19A/N: Well. I've had this idea in my head for awhile after a reviewer said they had been interested in me writing a fic about a snapped!Tsuna. I told myself though I wouldn't write it until I got caught up with the manga and now that I am, here you are~ This is 5YL so they're in their twenties. Minus Lambo and Ipin of course.
Warning: This is rated T for violence, 'gore', insanity, and character deaths. Yes. Deaths.
Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn. If I did, you'd probably have seen this happen.
Protection
The steady drip drip of a far away source was calming. It was solid, expected, something that you knew would keep continuing no matter how long you stayed here. Cutting through this peace however was a number of annoyances. Like the moan of pain and the sniffling of someone trying their hardest not to burst into screaming tears.
"Ju-juudaime…" Orange eyes flickered open, turning towards the sound.
In the center of this warehouse was a brutal scene. And yet the eyes that had opened only looked on with cruel affection.
Scattered about were the guardians of the Vongola Tenth. The loud-mouth Sun guardian was flat on his face, a pool of blood surrounding him and one would think he was most likely choking on it with how his body shuddered every minute or so followed by a gurgling cough. His arms were twisted around his back at odd angles, the bandages of his hands completely soaked in blood. His bangle beside him had been melted, only a shimmer of the box weapon's face still remaining untouched.
Sitting up beside him against a pillar was the usually carefree Rain guardian. With the blood covering his face, one could barely even see the features that were normally twisted in a bright smile. His sword pierced straight through his shoulder into the stone behind him. What made the scene all that much worse was the sword had been wood when it had been thrust through the muscle and flesh, splinters of the shattered wood embedded deep in the open wound. Surprisingly, this was clear of blood, the sword acting as a dam to the flow. The Version X necklace had met the same fate as the Sun guardian's Vongola Gear, the silver burned into his chest and throat. His raspy breaths were the only thing making it obvious he was still alive.
The infamous Cloud guardian was by his side, lying on his belly but with one elbow pushing him up and the other hand flat on the ground in an attempt to sit up. A deep gash went down his entire face from the left temple, across the nose, to end under his right jaw. Blood blinded his left eye, the one gray eye still usable was narrowed in such a loathing glare it was a wonder its victim hadn't burst into flames. Burns coated his arms and chest, the shirt he was wearing torn and scorched in a good number of places. His jacket hung limply on his arm, only the sleeve with his pride left standing. One tonfa had been sliced to pieces and lay around him while the second was held in a shaky grasp of the hand off the ground. The fact he could hold it was a miracle considering his Vongola Bracelet had been burned into the wrist itself.
Beside him were the two Mist guardians. The girl was still as death, a good portion of her upper torso caved in. Crimson liquid trickled out the sides of her mouth and curved down her throat to drip on the ground under her. Shards of the trident—or what had perhaps been a staff of some sort—sparkled sadly around them. The male half of the guardian was on all fours beside her, one arm wrapped about a blood soaked middle that was still pouring out around the limb. His red eye was closed with a deep bruising surrounding it and the opposite cheek. That famous pineapple haircut had been burned clean off, singed remains brushing across his face.
The last of the adult guardians, the faithful right hand that had spoken, seemed to be the worst out of them all. A good half of his silver hair was a deep red and if one looked close enough they'd see a wicked bash to the side of his head. His clothes were in tatters and more burned than the Cloud guardian before him. His arm was obviously broken in the way it bent backwards towards his spine and it swung uselessly by his side. The belt buckle of his Vongola Gear had been crushed and the silver dust glimmered in the puddles of blood around him. He was sitting up with one knee to the ground, the other leg twisted awkwardly under him. One stick of dynamite was between his index and middle finger and it trembled in his grasp.
"What… are you doing…?" The warmth of the orange eyes made a shiver go down the bomber's spine. The owner of the eyes stepped forward until they were directly in front, crouching to look behind him rather than at the faded green eyes staring. Behind the bomber, helping hold him up by the shoulder was a smaller black haired male. His dark eyes widened in fear at the approach, the sniffling turning into a form of hyperventilation. He cried out as a hand reached towards him, curling around the back of his neck gently.
"Shh… It's ok, Lambo. It won't hurt…" The eyes dimmed suddenly as the fingers found the pressure point and crushed down on it. The younger male fell forward into awaiting arms that lowered him to the ground almost lovingly.
"Juudaime!" There was a glance at the right hand, before a bright smile stretched across the features. If the orange eyed person was going to say anything, it was cut off by a weak cackle. The Mist guardian looked up with a face twisted in complete hatred.
"You think… your precious Tenth is still here…?" Another wet laugh escaped the bluenette, blood sprinkling his lips. "Tsunayoshi's already lost."
"Why haven't you killed us yet, herbivore?" The orange gaze flickered onto the dark Cloud, amusement at the nickname warming the color.
"I'm not killing you. I'm protecting you!" Gokudera stared in a sort of horror as the owner of the orange eyes stood, madness darkening the hue. "This'll protect all of you! Now no one else can come and hurt you. Now you don't have to risk your life for me because you're my family." Giggling started before it burst into full out laughter, hysteria seeped in the noise. "I am destroying the Vongola like I said I would! Now we won't have to kill anyone ever again, or give more sins to the next generation." Gloved hands were lifted, one in front and behind. A brilliant orange flame erupted on the material, burning away the blood that had coated them. "Go to sleep my precious famiglia… Operation X."
"Yes, Boss."
"What have you done…?" Tsunayoshi Sawada turned at the voice, smiling down at the baby before him. The echoed screams were still fading while the smell of burned flesh and scorched blood filled the warehouse.
"I have not done anything, Reborn. I am in the process of doing something." The fedora lowered, shadowing the eyes beneath.
"Then what are you doing, Tsuna?" The brown haired male spread his arms out.
"I am destroying the Vongola." He suddenly shuddered and wrapped his arms around himself, his orange eyes widening as a crooked grin split his face. "Everyone wanted me to restore them. Restore the Vongola to how it was before… but I couldn't do it. I made it worse, Reborn!" He turned his grin onto the shadowed face of the Arcobaleno. "The sins that had terrified me during that trial, I added to those horrors. I can't save the Vongola, I can't do anything they wanted me to do, only tear it apart even more!" He snickered, insanity glinting in his darkening eyes. "The Ninth is dead. My parents are dead. My guardians are dead. There is no one that can carry on the Vongola blood! Even if Xanxus takes over, the Vongola is dead. I made sure of it!"
Click.
He blinked, looking at the green gun pointed at his face. There was a tense moment of silence before he chuckled, lowering his arms to his side and straightening.
"Are you going to kill me now, Reborn?" There was no answer, only the tightening of the finger on the trigger. "You know, I always looked to you as a sort of father figure… after all, mine was never around. I'm a little sad that you're disappointed in me but that's ok. I know you'll see I was only protecting everyone in the end." Once again, he opened his arms, revealing his heart for a clear shot. "Go on then… Do what you're supposed to do to a failed student, mentor." The small frown on the baby's face deepened at the sarcasm in the term. Before any of them could do anything however, a thick collar came flying out of the shadows. Tsuna gave a choked gasp as it clamped around his throat, jerking him backwards.
"Tsunayoshi Sawada. You have violated the mafia law."
"Vin…dice…" He twisted his head as much as he could in that collar, grinning brokenly at the bandaged men. "I wondered… if you were coming." Silence was his answer. He coughed as the chain was yanked with a force that sent him crashing to the ground. He reached up to grab at the collar around his neck, writhing in its grip as he was dragged backwards. It was useless, he knew, but instinct powered him on to struggle against the fate he had seen through Mukuro's eyes. Tsuna shifted his now chocolate gaze onto the baby who still had a gun aimed at him. His grin darkened.
"You'll tell the others that… I want their happiness, right…? Now that… the Vongola's era has ended, they'll be safe…" He twisted off his Vongola ring, putting it between the links of the chains so at the next sharp movement by Vindice it was crushed between the metal with a harsh squeal. There was a dull cry of pain that made Tsuna's grin falter for a second. "Sorry, Natsu…" The happy insanity returned quickly. "But… it was for the best."
BAM.
Vindice came to a halt, their heads turning to look at the baby who hadn't moved from his spot. Smoke curled upwards from the green gun in his hand. They slowly shifted towards the Vongola Tenth.
Fresh blood was blooming on his chest above his heart. The chocolate eyes were wide with surprise, staring at the hidden face of Reborn. He took a breath only for it to turn into a cough as blood shot forth from his mouth to splash on the ground. A grin scarred his features as the light in his eyes faded. His last breath was a hysterical laugh that chilled the air. Silence dominated the warehouse until it was broken by a soft click of the collar releasing and falling to the ground. The limp body of the Vongola Tenth slid to the floor, unseeing eyes staring up at the faces of Vindice.
"You are not to interfere with our affairs, Arcobaleno."
"He was my student to discipline." The large eyes finally looked up and even with the childish features; one could see the rage that darkened the color. "Not yours." The enforcers glanced at each other before backing up to disappear into the darkness they had come from. The gun shifted back into the form of Leon, crawling up to lay on the fedora's rim. The chameleon turned away so its back was to the charred remains of the Guardians and their lifeless Boss.
"Tsuna…" Reborn reached up and tugged the fedora low. "Even after all these years, you were too soft."
And the steady drip drip from that faraway source continued on.
This was extremely dark wasn't it? I hope this was snapped enough for all of you. I might continue this on in one-shots of the guardians and Tsuna before all this but not sure. For now, it'll end here.
Until next time~
-Zehava