Thank you for the reviews. :)
Now, the chapter showing what Catharina did to Hayato.
Chapter 10: Lost
Gokudera arrived at Tashigi Street at 8 o'clock and found nobody. The guardian of the Storm couldn't understand what was happening. What about the surprise attack? Why isn't anyone here?
It didn't take too long for him to realize that there was only one wooden mansion at the street, which made him feel chills. Could this be…?
Trembling, Hayato opened the door and entered the place. For his shock, it wasn't the first time he had been there.
Gokudera began to hyperventilate as he remembered that horrible nightmare.
"This is that place… where I saw Juudaime… the blood coming out of his wounds… his small, trembling and cold hand…"
The guardian of the Storm fell to his knees, embracing himself. It was as if he was experiencing the nightmare again. He closed his eyes and that image invaded his mind.
Juudaime... bleeding on the floor... so many deep wounds from which blood flowed... his face with no color... eyes half-opened...
He could even hear that voice again.
"You're okay... Gokudera-kun... that's good..."
Gokudera fainted. When he woke up, he was sitting at the kitchen's floor, leaning against a wall next to the place's entrance, with his hands handcuffed above his head. The handcuffs were connected to a chain that came from the ceiling. Gokudera felt very weak, as if his energy was being drained somehow. In his front, he could see a large table with chains and handcuffs; there should be a broken faucet in the kitchen, since the guardian could hear the sound of water dripping.
"What happened to me?" Gokudera asked himself. From the entrance, Catharina walked into the kitchen. She kneeled in front of Gokudera, so their eyes met.
"It was time for you to wake up, Storm." The girl said happily.
"Damn you!" Hayato roared. "What have you done to me? What's going on here? Where are Juudaime and the others?"
"You fainted after remembering that sweet dream I had made for you. It seems my brother changed his mind and there won't be an attack today."
Gokudera sighed in relief after hearing that. Juudaime is not coming to this dangerous place. I'm so glad.
"I think you might be misunderstanding something." Catharina said with a malicious grin. "Sawada Tsunayoshi is coming here. In fact, he's coming alone."
Hayato's face went deadly pale.
Why would he…? Realization hit the guardian of the Storm as he heard someone invading the mansion and running to the kitchen. It didn't take long for him to see his beloved boss entering the kitchen desperately, panting and sweating.
"Gokudera-kun!" Tsuna called out. He turned to his right-hand man and faced him worriedly. "You're not hurt, right? She hasn't done anything bad to you, right?"
"You came pretty fast, Great Sky." Catharina commented, standing up.
"I did as you demanded, I'm here. Now free Gokudera-kun!"
"Juudaime…" Gokudera was feeling horribly guilty. He came because of me. He's putting himself in danger because of me.
"First, put on these handcuffs, Vongola Decimo." Catharina ordered, giving the Tenth a pair of handcuffs that were on the table. "They were made to seal the dying will flame. If you don't obey me…" The girl took a tiny remote control from the pocket of her blue dress, "I'll make a lethal poison kill your right-hand man in seconds."
Tsuna's eyes went wide in fear, which Gokudera noticed. He can't be considering it… please, don't you even think about it…
"How can I know you're really going to free Gokudera-kun?" The Tenth managed to ask.
"I have no interest in him at all, Great Sky. The handcuffs are already programmed to let him go after a while. I swear on my life that he's not going to get hurt. You know I'm telling you the truth, don't you?"
For Gokudera's despair, he saw his boss taking the handcuffs from Catharina's hand.
"JUUDAIME, DON'T DO THAT! IF YOU PUT THEM ON, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO FIGHT!"
"If I don't put them on, you'll die." Tsuna replied, without looking at Hayato.
"B-but what about you? Y-you'll be defenseless! SHE MIGHT KILL YOU, JUUDAIME!" Gokudera cried out. "Please, don't do it. Leave me behind and run away. Please, Juudaime, run from here!"
"You don't have the right to tell me this, Gokudera-kun." Tsuna said, putting the handcuffs on. "You're the one who came here without telling anyone in the first place."
"I THOUGHT YOU WERE HERE, I THOUGHT YOU WERE IN DANGER!" Gokudera replied among tears. Tsuna, already handcuffed, turned to him and forced a smile.
"I'm not mad at you."
Those words just hurt Gokudera more. He tried to break free, but it was futile. Meanwhile, Catharina ordered Tsuna to lie down on the table. He did so and she chained his body.
What do I do? I must take Juudaime out of here, but how? How can I break free of this thing? If I could use the dying will flame, if I could use Cambio Forma… what do I do? Think! Think!
"What do you want from me?" Tsuna questioned, trying to hide his fear. Catharina stroked his face and smiled widely after she picked a big knife from the washbasin.
"Please, don't…" Gokudera was now begging to her. "I'll do anything you want. I'll do everything. You can hurt me, you can kill me, but please don't do it!"
"What I want from you, Great Sky…" Catharina was holding the knife above Tsuna's chest, while Gokudera was trying to get free desperately.
"DON'T DO IT! LEAVE JUUDAIME ALONE! I BEG YOU, DON'T DO THIS TO HIM!"
"… is your heart."
After several cries and struggles, it was all over. Catharina covered the Tenth with a white sheet that turned red in a few minutes. She freed the Sky from the chains and left the kitchen. Gokudera was left alone with Tsuna.
There were no longer tears for him to drop.
His throat couldn't sustain more yells.
His wrists were sore because of his struggle.
And soon, he was released from the handcuffs automatically.
He was shaking as he stood up; he approached the table slowly. When the red soaked sheet that covered his boss was at his reach, the Storm hesitated in removing it.
That fear was horrifying.
He uncovered his boss's face and new tears managed to form in his eyes. By seeing that beautiful face so pale, Hayato lost the balance and almost fell. Despite the paleness and the blood-soaked sheet, Tsuna almost seemed to be sleeping peacefully.
Gokudera caressed his Juudaime's face and ran his fingers through the other's brown hair.
"Judaime, I'm here now. We can go home. I'm sorry to disturb you while you're sleeping."
His entire body was trembling.
"Reborn-san might get mad at you for being so reckless, but I won't let him punch or kick you. I won't let anyone be mean to you. Later we could all go out; you would like that, wouldn't you? I wouldn't mind if you wanted to invite the baseball fanatic, lawn-head or even the stupid cow. I promise I wouldn't argue with them. Doesn't it sound fun to you, Juudaime? You just need to wake up… when you wake up… I'll make you so happy…"
Tsuna's lifeless face made Hayato's heart ache terribly.
"Open your eyes, Juudaime. Say once again 'it's okay, Gokudera-kun.' Smile for me one more time, please."
He couldn't deceive himself anymore. He knew that he had lost his precious Sky. He lifted Tsuna's cold body and hugged him. He kept hugging his boss even after he fell to the floor and began to cry out again. His world, his heart, his soul… everything was destroyed.