There was only one shot. One shattering gunfire, and then silence. The world stopped to watch, to allow Sawada Tsunayoshi's sanity to slowly sink. No one screamed. No one dared to gasp or sob. That moment, all eyes were fixed on the tenth and his dying lover. Because this was, without a doubt the end.
"K-kyoko-chan…"
The girl shifted and fell, her face a mask of shock, showing no signs of the pain she felt.
He caught her. On his knees, he held her in his arms. He wanted to shake her, to shout her name, but he didn't want to hurt her any more. Instead, he simply looked at her, denying that those were the last moments he would see her alive. If she were to be called alive now at all.
Kyoko had always been strong. Even now, as she fought for her last breaths, she refused to display any of the agony raging inside her. She was brave, both for herself and for him.
"Tsu-kun-"
"No! No, You're going to be okay! It'll be all right, Kyoko-chan…" whatever last words she had, he didn't want to hear them. He wanted to be gentle, he knew he should, but he couldn't look at her. His eyes darted across the room, quickly glancing over Yamamoto and Gokudera, the only guardians present. Finally, they stopped on Dr. Shamal, pleading. But the man only shook his head, an expression of only pity on his face. "Sorry, kid, it can't be done."
Something inside the young boy broke, bled and died. No. The tears started welling in his eyes and he fought them back with all his might. Kyoko shouldn't have to see him this way. Not now.
She took in a raspy breath. "Tsu-kun, listen…" She had to tell him. Unsteadily, she guided her hand to his inner pocket. Tsu-kun rarely wore a suit, but he did today, and no matter what he wore, he always had it. Her fingers traced the outline of the charm she'd made him long ago. "Listen to me, Tsu-kun, you'll have to be okay…" He couldn't speak. 'No. Please. Please!'
"I love you, Tsu-kun. And I love…my big brother too…"
Those were her last words. Tsuna held her close and wept. Only for a minute. Only for a bit, before his hand reached for the gun. He'd never actually used it. The weapon felt wrong. But so did the lifeless girl in his arms. So did the sobs and screams he was holding back. Yes, today, the gun felt rightest.
But why had the killer not left? Why had no one attacked him? Why did he stay silent?
And then Tsuna understood. An illusion.
He looked up to see it. He'd expected bloodied hands and a crazed expression. But there was only a clean calm, as if waiting for the young Vongola's reaction.
He shifted his body, holding the gun in his hand. It was wrong. She didn't want this. He fired.
Bullet after bullet, and yet the illusion remained. His hand shook wildly and his aim scattered, but he wouldn't stop, even as the guardians grew more and more shocked with each shot. His hyper intuition told him there was no use. Sawada Tsunayoshi knew there was no use. But Sawada Tsunayoshi was gone, gone, gone.