Happy New Year everyone! Let's all have an awesome 2011. :) I'm sorry for the lateness of this chapter guys! I've been busy with work. So uhm yeah, better late than never right? A slightly longer chapter to make up for the time I've missed.

Warning: Language (what I mean is, Gokudera's potty mouth)

Untouchable

By: Hiki-chan

Plan: Getting Tsunayoshi (aka: little bast- shit) away from Juudaim— Tsuna (aka: angel and the Vongola Juudaime)

The name in itself could use some work, but this was the general gist of the whole plan.

Gokudera leaned back against his chair, slightly satisfied for now. His fingers tapped idly on the base of the keyboard. His hair was tied up at the back to prevent it was tickling his neck while he typed this out.

Rearranging the glasses on the bridge of his nose, Gokudera continued his work on the computer. Why did he feel a need to do this? Normally, he would not have to type out such nonsense because Gokudera knew he had impeccable memory (although sometimes, this impeccable memory would fail him when a certain someone (namely, Tsuna) comes and distracts him unknowingly).

Gokudera paused in his work. It wasn't his fault that when Tsuna came into the picture, half or more of his logical mind flew out the window. It was just an effect that Tsuna had on him.

Shaking his head, Gokudera pulled out a cigar from the pack next to his computer and lit it before he continued typing. His long pianist fingers ran across the letters at a fast pace. It wasn't long before he was half-way through to typing the second phase of their plan. That's right. Their plan, not his. He had initially been the brain behind the entire plan. But every one of those losers insisted of planning their own share. Insisted on having a claim on it to call it their own.

The silver-haired teen could almost imagine his sister Bianchi scoffing and saying something along the lines of 'Che, men. Always feeling a need to claim something.'

Well, after a few tweaks here and there, they had finally come to a mutual agreement.

"Tch, my plan was still flawless even without those idiots muddling in."

Or it would have been flawless if there wasn't one major issue. Gokudera stopped and inhaled a lungful of potent poison before he exhaled.

"Reborn."

Flashback

"You guys are such idiots."

Dino startled first, he had not felt the presence of his ex-tutor at all when the arcobaleno entered. The way Reborn always appeared out-of-the-blue scared him. "Reborn?"

The arcobaleno nodded as he settled on the chair next to Dino. He could feel all five eyes bearing holes into the back of his head. "I know what you are all planning." He finally said after a few moments of silence. Then he swerved around on his chair and gave all of them a level gaze. "You don't even know how long Tsunayoshi is staying. If he disappeared after today you wouldn't even need to plan."

Dino then shot Reborn a suspicious look, he knew better than to let those words affect him. It sounded a little too good to be true. "You were the one who shot Tsuna."

"I was."

Gokudera mentally nodded his head, what Reborn had said previously made sense. There would be little to worry about if this was just a one-time affair but… Gokudera almost growled. This was the second time.

Yamamoto who was quiet since Reborn stepped in spoke up. "So kid, do you know how long the bullet will last?" If what Reborn said was true, then they wouldn't need the plan. So finding out how long the bullet would last would be their next priority.

"I do."

"And?"

Reborn gave them the most generic answer. "It depends."

When it looked like Dino was going to rebuke him for such an answer, Reborn continued. His voice lowered as he spoke and his eyes glinted seriously in the dim lights. "But first I must ask all of you this."

Sensing the change in the atmosphere and in Reborn's behavior, they automatically tensed. It was understood that something important was about to be asked.

"Is this really such a problem? Do you think you are dealing with this a little too much? What has Tsuna done to receive such a treatment from all of you?"

Reborn received puzzled looks from a few of them and cold but empty stares from the others.

"It's just been one day and you all seemed to be able to judge what kind of character the boy named Tsunayoshi is and have already decided that he has to be eliminated."

It was silent in the bar; the only sound was the rumbling of the air conditioner.

"Just one day and you all have dropped everything beforehand. Is it not a rather rash move?"

"…In our defense," Dino spoke up, "We aren't… eliminating Tsunayoshi per say."

Reborn lifted an elegant eyebrow at this, "Alright. Then define 'getting rid of him'." It was not a question, it was a statement. It was because Reborn knew they wouldn't be able to answer that. "You can't right? If you want to get Tsuna away from his other half, it's as good as splitting two parts of a whole apart."

He let his words sink into the rest of them.

"It wouldn't be a problem if the bastard just merges back with Juudaime." Gokudera managed to mutter to himself but was overheard by everyone. "Then everything can revert back to the way it was before."

Reborn almost smirked. Reverting back to the way it was before? Before a new person came into his loser student's life you mean.

"If all of you have such a problem with Tsunayoshi, you can just talk to Tsuna." Reborn hardly asked, he usually commented.

"But Tsuna obviously likes Tsunayoshi." Yamamoto said, staring at the baby with unreadable eyes. Not so unreadable if you were a person by the name of Reborn though. The arcobaleno could see the lingering words that were not spoken. Tsuna is a very kind person, I don't want to put him in that kind of position.

Mukuro rolled his eyes and folded his arms to his chest. "I honestly do not know what he sees in him." Then he lazily glanced towards the clock nailed to the wooden panel just above a cupboard that contained nothing but alcoholic beverages. The clock read 6:15PM. He had to leave soon if they wanted to carry out the plan tomorrow.

"Tsuna likes a lot of people, even the difficult ones." Reborn cocked an eyebrow and mentioned over to Mukuro and Hibari, who smirked while the latter scoffed. "Besides, what does it matter?"

Gokudera almost messed up his hair. Reborn was simply talking in circles. He was not making sense like he was before.

Yamamoto gave his friend a glance in understanding before he turned back to Reborn with curious eyes. "So what are you asking us to do, exactly?"

Reborn simply shrugged and pulled his ever present hat downwards to hide the twinkle in his eyes.

"If you expect us to wait and see what happens, arcobaleno, you're sadly mistaken." Mukuro declared, glaring dangerously at Reborn. Vongola Juudaime's home tutor or not, Mukuro was not exactly one person who would take orders willingly unless it came with some benefits for himself.

With that, Hibari tilted his head away and walked away like as if he understood that this was the end of the conversation.

End flashback

Gokudera snorted as he finished before he printed out the page. He really just didn't get what Reborn had said. It was obvious there was a lot of hidden meanings behind his words but somehow Gokudera just could not get it.

He ran his hand through his silver hair and sighed deeply. It was really getting too late for this, especially since tomorrow they were on a mission.

Gokudera took out the printed paper and stared at it. He wondered if he should get it photocopied. Like he said before he was interrupted by his own thoughts, he wouldn't normally do this because his memory was simply awesome. However, he could not say the same about his… accomplices.

He cocked a silver eyebrow at the thought of the baseball freak and the boxing freak. The both of them wouldn't know genius even if it hit them straight in the face.

Silver eyebrows furrowed together in thought. Ryohei wasn't involved in this and neither was the stupid cow. Why were they not involved? Why did Reborn find it unnecessary to inform them of this… new problem? There was… something missing. But what?

With all his brilliance and insight, sometimes Gokudera could really be that clueless.

Reborn took long sips of his coffee, savoring the bittersweet taste. Coffee was as good as his life source. He would drink it in the morning, in the afternoon and at night if need be.

Thinking back to his earlier conversation with the rest of them, Reborn really couldn't help but smirk. At least that settled that. He managed to confuse the guardians and his ex-student and he found out the extent of their feelings for his little loser student. Even if they did not understand it themselves.

But alas Tsuna's guardians and Dino were still slightly disappointing. Especially Dino since he was older. All it took was for one rival before they all came running. It was kind of pathetic, really. On a better note, Reborn could and would be able to see their teamwork if their plan is put into action.

"Which I'm very sure would be." Reborn chuckled for a moment before he sobered and settled the cup down onto the table. The problem was that all of this was done for the wrong reason. As guardians, they should not conspire against someone who wanted to protect Tsuna as much as they did.

'Although with Mukuro and Hibari, protecting Tsuna is debatable.' Reborn amended carefully.

Oh well, he had already anticipated all of this to happen anyway. The only concern was whether everything would go according to how Reborn had planned it to. Reborn's smirk turned into an eerie smile that stretched to the corners his mouth as he took another sip before he refilled his coffee.

Yes, he would be entertained for a few weeks to come.

"Ne, Reborn."

Reborn looked up from his thoughts to the entrance of the door to the kitchen where Tsuna came in with Tsunayoshi trailing behind him. "What is it, dame Tsuna?"

Tsunayoshi's left eye twitched in annoyance and he opened his mouth (he didn't like anyone insulting Tsuna) but one look from Tsuna shut him up.

Facing Reborn, Tsuna turned his body towards his other half and reluctantly gestured towards him. "I was wondering… How long do you plan for Tsunayoshi to stay here?"

Reborn smirked. He knew why Tsuna was asking this. He knew everything.

"The bullet wears off in 12 hours. Remember the last time I shot you? It lasted from morning till evening did it not."

The Vongla boss simply turned away. "Oh." He wasn't sure whether he was disappointed or not. Somehow with Tsunayoshi by his side something about life seemed… spicier? Tsuna quickly cleared his head. It was not good to have these types of thoughts.

"Tsuna..?" Tsunayoshi leaned forward and rested his head on Tsuna's shoulder, turning his head to look up at his lighter side with curious eyes.

Reborn withheld a grin at the rather adorable (disgustingly so) display before he reached into his pockets and pulled out a bottle, a sly smile on his face. "But there's this."

Tsuna couldn't help but blush a little at the contact. He really wasn't use to anyone being so physical with him. Other than that, he did not shrug his other off. Instead he paid attention to Reborn. "What's that?"

"It's sort of like your hyper-dying-will tablet."

"Let me guess, it's special." Tsunayoshi said dryly, his hands slipping around Tsuna's waist.

Tsuna tried to smack the hands away. Just one day. Just one day and his other self was already stuck to him like glue. "What does it do?" Then in a whispered hiss, "Let go, Tsunayoshi!"

The answer came like a childish whine, "But I don't wanna."

Reborn pretended not to notice what was going on in front of him, "It lasts much longer."

"How much longer?" Tsuna asked absentmindedly, his attention was now shifted to Tsunayoshi as he tried to pry his other off of him. "I said let go."

"But I like it here."

If the both of them weren't so amusing, Reborn would have kicked them both for daring to play in the middle of their conversation with him. "It lasts for 24 hours."

The childish bickering in front of Reborn stopped as Tsuna and Tsunayoshi stared at him in surprise.

"You want me to promise you what?" Tsuna repeated his other's question in disbelief.

It was already nightfall and Tsuna was resting in his room and on the comfort of his bed after this long tiring day of questions and answers… and his other self.

"Promise me that you'll call me back. The day after tomorrow and subsequently." Tsunayoshi said again.

"Why?" Tsuna reached for the towel around his neck and brought it up to his head to dry his hair. He had just taken a bath and came out when Tsunayoshi suddenly asked him for this promise.

"You don't want to see me again?" Tsunayoshi feigned hurt. Although on the inside he was silently hoping this was not the case. He did not think he could last if Tsuna really disliked him.

"That's not it." Tsuna replied honestly, his voice muffled by his towel. "I just want to understand you."

The darker side gazed at his light thoughtfully, he liked Tsuna's reply.

With a sigh, Tsunayoshi walked over to the windowsill and leaned against it. "I guess… it's because I like being in the real world." Tsuna's eyes followed him. The towel was now resting in a bundle in his arms as he quietly waited for his darker half to continue. "Where I lived, which is in your head and body, it was always dark and cold. Despite having my dying will flame always lit. It was kind of lonely at times as well, now that I think about it." Tsunayoshi pondered.

"Tsunayoshi…" Tsuna muttered, feeling sorry for his other half.

"It's nice being out here with people. Seeing things without having to look through your eyes." He admitted. There was this very tiny glint in his eyes that was unreadable to Tsuna. "Maybe that's why I'm so socially inept." He said jokingly.

Although Tsunayoshi was telling this to Tsuna was because he was using whatever options (in this case, Tsuna's sensitive and kind side) he had to make sure that he could return back to Tsuna's side. But with that said, it was not like what he said was a lie anyway. It was the truth. Tsunayoshi would not have liked to admit this to anyone, but he trusted his light. He trusted Tsuna with everything.

Tsuna couldn't help but smile a little. At least now he got to understand his other self a little bit better. He wouldn't admit it to Tsunayoshi but Tsuna had planned to bring his other self back anyway. Tsuna kind of liked his company. It was refreshing. And well, the both of them could relate in some strange ways despite the difference in their personalities.

"Alright, I promise." Tsuna said, without realizing the major decision he had made by agreeing to this.

"Really?" In a flash, Tsunayoshi was back to Tsuna's side. If he had animal ears, they would have perked up in delight but he didn't so instead his eyes brightened and if possible his spiky hair bounced upwards.

Big brown eyes blinked at the rather adorable display in front of him before Tsuna nodded once in reply to Tsunayoshi's question and grinned. He opened his mouth before he could even think and said, "You're so cute!"

Then it was silent. Tsuna tilted his head at the completely baffled look on his other's face.

"Cute?" Tsunayoshi repeated, his expression changing in horror and mortification.

Tsuna blinked again before his lips twitched and started laughing. This was the first time he had seen such an expression on his other's face. It was hilarious. "Y-Yep!" He said between soft giggles, "Your expression just now! It was so cute!"

Tsunayoshi scowled although there was a hint of a smile tilting at the corner of his lips. He liked seeing Tsuna like this. His expression was unguarded and his defenses were down. However, he was not going to let Tsuna get away with calling him 'cute' damn it! Tsuna was the cute one! Tsuna was the adorable one, not him!

With that, Tsunayoshi growled playfully and jumped onto Tsuna who squeaked before bursting out into more laughter as Tsunayoshi poked and tickled his sides mercilessly. The towel he was holding was left forgotten as it dropped onto the floor.

"G-Gaaah! Sto- Haha- Stop! Tsuna- Yoshi!" Tsuna tried to breathe out through his laughing.

Tsunayoshi just grinned and doubled his efforts until his light was lying on the bed, trying unsuccessfully to swat his hands away. Tsunayoshi shifted his weight, unconsciously moving one leg onto the bed so that it would be easier to tickle Tsuna. "Say that you didn't mean what you said just now."

"B-But ha- I did mean it!" Tsuna breathed in deeply, trying to get the air circulated throughout his body before he continued laughing. "M-Mou, Tsu- Nayoshi! S-Stop!"

Then Tsunayoshi stopped and made a face, moving his hands so that they were supporting his weight to prevent him from falling onto the boy below him. "I'm not cute, I'm handsome." Tsunayoshi said, almost offended.

Tsuna looked at him for a few short seconds before he gave his other a huge smile, with teeth. It looked like he was going to laugh again.

Tsunayoshi playfully glared at Tsuna but his grinning gave his actual emotions away. He was about to retaliate to that smile on Tsuna's face when he realized his position. He was above Tsuna who was lying down on his bed. His hands were placed just above Tsuna's shoulder while one of his legs was between Tsuna's lower thighs. He then focused his attention on Tsuna's face. His light was still trying to suck in his breath from all that laughing, his cheeks were tinted red and his eyes were bright. His light was really just so…

The next thing Tsunayoshi said came as a shock to Tsuna. "I like you." Tsunayoshi confessed earnestly. It was too early for him to say 'I love you' because and only because he knew that saying that, he would really freak his light self out. But he really needed to let his little light know how he felt, even a small portion of it.

Tsuna's smile dropped and he stared at his other with wide incredulous eyes. "W-What?"

Tsunayoshi sighed and propped himself upright before he sat at the foot of the bed. "I like you." He repeated, "You're my light. I really can't survive without you."

"Oh." Tsuna visibly drooped as he got up from his lying down position. For a second he thought that his other side had meant as in real 'like' in romantic sense. 'As if anyone can like someone like me in that way. I'm just dame Tsuna after—'

A hand cupping his chin gently broke Tsuna out of his thoughts. Tsunayoshi had leaned forward so much so that he was almost nose-to-nose with Tsuna. "You're not listening." Tsunayoshi said kindly, his tone made Tsuna stare at him in amazement. "I don't mean it in a friendly manner. I really like you, Tsuna."

And it took a while for the words to sink into Tsuna's brain and process before he turned a startling shade of red. "W-Wh-What?" He whispered, as if afraid that a loud noise would break this… this spell cast over him or something.

Tsunayoshi smiled. "I'll see you in a day's time. Until then, my light." Tsunayoshi let go of Tsuna's chin and brought his hand up to lift Tsuna's brown bangs before pressing a soft kiss to Tsuna's forehead.

Then he disappeared in a 'poof' of smoke.

It took a while for Tsuna to regain his ability to think and breathe. All he knew was that his heart was beating a little too wildly in his chest.

Reborn left his spying corner with a smug smile on his face as he tossed his camera in the air. He had not planned to spy on his student and his dark half. He only happened to pass by wondering why Tsuna was laughing so much when he chanced upon the most… amusing scene.

Hm, such pictures would be useful in the near future.

To be continued

One day over! YAY! (Shit! Only one day has passed since I started the story?) Next chapter would be Tsuna in school! What are the guardians planning? What the hell was Reborn talking about? All this will be answered… in chapters to come. XD

I wanted to say a big thank you to all those who reviewed and PMed me and encouraged me to continue writing, it was really thanks to you guys I got off my lazy ass and did this. :) So thank you!