Within the Melody 2

By: Female Heero Yuy

Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn or it's original characters...though it would be cool if I could .


Trying to keep up with someone who was very agile and jumping from building to building was a task in itself. But they managed to follow the unaware Mukuro. But it became exceedingly difficult when he headed toward the forest. Even more so when he actually got into the forest.

"Mukuro! Will you stop for one minute!" Gokudera panted heavily.

"He can't hear you." Reborn said from his shoulder.

"Man." he whined as he tried to keep up. He wondered how someone who was barefoot could run so fast with all the rocks and twigs on the ground and upped roots. "This just keeps getting better and better." he nearly tripped over a tree's lower branches.

After a few more yards, everyone stopped. "Where did he go?" Gokudera shouted in frustration.

"I don't know I lost him." Yamamoto turned in various directions looking for the blue haired youth.

"It's alright. We haven't lost him." Reborn stated. Then pulled out a tracking device.

"Oh yeah, you put a tracking collar on him." Ryohei smiled. "That was good thinking."

"He's 300 yards to the east. In the furthest part of the forest." Reborn stated as he read the results.

"So fast!" Yamamoto looked surprised. Even Mukuro couldn't possibly be that fast.


Mukuro walked through the gates of the mansion in steady strides. His eyes were dull, which made one wonder if he was even aware of where he was. There was a man waiting outside he stretched out his hand, and Mukuro took it.

"Welcome home" he smiled.


"We should be coming right at the spot...now." Reborn read the device. Making everyone come to a complete stop. It'd taken them a good 50 minutes to catch up.

"Are you crazy? There's nothing here!" Gokudera shouted. All he could see was more trees.

"Hmmm." he hummed as he looked at the device. It clearly stated Mukuro was within the area.

"Damn it." Gokudera cursed.

"Well maybe the device is..." Ryohei started to put a hand on a tree. "Ahh!"

"Ryohei?" Yamamoto looked at where he last was. "Ryohei?"

"Ow..." came his voice.

"Where are you turf head?"

"I'm right here."

"Where?" Yamamoto went to the stop.

"Here."

"Stop messing around you idiot!" Gokudera shouted. Then jumped in surprise when Ryohei's head appeared, but not the rest of him.

"Right here."

"So thats it." Reborn walked through. The others following slowing after.

"Wow!" Yamamoto gawked. The building before him was huge. It was a western style manor with thousands and thousands of flowers. And a large fountain in the center that was of a woman pouring water from an gord. "This is amazing. But why didn't we see it before?"

"Who knows." Reborn stated as he followed the path to the main doors. Even as they reached the doors, they seemed to open by themselves. "Seems like we were expected."

As they followed the path that had been laid out to them. They came to the throne room like area. The man from before sitting on his chair as if he was bored from waiting for so long. He held a glass of wine and swirved it's contents slowly. "It's about time you all showed up. I was starting to think you would all keep me waiting."

"Who are you dirt bag?" Gokudera shouted. "And what did you do with the 10th?"

"10th?" he looked perplexed for a moment. "Ahhh." he smiled. "You must mean that adorable brown haired boy."

"So you do have him!" he shouted with his fist near his chest. "Let him go you bastard!"

"What are you up to? And further more who are you?" Reborn asked.

"Me? Why i'm just a simple doll maker. As for who I am, you can call me Kreuz." he smiled pleasantly.

"So Kreuz, what do you intend to do with the Vongola?" Reborn asked as he looked at Kruez straight forward.

He smiled mischeviously. "Nothing."

"Don't lie you bastard!" Gokudera shouted.

"Your obviously planning something!" Ryohei shouted.

"I'm not lying. I have no interest in the Vongola."

"Then why?" Reborn asked.

"You mean why did I take three members? It's because they are so cute."

"What?" Yamamoto looked shocked.

"I told you i'm a doll maker. And a doll maker requires things."

"So you took them for your dolls?" Reborn looked abit upset.

"Wait..i'm confused, how does this come to dolls?" Ryohei asked.

"He's using them as materials." Reborn stated.

"What?" Yamamoto shouted. "But that's insane! You can't use people for materials!"

"That's not really correct." Kreuz looked insulted. "But of course someone who knows nothing wouldn't understand a masters work."

"I don't care about your work! Give us back our friends you sick freak!" Gokudera shouted.

"Oh? But now you can't even afford them."

"They aren't things!" Gokudera threw his fist.

Kruez started scratching at his brow. "I would of agreed had this been about..." he looked at his watch. "Oh say four hours ago."

"What?" Ryohei looked perplexed.

"What did you do to them!" Gokudera shouted.

"Allow me to show you my latest dolls." he stood up then swirled his hand to his left side. A light came on as if it was a stage light from above. They got the shock of their lives when they saw what was before them. It was them. The others. Even Mukuro who'd only gone missing not even an hour ago. Tsuna sat in the middle with Hibari on his right, Mukuro to his left. They all looked to be sleeping as they had their eyes closed. Hibari's head on Tsunas shoulder. And Mukuro looked as though he was hugging him. Kreuz walked up to them and put his hands to Tsuna's face. "My greatest master pieces." he leaned over and kissed Tsuna over his right eye. "Utter perfection. But only if they are together. Separated they are only a third of perfection." he traced his fingers over Mukuro and Hibari's faces. "These are my greatest master pieces." he smiled then stepped back admiring them. Then turned to the group as if he was introducing a show. "How could anyone not admire such work!"

"You're insane." Reborn stated bluntly.

"Insane is such a strong word for those who are beyond creative by normal standards. We are so misjudged, us true artists."

"I've had enough!" Gokudera shouted as he threw an anslaught of bombs. Making Kreuz cover his eyes as they exploded in his face.

He coughed profusely, and when the smoke cleared he blinked in surprise. Then smiled. "Oh my, they are far more clever then I anticipated." as he looked and saw they were gone. Tsuna and the others as well. "Well I guess I can allow them to hold them for a trial period." he laughed. "Though it's far to late to turn back." he went to sit on his throne.


"Gokudera that was good thinking!" Yamamoto shouted in excitement as he carried Mukuro on his back.

"Tch, you misinterpreted, I was trying to destroy him for touching the boss!" he growled as he ran beside him.

"Still it was rather good, but I am disappointed we had to run." Ryohei stated as he carried Tsuna and Hibari.

"Oh well. Getting them out was a first priority." Reborn stated from his perch on Yamamoto's shoulder.

"Still you could of left me there to kick his ass while the rest of you ran. I would of taught him not to mess with the Vongola!" Gokudera kicked a nearby trash can. Making everyone come to a halt.

"I think that would of been a bad thing to do. What if he's the only one a cure if he put a disease in them?" Yamamoto looked worried. "Honestly Mukuro feels a little cold."

"I was thinking the same thing." Ryohei stated as he looked behind himself. "I thought it was just because it was cool in the building, but they haven't warmed up at all."

"Looks like Dr. Shamal will be paying us another visit." Reborn stated.


After many tears from Nana seeing her "baby boy" back, they'd taken refuge in Tsuna's room again. Due to a lack of space they laid the three on the bed where their legs were off the bed just so they could fit them all. Even with a heated blanket, it was like their bodies had a slight coldness that wouldn't go away.

"I bet he put some kind of new virus in their bodies! You should of let me kill him!" Gokudera vented.

"Somehow I doubt that. Why put a virus in their bodies and then rant about the artistic aspects of it." Reborn stated.

"Who knows! Artists are insane most of the time anyway!" he shouted as his veins throbbed. He needed to hit something, but there wasn't anything to hit. Not even Lambo who was sleeping and not causing trouble for once.

"Damn and just when i'd gotten a hot babe too." Dr. Shamal came in. "Seriously a third time already? Couldn't you atleast wait til morning?"

"Sorry, but this is an emergency." Reborn proclaimed.

"That's what you said the last two times." he sighed.


Dr. Shamal removed his stethiscope from his ears after conducting a through examination of the three sleeping mafioso's. He signed for what seemed like the millionth time as he wrote down something on a notepad. "Well other than the obvious they are fine. No diseases. No new wounds. Nothing. Only thing I can't understand is why their temperatures are staying at 90 degrees. They honestly shouldn't be so healthy with such a slow temperature. I've never seen such a thing before."

"Can't you do anything?" Ryohei asked.

"I can try to give them some medicine, but honestly it might be pointless."

Everyone turned when Mukuro started to stir and sat up. He still looked drowsy, even as he put his hand to his forehead like he had a headache.

"Oh great, of all the people to wake up first, the crazy one does." Gokudera snubbed.

"Now, now." Yamamoto smiled. "It's not a contest."

"Why is it so cold in here?" Mukuro asked as he pulled up the blankets closer to his chin. "Someone turn up the heat."

"It's already on the maximum setting, it can't go any higher." Dr. Shamal stated as he stood.

Mukuro gave a small whimper as he tried to wrap himself in the blanket as much as he could. Which was pretty hard to do considering Hibari was at the other side of Tsuna and clutching it for dear life.

"Instead of whining why don't you explain what happened?" Gokudera got to the point.

"What do you mean?" he raised a brow. He'd put the blanket to cover up to his nose. So one could only see from his eyes and above.

"Damn it again with this? You are by far the most useless person on the planet!"

Mukuro shivered even as his eyes shifted downward. Dr. Shamal went up to him with an ear thermometer and took his temperature. "What?" he pulled out the notepad he had earlier.

"What's wrong?" Yamamoto asked.

"This can't be right." Dr. Shamal stated as he compared the numbers. "His temperture. It dropped."


Needless to say a quick trip to the store for more heated blankets was in order. Even while being wrapped it seemingly did nothing for the chills. When Tsuna and Hibari woke up. They too could not explain what happened. They just knew it was cold and the single electric blanket was not helping. They couldn't even remember doing the play. Much less the aftermath of it. They also couldn't take them to the hospital in case Kreuz had been waiting.

"Well now it seems you all seem abit warmer." Reborn said with a smile. Even after the others had returned with the supplies.

They were all bundled up, wrapped like they were in caccoons with heated blankets. Mukuro and Tsuna looked content, but Hibari looked pissed off. Like being cold was pissing him off. Or perhaps he was angry at the situtation. No one could tell. Stranger still Tsuna looked like he was his hyper mode. Only he didn't have the flame on his head. It'd taken five electric blankets, and several hot water bottles to get them where they were at in terms of warmth.

"It's warm." Tsuna cooed as he sighed.

"I can't understand this. At this point they shouldn't even be alive." Dr. Shamal compared all his notes. Every 30 minutes he'd taken their temperatures. And each time they'd drop lower than the previous one. "Their temperatures are at 40 degrees. They should very well be dead."

"You'd think they'd be hot easier considering it's 80 degrees outside." Yamamoto smiled.

"I'm definately going to monitor them. But it's strange how I can't find a single thing that's causing this. What did that man do?" he rubbed at his head.

"What man?" Tsuna asked.

"Don't worry about it for now." Reborn replied. "For now get some rest."


"The side effect of a change is nearing it's end, then soon after it will continue at a steady pace unknown by anyone other than myself." Kreuz stated as he looked outside. The sun's rays eluminating the garden outside. "How long should this trial be I wonder?" he smiled.


After a good rest, they had to say they were perfectly well. Abit too warm but that was to be expected when one was covered in electric blankets. Shoving them off, Tsuna took a deep breath as he let the breeze hit his sweating body. "Aahhhh." he sighed. "I thought I was going to be cooked."

Hibari's blankets and water bottles met the same fate on the floor. This is when Tsuna also realized, he was quite the bed hog, as he tried to shove Tsuna and Mukuro off the bed to be positioned on it properly. Mukuro was still sleeping within his caccoon of blankets. Getting up he stretched, and sighed with stiff joints popped. He wondered how anyone had gotten Hibari to stay. Much less to share a small bed. But he took it as a good sign since he hadn't been bitten to death that he had other thoughts on his mind.

This made his expression faulter into sorrow. Sitting at his desk chair he brought his knees to his chin. "I feel sick." he mummbled as he hugged himself. He jumped his door was opened.

"Ahhh ahahahaha! Tsuna! Tsuna! Play with me!" Lambo came running in.

"Lambo! Shussh! You'll wake them up." he tried to be as silent as possible. Looking between Lambo and the slumbering Hibari.

Lambo started picking his nose. "Hhmmm that's no fun." he stated, then started laughing hysterically and running around the room. "Loser Tsuna! Can't even remember things! Loser! Loser!" he laughed some more. But shreeked as a tonfa came near his face.

"I'll bite you to death." Hibari threatened. Which in turn made Lambo cry to the point he emitted electricity.

"No! Lambo calm down!" Tsuna tried. But Lambo only cried harder.

"Oho? What's with the loud noise in the morning?" Mukuro asked with a yawn as he poked his head out from his caccoon. But unfortunately one of the dials on the electric blankets was next to his right eye, so when electricity hit it, it exploded right in his face. "GAAHHH!" he held the right side of his face. Even as Lambo calmed down.

"Lambo is not at fault! Lambo didn't do anything!" he bantered as he ran out of the room.

"What in the world is going on?" Iemitsu shouted in surprise as he came into the room.

"Mukuro are you okay?" Tsuna asked.

Mukuro kept his hands covering his face. Iemitsu came in and leaned over him. "Let me see it." he ordered unlike his usual character. It seemed he didn't very much enjoy having Mukuro in the house. But there was no where else he could go. Atleast, without getting into trouble.

Mukuro just turned away. Iemitsu just grabbed at his wrists and forcibly removed his hands. "Hold still!" he shouted, but then he was in utter shock. So much so that he let go. And Mukuro looked confused at the looks he was getting. Even Hibari couldn't hide his look of shock as he looked at Mukuro's face.

"What? Is it that bad?" he asked as he put his fingers to the area. He realized something was a miss. Finally he realized he also couldn't see from his right eye. Grabbing a mirror he looked into it. Within moments, he was screaming. Part of the right side of his face was gone, his eye was missing completely. Worst of all he could see inside he head. But what should of been on the inside was not there. It was like nothing had been inside at all. It was hallow, and the pieces from his face were on the bed and floor. The impression was a piece of china had broken. Only it had been Mukuro's face, which should of been flesh and bone. Mukuro dropped the mirror and trembled. "What...? What happened to me?" he shouted as he gripped at his head. "What happened to my body!" Even as he trembled, another strange occurance happened. The missing part of his face formed back as if it hadn't been damaged at all. He blinked as he could see again from his right eye. Panting heavily in fright.

Iemitsu picked up a broken shard off the floor and looked at it with confusion.


"So that's what he meant." Reborn stated as he watched the three on the bed. Tsuna was trying to consol Mukuro who was still in a state of shock. "He litterally made them into dolls."

"That's just crazy! How can you turn a person into a doll?" Yamamoto asked.

"Damn it...Where's the real 10th?" Gokudera shouted. Making everyone stare at him. He grabbed Tsuna by the front of his shirt and pulled. "Start talking puppet! Where is the real boss!"

"Gokudera, it's me!"

Gokudera shoved him back on the bed. "Your not fooling me you freak! Now tell me where he is or i'll break you into a million pieces!"

"Gokudera stop it." Yamamoto tried, "We don't even know what happened? He could really be Tsuna."

"It's a lie! That Kreuz really is just after the Vongola and he took the 10th and tried to replace him with this...them...these pieces of shit fakes!"

Tsuna was stunned to hear such harsh words. Even Hibari looked surprised.

"I don't know about the rest of you. But i'm going to look for the real 10th myself if I have to! I don't have a use for useless dolls." he walked out.

"Gokudera!" Yamamoto shouted as he chased after him.

"Just let him calm down for a while, we should have everything figured out in time." Reborn stated, then jumped on the window ledge.

"Reborn your going too?" Tsuna asked. Though it was apparent he was trying to keep himself composed.

"I have to go somewhere. I will be back soon." he stated then jumped out the window. Tsuna looked disappointed after he'd left. It was only him, Mukuro and Hibari in the room.

"I'm leaving." Hibari got up.

"Hibari you too?" he panicked. "But we're supposed to stay here and..."

"I'm not going to stay in a place where herbivores are crowding. I only stayed to get answers. There are none, so i'm leaving." he walked out of the room.

"Hibari!" he paritally went after him, then stopped. "Ah! Mukuro come on!" he tugged on his arm. He was certain he shouldn't leave Mukuro in the house with only his mom.


"Hibari wait up!" Tsuna shouted after him as he half dragged a distressed Mukuro. It was a wonder if he was even aware that he was being pulled along. "Hibari!" he tried to catch up. 'What do I do?' he asked himself. 'Everything is so confusing...and...' he gripped at the front of his shirt after he'd stopped. 'Gokudera...Gokudera...what if he's right?' he thought to himself. 'What if I am...just a fake?' he lowered his arm to his side. Suddenly he felt like not only did he not know what to do. But that he didn't have anywhere to go. He grasped Mukuro's hand tightly for comfort. But he knew to expect nothing. He was having his own issues over what happened earlier. He was in no condition to help Tsuna with his own problems. Tears started forming at his eyes as he looked at the floor. Gokudera's words stuck in his mind in a constant replay. He started to feel like his heart would burst at any given moment, but there was simply no one for comfort. 'Who would take the time to comfort a doll?' he thought as the tears flowed from his eyes.

Unexpectedly a pair of familiar shoes stood before him. But he couldn't bring himself to look up at the person. He knew it was Hibari...or atleast something that looked like him.

Hibari stood before the paused pair. He tried to tell himself not to bother, not to even look back. But it seemed his feet had different intentions from what his mind wanted. So he ended up going back, and their they stood where he last heard Tsuna shouting at him. Mukuro was as catatonic as ever with only an expression of depression. It was like he'd forgotten how to be his usual self. Though he was telling himself to leave them be, his hand had other ideas and grasped at Tsuna's free hand. Even as he grasped it, he couldn't help but notice his own hand was trembling. He lead the way to the one place they could go, or atleast was the one place open to them. Nami Mori Middle School. He'd never realised it before, but for some reason it was comforting more than usual to know it was there.

Finally they were in the office he used frequently. Part of his mind told him it was dark and to turn the lights on. But the other part just stated why bother? So he opted to leave them off. It wasn't until he shut the door, that he let go. And after that, it was like every emotion dealing with sorrow hit him all at once. He hated it, he wanted it to die. But it wouldn't go away. Sitting at the desk he norminally used he laid his head in his arms. Wrapping them tightly. Damning himself for felling such strong overwhelming emotion. But he'd be damned if he let anyone see him cry. So he silently cried in his arms, not uttering a sound, even as his own tears fell to dampen his shirt.

Tsuna just lead Mukuro to a nearby sofa and pushed him to sit. Mukuro sat limply, even as Tsuna laid face first on the other sofa. Unlike Hibari's silent tears, he whimpered softly, even as he buried his face into the cushions he couldn't stop himself. And he could only hope Hibari would allow him this moment to release his sorrow, without attacking him.


"Anything on that sample Dr. Shamal?" Reborn asked as he sat on a nearby chair and waited.

"It's honestly simply amazing. The material of it is that of a clay or porcelin doll, but when analyzed it's like regular human skin. Frankly it's just simply amazing."

"Meaning?"

"Even though they have a combined genetic make up of a doll, they are at the same time human."

"So does that mean they aren't fakes?"

"That is a possibility, but another is that they could be some very well made fakes. But if I had to say from my perspective. They are who they think they are."

"Oh?"

"Let's just say there are somethings that can't be changed no matter how much someone tries."


It was Sunday. Two days since the shouting. Two days since Reborn left. Two days since they'd come for refuge in Nami Mori Middle School. And two days since either of them last moved, ate or drank. Who could say if anyone had noticed they'd left?

Hibird flew through the window and landed on the desk. Hibari looked at him. This being his first movement. Strangely he didn't feel stiff at all. He lightly smiled as he stretched a hand at Hibird, who promptly flew away after his hand got near. Hibird had never done that to him before. So it was abit surprising for Hibari and the smile went away. 'I guess that proves it then...' he thought. Simply going back into his original position.


Gokudera was walking around town for clues as to anything he could use to solve the mystery before him. His cellphone rang and he answered it after checking the number. "Hello?"

"Gokudera." came Nana's voice from the other side. "I was wondering if you'd seen Tsuna anywhere...he hasn't been home in two days. And those other two boys are gone as well."

Gokudera gripped his phone as he trembled in angry, but kept his voice composed. "No they're fine. They've been spending the night at my house to catch up on their school work."

"Oh thank goodness." came her sigh of relief. "Could you tell him mommy hopes he does well?"

"...Sure." he responded.

"I'm going to make supper now, bye bye." she hung up.

"Damn it!" he kicked a wall. "Those damn fakes got me lying for them! I hope I find the 10th soon so I can end this crap!" he started dialing a number. "Hey..!"


After the word was out, Yamamoto, Ryohei, and Gokudera met up to look for them. Gokudera was not very happy to have to stop his search for his boss. "Those bastards! They could of atleast pretended while I was searching for the 10th!"

"Now, now, i'm sure they had a reason." Yamamoto answered.

"Don't give me that crap! You want the real 10th back as much as I do! I don't trust those damn dolls! They could be sucking up there souls as we speak! And I know you don't trust them either!"

"Well I..." Yamamoto faultered. He couldn't deny that he'd been pessimestic about them as well.

"Well even if they are fakes, they are the ones here aren't they?" Ryohei asked.

"That's not the point! They might be set to kill the Vongola family! I'm not going to let that happen!"

"I doubt they'd go that far." came Reborns voice. Then he jumped onto Gokuderas head.

"Oie it's the baby!" Ryohei excitedly.

"Bastard..." Gokudera growled.

"I understand your anger, but there's something you should all know." Dr. Shamal came up.

"We don't have time for that! We have to find those stupid dolls before we loose our only clue to the 10th!"

"Ahh as rushed as ever I see." Dr. Shamal sighed. "Listen call them whatever you feel like. But they are who appear to be."

"What?" Gokudera looked shocked.

"I know this is a shocking thing. But they aren't fakes. They're real. I can't fully explain how their genetic makeup was changed or if they are just products that were put together with the same personalities, but they aren't pretending to be something they are not."

"That's a lie! They are nothing more than useless dolls who are ..." Gokudera didn't get to finish, because Dr. Shamal had slapped him.

"Whether you believe it or not is fine. But i'll say this. Your actions are hurting them more than what Kreuz did to them. Did you ever stop to think about their feelings? How they are feeling right now? This might sound strange coming from me. But they are probably scared and feeling abandoned. Those feelings are real. And even if they are fakes, don't you think the 10th would of accepted them anyway?"

They stood there in silents for a moment.

"The least you can do is give them a chance. They deserve that much. Even as dolls they've been through alot."


Even with the three within the room, nothing moved. They were still. It was dusk, another day about to end. The door to the office opened slowly as a set of eyes peaked in. Then it was opened fully to allow the group in.

"Tsuna! We're so glad your all okay!" Yamamoto shouted excitedly. But the three did not stir at all. He sat beside Mukuro and put an arm about his shoulders, "Are you guys okay? We were worried sick about you guys."

Mukuro's eyes trembled even as a few hairs strayed from his kept locks. Everyone just stared at the three as they tried to figure out what they should do next.

"Ummm are you guys hungry?" Yamamoto removed his arm then picked up a plastic bag and held it up. "We brought food and drinks." he tried, but to no avail.

"Tch, this is stupid." Gokudera stated. "It's a complete waste of time, we could be looking for the real 10th instead of babysitting a bunch of dolls."

"Gokudera!" Yamamoto uttered. "Stop it, your hurting their feelings!"

"Tch, they don't have feelings, it's nothing but a trick. We should just throw them in the trash where they belong. They are nothing but junk."

Tsuna clutched the sofa cushion tighter.

"See even that Hibari wanna be is just proving he's a fake! If he was real he would of attacked us by now!"

"Gokudera that's too much!" Ryohei held his fists up. "Stop being a jerk and help us!"

"Why do you all stop pretending like you care about these freaks. The 10th could be dead right now while we're here trying to consol things that should be on the side of the road ready to be picked up by the trash truck."

"You heard the doctor, he said they were real. All those thoughts should of left by now." Ryohei argued.

"Damn it, don't you see! He hasn't proved anything more than that they are specially made toys! You both had the same thoughts, don't pretend! You don't believe they are our real friends anymore than I do."

"That..." he tried, but his voice faultered.

"See you can't even disagree with me! I'm out of here. Dr. Shamal just had me waste my time!" he walked out.

"Gokudera come back here!" Ryohei chased after him.

"Ryohei! Gokudera!" Yamamoto got up but then looked back for a moment. "Uhh, I'll be right back!" he ran after them. Tsuna sat up and looked at the plastic bag that'd been left on the table.


Yamamoto barely caught up with Gokudera in the court yard along with Ryohei who had managed to stop him from leaving further. "Gokudera! That wasn't nice. We're supposed to look out for them."

"I'm not going to sit here and pretend anything!"

"But what if they really are Tsuna and the others. It would mean all you've done is hurt them. As my father says, words can hurt more than wounds."

"Then prove to me he's the 10th!"

"Why don't you prove he's not Tsuna." Ryohei shot back. Yamamoto and Gokudera blinked at his unusual wit of words.

"I..he..."

"See you can't prove he's not Tsuna. Nor that the others aren't Hibari or Mukuro." Yamamoto said seriously. "If nothing else atleast apologize and stop saying those things. Even if it isn't them, maybe they can help. The least you can give them is some kindness."

Gokudera sighed. "If this doesn't work i'm kicking your ass." he started to walk back.

When they got back to the office, they were all shocked. Tsuna was taking the knife that'd been left in the bag to cut some fruit and jabbing it in his arm over and over. Each time it'd leave a hallow hole and heal itself right up only to be recreated again with another stabbing.

"Boss what do you think your doing?" Gokudera grabbed the knife before he could stab himself again.

"There's no blood." he whispered. "No matter how many times I do it there's no blood. No muscle. Not even bone." he started to weap. "Nothing." he trembled.

He grabbed at his shoulders and shook him. "Stop it! Your hurting yourself!"

"What do you care! I'm just a useless doll!" he bawled. He couldn't understand what was happening. Or if anything had happened at all. Was he created than programmed? Or changed internally? Nothing made sense. Even the fact that his normal features were different showed how much had changed.

Gokudera on the other hand felt really bad. Sure he was angry at the whole situation. He'd even go as far as admitting he still didn't trust the thing before him. But he didn't want him to hurt himself. "Damn it." he cursed. He didn't know what to say in such a situation. He simply got up, leaving Tsuna to cry his eyes out while he sat on the floor. Atleast until Yamamoto kneeled down and hugged him.

Tsuna's crying proved to be some kind of switch because even though he wasn't uttering a sound. Mukuro's own tears started to flow out in torrents with no sign of stopping.

"Hibari pick yourself up and do something!" Gokudera ran to the side of the desk and slammed his palms down on it. But it was stunned when Hibari turned to him. Never in a day in his life. Would he ever thought he would see Hibari crying. He'd picked his head up a little and turned to look at Gokudera, only for him to see tears falling from his eyes before he turned away and laid his head back down onto his arms. "Damn it!" he cursed again. He knew it was his fault. But he didn't know how to fix it. Dr. Shamal's words repeated in his mind. "They are probably scared and feeling abandoned." it repeated. Over and over like a broken record.


It'd taken a long time to get them to stop crying. Dr. Shamal had come in with the final results of his examination. But was also glad to find their bodies had warmed abit. They weren't at normal temperature. But their bodies were atleast 86 degrees. A great improvement. He was leaning in his seat as he stared at the three before him that looked completely miserable in his eyes. "Well atleast your all healthy." he stated as he continued to stare. "I won't ask you all to try to remember what had happened. But the least you can do is atleast pretend to have normal lives until we figure this out."

"Is that such a good idea? What if someone hits them with a ball or something? They could crack and everyone will see their secret." Ryohei looked worried.

"As far as I have seen only things that would norminally hurt a normal person causes damage." he picked up a normal ball and tossed it at them. It hit Tsuna square in the nose then bounced back. Leaving a mark where it hit but it didn't cause any damage to his face. "Otherwise it's the same result as if someone else had been hit with a ball." he watched as the mark faded away within moments. "Though that fast healing helps as well if it's done abit too hard."

Tsuna rubbed at his nose. It was rather strange that it moved like a regular nose, but would crack like hardened clay if enough force was put into it.

"One thing is for certain, only one person can answer our questions. And he's not talking."


And cliffhanger! . . It's abit scary at how easily this is coming together. I guess it's because i've thought about it for a while? IDK even then usually it takes me abit to get a good fic going. Anyway I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I'm still hoping i'm keeping them in character as much as possible. *crosses fingers*

Reviews and Critiques appreciated.