DISCLAIMER

I do not claim to have created or owned Katekyo Hitman Reborn and its characters.

Although, I wished I owned Yamamoto Takeshi. HOTNESS!

I do claim to have created my own characters and this fangirlfiction.

- Target 14 -

Savior

It was as if his world had been silenced and everything was moving agonizingly slow. Kyoko's lips trembled as she looked from him to her older brother. She looked at him with her golden pleading eyes, searching through the orange gems of his for support. But all Tsuna could do was look back with confusion and doubt. What on earth is she talking about? What the hell is she talking about?

Without even pausing for a second, the older girl took the questionable matter into her own hands. "What are you talking about, Haru being poisoned? What do you mean?" Bianchi urged the younger girl on.

"We… we were waiting for big brother and Tsuna-kun to come back, wh-when the door bell rang. We thought it was you guys, so we went down to open the door…"

"Why did you do that for!" Ryohei slapped his forehead recklessly. "I got my own keys! What if you opened the door to a killer?"

"B-But when we opened the door, no one was there!" Kyoko explained exasperatedly, in between sobs. "And then… and then, the window was open and there was a flower on the table and… and Haru suddenly went pale and collapsed!"

"Did the flower look something like this?" Bianchi asked, holding up the stem carefully for her to see.

"Yes!" Kyoko nodded, furiously.

"Definitely, the same person," Dino sighed.

"What do we do, Reborn?" Tsuna cried out loud, growing frantic by the second.

"Uhm, I'm sorry to interrupt, but, Dino, sir, you might want to look at something," Romario interrupted.

Dino looked at Reborn and he looked back.

"Since Ryohei and Yamamoto needs medical attention… Tsuna, Kyoko, and Gokudera, go get Dr. Shamal, he'll know what to do," Reborn instructed. "Bianchi and I will stay here."

"I'll send some of my men with you for assistance," Dino offered to Tsuna.

"Mmm," Tsuna nodded. "Let's go, Kyoko-chan, Gokudera-kun."

By the time Tsuna, Kyoko and Hayato disappeared from sight, the crowd that had gathered before was now sparse and the blaze is now under control.

"What is it that you wanted to show me, Romario?" Dino asked, as he walked to the makeshift medical tent propped underneath a thin tree.

"Well, you know we have been waiting for the moment to confirm her identity…" Romario trailed, as he raised the curtain for Dino, Reborn and Bianchi.

"And? Is it there?" Bianchi pressed anxiously.

Lia, still unconscious, was lying on the grass, half naked. Her shirt had been removed from her and her wound was wrapped with bandage.

"Well…" Romario said, removing the covering that covered her body.

A light gasp escaped from Bianchi's lips. Her big olive eyes fell on the huge red hideous lump of healed burnt skin tissues that lay on the girl's left shoulder.

o o o

The three of them split up with Dino's men, thinking it would be faster that way. They could hear was the patter of their feet as they raced through the dark and silent hallways. They could hear the sound of each other's breaths as their heart pumped faster.

The sweet whistle of a bird and a thud came from behind them as a menacing voice floated towards the three.

"What are you doing here?"

The familiar voice made Kyoko and Tsuna jump.

"Leave now or I will bite you all to—"

"Why you…" Hayato growled as he turned. He knew that voice, the words were only too familiar.

"Please, Hibari-san!" Kyoko said, her eyes glowed with fierce determination. One Tsuna had never seen before. "We just need to find the school doctor."

"Hmph. Leave, he is not here." Kyouya replied dangerously.

Behind Kyouya, a figure loomed from the darkness. "Now, now… A man must never be rude to a girl, especially one that is prett—"

It happened too fast. But the older man was faster. The sharp metal spikes of Kyouya's tonfas missed his face by only a few millimeters away.

"Phew! That was a close one!" Dr. Shamal grinned.

"Leave the school premises in five seconds or I will bite all of you to death!" Kyouya snarled.

Hayato was ready to blow Kyouya away when Tsuna stopped him.

"No, Gokudera-kun!" Tsuna cried. "We don't have much time to spare. Every second counts!"

Reluctantly, Hayato obeyed. With a stubborn heart, he put his dynamites away.

"You know, I would like to stay and eat you all alive…" Kyouya voiced, with a handsome but evil grin plastered on his face. "…but I hate wasting my time. I'm going to go search for stronger opponents to chew on." With that, he turned and left.

"That Hibari-san is such a frightful person," Tsuna sighed.

"Dr. Shamal! You have to help Haru-chan!" Kyoko urged as she gripped her own hands tighter.

"Don't worry, pretty Kyoko-chan!" Dr. Shamal bared his teeth in a rather unappealing grin. "That fair maiden's savior will come and save the day."

o o o

"Well, that not going to work now, is it?" Reborn said, slightly annoyed. His large bug-like eyes, too, fell upon the sight of Lia's ugly left shoulder.

Dino maintained his silence. To him, it looked like a huge lump of rotten meat was glued to her skin. He raised his palm to cover his mouth - it looked as if it smelled too.

"Maybe, this is all the proof we need," Romario said, breaking the short silence. "Maybe this was done on purpose to hide something."

"Or maybe we want to believe in something that's actually nothing," Bianchi bit her lower lip, as she voiced her opinions quietly.

Everybody kept their eyes and their voices to themselves. No dared to speak, to make a sound. In the small camp that they crowded in, not any of them even dared to move a muscle.

The words that flowed from Bianchi lips could possibly be the truth they all preferred not to hear, not to believe. It was so much easier to have someone to point an accusing finger to, to be the reason behind everything, to have someone to put the blame on.

A rustle from the outside broke the heavy atmosphere. A rather bloody hand slid through the opening, a smiley face plus his sheepish grin illuminated their rather gloomy aura.

"Sorry…" Takeshi said, his grin his plastered on his face. "… to interrupt."

"That's OK," Dino replied. "Is everything alright?"

"Yeah," Takeshi continued. "I just wanted to know if Lia-san is alright."

"We will need to take her to the hospital now," Romario answered. "You need to come with us too, Yamamoto-san. Your wound seems quite deep to be treated lightly."

"Really?" he grinned as he touched the back of his head gingerly. He had to admit he felt giddier by the minute. As if in queue, his hand lost its grip and helplessly, he could feel himself falling to the ground.

A strong hand slid around him, catching him in time.

"Che. You're too weak, Yamamoto," Bianchi said with a small smile, as she tightened her grasp around his chest.

Her deep olive eyes were the last thing the young boy saw before dark slumber swept over him.

o o o

She felt like she was in a faraway place, unknown to her. It was dark, but oddly, she felt scared and yet, calm at the same time. In a distant, she could hear Tsuna's, somehow melodic, voice calling out to her.

"Haru!"

"Tsuna… san…?"

"Wake up, woman!"

"Gokudera…?" she asked herself, looking around in vain.

"Haru-chan…"

"Kyoko-chan?"

Her heart skipped a beat. Now, she could feel Tsuna's warmth coursing through her body. Their voices and their warmth gave her the little strength she needed. Feebly, she raised her eyelids; and a pair worried orange gems looked back at her. A tear escaped and rolled down her rather pale face, as she greeted them with a rather crooked smile.

"GEH! That pervert is sure taking his time!" Hayato growled.

"Don't fret that immature head of yours," Dr. Shamal greeted, entering the rather small room with his own grandeur. "Move aside."

"Doctor… Shamal…" Haru welcomed weakly.

Kneeling by the side of Kyoko's bed, Dr. Shamal placed his suitcase carefully by his side. With on click, the suitcase sprung open. His hand reached out towards Haru's forehead.

"Cheh!" Dr. Shamal could hear Hayato grunt from behind.

"Are you jealous because I get to touch her and you don't?" Dr. Shamal smirked in reply.

"Wha—"

"Dr. Shamal! Now is not the time!"

"Oh, yes! Sorry." Dr. Shamal said, as he pulled out a small container from the rows of containers neatly stacked in his suitcase. "By the way, Kyoko-chan, did you touch that flower?" He pointed to the low table that stood in the middle of the room.

"N-No," Kyoko answered carefully.

"Alright. Handle it carelessly, and it could be fatal," Dr. Shamal pointed out. "Nobody touches it until I'm done."

"Come now, Princess," Dr. Shamal crooned. A mosquito flew out of the container that he was holding. "Now, this won't hurt at all."

Haru nodded.

"There we go… You'll actually feel better almost immediately.."

It didn't hurt. Just like the school doctor said. It itches though, she thought. Everything is feeling alright again, just like he said it would be… But now… I… fe…el…

"But for now, rest pretty Haru-chan…"

o o o

When she opened her eyes, it was dark. Her eyes could not make out where she was but she could make out the faint smell of cleanliness. Slowly and steadily, her blurry vision cleared in front of her. It was still dark but she could see clean white ceilings above her. The air that wrapped around her body was rather chilling.

With a gasp, she sat up straight. The blue linen that had been tucked neatly around her now rested on her lap. She winced as pain shot from her right shoulder. Her left hand reflexively reached out to the pain, but it was pulled back. A huff escaped her lips as pain shot through her hand this time. There were tubes and needles connected from her hand to the IV drip that stood by her bed.

"Takeshi-san…" she breathed as she suddenly recalled the previous happenings.

Looking around, she learned that she was alone - on a bed in a small room. She was in a hospital, she realized.

"Takeshi-san!" she cried out. Worried, she heaved her legs out of the bed. The sudden movements made her head spin. Her breathing suddenly got heavier. This would be easier if I could use my right hand, she thought. But bound up like this, I can only move my fingers.

So with all the strength she had to spare, she stood and coiled the long tube around another spare hook. Satisfied with the distance of the needle from her hand and the drip, she closed her eyes. With one harsh pull, the needles tore from her skin. It was small tears, for the needles were not that big but hot tears stung her eyes, as she tried to withstand the pain.

"Wuu…" She howled as she pressed her back of her hand against her thigh.

The sound of the door opening made her forget about the temporary pain. Straightening herself steadily, she backed away from it. An unfamiliar man wearing a black suit entered, with a Styrofoam cup in his hand. The strong smell of coffee floated from it.

His eyes bulged as he saw her out of bed and even managed to free herself from the drip.

"Let me out!" she cried.

"I'm sorry. I can't do that. What on earth did you do? This is so troublesome. I'm going to call for Romario. You stay put, miss, please."

"Please!" she begged. "I just want to see Takeshi-san! Is he alright?"

"Will you stay put!" the man replied, clearly irritated. "He's just next door and he's fine. Now, stay here while I get Romario."

"Please…" she repeated herself. This time, her voice seemed quiet. His heart skipped a beat as she gripped her hand around his wrist. "Let me see Takeshi-san."

There was long silence before the man uttered words again. "O-OK." He nodded.

"Please, you could take a nap and wait for me here. I'll be back," she continued.

She let go of him as he nodded for the second time.

Smiling guiltily, she slipped out from her room.

It was quite outside in the hallways. The next room was only a short distance away. Slowly, she turned on the knob and peaked in.

There on bed she saw the familiar black hair and familiar figure lying on it. Nobody is guarding him, she thought. That's not really fair…

Stealthily, she entered the room. The quietness buzzed her ears. It annoyed her. Tiptoeing her way to the bed, she smiled as her friend slept peacefully. The longer she stared at him, the more her smile faltered.

"I'm sorry…" she whispered.

Silent tears tricked down her face, as she stared at her feet. "It's all my fault!" she sniffed. "It's my fault, you're hurt…"

"It's not your fault."

She jumped as she felt fingers reaching out for her.

"You're awake," she faked a laugh. "I'm sorry, did I wake you up?" She asked, as she quickly rubbed her eyes and backed away.

"It's not your fault," Takeshi replied. "That's what friends are for, by the way. To be there for each other in time of need…"

"F-Friends…?" She hung her head, as his words rolled out of her lips.

"Besides, it's just a little cut. I'm fine!" he grinned, as he sat up.

"Takeshi-san? Please, let me have a look at it."

"Eh? Romario-ossan looked at it earlier and cleaned it up. There's no need for you to look at it."

"Please, just let me look at it, Takeshi-san…"

"A-Alright…"

"Don't worry, Takeshi-san. After this, I will go and I won't disturb you again…"

Author's Little Ramblings

Yezza! Haha. It's Takeshi's turn to shine in the latest manga. Rawr. So anyhow, Takeshi (Yamamoto) is so hot in chapter 197, that I just had to color him. Plus, I was looking for a good lineart to practice digital coloring/painting and I have to say, it didn't turn out bad for my first try. Haha. You want to see? Please have a look at my fanart links on the bottom of my profile page. Domo arigato!

And homaigatz! I think I've just became a Squallo fangirl too. The two Vongola swordsmen are sizzlin' hot! Rawr. Can't chapter 201 come any faster!

The usual, please review, even if you don't like it. You may complain or compliment. Just tell me what you think. It would certainly help me with the flow of this story and make my day.

A big THANK YOU to those who've reviewed. Domo arigato. I LOVE YOU GUYS! Hehe.