You can't change your bloodline. It's stupid to even try.

[not_mafia]

Who: Tsuna and you!
What: The nightmares of the next vongola boss...
When: The nightmare plot
Where: The realm of nightmares
Rating: nightmare The first section may and probably will escalate to R (it pretty much starts out at at least T anyway); the other two sections are PG-13.

[From a boy like Tsuna, you wouldn't imagine the nightmares to be as hellish as other resident's were. To some extent, this is true; however, his nightmare does not revolve around petty fears. These nightmares are not littered by events of the past, but are shaped by apprehension for the future. The nightmares have differing situations, but there is one feeling that rings strongly through them all.

Helplessness.]

Helpless | Worthless | Hopeless

Comments

[not_mafia]

[He stares at Ino, watching her try to pry apart the bars with no success. Just a few minutes ago, he'd been so eager to come to her. He'd wrapped his arms around her, held her like he never wanted to let go.

There's a part of him that still wants to go to her. It's clear in his eyes; she's been his support all this time. But there's a great sadness in his eyes, and he looks so defeated, too. It's like he doesn't even deserve her effort.

He bows his head, and another tear falls.]

I'll just disappoint you again.

[ino]

You've never disappointed me, Tsuna! [she's even pulling out the tanto at her waist to try and cut at the bars. something, anything, to get her back in there] You can't keep saying that! I know it seems hopeless but --

[she reaches her hand inbetween the bars, at least, reaching towards him] We can do this!

[not_mafia]

[The bars stop expanding with a gentle creak. Tsuna looks up at Ino, looks at her hand.

He wants to trust her so badly, it's painful.

He lifts his arm a little, hesitantly. A pang of hurt reflects in his eyes for a moment, and his hand begins to lower again.]

[ino]

[dammit. DAMMIT. she looks at him, desperate, stretching her hand as far as she can]

Tsuna, please --

[not_mafia]

[Hesitance.

And then, he reaches forward, and touches her hand.

The cage is gone.]

[ino]

[she visibly relaxes with relief for a moment when the cage disappears, before pulling him towards her in a hug]

[not_mafia]

[Tsuna returns the hug, but it's weak. His forehead is propped against her shoulder as a couple of tears slide out, hitting her arm.]

[ino]

[the hug is quick; after all, getting away from here quickly is the best option. so she'll pull tsuna's arm around her shoulders to support him, and starts heading ... in a direction. any direction, but here]

C'mon.

[not_mafia]

[He walk silently next to her, head slightly bowed. There's nothing but darkness all around them.

But at least there aren't any cages threatening to crush them or pull them apart. If you want to know just what the heck that was all about, Ino, now might be your only chance.]

[ino]

[she focuses for a bit on trying to figure out where they're actually going, but ... yeah, there's no clues from the darkness, so she'll just focus on Tsuna]

Who were those people?

[not_mafia]

[He lifts his head a little.]

The first one was Vongola Nono. The boss that I'm replacing.

[And his eyes narrow, hurt in his eyes.]

The second one... was my tutor. Reborn.

[ino]

What do they ... do, exactly? That organization ...

[not_mafia]

The mafia uses brute force to control the cities. They make them pay in exchange for their safety. And they use that money to make themselves stronger... in any way that they can. And they use that power to gain more control...

[ino]

[well .. that does sound kind of terrible]

And so ... if you were to become their leader, couldn't you change that?

[not_mafia]

I'm not becoming the leader of the whole group, just one of the families. [A very influential and powerful family, but still!]

But even if I wanted to do something like that... I'm just one kid. Why would such a large and scary group of people ever listen to me?

[ino]

Well, you're the leader, right? Doesn't that command a kind of respect?

[not_mafia]

Maybe if I was older, and stronger, and smarter. But not as I am.

[ino]

...

Do you have to take over right away?

[not_mafia]

[Quietly.]

Yeah, I think I do.

[ino]

That's ridiculous. [she frowns] No one is ready to run anything that young. Especially not something like that.

[not_mafia]

What happens then? [His voice is small, wavering with fear.] What happens to leaders that... aren't ready?

[ino]

Sometimes people have to grow up faster than they ever wanted to. [a little reassuring smile] It doesn't mean it's impossible. In fact, I think because you have the opinion you do, you'd make a great leader.

[not_mafia]

But... leaders are supposed to be strong. Brave. [He hunches a bit.] I'm neither of those things.

[ino]

But you are, Tsuna. If your friend was in danger, you'd step in to defend them, wouldn't you?

[not_mafia]

That's not bravery though... That's just doing what's right.

[SHONEN LOGIC]