching away from the irate bomber. "Then make your decision? Reborn's on the phone right now, he'll have a hold on Fon in no time."

"I'm already here," A new voice announced.

Romario showed the new guest in- a small child, same as Reborn in size but very different in aura. While Reborn's was harsh and sharp, his was peaceful and calm. "My name is Feng- but of course, the Japanese pronunciation would be Fon, correct?" He bowed. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Sawada-kun. This is my student I-pin," The large-headed child sketched a bow as well, "And my ever-faithful companion, Lichi."

Lichi had scrambled up the table and was guzzling biscuits by the second. "Hello Fon-san," Said Tsuna as he bowed back. "R-Reborn?"

The tiny black-clad hitman clicked his tongue. "What did I tell you about posture? When you bow your back needs to be straight. Bow from your waist. Again."

"Now Reborn," Fon said calmly. Reborn 'tsk'd again.

"Fine," He said. "Tsuna, you know the conditions. If you don't want me to teach you, you'll have to become Mafia boss…OR you could have me teach you and STILL become a Mafia boss."

"But I-I don't want to be a Mafia boss!" Tsuna cried.

"Too bad. You'll have to."

"Not if I die," Tsuna declared quietly, "I won't become one then."

A heavy silence descended across the room and Hayato positively erupted.

"How dare you say such a thing Sawada!"

"Tsuna-kun! You c-can't!"

"Bro, that's stupid! Don't do it!"

Reborn was expressionless. "And what will you do when you kill yourself?"

Tsuna blinked. "Eh?"

"Is that what you really want?" Reborn repeated, "Would you really rather die than become a Mafia Boss? Would you really leave your friends behind? Waste the life Nana gave you?"

"How dare you say her name!" Tsuna burst. "It's because of you and your kind that she died! If it weren't for this stupid Mafia, Dad would be home and Kaa-san and Enma-kun's family would still be alive!" He panted heavily. "I-if it weren't for the Mafia, none of this would have h-happened!"

Even Dino was speechless. Oh God, Reborn is going to be so mad-

But the hitman just smirked and tossed a wave at the other Arcobaleno. "He still has some spark. Do your thing, Fon."

"What?!" The occupants of the room exclaimed.

"That's right, Tsuna," Reborn said. "If it weren't for the Mafia, none of this would have happened. So why don't you destroy it?"

Tsuna's head was spinning. "Bwuh?"

"My job is just to make you a Mafia boss," Reborn said, and an edge of amusement lined his voice. "I couldn't care less about what you do afterwards."

The situation finally dawned upon him now. "So if I were to destroy the Mafia from the inside…?"

Reborn shrugged. "Not my problem." Even Fon looked amused. "But I'd rather you make something of it. All that fame and fortune…" He trailed off as Romario escorted him out, "I wonder what would happen if a certain someone used it to change the world for the better…?"

The door shut. Dino looked like a constipated goldfish. "…that's…something," He offered, before fainting into a chair. "Someone tell me what just happened?"

"Reborn offered Tsunayoshi-kun a chance to reform the entire Mafia," said Fon. "To be honest, I was not expecting such a turn of events. But the fate he suggested is very possible, if you strive to achieve it."

Enma stared at Fon. "B-but how did you get here so quickly?" he asked, hoping to clear his mind of current events.

"Oh, Reborn knew this would happen," Fon replied. "He knew that Tsunayoshi-kun would want someone less…punishment-orientated."

But the relaxed atmosphere didn't last long, as a puff of pink smoke filled the air. Reborn had rushed back in, Leon-gun in hand, and everyone was on edge. Dino pushed Enma and Tsuna behind him, with his whip at the ready and Romario by his side, but once the smoke cleared the sight was nothing they had ever seen before-

I wonder how Sawada-kun is doing, Kyoko thought as she gazed absently at the blackboard. English confused her; the language structure was already so different but there were also so many exceptions to the few rules she had discovered. Her head hurt.

Rumours have spread that Sawada had run away because he was under threat from the Yakuza- as far-fetched as it sounded, Kyoko believed there was a small chance that this was the truth. As she churned those thoughts over and over in her head and left the school building for lunch, she bumped into her brother and the little boy he'd been looking after.

"Hello there Lambo-kun," Kyoko greeted merrily, pushing the thoughts of Sawada behind. The poor fuzz-headed boy looked so sad, she had to pick him up and hold him in her arms. "What's wrong?"

"Lambo misses Tsuna-nii," Lambo replied sullenly, even after Kyoko offered him a boiled grape candy drop. "Lambo knows Tsuna-nii is sad."

"Why is Sawada-kun sad, Lambo?" Kyoko asked while Ryohei paid for Kyoko's sandwiches and cake while he ordered a large bowl of ramen and a sports drink for himself. Lambo just hiccupped and Kyoko cooed him softly. "Don't worry Lambo-kun, I'm sure Sawada-kun's just fine."

"Lambo doesn't know," the cow child replied through his sweet, but before Kyoko could comfort him further a cloud of pink smoke filled the air and a teenager took his place. Kyoko squeaked: the young man was too heavy and they landed on the ground with a THUMP!

"Kyoko!" Ryohei cried and rushed to her aid with his fists pulled back for a punch, but the (admittedly quite handsome) man had gotten up and helped her to her feet. His curly black hair fell to his shoulders and half-way over one closed eye, while his open one had a hash mark underneath. Kyoko stared at his clothing; a cow-print shirt covered by a black suit-top and a green tie, all of which were undoubtedly expensive.

"Are you alright, Kyoko-nee-chan?"

"Oh, t-thank you," Kyoko stammered. She was not used to this kind of attention. "W-wait, you know my name? Who-"

"We'll talk about that later," The man murmured, looking around shiftily and gestured for Ryohei to follow. "Come, we're being watched."

They followed him to a secluded corner in the park where he dropped the bomb. "I'm Lambo, eleven years from the future." He held his hands up in fear of being rejected. "Now hear me out. I belong to the Bovino Famiglia, a Mafia family in Sicily. We're not very influential but we survived on technology and manufacture, which is why the Vongola- the strongest Mafia Family of them all- have spared us so far. But about five years from now, a Family called the Millefiore will emerge and within three years they'll be the dominant Family in Italy.

"It'll be a slaughter. Vongola will fall, and only a few members not allied with Millefiore will survive. And this is only the prelude; the Yakuza, their families, any person of political importance will be wiped out." Kyoko's hands went to her mouth-such a future couldn't be possible! Future Lambo's mouth set in a grim line. "That'll include you guys."

"Why?" Ryohei shrieked. "That's extremely cruel!"

Future Lambo chuckled. "I haven't expected you to believe me so easily. But the short version is this- Tsuna-nii holds in him the blood of the First Vongola Boss. He's so distantly related to him it's hardly there, but since all of the heirs have been assassinated he's the only eligible one left." Kyoko felt like she was about to faint.

"What I don't u-understand is," Kyoko stuttered, "How S-Sawada-kun would even accept the position! Surely-"

"He'll be forced into it," Future Lambo stated grimly. "In fact, it's already begun. The Millefiore had gotten their hands on Bovino technology and figured out a way to go back in time, like I have. Tsuna-nii's mother was never meant to die that day…"

Kyoko grabbed for her brother's hand and he squeezed hers tight in his. "So she was killed by those Mille-something guys?" He asked loudly, "How would that make him join the Mafia?"

"I wish my Ryohei-nii and Kyoko-nee-chan were as smart as you," Future Lambo lamented. "It would have solved so many problems."

"Lambo-kun," Kyoko reminded sternly and Future Lambo coughed.

"R-right. They'll send a tutor to keep him on his toes, and his name is Reborn. He's actually the strongest hitman in the world. In my original timeline where Maman –Tsuna-nii's mother- lived, Tsuna-nii was such a huge wimp he would do anything Reborn told him to do. But in the end he made so many friends because of him and didn't become a useless bum, he felt obliged to make sure Reborn's work was worth it." At the two's disbelieving expressions he snorted. "Yeah, I know. Really stupid, but he's trusting like that."

"You said your 'original' timeline," Kyoko reminded, though she already feared the answer.

Future Lambo sighed. "Yeah... it began when the Millefiore popped up. We knew that they would, but it began so much sooner that we'd thought. Then the historians began panicking all over the world when Vongola history changed- instead of Tsuna-nii, a man called Xanxus became the heir. His was a reign of blood and terror. Apparently," he said grimly, "Xanxus took the position by force. It got so bad that even Reborn, the strongest Hitman, was killed. But not before he made Tsuna-nii strong enough to beat Xanxus by activating his Vongola Blood.

"The fight left Tsuna-nii permanently crippled and made him swear to change the Mafia into something better. But our Tsuna-nii still had both of his legs and he and Xanxus got on relatively fine, not to mention Reborn was still alive and was raving mad about the whole thing. And then the Boss of the Millefiore from another dimension came and told us something was up, and that our Millefiore was up to something, so something went wrong, horribly, terribly wrong, and, well." He shrugged. "It did, and here I am. Ready to save the world and all that."

"What's going to happen now?" Ryohei asked.

"In exactly ten minutes," Future Lambo explained. "Takeshi-nii will commit suicide off the school building. Without Tsuna-nii here to save him the Vongola will lose an important warrior against the Millefiore. In my time Takeshi-nii became an accomplished swordsman and helped Tsuna-nii change Vongola for the better, but without him Tsuna-nii will be minus one Guardian against Xanxus, which is apparently how he ended up losing a leg by having to fight against the Varia Representative. The Varia, by the way, is the Vongola Assassination Unit. They rebelled."

"So we're going to save Yamamoto-kun, right?" Kyoko said quietly. "That'll change things, right?"

"Probably," Future Lambo answered. "But not definitely. The future might still be steered on to its intended course."

"Then we'll EXTREMELY change it!" Ryohei bellowed. He was practically burning with rage. "The future will EXTREMELY be fixed back to its EXTREME EXTREMENESS!" He tucked Kyoko under his arm, to her indignation, and he and Future Lambo raced to the school building.

"My time here is short," Future Lambo commanded as he gave Kyoko a bag of…something. "In here is a note for Hayato-nii. Don't bother reading it, it's in code. There's also the Bovino's modified Ten Year Bazooka, so it's more of an Eleven Year Bazooka now. It'll be our way of contacting you, give it to Irie Shoichi. Look out!" He pulled them behind a wall just as a shower of bullets flew. The fearful cries of women and children erupted from the centre of the park. "Shit! Two minutes left! They're trying to stall us!" He pushed them back and flew towards the shooters. "GO!"

"Lambo-kun!" Kyoko screamed over the panicked civilians as the crowd pushed them further and further apart. "No! It's too dangerous!"

"I have to keep those people safe," Future Lambo declared solemnly as he put on a pair of horns and lightning crackled around his hands. "The others know I will die here, protecting you guys. The five-year-old version of me will be sent to the cherry tree by the gym in one minute seventeen seconds. Raise him well."

"Lambo!" Ryohei hollered, but it was useless. All he could see of Lambo was the green electricity pushing the bullets away from them. "LAMBO!"

"Lambo-kun…" Kyoko whimpered. "N-nii-san…w-we have to go…we have to save Yamamoto-kun…"

But Ryohei wasn't listening. "LAMBO! YELL EXTREMELY IF YOU CAN HEAR ME-"

"We have to go, Nii-san!" Kyoko wept as she held the package Future Lambo gave her against her chest bitterly. "We need to save Yamamoto-kun!" She squirmed out of his hold and pulled him away, even as she saw the spray of blood and the grown-up Lambo's pained cry. "We must go…"

"Kyoko…"

"Please, Nii-san!" She cried, "We can't lose Yamamoto-kun too! Lambo-kun depends on us!"

Ryohei's breath hitched. He too was shedding tears. "Y-yeah," He said quietly, "We extremely need to save Yamamoto." A they raced away Lambo watched them go from the corner of his eye. His other one had been torn out by a knife, but his senses had been honed to a razor sharp point in exchange.

Not sharp enough apparently, as after he had given all the civilians the time to escape and felled the assassins, he had lost all feeling in one arm, three Flame burns, five bullet holes in him and lost a lot of blood. He collapsed by a bench, red staining his clothes in the most horrendous way.

Only fifty-three seconds remained till Yamamoto took the leap. He probably wouldn't even last that long.

But to his prediction, Hibari had heard the ruckus and had raced to the scene, only to find five men electrocuted to death and one that was very close to it. He bent over Future Lambo. "You saved them." That wasn't a question. Lambo used some of his remaining strength to smirk.

"Did my job," he groaned, and blood splattered on the gritty pavement. "Ryo-nii on way…to save Takeshi-nii. That's enough…"

"I will take you to the hospital," Hibari murmured, but Future Lambo shook his head.

"You hate…crowding…"

"I will endure it if it means saving a life," Hibari growled and hoisted him up, but Future Lambo wouldn't have any of it.

"From…terrible future." Future Lambo breathed. "Breast pocket…note just for you." He hacked up some more blood. "Heh…knew you would…want to bite them to death." He drew a shaky breath, and Hibari knew he had no time left so he laid him back down and folded his arms to his side. "Too far back, the Millefiore won't…interfere for a while. B-but you have to find Tsuna-nii." Future Lambo's glossy eyes began to mist with tears. "Find him. Find the Kokuyo gang…only way to survive and beat…ugh…I missed him," he cried softly. "Something went...wrong…you died…everyone died…just me and Hayato-nii and Shoichi left…"

Hibari had read the note in Future Lambo's breast pocket and he knew his job now. Lambo clutched his hand like a lifeline. "It was so…hard after…Tsuna-nii…you wouldn't talk to…us…you hated us…but died…protecting Enma-nii…from Millefiore…he died too…I missed you…missed all of you…"

Hibari grunted, but he understood it was a promise to do his duty. Future Lambo gave him one last smile.

"Look after…little me…"

And he was gone…Hibari held the note in his hand. His knuckles were white from how hard he had gripped his tonfas. Was this really his destiny, written on such a fragile piece of paper? Either way, he took out his cell phone, faintly aware his hand shook as he dialled Kusakabe's number from his first immediate exposure to death. He was at his parents' funeral, but this-

"Kusakabe," He ordered, though it wavered as his throat trembled. "Come to Namimori Park immediately with the Body Disposal Unit. We have an emergen-" But he couldn't finish his sentence, as pink smoke exploded and filled his vision, and when he could see again, the body was gone.

And eleven years into the future, Gokudera Hayato could only hold back his anger and sorrow as Lambo's corpse appeared in their Time Machine. Irie Shoichi hid his eyes behind the glint off his glasses... Hayato could tell he was trying not to cry. "You did well, Ahou-shi." Hayato murmured as he pulled Lambo out and made the sign of the Cross on his forehead, and folded his arms across his blood-stained chest.

Shoichi slammed his hands on his desk. "Dammit!" He screamed, "I could have stopped him! Stopped him from using the machine and kill himself!"

"He did the right thing, Shoichi." Hayato had laid a white blanket over his deceased companion, but he could not mask the pain in his voice. "He saved Sasagawa and Turf-top. The timeline's already been changed so they'll survive to help Tsuna-san fight Xanxus, even if Baseball-freak died. His younger self was no use in the battle so this is more than a worthy trade. We can only prevent any more Time Travel to that moment and give him a proper burial now."

Shoichi could only cry. "D-dammit…"

"Shoichi." Hayato had stood and tried not to look at the rapidly-staining sheet. "Quickly. Send the message back to your past self. He knows what will happen that day right?"

"How can you be so calm?!" Shoichi cried, "The only other remaining Guardian just died and you don't give a damn! He was your friend!"

"He still is my friend," Hayato spat back. "And do you thing I enjoy this? Watching everyone else die for me just because I was second-in-command? Turf-top, Dokuro, Enma-san, the damn prefect and now the cow? Someone has to make sure their sacrifice wasn't in vain!" He sighed and slumped to the ground beside Lambo, stroking his hair gently. "He knew we would never let him go back, Shoichi. He knew whoever was sent back will die, and he needed to keep you and I alive to continue sending messages back. This is the pivotal part of our supposed victory- this could mean everything."

"Still-"

"Send the message back, quickly." Hayato had put on his rings now- his rare multi-flame capability has made him invaluable. "If everything works, your past self will stop Yamamoto from dying. You're off the radar so far, hopefully the Millefiore bastards will assume you're just some well-intentioned kid." Pause. "But they could also kill your past self, and thus erasing your existence. Are you sure about this?"

Shoichi just spun around in his chair and began typing code on to the screen. "I'm a coward, Gokudera-kun. I'll admit that. But not so much that I won't sacrifice myself for a brighter future."

"And your past self?" Hayato asked quietly, "Will he be fine with you sacrificing him for something so vague as a peaceful future?"

Shoichi let out a dry, tear-stained chuckle. "I think I would know myself better than you, Gokudera."

Hayato smiled humourlessly. "I suppose you would, yes." The screen lit up in a rainbow of colours. "Alright. I'm ready for the jump."

"Reborn will be fully prepared to fill you with holes so be fully prepared for combat," Shoichi commented absently. "Alright Gokudera, release your flames."

Hayato held out his hand and his rings lit into their respective colours: they provided the activation energy to begin the chemical reaction that would fuel his jump. But his hear clenched at the thought of seeing his friends again, alive. What would they do to him? Would they attack him?

"Be fully prepared for combat, Gokudera-kun."

Hayato nodded, as ethereal light bathed him along with a mixture of pink smoke and a dark foreboding. "I know. Take care." He looked at Lambo, or rather, the sheet that covered him- the torso area was now a dark, musky red. Lambo's last Lightning Ring sat on his finger, still glinting with a little flame residue. "Don't worry Ahou-shi," he murmured as he was wrenched from his era to the past. "I'll make sure your sacrifice wasn't in vain…"

(For those confused, Yamamoto had died since Tsuna wasn't there to stop him, so Lambo came back from the future to tell the Sasagawa siblings to prevent his death so they could stand a chance against Xanxus. Tsuna had to fight both him and Squalo as he had no Rain Guardian and he won, but lost a leg during the battle. Everyone had died in that future apart from Hayato, Shoichi and Lambo fighting the Millefiore. And then I killed Lambo off because otherwise the shooters would kill them. I'm such a terrible person...)

As always, review and tell me your thoughts. Are you anticipating Future Hayato's meeting with Tsuna and Co.? Or perhaps wanting to see what Ryohei and Kyoko will do? Or about what happened in the future that made the Millefiore so much more ruthless? Should I actually kill Yamamoto off? Tell me what you think!

Merry Christmas and a happy new year everyone!