Chapter 6

WARNING(S): OCC's, depressing!thoughts, suicidal!tendencies, fem!tsuna, adult!reborn, parallel!world

NOTES: Thinking "Japanese" "Phone call"

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn. Amano Akira does.

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"We've gotten a clue where she is held."

It was odd for the hitman to be feeling so many emotions at once. He was a hitman and he didn't need a use of emotions. They only hinder your work. Same concept with relationships. He never got attached to anyone.

Apparently, Sawada Tsunayoshi was an exception to the rule.

Ever since she broke the Arcobaleno curse, he's begun to notice her more as a woman than that of a girl. How she disregarded the fact that she could have died in the Representative Battle. How she went against the Vindice to get our curse broken. He was pretty mad at her and gave her one hell of a training later but when they had been alone together, he had disregarded his usual character.

He had actually picked her up and spun her for a moment and had laughed. He watched how Tsuna had laughed happily and when he had put her down, and stared into her eyes at that moment, he knew something had changed in their relationship.

It was after seeing suitors coming for marriage proposals that caused him to understand what this growing feeling was: he was in love with her. He was jealous whenever anyone got close to Tsuna those intentions. He wanted the brunette for himself.

It was also the first time that the hitman was hesitant. He was hesitant that if he confessed and she didn't like him in the same way, it would destroy their already built relationship. For the first time, the greatest hitman in the world was wavering in his decision.

He was continuously contemplating whether or not he should confess or not when Tsuna decided to send him on a long term mission. He had noticed a few changes in the brunette and wanted to ask what was wrong but the look in her eyes refrained him from doing so.

Even though he wanted to refuse the mission, Tsuna had flashed the combination of her kicked puppy look that had tears glistening around her eyes and the infamous pout. It made him cringe at how easily he had been defeated.

It had been a mistake. He shouldn't have accepted the mission at all. He should have pressed in the matter deeper. He shouldn't have left Tsuna alone with no-one with her to comfort her. He shouldn't have left Tsuna alone when she had started to lose hope. He should have stayed.

When he had heard the news that Vongola was attacked, he had rushed back home. Even though, he knew he wouldn't be able to make it on time.

He was quite shocked to have noticed that he was back in the past with no curse at all. Even more shocked when Nana and Iemitsu told him that they had no children. The feeling of dread had started pooling and he wanted to kill anyone in his way.

Imagine his shock when he reached the household. Though, there was confirmation given that Tsuna was alive, it didn't mean that she was in the best condition either. The hitman hated it. Hated not knowing. Hated not being unable to help.. hated for being useless.

"Where are you Tsuna?"

Reborn was horrified. He had just received another one of the 'bonding' times of Saiko and Tsuna, and to say he was shocked was an understatement. This wasn't one of the normal physical abuse sessions but was of sexual abuse.

Reborn felt sick as he could do nothing but listen to the recording. He didn't bother telling anyone else about the new recording as he just listened to the heart wrenching screams of the brunette . The recording this time was sent to him at midnight and the hitman couldn't even sleep properly for the past few days as he continuously listened to the recording. Even though, it fueled his jealousy and anger, it made him realize that Tsuna was still alive and could be saved.

Putting his headphones on, he put the recording on replay. He tried to listen to the sounds other than the obvious ones to find a clue of where the brunette could be held.

After listening to the recording for a couple of times, he couldn't find anything and was about to give up before giving it another chance. This time he focused solely on the sounds of the chains banging. He started humming whenever the chains made a sound before his eyes widened in surprise.

Leaving the house alone in haste, he replayed the recording once more as he focused only on the rhythm of the chains.

Help... Hurry...

Reborn's eyes were still wide as he finally understood how he could figure out where she is kept. The brunette was sending him the messages by using the secret language their group had made in times of need. The only difference this time was that she was using the chains to create the message. 'Damn it, why didn't I notice this before!'

Deep... Namimori... Forest... Behind... Waterfall... Locked... Door... with... chains...

Reborn's eyes shone in determination as he ran towards the implied location. His only hope now was to get the brunette out of there quickly while she is still sane.

Reaching the Namimori Forest, Reborn looked around before heading deeper inside the forest. He knew this place by heart. It was where he had trained the brunette in their world. Snapping out of his reverie, he went in deeper until he reached the waterfall.

He scanned the surroundings before heading towards the one path that led him behind it. However, just before he could reach a path, he felt himself being surrounded.

Cocking his leon gun, he stood on guard and waited for the enemy to make the first move. For a few moments, one could only hear the nature's voice before the people, no zombies, attacked him.

He shot a Chaos Shot but noticed it didn't work as they came back together again. However, it gave him enough time to run further to the entrance as it took them time to regenerate. 'We'll have to find a weakness for these zombies.'

It was then realization hit him, there was no anti-flame barrier around the forest but he could feel his flames becoming erratic as he went closer to the entrance. The barrier wasn't strong like it was in the house but it would render the lower mafioso useless. Probably, only the ex-Arcobaleno and his student that seems to have an endless reserves for flames be able to use it here. 'If Tsuna could have used her flames then she would have escaped already. That means that she's been held down with more than one flame resistant material.'

Grr.

Reborn took a moment to actually stop and look at the incoming group of dead people. He recognized some people and he didn't like it at all. From what he remembers, some of them were Tsuna's bullies in their world.

Raising his gun up, he shot, "Mayhem." (A/N: I don't know if this is one of his shots or not. But oh well, I read this somewhere. Don't remember where.)

Bursts of Sun flames came out and hit the target. Taking advantage of their slow regeneration, Reborn ran inside the mansion hidden from view by the waterfall, in hopes to find his dame-student. On his way, many zombies came but even though, he couldn't kill them immediately, he managed to outrun them with only a few grazes.

Looking around as he ran further inside, he found himself cringing at the... decorations. This was something completely out of a sane person's mind. He could also feel his flames become more erratic as he went deeper and deeper in the mansion.

He didn't know how long he was in the mansion or how far inside he was, but he followed where ever he could feel stronger flame resistant things lying around. 'It's to keep Tsuna from running away,' he thought in horror as he could feel far stronger anti-flames walls radiating from his left as he turned towards the direction.

'He might have drugged her as well,' he thought as he kept shooting at the annoying yet hideous zombies behind him. Now, he really needed to get her out of here. 'It looks like Saiko isn't here yet. Better hurry then.'

As he went deeper, he could see the number of zombies decreasing until one point, they stopped. 'It's like they aren't allowed to come here... Maybe, Tsuna is kept here.'

He skidded to a halt as he came in front of a door, completely chained together as though there was something inside. 'I hope this is the room...' he thought as he opened the door forcefully. When he saw that the mist flames weren't working, he used his wild flames instead. It worked after a few tries that left the hitman panting.

Shoving his tired state away, he pushed open the door. What he saw inside left his blood run cold. Tsuna was there, yes but she looked dead. If it wasn't for the steady rise of her chest, he would have thought he was too late. She was chained to the chair and her clothes were ripped in areas.

"Ts-Tsuna...?" he asked quietly as he hesitantly went towards the chained brunet. He touched her cheeks softly before calling out again, "Tsuna?"

The closed eyes of his student opened slowly as she took time to process who was in front of her. It wasn't Saiko otherwise she wouldn't be feeling safe. No, instead she would be squirming under his heated gaze.

Blinking her drowsiness away, she opened her eyes. She could make out a tall person wearing a very familiar fedora with onyx eyes standing in front of her, looking very concerned.

"R-R-Reborn?" she asked, almost hesitant as though he was just an illusion. She leaned into the warm touch the hitman provided. It was the human warmth that she missed for the past 2 weeks. She still couldn't see properly but she could make out the hitman looking at her concerned. "I-Is that r-really you, R-Reborn?"

The only answer she got was a hug, a very warm hug. "I'm going to triple your training when we get back, Dame-Tsuna," she laughed at the very-Reborn like thing to say. She could feel the heat radiating off of the hitman but she still wasn't sure if Reborn was really in front of her. The drug that Saiko had put in her a few hours ago still hadn't bled out of the system. Feeling tears gathering on the corner of hey eyes, she asked, "I-Is it really y-you, Reborn? P-Please tell m-me.."

Reborn felt tears stain his suit but he didn't say anything. His student needed him right now and he had no choice. "Shush Tsuna, it's fine. I'm here and I'm real," he said soothingly to her. Looking at the restrained brunet who was obviously trying to break free of the restraint, let her go.

He tried removing the restraints normally when they didn't work, he looked up to the brunet and said, "This might hurt a little." The brunette still seemed to be out of it but nonetheless prepared herself. After a moment or two, she could feel the heat of Sun Flames trying to melt the chains. Once she felt all her restraints broken free, she lunged at the hitman with whatever little strength she had left. Snuggling closer to the hitman, she buried her face in the crook of the hitman's neck.

Reborn was shocked at his student's strange behavior before reminding himself that she's been locked for 2 weeks without human company other than Saiko. Now, he could clearly see the lacerations everywhere on the brunette and he couldn't help himself but cringe. He also noted the poorly done bandages wrapping her left arm and made a mental note to give Saiko a slow, painful death.

"I-I-m sorry, but.. I can't walk.." he heard the brunette mumble. He shivered when he felt the brunette's breath on his neck but he didn't push her away. He liked it but he also hated how vulnerable the brunette seemed.

Picking the brunette up bridal style, he started heading out towards the exit. He reached the point where the zombies had left him alone and he cursed them when he saw them lingering around.

He looked to the weak brunette, "Can you use your flames?"

The brunette shook her head before explaining, "I've had an injection everyday to suppress my flames from being called upon. Everything here is made from anti-flames materials. Even my clothes." She mumbled as she gripped the hitman tighter, afraid to let go.

"That explains why you haven't been able to escape," the hitman mumbled loudly for the brunette to hear before shooting a bunch of shots and running through the zombies. He could feel the brunette trying to call upon her flames, "Don't force yourself to call your flames."

"But.."

"You're too weak right now. Malnourished as well. So no."

"Gomen," Tsuna said softly before pressing herself against the hitman more. Reborn couldn't help but hold the brunette tighter at this. It was as though she was completely afraid to let go.

Reborn turned around the corner and could see the entrance close before mist flames stopped him. Turning around, he saw Saiko standing there with a furious expression. "Oh my, it seems that you were able to find Tsuna-chan~"

He could feel the brunette shivering as she increased the hold she had on the hitman. Saiko noticing this felt jealousy spark. "Demo ne, you have to defeat me too~"

Just then, he lunged at the hitman, tackling the hitman to the ground and Tsuna being dropped with a yelp. Reborn threw Saiko off before heading towards the fallen brunette who was struggling to stand up.

Before he could even reach though, mist flames snapped him away. "Ugh, you use your flames differently," Reborn said, as he stood from the ground.

Saiko smirked, "It would be fun to destroy your mind by trapping you completely with my mist flames but," he said while he grabbed Tsuna from the hair, "it won't be fun. You all still have another week left until the deadline~"

"It's still 2 weeks, Saiko," the hitman hissed as he saw him throw the brunette to the side, forcefully.

"I know but you'll be calling for reinforcements and I'm not going to change the location of my hideout. It's so far the best," Saiko said as he kicked the brunette, eliciting a cry from her. It seemed to please Saiko a lot but it just caused the hitman to grit his teeth in frustration.

Without thinking, the hitman fired a shot at the mad teen before kicking him away. He went to the fallen brunette and tried to pick her up. But before he could do pick her up completely, he saw Saiko grab Tsuna by her leg using mist chains. He started pulling her towards him but the hitman couldn't let that happen. However, just as he was about to fire another shot, he felt the brunette pull himself closer to her.

He could feel the lips of his student on his mouth and that seemed to shock both Reborn and Saiko. It wasn't a deep kiss or anything, just a chaste one. "I love you, Reborn... Please hurry..."

Both Saiko and Reborn were shocked but before anyone could do anything, the brunette pushed the hitman away. Reborn seemed stunned at this as he felt himself falling off the cliff. He could see the furious expression that came from the mad teen and he could hear a bloodcurdling scream from the brunette.

Splash.

He gasped for breath as he broke through the surface of the waterfall. This time, he could feel the mist flames forming a strong barrier and he knew that now he needed help. He swam out of the water and pulled himself on the ground. Saiko hadn't send any zombies after him, possibly intent on letting the brunette have another 'punishment.'

He was still surprised at what the brunette had done and there was a feeling of longing growing. He was waiting for the brunette now. He needed her back otherwise he will go insane.

Before he knew it though, he felt his eyes close and fell asleep. His insomnia from the past few days finally catching up to him.

2 hours later~

The hitman woke up from a start and he immediately looked around. Noticing that he was still in the forest but no longer near the waterfall, he let a string of curses. He had been moved and now he could feel the mist flames stopping him from going further. Looking around, he saw he was at the cliff that he used to train the brunette. 'So, he moved me but didn't harm me?' Looking down at his lap, he saw a note left there.

Let's finish this, once and for all, Mr. Reborn. Attack me whenever but this time you will not succeed in getting my Tsuna-chan back. I'll make you suffer , Mr. Reborn

"Damn it!" he said as he pounded his fist on the ground, recalling what had happened. "So close! So close!"

He pushed his almost dry locks behind as he ran a hand through his hair. Closing his eyes for a while, he willed Leon to become a phone. Without wasting another time, he dialed Aria's number.

"Hello?"

"I've found where she is held."

"Really?!"

"Come to Namimori Forest."

"We'll be right there!"

He snapped the phone shut as he gazed at the waterfall. "We'll get you out of there, Tsuna. We will definitely."

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Author's Note: Heyo! How is this fanfic going? Do you guys like this? Thank you all for reviewing and liking this fanfic. The end is finally coming close!

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