I Promise - Katekyo Hitman Reborn [COMPLETED]

6: Mukuro Rokudo

"Vongola Decimo is dead."

Mukuro had first heard this when he had been in the middle of infiltrating an enemy famiglia, when a lowly mafioso had announced it gleefully.

And strangely, the first thought that had come to mind was how much he hated the fact that the disgusting world of the mafia often associated a man as great as Sawada Tsunayoshi with that revolting title.

But while Mukuro himself knew that his mind was unhinged, it didn't stop him before flinching back in shock when the news finally registered in his head.

Tsunayoshi was dead.

Dead.

How amusing...

Even a man like Sawada Tsunayoshi could die.

Even with a will as resolute as his...

Oh well.

It wasn't like Mukuro cared much about the brunette anyway. Tsunayoshi had merely been a pawn in his elaborate game; and now that Tsunayoshi was gone, he had lost his purpose within the Vongola.

Mukuro supposed he would just have to find another play thing.

But before that...

He had to see him a last time.

Not because he cared, of course, but just to sneer at how low Tsunayoshi had finally fallen.

(He tries to ignore it. The part of him that says, "No. Not you too.")
---

Touching the ice cold skin probably shocked Mukuro more than it should have.

And the part of him that was numb, thought off-handedly. 'So the rumours were true after all...' Something odd stirred in his chest.

Tsunayoshi's skin was cold to touch, and the purple-head could see the tinges of blue staining once rosy lips.

Such a pity, Mukuro had rather liked the naive smile that often blossomed on the slumbering man's face.

An innocence in the dark world of the mafia they trudged through.

Ah, a tradegy indeed.

But alas, all was fine.

Tsunayoshi was at peace now.

And if he was, Mukuro was fine going about life, never once looking back on the memory of the man that had changed his life.

Because he was the mist, and deceiving was in his nature. A manipulator, through and through.

...even if it meant having to deceive even himself.

---

The first few days were the hardest.

The truth seemed almost surreal. Tsunayoshi was gone.

And he had gained a habit of torturing himself.

Often, he haunted himself-- conjuring up image after image of how Tsunayoshi's end had played out.

Had he been scared, crying as he bled to death, wishing for someone, anyone, to save him?

Had he spent his last moments at peace, content that this was his end, passing with that smile that had lingered even after he had passed?

And the cycle never stopped.

Nightmare after nightmare, day after day, all he could see was the life slowly slipping out of Tsunayoshi's grasp.