A/N: Writer block X5... and i'm sorry if the Gio's wound part feels weird... the more I searched it up the more I don't seem to get it on the scientific side:x Lemme know how you think?

Tempesta del Cielo: Glad you like it:D

Claudine: Haha Clau-chan, I won't be killing anyone off:3 at least not now.

Disclaimer: I don't own Reborn.

"Speaking in Italian."

"Speaking in Japanese."

Thoughts.

Chapter 10: Backup

G kneeled beside his fallen friend, supporting him with one arm on his back the other pushing his right elbow. Giotto shifted, lips curled into a tight frown, his right hand clutched tighter onto his left shoulder as he leaned against the wall. G's eye brows creased when he saw the trickles of blood leaking out from in between the gaps of Giotto's hand and his lips.

"Lemme see," He hushed as he tried to move the blonde's hand away.

"I'm okay."

G was about to raise his voice but Giotto removed his hand anyway. He wiped the blood at his lips before placing his hand on the floor, supporting him up to ease the pain.

Cozart kneeled one leg on Giotto's side, looking at him worriedly. The insides of Cozart turned when the blonde smiled at him, afraid that blood will explode anytime soon from those pale lips.

Cozart switched his attention to G. G pulled the upper unbuttoned side away, revealing the wound. It was about one third a finger length away from the collarbone. He frowned, turning to see G as confused as him. The bullet was shallow, a lot too shallow for a gunshot to be about three and a half feet away. He was expecting the bullet to plunge deep into the lung or even puncture it thoroughly. But he could see the bullet staring back at him.

"See? Told…" Giotto coughed, noting the vague lingering taste of copper as he saw Franco and his grandson running over, "I'm fine."

"So not only do you have hyper intuition, you have the devil's luck as well?" G grumbled while tearing his left sleeve off. To think that I would let him get shot when I'm around. If it wasn't for that the bullet or gun or luck or whatever it is… he would… Darn it!

"G-G-Giotto…" Franco's grandson whimpered as big fat tears flowed down his eyes. He stood beside G, gripping onto the edge of his own shirt.

"Ciro," The old man kneeled down and wiped the small boy's tears away, not daring to assure the kid nor look into Giotto's or anyone's eyes.

"It's okay. I'm fine, it just… hurts." He smiled as sweat came trickling down.

Cozart continued, "The bullet didn't go deep, not a lot of blood is lost. He will be fine."

Giotto couldn't help but feel depressed when he saw the two faces lightened up after accepting Cozart's explanation. True he was not injured badly. He thinks his lungs are left untouched, intuition telling him so. But the impact did graze his lungs. His breathing was getting better and he thinks the worst is over… internal injury that is. However the reason why the bullet didn't go deep was probably the boy.

He felt arms around him. No, for a fraction of a second he saw flames, in a rough shape of an arm appearing in front of him. The next thing he knew, a scorching hot pain hit him. He felt a force banging into him the next instant, making him fall, and it was gone.

He never knew the flames could be used this way, to stop a bullet by dissipating the energy. The boy was amazing. The wound still hurt, but he couldn't feel the heat anymore. Just like the boy. He had been waiting all these while for the boy to flare into life again… but…

I hope you're still here…

Cozart took over the position, pressing onto the wounds as G wrapped the blonde's arm over his neck, pulling him up.

"Going somewhere?"

Mario smirked and crossed his arms. The group of men gathered at the exit cracked their knuckles, joined by those men on the floor.

Cozart narrowed his eyes, looking at the direction of the wound.

"It's okay," the blonde loosened his arm around G's neck.

"It's not okay." "No it's not."

Giotto sighed.

Cozart slid his hand down slowly, allowing G to readjust his supporting hand before holding onto the fabric.

"You're going nowhere," with another short command, the remaining Confezione charged.

Cozart ran forward, then ducked, swiping his feet against the few surprised men. They fell, pulling some down with them. Others fell victim to the flying knuckles (and slaps). Another few rushed towards him. He dodged the punch and tripped the man, one hand pushing the man who had his arms out circling comically back and into the other few. All of a sudden, arms came flying from his back, holding onto him. He tried to pry open to no avail. Again he tried in vain to knock his capturer in the chin.

Panic started bubbling in him. A group of four have ran passed him.

Quick quick. He struggled violently as he prayed, waiting for another assaulter while he kept an eye on the four. Good. He jumped, kicking the incoming man with both his legs and headbutted the man on his back. As they fell, the man's hands flew to his face. Bad idea. Cozart drove his elbow hardly onto the man's chest. The man huffed in pain. Cozart turned swiftly and rushed over to his friends.

He got there just in time to see the back of Giotto's hand smacking into the temple of one of them. One was lying on the ground near Franco. Last two engaged with G. Cozart clenched his teeth and sped up when he saw Ciro gripping onto the pants of the blonde, whom was clutching onto his left arm.

Cozart went to the blonde's side, He carefully shifting Giotto's weight over. Franco joined him, at Ciro's side. G stood in front of them all as Mario and his men moved towards them. Either Giotto was not leaning on to him much for support or he was really light. Distressed, he looked at Giotto's face for indications of his current condition. Giotto smiled brightly at him.

Wha— How can you smile like that in this condition? Then again… Giotto did seemed to be at a healthier shade. He always had that…thing about him.

He didn't know how to describe it, but Cozart felt a part in him lightened. Vigilante eh? You would be a good leader.

"Surely, you don't think this is the end?"

Cozart felt Giotto tensing up. It didn't take long for him to notice the faint sound of footsteps. As it became clearer, Mario's smile spread wider. Without turning to see his backup, he laughed.

"Let's see, there is about... 10 of us here? I'd love to see you try defending yourselves another—"

Mario heard a thud then a cry from his back. A few more thuds and a body fell at his leg. Noticing something was wrong, he turned and almost shrieked. Something white had flew past him. And at the pile of his defeated man stood a single man. Mario shuddered at those cold ice blue eyes, cursing his life. There was no mistake in who this man was. Platinum blonde hair. Wearing his well-known trench coat. A white dress shirt and a black tie.

A-A-A-ALAUDE!

No no no, there's nothing to worry about. Even THAT Alaude will have problems against the arriving two hundred people!

Mario turned at the new voice behind him.

"Giotto! You're hurt!? How's your wounds?"

The blonde couldn't contain his surprise, "Asari? I'm okay. Why are you here?"

"Told you Ugetsu is fine. Haha some business matters with Lambo's father. That aside… your wound…."

"It isn't as bad as it looks. Don't worry. What happened? Are you hurt?" Giotto looked at the small red stains on his white robe.

Asari smiled. He explained the blood wasn't his as he pulled at his robe. Mario who had seen his actions had a very bad feeling. He didn't know what they were saying but he could guess. But it can't be! These two people don't look like they just fought! Their hair is perfectly neat! Especially that weird man with that long hat! Their clothes don't even look crumpled!

"H-hmph! I've got men heading here! I-I bet you only defeated some of them. SOME!" He sounded like he was trying to convince himself. "Two-two hundred!"

"They are lying outside," Asari offered. The man paled.

Alaude brought his right foot and swung his leg at Mario's cheek, sending him flying into the wall. The man groaned as he pushed himself up. Wobbling, he winced as he rubbed his back with an arm, touching the side of his face with another.

The last resort!

He looked at them, smiling crookedly as he wiped the blood from his nose and walked past the side of Alaude. When Alaude turned, he rubbed the blood in between his fingers, "You might not want to do that."

Mario looked at Franco and laughed.

"The old man's PRECIOUS granddaughter is still with us. Elda? Or was is Alda? If—"

This time Alaude did a Full Roundhouse Kick on the man, making sure he kicked him hard enough so that the man hits the wall hard enough to break a few teeth. He looked at the man expressionless as bricks fell on him. But from Giotto's eyes, it seems as though Alaude was smirking.

"It's Ida. And she's currently under my protection."

G hid a snicker. Many do not know of his relation to secret intelligence. Apparently not only do those fools not do their research, they think that he is only a ridiculously strong man who appear time to time to kick their asses for no reasons in particular.

Alaude looked at Giotto's chest, then at Franco.

"I'll bring her to your place in a while."

"Th-Thank you so much!" The old man cried. Ciro bowed in gratitude as he shouted his thanks.

"Thanks Alaude."

He looked into Giotto's eyes for a moment and left the place without another word.

With one last look around the alley, Giotto left the alley with Asari supporting him, the rest sticking close. Cozart, Giotto and G was slightly surprised by what they saw. On the other side, Franco and his grandson had their mouths wide open. They thought the figure two hundred was meant to be just an exaggeration. But with the number and height of human piles on the floor, at and in the walls… and everywhere… The trio sighed at the sight of the damaged stores.

"Sorry… we went a…" Asari paused to recall the word, "a little rough".

A LITTLE?!

The old man and his grandson wondered if they were monsters.