Disclaimer – Don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn, Amano Akira's.

I really should change the genre, there's no humour anymore. Haha.

Edit: I don't know where I got 'Verde' from. It's Cadavere.

Warning for Oocness, I try my best. Did not copy or plagiarize in any way.

Chapter 36

Somewhere, Someday

Elsa cooped herself up in a nearby shrub. The Cavallone's garden was huge, so hopefully she wouldn't be found out. She sat there, hugging her knees with a blushing, flustered expression, biting on the edge of her lip with an ocean of thoughts flowing through her mind. Questions were flying around her vision: what had happened? Was this a dream? Reality check – was she really still alive?

After this, she'd have to face him again sooner or later. It wasn't an uncommon thing, there had been a few times where facing him had been difficult, but this time…this time things would be more awkward than ever. Was what had happened a good thing? Was she mad? The truth was: it wasn't a bad thing, but there was this feeling stuck at the back of her head that told her his new-found feelings for her might be out of pity. She hoped this wasn't true, because if that was the case, she would whoop his ass, pack her bags and go home.

Elsa heard rustling from the bushes behind her. She kept very still, praying it wasn't who she thought it was.

"Elsa! Elsa where are you?" it was Luciano.

Elsa popped up from within the shrubbery, "Lucy!"

She could have sworn he let out a girlish squeal before running up to her and squeezing her like his favourite Gucci bag. He let his tears flow and rubbed his face against her shoulder childishly, "I was worried Elie! When we split during the escape I was so DAMN WORRIED!"

His grip tightened, and Elsa choked out, "Nice…to see you as well...I c-can't breathe…"

He released her and wiped his tears away, "What happened? Was the Vongola Outside Advisor nice to you? Are you still in pain?"

"No I'm fine, really. The CEDEF were very…err…kind." Elsa reassured, smiling at him. She was glad, that she was able to make a friend like him. She began dusting off the stray leaves that were stuck to her hospital gown.

Luciano calmed himself and stopped sniffling. This was a first for Elsa, and probably not the last. She sighed. He unexpectedly grabbed her by the shoulders and turned her towards him, eye to eye. He squinted, "Serious talk now Elsa. Dino…it's finally come true for you, he's head over heels in lo—"

"Shh!" she cupped a hand over his babbling mouth, "Don't say it…"

He brushed it away, "Why? Aren't you ecstatic?"

"I don't believe him!"

"What's there not to believe? He's been sitting beside your bed since…I…don't think I should be…nevermind…"

Elsa's eyes lit up, "He has?"

Luciano nodded sheepishly. The surprises just kept coming. Everything just seemed too surreal, and she blamed it on her own inexperience, but still, Dino was one in a million, any ordinary girl would be in disbelief. The more she thought about it, the harder it was for her to know if she ready to answer his feelings with her own? Something – just something- held her back. She wished she could just gauge it out and throw herself in his arms, live the fairytale she never had. But it was useless, things unknown to her would replay imageless over and over again in her head. "It doesn't feel right…"

"What doesn't?"

"I can't picture myself with him…" replied Elsa, shifting her eyes to the side. Too good for her, maybe?

"Are you okay? Are you sure you're genuinely OKAY? Did the Vongola hit you on the head so hard you've become a completely different person?" Luciano questioned.

Elsa grumbled, "No, it's not like that. I can't explain it."

"It's not because you promised you'd get over him right? Because obviously the tables have turned!"

She shook her head, "I just have…this feeling in my gut. I don't know, I'm confused on what to do…give it some time and I'm sure I'll think of something…"

"I don't get you, I thought you'd be crying tears of joy over this!" Luciano cried, frustration building up, "You'll regret it if you don't hurry up!"

Elsa tried to calm him down, but she could see the furious look on his face wasn't faltering even one tiny bit. Just as she was about to ask Luciano to escort her back into the mansion, she heard a deafening BOOM from inside. The ground shook, both Elsa and Luciano stood their ground. When the shaking had stopped, Elsa grabbed a hold of Luciano's sleeve and began running towards the direction of the explosion. Smoke was rising from one side of the Cavallone headquarters, the side in which Dino's room was.

xxxx

He crawled his way behind the nearest intact wall, his hands gripping tightly on his whip. He coughed, the thick smoke drowning his lungs, he got to his feet and began stumbling around the residue-filled hallway. Behind him was the sound of gunfire – as if one surprise attack from the Cadavere wasn't enough. He it would happen, he just knew it. But he didn't think they were even capable of planting bombs inside his room without the Cavallone finding out. He'd underestimated them – damn it – and just when Elsa had woken up. Worst timing ever.

"Boss, are you alright?" Romario called out, his dark figure a few feet away, shrouded by the smoke.

"I'm fine!" he coughed.

Another voice, "Boss, the Cadavere are attacking from the outside!"

Curse this. The Vongola guardian succession battle had just ended! How much more fighting did he have to go through? Dino motioned his right-hand man to gather everyone and protect the headquarters, and most importantly, to find his special woman and get her to safety. Coincidentally, he looked from the hole in his room and saw her running with Luciano behind, her expression in a anxious state. Dino immediately leaped from his level and landed safely before her. She yelped in shock and took a startled step back.

"Boss?" Luciano cried.

"Go inside, get Elsa to safety!" Dino ordered.

"Wait, you want me to stay INSIDE? No!" Elsa snubbed, "We're not separating again!" so much for the awkwardness, although she still felt weak, facing him so soon.

Luciano started, "Elie, listen to the Boss—"

"Forget it, Luciano go help the others I'll stay with her."

There was another explosion a few meters from the nearest barricading wall. Luciano went off into the chaos of gunfire and grenades, Elsa urged herself to follow him and help out, but Dino had held firmly onto her arm. He grabbed her by the waist and threw her over his shoulder. She flailed and demanded for him to put her down, but instincts told Dino that carrying her would be the easiest way to keep them together. He made a run for it to the back of the mansion, avoiding enemy snipers that could potentially gun them down and create a bloody mess that would then put an end to their story. The Cavallone residence was huge, so it took a good deal of time before Elsa and Dino had finally managed to reach the underground entrance, hidden in a disarray of vines and leaves. He pressed a hand against the iron door and immediately it opened, revealing a lit tunnel that looked like it could go on for a while.

Elsa had gave the thrashing around a rest, "Will you put me down now?"

Dino did as he was told. They went inside and let the automated door shut behind.

"What exactly is going on?" Elsa asked.

"We're at war, with another mafia family. I'm sure you've heard of the Cadavere?"

"Them? What have we ever done to THEM?"

"I told you Elsa, this is just how my world is."

Elsa frowned, "Then what are we doing in here? We should be out there helping everyone else!"

Dino shook his head, "No, you're staying here."

She groaned, he was doing it again. Looking down on her as if she were useless. Did he not realize she was the mastermind behind the escape from the Vongola headquarters during their time apart? The Cadavere compared to the Vongola was like comparing a cockroach to a whale, so what made him so especially protective of her. Was it because she was a girl?

Elsa was getting irritated and it showed quite obviously on her face, but before she could open her mouth and give a whole speech on how capable she was, the time she had been asked to act as a sniper for the CEDEF replayed in her head – when she cowered at the thought of pulling the trigger and taking a man's life, and when she tried desperately to reach Dino and confide in him. She let her expression sink, but not for long, as Dino pressed her against the cold, sturdy wall.

Was now really the right time? She thought. But nevertheless it made her blush, his self towering over her.

"You don't need to be my subordinate anymore, that was a mistake." Dino said suddenly, breath tickling her face.

"W-Why not? I haven't been useless, I've been doing my job right!" she stuttered.

"I don't mean that, you were never meant to be protecting me in the first place." Dino was chagrined, there was a glint of emotion in his eyes that reached out to her own bluish eyes. "I'm sorry Elsa, for all I've done to you, and for hurting you."

"Oi, Bucking-horse, now is not exactly the best time!" said Elsa. He's acting strange again…

"I know. But it's now or never. That time we had, I used Yano, I never planned to do such a thing, but I have a reason..." Dino gritted his teeth, to stop himself from saying any more.

Elsa gaped, she had reached an epiphany. No way, it couldn't possibly be that…from the beginning this whole 'I only think of you as a sister' thing was just a bunch of lies? What could have possibly driven him to reject her in the first place? Elsa had a lot to ask, but she was also perplexed on what to think of it. The biggest question she had was whether Dino held affection for her, liked her, or loved her, which one was it and when did it start? Because the extent of her feelings compared to his could be a wide gap.

Elsa started, "I don't understand. One minute you don't need me, the next minute you do? I can't make up my mind, should I trust what you're saying to me? What the freaking hell is going on—"

He kissed her.

…

…

…..

Too startled to move, too in awe, too shaken, she let herself melt under the amass of passion and burn in this unfamiliar, momentary intimacy. His eyes were closed, and swayed by the mood, she unintentionally closed her own. Her first time, taken so perfectly, the way young girls grow up dreaming of happening. Blood was rushing madly through her veins, blushing her skin. She began to feel lightheaded. Her mind took a trip to fantasyland. But most importantly, those butterflies she had trouble containing all these months were now fluttering wildly in her stomach. This feeling was…the peak of her life.

When it ended, she could hardly keep herself standing. She was mortified, embarrassed, and burning at the same time. Dino had kept his adoring brown eyes on her, and she had not stopped staring blankly at him either. He smirked, and it finally became too much for her.

She admitted it. I'm glad to be alive.

The automated door behind them swung open. Luciano had a assault rifle on his back, he held out his phone, "Boss, I'm ready."

Dino turned from the smitten girl, and patted Luciano on the shoulder as he walked passed Elsa. "Take good care of her."

Elsa came to a realization that Dino was separating from her once again. She chided at him, "Where do you think you're going?"

Dino looked at her one last time and smiled – that goofy, irresistible smile that she loved so much, implanted into her memory. "Don't worry Els, we'll meet again."

And before Elsa could run to drag him back – be it by the shirt or his hair – the door was closed on her. The locks could be heard clamping together and Dino was no more in her line of sight. She slammed her fists against the door, "What the FUCK? WHAT THE FUCK? YOU STUPID HORSE SHIT, WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING?"

Luciano took her arm and dragged her away, she tried to pull back but was unsuccessful. Her face, confused and utterly bewildered, cried at Luciano, "W-Where did he ask you to take me?"

Luciano sighed, "I'm sorry Miss Luca, he asked me to take you home. Home home."