Again, I've made you all wait so long. ;_;...

I'm so very sorry and I love all of you guys for supporting & reviewing this story ;_;333!

You're the only motivation to keep me writing 8D!

Chapter 9

When Tsuna had finally calmed down, Giotto carried him back to the hideout, much to the brunette's embarrassment. However, he couldn't deny the fact that he enjoyed the warmth of Giotto's arms. It was calming and lulled the pain of his burning wounds.

Giotto didn't question Tsuna anymore about why he left the hideout. He knew the teen wanted to keep it a secret and his instinct told him that he didn't want to know. Nevertheless, he was still unwillingly curious.

And now the duo sat on the edge of Tsuna's bed, or at least, the teen did. Giotto was kneeling in front of him, cleaning the wounds on his leg with the assistance of a first-aid kit. As the man dabbed at a scratch near his knee, Tsuna winced in pain, gritting his teeth. He blinked furiously at the tears forming in the corners of his eyes.

`Sorry...` Giotto murmured. `I have to get these wounds treated so you don't get an infection. Just bear with me and it'll be over soon.`

Tsuna nodded, cringing again from another stab of pain. It's not like he was in the position to argue anyway. He tried to distract himself by staring at his red, almost purple, swollen ankle, which of course, wasn't the greatest idea. Just staring at the hideous wound made the pain even worse. He looked away quickly, wincing, and focused his gaze on the fireplace. If it wasn't for Giotto kneeling by his legs, he would have focused his gaze downwards.

His thoughts drew back to the previous events and a light blush appeared on his cheeks as he remembered the tingles of joy from Giotto's arms.

In all honesty, it scared him, the happiness he felt when the blond had forgiven him and the feeling of warmth from the embrace. Tsuna was a guy, Giotto was a guy, so why was he this happy? Despite the fact that he was pretty much a loner, the teen knew that this obviously wasn't supposed to be normal...or was it? He narrowed his eyes, his mouth forming a pout, and he clenched his hands into fists.

`Something the matter?`

Tsuna jumped at the sound of Giotto's voice, bumping his wound on the cotton swab.

`OUCH-!`

The blond raised an eyebrow, smirking. `Dumbass.`

`S-shut up.` Blushing, Tsuna looked away, glaring at the flames in the fireplace. They flickered and hissed in response, reminding him he was glaring at the wrong target.

Giotto laughed once. It was soft, but Tsuna could definitely hear it. The brunette gaped at the other man, his blush growing more defined.

`D-did you just laugh?`

An eyebrow was raised. `Is it a crime for me to laugh?`

`N-no, I didn't mean it like that! I-I mean...N-nevermind!` Scowling, Tsuna looked away again, his cheeks fully red.

The blonde chuckled lightly as he began to pack up the first-aid kit. Lured by the melodic sound of the laughter, twittering butterflies invaded Tsuna's stomach, sending tingles up his spine. Though it didn't seem possible, his face grew even darker. He felt like slapping his cheeks to diminish the burning but knew that it obviously wouldn't work.

Stop being so happy, stop being so happy! You're both guys, this is wrong!

Giotto stood up, clicking the first-aid kit shut. `I'm gonna go make dinner. You can take it easy in here. Don't even try to move, not that you'll get far with those wounds anyways. I'll be back soon.`

Tsuna nodded sheepishly and watched the older one's back as he left. Now that I actually look at it, he has a really strong looking bac—WHAT THE HELL AM I THINKING? The brunette slapped his face with both hands as the door closed shut. He sighed, rubbing his burning cheek with a hand as he glared at the space where Giotto once was. I'm turning into even more of a freak...It's all that guy's fault.

`Argh!` Tsuna let himself fall backwards, wincing in pain when his back crashed into the bed. He raised his hand up and stared at the blue ring on his finger. Just what exactly was this ring and how did it hold so much power? According to Ugetsu, Giotto was also in possession of a ring too. Tsuna wondered what it looked like, if it was the same as Ugetsu's ring, or if it was different. Perhaps it was the same amber colour of the blond's eyes before?

The sickening song of Giotto's flames entered Tsuna's mind again, causing the brunette to shudder. Bringing his legs up, he curled up into fetal position and hugged himself. Eventually, his eyes slowly closed.


`Tsunayoshi?` Giotto opened the door after receiving no response to his knocking. He was greeted by a sleeping Tsuna. The brunette was shivering slightly, looking very uncomfortable. One eye twitched as Giotto stared at him for a minute before sighing exasperatedly.

`Hopeless...` He muttered as he set the dinner tray he had been carrying down on the nightstand. He carefully lifted Tsuna up and balanced him on one arm while pulling the blankets down. Giotto placed the sleeping teen gently onto the bed before pulling the blankets back up, ensuring that the brunette was completely engulfed in the blanket's coziness. His fingers smoothly brushed the bangs out of Tsuna's face, allowing the teen to sleep undisturbed.

Sighing again, Giotto fell into the armchair beside the bed, resting his chin on his hands. He stole a quick glance at the clock. The neon red letters read 9:27pm. For the next few hours, he kept his gaze on Tsuna, occasionally sneaking quick glances at the door as if an intruder would bust the door down any second now. Some time later, his eyes closed.


Giotto snapped his eyes open in alarm, sensing the presence of another being. After briefly confirming that Tsuna was safe, his eyes scanned the room in a panic and landed on an all too familiar blue-glowing ethereal person.

His eyes widened in shock. `Asari...?`

Ugetsu nodded, smiling. `Good morning, Giotto.`

He was sitting tall and straight on an armchair located the other side of the bed, his pose was never slouched. The blue flames were more visible and his body gained more transparency. Nevertheless, there was a congenial smile on his face.

`How's Tsuna?` He asked, glancing at the sleeping teen.

`Better...` Giotto responded slowly, stealing a quick peek at the clock. `He's been sleeping for half a day already.`

`Well, I wouldn't blame him with the wounds he received.` Ugetsu smiled sympathetically.

`Mm...` The blonde nodded. The other's smiled faltered and there was a silence. They both found comfort in staring at the peacefully sleeping Tsuna. A few minutes later, Ugetsu stood abruptly and faced Giotto with a serious gaze.

`I have to apologize, Giotto. I didn't look after him as well as I should have and it's my fault that he ventured out in the first place.` He knelt down, looking at the ground. `I'll accept any punishment you wish to give me.`

Giotto blinked in surprise. `Asari, what are you-`

`I know how much Tsuna means to you.` Ugetsu made eye contact with Giotto, staring into the blonde's eyes with a hard gaze. `You might not realize it yourself, but I can see it. When I became your guardian, I told myself that I wouldn't let anything precious to you be harmed, and now look what I've done.`

`Asari, you didn't-`

`I told him about G.`

Silence.

`How...much did you tell him...?` Giotto said each word slowly.

`I did not tell him any details about the betrayal. It's your decision to make for whether or not you want him to know. And should you want for him to know, you will be the one who tells him. I've only told him about your current situation with G, and that G is not the one at fault.`

Giotto's eyes narrowed.

`Giotto, listen to me, G wasn't a part of it. He has truly been loyal to you for the past 20 years and he remains loyal to this day. Even now, he patrols the perimeters, making sure that you and Tsuna are safe as possible because he promised you that he would that night.`

`Then explain to me why Tsunayoshi was badly injured and was nearly killed.` The blonde's voice was hard, distrusting.

`You and I both know that one man can't handle this entire grassland. He's doing a good job already, haven taken out at least 15 patrols in the past 2 days, and he barely gets any sleep, if any at all. He wants to prove his loyalty to you again. Can't you see, Giotto? Can't you see the vast amounts of faith and loyalty he has in you? Why can't you show him the same?` Desperate, Ugetsu was up on his feet again, one hand pointing towards the door as if G was there.

Giotto looked down at his fists, clenching his teeth.

`Open your eyes and face reality, Giotto! I know that you know that if you don't get G's help, yesterday's events will come back twenty times as hard and this time, you all will end up dead, including Tsuna.`

At the mention of the teen's name, Giotto's head snapped up in fury.

`Enough!` He spat furiously. He stole a quick glance at Tsuna, which did not go unnoticed by Ugetsu, before rushing out of the room in a frenzy.

Ugetsu watched him leave and sighed a few seconds after the door was closed, collapsing into the armchair, smiling wryly.

`You can stop pretending. I know you've been awake since the start.`

Tsuna reluctantly opened his eyes, but refused to look at Ugetsu. He only felt shame and guilt. The situation only got much worse and who's fault was that.

`Good morning.` Ugetsu grinned at him. He was his usual self again, as if the past ten minutes never happened.

`M-morning...` Tsuna kept his eyes on the bed, unable to make eye contact.

`And how are you feeling?`

`Better...I guess.` The teen shrugged, but regretted the movement the instant pain shot through his limbs. He sighed. `I'm such an idiot...`

`I most certainly disagree.`

`Why? I just made the whole situation worse. I never should have gone out.` Tsuna muttered bitterly.

`On the contrary, I'd say you just made everything better.`

There was a silence.

`What?` The brunette forced out.

`Believe it or not, you just made everything better. I discovered a way to reason with Giotto and so I carried it out. As of now, he is just in denial but I know he's not one to dwell for too long. I know he will go find G soon. Anyways, why don't you rest more? I know those wounds must bring you a lot of pain. The more you rest, the faster they will heal.`

Tsuna nodded hesitantly. He'd just have to trust Ugetsu and hope to God everything would turn out okay...


A few hours later, as Ugetsu predicted, Giotto stood at the small table with one hand on the door, contemplating on whether or not he should just turn back. Though he didn't want to believe it, he knew Ugetsu was right, and that their lives would be in less danger if he talked with G.

I swore I would protect Tsunayoshi even if it costs my life, so I have to do this. He took a deep breath before opening the door and running through.

Giotto swiftly ascended the staircase, taking two steps at a time. He wasn't in a hurry, he was simply agitated. If G really was part of the betrayal, he would be putting Tsunayoshi in far greater danger. Yet, if he didn't get G's help, he knew that sooner or later, the teen would be killed. So what choice did he have? As much as he despised it, this was a risk he had to take.

The blond was scowling as he pried open the panel and pulled on the lever. He quickly slipped on his gloves and kept and eye on the on the rising door, ready to attack. As soon as there was enough room, he ran out and opened another panel. After pressing in a few buttons, the door reversed its motion.

`Now then...` His eyes scanned the area, searching for signs of his target. Not even a second later, he blinked and sighed.

`I know you're there. You can come out now.` Giotto stood, patiently waiting.

A few seconds later, the stalks beside the blond rustled and G emerged within them, arms crossed with a stern expression. Despite being in a hazardous and flammable area, he was smoking, as usual.

`What are you doing so close to our hideout?` Giotto didn't even turn to face him, staring straight ahead as if he was talking to someone who wasn't there.

G narrowed his eyes, exhaling. `I was just wondering why you've decided to replace Asari.`

The blond blinked in surprise and turned to face the other with a disbelieving glare. `What are you saying? Why would I ever replace him.`

`Is that supposed to be a joke?` G scoffed. `Then explain why the ring's been active for a while.`

`You don't have the right to know.` Giotto knew it would make the red-head even more suspicious, but Tsuna's safety came first.

`Keh.` G snorted. `Would it have anything to do with that guy going in and out all the time?`

The blond paused. `What...guy...?`

G stared at him uncertainty. `You know...the one with the brown hair...`

As soon as he said it, they both felt the waves of danger from the Rain ring.

Giotto's face paled and he had the password entered in no time. He squeezed through a small opening, too impatient to wait for it to be wide enough.

`Giotto, wait!` G followed after him, pulling out his bow.

Of course, Giotto didn't listen. He went into Hyper Dying Will Mode and accelerated down the stairs. More flames were emitted from his gloves as he slammed through the opening, smashing the nightstand into pieces. Not even pausing to brush the debris off, he raced forward and slammed open the door of Tsuna's bedroom...

...only to find the brunette gone.


End of Chapter 9

Omg, Mukuro FINALLY showed up to save Chrome BD...Took him long enough. -shot-

Man, Mukuro & Demonspade laughing together is not the greatest thing. It sounds so creepy but it's so funny at the same time. LMAOO. So happy that Tsuna pwned Demon :3 3.

I'm bawling now that the Vongola Primo Arc ended. ;_;

Do want a test for Tsuna :C...

GIOTTO GET YO ASS BACK HERE AND GIVE TSUNA A TEST NOW BD.

...'mnotgonnalie.

Man, I wasn't even happy when Giotto was praising Tsuna cause I knew he was gonna leave and not come back for another 20 episodes, if not more ;_;...

COME BACK, YOU GOD-LIKE FIGURE!

Hi.