I'M ALIVEEEEEE! Woah, how long has it been?! I don't even know if anyone is still reading this or not. Anyway, as usual, I would like to apologize for the delay but what more can I say? School's stuffs are always my top priority. I know it was such as pain to wait, but its better late than never, right? Also, thanks to everyone who had favorited/followed, reviewed the previous chapter. I couldn't thank you enough for that.

So, let's not waste more time shall we?

First things first…

WARNING: THERE WILL BE HELL LOTS OF OCs AND OOC-NESS IN THIS STORY, SO BEWARE!

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN KHR.


Chp 48

The group stopped walking and they scouted around. Their feet were sinking in the snow, telling them how thick the snow was. Yamamoto zipped his thick jacket until it reached just below his chin, but it never stopped the cold from seeping into his bone. He took a glance at his watch. 1.30 am. It has been one hour after Tsukiko been captured. He looked around once more and hummed softly. According to what they saw from Gokudera's memory fragment, this was the exact place where the silver-head last saw her. If Reborn's calculation was right, they might be halfway already toward their enemy's hideout. And knowing Reborn, he knew that hitman won't make any silly error.

"Sawada-imouto surely have extremely strong legs to be able to kick Tako-head straight to the lodging from this extreme distance" Ryohei was definitely impressed with that.

"Then that probably means one thing…" Lambo shrugged as he came to a conclusion. "she knew the enemy was nearby that she couldn't waste time to drag Bakadera back herself"

"You mean…" Yamamoto looked at the lightning guardian in confusion, but the boy's face said it all.

"But, to get captured without putting up a fight was not her style at all, nee?" Yamamoto let a light-hearted laugh, trying to calm his nerves down. Then, he could see Leon transformed into some kind of device in Reborn's hand. To his surprise, he could see the shock expression on the tutor's face, albeit for a split second. He wanted to ask, but noticing the hitman didn't open his mouth to tell them anything despite knowing something, he didn't. He knows that something was bothering the hitman.

"Nee, Reborn…" Tsuna spoke after a while. He turned around to face his tutor properly. "Since we are looking for a hideout and the one who was messing with Gokudera's mind was Mukuro, is it safe to assume the possibility of the enemy's hideout to be shrouded with mist flames too?"

"What makes you said that, Dame-Tsuna?" the hitman asked although he vaguely grasped the logic behind his student's query.

"Knowing you, this whole class trip is your impromptu plan in order to make our life difficult. So, unless they had planned this ahead, covering the hideout with mist flames is what I would do if I want to make it completely hidden. Still, that all being said, I could think of its weakness too. If my hunch is right, I think we could easily figure out the exact location of the enemy as well"

The hitman just shrugged. What Tsuna had said about "impromptu plan" was true all along, he was not going to deny that. Seeing that his student seems to have some kind of plan, he told him to continue.

"So, what are you trying to say now, Dame-Tsuna?"

"Just use your Leon- flame radar and look for the location where the concentration of mist flames are the highest" the brunet calmly replied before he turned to the Storm and Lightning.

"Lambo, set up your drones once we could pinpoint our target location and start scouting the area. Gokudera, find opening for us and think up some strategies just in case we really have to fight the enemies"

"Orders acknowledged, Vongola!" "Just leave it to me, Juudaime!"

Both replied in unison.

The young boss noticed that his Rain guardian gave him a nervous look. A cheerful-Yamamoto and nervous? That does not add up at all.

"What's wrong, Yamamoto?"

The Rain started his explanation by apologizing first. "I'm sorry, Tsuna. But, what's the point if we could figure out our enemies' hideout, but didn't know who they are?"

Before Tsuna could reply his friend, Yamamoto turned around when the Sun rested his arm around his shoulders.

"Whoever our extreme enemies are, they don't extremely matters, Yamamoto. Besides, since Mukuro technically had extremely gone rogue, we could extremely assume that the Estraneo are involved. But, since the Estraneo are strictly prohibited to come up to the surface without the risks of being arrested, we could extremely conclude that they had an extreme accomplice too. Therefore, in conclusion, there is an extreme 75.5% probability for us to face more than one famiglia…" the loud-guardian explained on behalf of Tsuna. He momentarily paused from his stretched explanation as he realized all eyes were staring intently at him.

"Is it just me, or there was actually the word 'probability' inside Turf-top's dictionary just now?" Gokudera raised his brows, clearly amazed with his new founding.

"Is this some kind of illusion, or Turf-top actually used his brain when he was talking? Patchie, was that your work?" asked gaping-Lambo.

"Nope! That was really Turf-top who was talking just now" Chrome confirmed.

"I can't believe this, Senpai…" Yamamoto rested his right palm on his chest while dramatically staring at the boxer, looking as if he was just got betrayed by someone he trusted. "So, am I the idiot one in our group this time?"

"What are you extremely saying, Yamamoto?" Ryohei's brows furrowed, not understanding what the baseball-lover's meant by his words. "I'm always extremely smart. Since when I'm the idiot one?"

Before Yamamoto could reply back, they could felt some movement around them. The teens tensed up and regrouped. Their eyes carefully scanning around, with their back pressing up against each other.

"This is it for you Vongolan. I'm afraid we cannot allow any of you proceed further" said a voice that Tsuna kind of familiar with. Lambo pointed his military-grade flashlight at the line of trees and emerging from the dark, seven familiar figures stood. They try to understand the meaning behind those words and it could only be concluded into one. If the Shimon tried to stop them from finding the Estraneo's lair, then does this means…

"No!" Tsuna yelled in denial. "But I really like you guys! I especially could relate myself to Enma-kun. Why do you guys have to be associated with the Estraneo?! Vongola and Shimon are supposed to be friends…"

Somehow, it was clear to all of them that the Vongola Decimo was too disappointed with the truth. To be honest, so are the rest of the Vongola teens. The two groups were having their staring session before Tsuna breaks the silence once more.

"Okay, before we fight against each other… I just wanna know the 'why'. Everyone in the mafia world knows how ruthless the Estraneo are. So, why on earth would the Shimon, who happens to be Vongola's ally long time ago, working with them?"

"Ally, my ass!" Enma spat angrily. "If we are allied, then why the hell the Vongola CEDEF were responsible for causing the death of my mother and sister?! Killing them without any reason or proof, no less?! Fuck the bonds! The bonds are already severed once Vongola killed my family members!"

Enma's explanation made Tsuna and Reborn exchanging look. Somehow, something was off. They knew Vongola CEDEF are responsible for removing anything that could pose threat to Vongola, but there is no way Iemitsu could be that heartless.

"Is that the same reason why you took my sister, Enma-kun? Revenge, that's this is all about?!" from his vibrating voice, Reborn knew his student was on verge of his meltdown. He knew the brunet was disappointed at Enma's action and at the same time, fear for his sister's life. He was torn in between saving the bond he just builds or destroying it for the sake of saving his sister.

"Sorry to say this, Shimon. But Vongola never finish anyone off unless they have enough proof to do so. Especially if the situation involved women and children, the CEDEF definitely had taken extra measures to make sure they are not guilty" Gokudera explained.

"Ahahaha… Just like Hime-chan always said, 'Remained innocent unless are proven guilty'. That's how Vongola CEDEF carry out their judgment. Those are the words that Hime-chan lives by" Yamamoto added more.

Tsuna could feel every fiber, every muscle, every cell in his body are quivering. Despite the cold surrounding, it couldn't cool his head at all. He remembers what he saw on the burned photo. From Enma's background story, it was no longer a speculation that they are capable of killing his sister without any hesitation. Suddenly, he could feel few hands rested on his shoulders and head. To his left and right, he could see Yamamoto and Gokudera, giving him a gentle, tranquilizing-grip. And he could feel a warm, assuring-pat on his head, knowing that Reborn tries to calm him down as well.

Reborn pulled his student closer to him and whispered in his right ear.

"Dame-Tsuna, listen. I need you to calm down. At their current circumstances, even though they could kill Tsuki, they couldn't. That is how much both of you are important to the underground world. Killing either of you and that will cause a large-scale mafia war to break out. In this case, it's gonna be Estraneo and Shimon against the rest of the underground world"

Tsuna shut his eyes, digesting what his tutor had told him. "Are you saying that it's okay for us to fight?"

"If it is okay for you to prevent the war, please do so, Sawada Tsunayoshi…"

Enma flinched when Tsuna opened his eyes, showing his determination. Those are the eyes with fighting spirit that he saw in him. If the boss was like that, he was sure that the rest of the Vongolan were also ready to battle. He glared furiously at the hitman. Just what on earth did he say to the Vongola Decimo, lifting up his fighting spirit to that suffocating extent? Knowing what was coming, Enma instantly releasing his dying will flame. He stretched his fiery palm towards the Vongola. Within seconds, the Vongolan were all pinned down to the ground with an exception for the Sun Arcobaleno.

Tsuna managed to turn his body around only to see his tutor was floating in the air. Although he looks calm, Tsuna could tell that his tutor could not breathe at all.

"You're just getting in our way, Signor. Be gone!"

In a split second, he could see the hitman was surrounded by sharp-razor looking leaves. Some liquid dripped on the young Decimo's face and it didn't take a genius to know that the red liquid was blood… Reborn's blood. It was all happened too fast and the last thing Tsuna could remember was the moment when his tutor was thrown off the cliff and his own voice before his own consciousness fading out.


Location: Estraneo's hideout

"REBORN!"

Tsuna instantly sat up from his position. He assessed himself and realized that he could breathe normally. He noticed that his hands were cuffed to the front and despite his effort trying to free himself, he failed.

"Mnhhhh…" "Ouch!" he could hear several moaning around him. He looked around and saw his friends were lying on the ground, starting to gain consciousness as well. One by one, surprisingly with exception of Ryohei, were panicking as they realized they were held captivated in prison cell.

"Well, there at least wasn't extremely necessary for us to find their extreme hideout now…" Ryohei was the first one to comment their predicament.

The rest of the guardians looking at the Sun weirdly.

"Okay, who are you and what have you done to our loud-Sun guardian?" Lambo glared at him skeptically.

"Ceh, there is no way that loud turf-top could be this calm…" Gokudera was expressing the equal reaction as his cousin as well.

"You guys are the one who are extremely panicking too much!" Ryohei retorted back. "Besides, of course I'm calm. The fact that we are still alive after being attacked, that actually means something for us"

Tsuna stared at the older teen and he felt nothing. His intuition does not flashing any red lights, therefore, he could confirm that this out of character teen was their sun guardian indeed.

"What do you mean by that, Onii-san?" the young boss asked.

"that means, either the Shimon or the Estraneo extremely needed us for something. My extreme money is on the Estraneo though. The kept us here probably they extremely wanted to experiment on us or something as extremely equally terrifying as that" the Sun guardian explained his theory.

Gokudera's face went pale. Ryohei might not be wrong in this situation. After all, he saw what they did to Tsukiko as shown on that, then, burnt photo. Feeling terrified, he tried to free himself from the cuff that binding him and failed as well. His flame property was degenerating effect, yet when he used it on the said cuff around his hands, nothing happened.

"Stop doing that, Gokudera-kun…" Tsuna warned him monotonously. Hearing no emotion from that usual high-pitched, shrieking voice, the guardians were looking at each other, mentally conversing Tsuna's altered behavior.

The brunet, on the other hand, was trying to stay calm as well, but alas, he couldn't. He sat on the cemented floor with his face buried into his knees and everyone could hear his exasperated sigh. In his mind, he could see three faces.

"Hime-chii… Reborn… Mukuro…"

The rest were stiffened at the last name that Tsuna muttered. Somehow, they couldn't forgive him for what he caused on Tsukiko and Reborn. All they know, Tsukiko got herself experimented on and Reborn… he was thrown down into 40 feet deep cliff. What kind of human beings could have survived that? And if they, god forbids, are dead… Mukuro would definitely make enemies out of them.

"Experimented on, huh?" Lambo looked up, thinking. Sure he would be a useful specimen due to his special skill. Would that mean he would live longer than the rest of his friends?

Tsuna lifted his head, eyes widen in shock. Did he seriously just heard Lambo was resigning himself to that uncertain fate? Quickly he was aware that he, being frustrated, might affect his friends psychologically. He cannot be like this. Sure they were caught, but this does not mean that they would give up this easily.

"Hey, stop giving up, minna! We will be fine. Need I to remind you that our strongest guardian is still walking freely out there…" Tsuna tried to reassure them. But it was true. If Hibari is still out there, he believed in him that he would do by any means to rescue them.

"But will he found us on time though?" the usually optimistic-sun was now sounded so skeptical, so unbefitting of his character.

"He has Fuuta and Ipin with him, Senpai. I'm sure they will utilize all given resources to get to the bottom of this matter. We are Namimorians before we are Vongolans, so Hibari will look for us" Yamamoto, on the other hand, was wearing the same confidence in his words, just like his boss.

Their conversation was cut short when they heard the mocking laughter just outside their cell. Stepping closer to the metal bars was none other than Kozato Makoto. Gokudera right now was surely having the urge to punch that old man in the face now.

"Vongolans are so sweet when it comes to trusting their comrades. But too bad that you people are wrong. The cloud guardian of Vongola Decimo is in a flight back to Namimori right now as we speak. Looks like the aloof guardian decided to run away and leave his fellow comrades to rot to death in this cold island"

'BAM!' the metal bars vibrated and Makoto jumped back at the sudden 'warning'. Looking down at the culprit who kicked the bars, he saw the rain guardian was glaring murderously back at him. He could see a faint blue flame manifested in the teen's fists, only to be sucked away by the anti-dying will flame cuff. He should have thanked Mammon for his invention and allow it to be available to purchase in the underground market.

"I know Hibari since we were kids. I'm well aware that he is a lone wolf, but Hibari Kyoya was never a coward! Don't you even dare to talk shit about him!"

Another familiar voice chiming into the conversation. "Too bad what he had told you are indeed the truth, Yakyu-ba… I mean, Yamamoto"

The Vongola teens stared at the said familiar newcomer with wide eyes, calling out his name in unison.

"MUKURO!"

"YOU DARE TO SHOW YOUR FACE TO US, YOU TRAITOR?!" Gokudera's words somehow seem to hurt Mukuro as his facial expression slightly altered. He just looked away, trying to gather back his thought before he crouched down, meeting Gokudera on his eye level with that dirty smudge on his face.

"Come on now, Gokudera… I'm just here for wanting to thank all of you for bringing my sister all the way to here…"

"YOU ASSHOLE! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO PATCHIE?!" this time, it was Lambo's turn to yell. Mukuro can be sure now that the storm and lightning are totally related just by the way they reacted.

"Don't you dare hurt her, Mukuro or…" Everyone now can be sure that Ryohei was getting angry as well.

'BAM!' a loud banging sound echoed when Ryohei's head collided with the cell's bars. Blood was flowing down from his forehead, yet his mouth didn't let out any sound expressing his pain. His furious brown eyes locked with the equally angry heterochromatic pair. Mukuro's hands were steadily grabbing the Sun's collar, keeping on pulling him forward to the point Ryohei's face was squeezed between the two metal bars.

"OR WHAT, YOU IDIOTIC LOUD-MOUTH?! WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?! SPIT ON ME?!" there was a mocking smirk on his face and it annoyed the Sun guardian even further. The Sun guardian puckered his lips and literally projectile his spit to Mukuro's face. The latter automatically pushed him back and the loud-boxer fell on the floor with the most satisfied-smile decorating his face.

"BLOODY HELL! YOU LITERALLY SPIT ON ME!" with disgusted face, Mukuro wiped off the offending liquid from his cheek. "YOU WILL PAY FOR THIS, IDIOT TURF-TOP!"

"PLAYTIME'S OVER!" "THAT'S ENOUGH!" their synchronized commands made the two bosses looking back at each other.

"This is all just a game for you, nee Makoto-san? Destroying Vongola and destroying the underground world, it was just a game for you. That, or you have another reason too… Something personal would be highly possible…" Tsuna said in his low tone. Somehow, upon asking that question, Tsuna noticed the slight changes in Makoto's eyes color to various different colors like a live slot machine, although there was an intense pair that sends the chill down his spine, even though the change just lasted for few millisecond. The brunet could feel the coldness and intense hatred from that pair of eyes and he just has to wonder what had actually happened for those emotions to be triggered.

"Heh, Vongola's descendants are truly sharp. You and that sister of yours…" Makoto's smirked again, feeling amazed somehow. He crouched down, meeting Tsuna's heavy glares. "I don't like beating around the bush with sharp kids like you, Tsuna-kun so yeah, let me be clear…"

He stood up once more, while looking down and the fuming-young boss. "the time for me to deliver the vengeance from the past has arrived and it is the Vongola that will become the receiving end"

"Can the Vongola just pass on the said "Vengeance"? I don't feel like wanting to be the receiving end today" Tsuna decided to act idiotically now. Now, he knows the thrills Tsukiko had experienced by provoking the enemy with some stupid nonsense.

Lambo kicked his boss's thigh with a disgusted look on his face. "Rephrase that, Tsuna! You make it sounds so lewd…"

"Pull your head out of gutter, Lambo!" Tsuna just rolled his eyes. He just can't believe someone who was younger than him could have such dirty mind. He shifted back his attention to the adult.

"Vengeance from the past, you said?" he hummed in interest. "then, what does this have to do with Mukuro who was born into Estraneo? Forget about the present's situation, but if I recall correctly, there were no past relationship between Shimon and Estraneo. So, why are you involving the Estraneo in order to destroy Vongola? And also, what was the Shimon's motive of declaring war against us?"

"Yeah, Juudaime's right. For all I could tell, there was lack of common interest from both sides. Not to mention, the idea of risking the majority of mafia society going against just two famiglie was just plain stupid. Other than the "Vengeance" that you mentioned, if you somewhat achieved, then what's next? I couldn't see any other profit that you could obtain after that"

"Tch!" Makoto clicked his tongue. These Vongola-brats are sharper than he thought they would be.

"I have nothing more to say to you…" he turned his heels, about to leave when Yamamoto's loud voice stopping him from his track.

"That all being said, where are Hime-chan and Chrome? And what have you done to them?!"

Instead of replying him, Makoto just looked at the Vongola-teens over his shoulder. A dirty smirk was clearly decorating his lips.

"if you're thinking about saving her then you better forget it. There is Sawada Tsukiko no more…"

Leaving his small riddle, Makoto cackled as he left the room. Seeing that, Mukuro turned around to follow suit and halted when Tsuna called his name.

"I believe in you, Mukuro. Do what you must do, but please return to us soon…"

Witnessing the brunet's naivety, Mukuro let out a small laugh.

"Just make sure your soft-hearted nature won't be the one that brings you to your downfall, Vongola…"

He quickened his steps and left the Vongolans alone in that narrow cellar.

Hearing what Tsuna had said to Mukuro before them parting, the other guardians were gaping at the young boss.

"After everything that happened, you still chose to believe in him, Tsuna?" Tsuna's nature somehow makes Lambo wonder about the former's sanity sometimes. That question somehow only made Tsuna smiled.

"Way to extremely say it, Sawada…" Ryohei grinned widely at the brunet. "as his extreme classmate and fellow guardian… I, too, extremely believe in Mukuro. It wasn't extremely long enough for us to understand each other deeply, I always knew all of his actions always have the extreme reason behind it…"

"Well, if Juudaime said so…" and the rest was incoherent mumbling from Gokudera.

Lambo then shrugged after hearing the arguments from the other three guardians. "I could agree that Mukuro was indeed too stupid to do something evil anyway…"

"Ahahaha…" Yamamoto's cheerful laughed caught the rest of the Vongolan's attention. "so doesn't that means when Makoto said there was Sawada Tsukiko no more, he meant that Hime-chan is smart enough to do something evil then?"

"Not helping, Yakyu-baka! Don't pollute our thought with your idiotic idea!" being aware of the younger twin's strength, that thought somehow bothered Lambo. He could accept it if the reason for Mukuro's betrayal is for Chrome's safety, but Tsukiko doesn't have any reason to do so. He would like to believe that but somehow, Makoto's words were telling them otherwise.

"T-there is no way Sawada-imouto would extremely betray us, right Sawada?!" Ryohei apparently was on the same page as Lambo and Yamamoto regarding that matter as well.

The cellar fell in silence when Tsuna didn't reply to Ryohei's question.

"T-Tsuna?" Yamamoto tried to force a smile but his lips fell to a frown once he saw Tsuna's stern-face.

"Judging on how Makoto didn't dangle Hime-chii's dead body in front of us, we could assume that she's still alive, but…" Tsuna forcefully shut his eyes as the image of Tsukiko from that disturbing photo invading his mind.

"Yamamoto might not be wrong though. Knowing she had been experimented on for god knows what… even as her brother, I couldn't be sure if she is still on our side anymore"

The rattling sound was echoing their surroundings. The teens were surprised when they saw Ryohei abruptly standing up with a bright smile on his face.

"If we are extremely not sure to whom our friends' loyalty extremely lies on, why don't we extremely ask them directly and free ourselves from those extreme doubts instead?"

'CLANG!' the anti-dying will flame cuffs fell to the cemented ground and the sun guardian was now free from his binding.

"Let's extremely get outta here first, shall we?!"


Alritey, that's all for now. So, what do you guys think about mature-Ryohei? Anyway, I kinda need you guys might to review after this so I would know if there is someone out there who actually still anticipating this little fanfic of mine. No need for long-ass review, just say that you guys still reading this or something. that, or if you are too shy, there is always PM.

I'm going to try my best to tweak my schedule so I could spare more time for writing. Coz, I, myself, too hate making other people waiting for me.

Okay, that's all for my ranting for now. Please look forward to my next chapter.

Love you all and see you soon. Ciao~ ciao~