The battle was over and the victor decided. Both sides were entirely out of flame and to the point of exhaustion, but one was frozen and one was not. Sawada Tsunayoshi had earned the rights to succeed the family and become its 10th boss. He was out of breath as he staggered over to his wounded family member, who had long since passed out.

"I've managed to take care of him for the most part…" Dr. Shamal stated as the crowd gathered around Gokudera. The Varia had gone at this point and took their frozen boss with them, and the Cervello seemed to have disappeared as well.

"How… how is he…?" Tsuna asked as his bloodied body kneeled down near the unconscious Storm Guardian. He was somewhat calmed when told that he would be alright. "That…s…. great…" Tsuna smiled softly as Yamamoto and Ryohei rushed to his side.

"H-hey Tsuna?"

"Oi! Should you be talking Sawada?!"

Reborn slowly walked to his student's side and looked up at him, seeing the battle scars of his newest battle. He had let anger over come him and as a result, he had become worn out. "You've done well, Tsuna." He said grimly.

"R…Reborn…." Tsuna managed to crawl a bit closer to the baby and looked down at him, "I… Let him…-" He was cut off as the exhaustion overwhelmed his body and he passed out, falling unto the ground of their school, eyes slowly closing and reaching a calm state, finally being able to rest after this long battle.

Tsuna slowly awakened in a dimly lit yellow room, sitting in a comfortable bed all alone. He quickly realized that he was in Namimori hospital, and that Gokudera had been shot. He felt guilty, as if he couldn't protect his family. No. He couldn't protect his friends. When he realized this, Tsuna felt terrible. A pair of small footsteps echoed into the quiet hospital hallway just outside of Tsuna's room. The door swung open but no one was there, apparently. But if you looked down, you would see Reborn.

"You're awake. That's good.. We were worried about you, Tsuna." Reborn stated with his usual cat like smile on his face, which quickly turned into a frown when Tsuna spoke up and told him, "I couldn't do it… I got swept up in this mafia situation and took it lightly… its real…" The two looked at each other, Tutor and Student, each understanding each other to a degree.

"I can't protect him, I didn't want to be a Mafia Boss… but I really don't have a choice do I? They'll go after my friends as long as I have the blood of Vongola in my blood… WON'T THEY?!" He gritted his teeth and tried to control himself as he heavily breathed. The quietness of the hospital echoed Tsuna's sadness and anger, sympathizing with him. The ambient lights fit to mood to a t and Reborn stood quietly.

"I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS!!" He shouted as he begun to cry softly. Reborn simply looked away, "Tsuna…." He whispered. "You did as much as you could. There will always be casualties that you can't avoid. Just try to move along and get over them, Gokudera will be fine."

"You know me Reborn. You think I'll accept words like those?"

"…Tsuna."

Tsuna tightened his grip on his blanket and mustered the power to sit up completely and look straight down at him. Tsuna's eyes were dark… Darker than the ever were. He wasn't his usual pathetic self, and he wouldn't be ever again. "Reborn…" He said into the quiet room. The tension rose as the last words were said.

"Teach me how to properly become a Mafia Boss."