Author's Note: Hope no one minds the length. This is what happens when Miiharu mentions TsunaxXanxus fanart amidst acting as a wonderful sounding board for my crazy plot-bunny attacks. Although, I tend to get in writing frenzies everytime I see even a glimpse of fanart for my fic... after I finish dancing in circles out of pure love.

Fanart XD --drool--


Gokudera tried not to notice Xanxus' presence sitting across from him. The Ninth had sent him along as an 'escort' to ensure that the Tenth actually made it to the Church. Even worse, the man sitting with them was Tsuo instead of the real Tenth. Currently, they were parked outside of town in a seemingly innocent fashion. Meanwhile, the real Tenth was making it known that he was spending the day with Yamamoto and Ryohei. They were due for rendezvous and the switch off in less than five minutes, but the wait was hellish. Without a doubt, the two with him were his least favorite people in the world.

"Look," Tsuo finally said, breaking the tense silence that had been building for nearly an hour. "I know you hate me for tricking you all that time, but I was just following orders. They got a fucking mini-bomb implanted in my head. Like I'm really going to stick around and question the guys who hold the detonator. I didn't like lying to you any more than you liked being lied to. For the Tenth's sake, can't you just let that go?" Gokudera opened his mouth to reply, but was surprised to find that Xanxus had been the focus of the commentary rather than he. Xanxus also didn't look very happy over the plea for truce. It wasn't hard to tell considering Xanxus reached out and grabbed Tsuo by the collar.

"No. You look," he snarled into the man's face. "If you weren't so fucking good at pretending to be him, he wouldn't have been in there for so fucking long. As far as I'm concerned, your ass is one of the reason he sank so damn low. I might not be able to get the old man back for the shit he pulled, but I don't think it'd be hard to take a few chunks out of your hide as payment."

"You're mad at me for doing my job well?!" Tsuo exclaimed. "Do you know how many times I was shot during the time I was pretending to be him?! I've already had chunks taken out of my hide as payment for being him so there's no point if you take a few too! If I had a choice, I'd be more than happy to take back my old cons again. I knew that the Tenth had a rough life, but you have no fucking clue how many times I begged him to let me stop being him! He said I'm stuck like this until some other guy he's waiting for comes around! I don't want to be here any more than you want me here!"

Gokudera opened his mouth once more to ask him what he meant, but the sound of a vehicle pulling up next to theirs made him snap it back shut once more. Xanxus flung Tsuo back into his seat where he immediately scrambled out the door. He regained his normal composure once outside the vehicle. Tsuo and the Tenth paused between the two cars and looked each other over for a moment to ensure that there were no discrepancies. It was strange seeing the Tenth straighten his own tie by reaching over to Tsuo. It was just as strange to see Tsuo point out a scratch on the Tenth's neck from the altercation with the Ninth the previous day. They both grimaced in unison over it before the Tenth reached into his pocket and pulled out a small butterfly knife in order to create a matching mark on his double.

"All ready?" The Tenth asked while he wiped away the few small flecks of blood from shallow wound and put away his knife once more.

"Sure thing," Tsuo replied with a small grin. "All you need me to do is have a night on the town with Yamamoto and Ryohei and then keep my head down. Right?"

"Yeah," the Tenth confirmed quietly. "Don't worry. I've already talked to them. They don't hold anything against you. Plus, I wouldn't be able to make this trip if I didn't have you working as cover. I don't know how long I'll be, but just take it easy until I get back."

"Will do!" He saluted before heading for the car holding the two Guardians who were staying behind. Meanwhile, the Tenth ducked into the car holding Gokudera, making both he and Xanxus sigh in relief. In less than a minute, the vehicle was moving along the road toward Rome while the other car did a U-turn to head back into town. Tsuo would take all the attention so that the Tenth's visit to the Church could go unnoticed.

Just like when Tsuo was in the car, the air was thick with silence. Gokudera had to raise an eyebrow at it, since he'd thought that Xanxus and the Tenth had settled their differences. Xanxus' anger on the Tenth's behalf said as much, but the silence said the complete opposite. What was really going on between the two? The last time Gokudera had seen them in each other's presence, Xanxus had made it very clear that he was only acting out of duty. The man was an enigma.

"I'm sorry," the Tenth whispered. Both Gokudera and Xanxus turned their heads to look at him in surprise. What the hell was he apologizing f--

"Don't worry about it," Xanxus said in a grumbling tone. "Confession is worse than hell. I'd have reacted badly too."

"I can imagine," the Tenth chuckled softly. "You don't seem like the type to go to Confession."

"Yeah, well," Xanxus murmured, scratching his chin. "The old man probably hopes that if I escort you, Father Robert will work his magic and get me to. It'll be a cold day in hell when he succeeds."

"I'm still sorry," he replied quietly. "For more than just giving Timoteo a reason to assign you to escort me."

"What's done is done," Xanxus growled. "There's no point--"

"I miss talking to you," the Tenth interjected. Gokudera felt his ears turn red at the words intended for Xanxus. Pointedly, he turned his head and looked out the window, firmly denying that his own existence within the vehicle right now. It was great that his Boss trusted him to have such a conversation in his presence, but Gokudera suddenly wished he wasn't trusted quite that much.

"Tough shit," came the surly reply. Gokudera felt himself stiffen at the words while the Tenth froze next to him. "You're the one the fucked it up. I don't talk to scum."

"Who the hell are you calling scum?!" Gokudera shouted, feeling his blood boil on the Tenth's behalf. He immediately quieted down in confusion when he noticed his Boss slightly shaking his head at him. It truly was a private conversation that the Tenth didn't want any interference on.

"I stopped sleeping around," he said quietly, once more speaking as if Xanxus was the only one in the car. "I stopped acting like a spoiled brat. I've really been trying hard to make up for my mistakes. What more would you have me do?"

"Run around your school naked," Xanxus growled. "Let everyone fucking see that you have no damn shame."

"Shame?" The Tenth repeated quietly. Once more, Gokudera tensed, although this time it was at the feeling of an imminent explosion. "SHAME?!" He roared like Gokudera feared. "You want to fucking tell me about shame?! You--"

"Boss--!" Gokudera cried, reaching out to calm him before he got past the point of no return. The Tenth froze at the shout and stared at his own hands for a moment before clenching them tightly on top of his knees. He was shaking with his anger, but was fortunately managing to control it.

Or so Gokudera thought.

"Stop the car," he ordered through clenched teeth.

"What the fuck f--" Xanxus snapped.

"JUST STOP THE DAMN CAR," the Tenth roared in interruption. Xanxus blinked in surprise at his sudden outburst while Gokudera tried to think of some way to calm him. Unfortunately, nothing came to mind before the car pulled to a stop. "I'll be back," he snapped before darting out the door. Gokudera attempted to jump out after him, but his Boss moved at the speed of his boost. He was gone before Gokudera could even see which direction he went in.

"Damnit!" Gokudera shouted, tugging on his hair out of the desire to completely rip it out. He had a pretty good idea where the Tenth had just went. Well, not where he went, but what he went to do. He'd been doing good all day, so Gokudera had hoped that his Boss wouldn't have need of his 'medication' anymore. "Scheiße! Foda! Merde! Inferno--"

"What the fuck are you cussing about?" Xanxus grumbled. "He probably just needed to clear his head." Gokudera felt some small part of his sanity crack at the comment. Completely forgetting this was Xanxus he was dealing with, he reached inside the car and grabbed the man by the throat.

"He didn't go to clear his head, you fucking retard!" He screamed into the man's face while Xanxus looked at him in surprise for having enough guts to manhandle him. "He--"

"That's enough, Gokudera," the Tenth snapped from behind him. "Let him go before he breaks your wrists."

"Boss..." Gokudera murmured, completely uncaring about the thick hands wrapped around his forearms. Absently, he let Xanxus go and turned to his beloved Boss. Like he feared, there were signs that he'd taken another dose of Flare. They weren't big signs, but they were there if one knew to look for them. The way his eyelashes twitched ever so slightly in a way that had nothing to do with him blinking. The small droplets of sweat on the back of his neck. The way he made sure nothing touched him when he ducked past Gokudera into the car.

It was too late to stop him this time. Even though Gokudera knew that, he wanted to hit himself for his inability to keep his Boss from hurting himself. He knew exactly why his Boss had left the car to take care of it, too. He was trying to keep the Xanxus-bastard from knowing about it. Ducking in behind him, Gokudera fell quiet while the car once more got moving. He felt absolutely worthless for failing to find an alternate option to help his Boss control his rage. Right now, the only thing he could do was stay at his Boss' side and protect him while they went to deal with the source of the problem.

"Boss, is there anything--"

"I'm fine, Gokudera," he replied through clenched teeth. "Just let me have some quiet."

"Yes, Boss." Since the Tenth obviously didn't want Xanxus to know about it, Gokudera attempted to act like nothing had happened. He would keep his Boss' secrets. If he didn't, he wasn't worthy of being the Tenth's Right Hand. But it was hard to do so with Xanxus pinning him in place with a raised eyebrow, openly curious about what Gokudera had been about to say.

"Where did you go?" Xanxus finally asked when no answer seemed forthcoming on its own.

"I had to take a piss," the Tenth answered crudely, his eyes locked at the scenery passing outside the window. Gokudera suppressed the need to flinch at the lie and kept his eyes locked on the scenery passing his own window.

"Don't give me that bullshit," Xanxus snarled. "I can tell when you're lying, brat. Where the fuck did you go?"

"It's none of your damn bu--" He began to shout. When he cut off, Gokudera worriedly turned to find his Boss frozen in place with sweat breaking out on his forehead.

"Che," Gokudera spat, understanding that he was causing himself more pain each time he allowed himself to get angry. With Xanxus in the car, things could quickly turn ugly. "Leave him alone, Xanxus. What he does isn't any of your business. He asked for quiet, so pipe down."

"Who do you fucking think you're talking to," Xanxus warned in a dangerously low tone. "I--"

"Xanxus," the Tenth interjected with another small tremble. "Don't start right now. If I have to I'll--" Gokudera hovered over him in growing panic when the Tenth doubled over in pain.

"What's wrong, Boss? I thought you said it didn't hurt after the first few--"

"SHUT UP!" He shouted. Then he groaned once more and pressed his forehead into his knees, gasping for air. "I'll be fine. I've just got to calm down. I forgot how my hard Flame reacts when Xanxus is around. It's ignoring the medication and trying to-- ung..." Gokudera bit his lip in understanding.

"Stop the car and get out," Gokudera ordered, looking up at Xanxus. Xanxus' eyes widened at the order, but the way the Tenth was shaking didn't leave room for objection. Once more the car pulled over and this time Xanxus stepped out. For the next ten minutes, Gokudera anxiously watched over his Boss while doing everything in his power to make him more comfortable. Thankfully, his pain seemed to ease within a minute of Xanxus' departure. "You can't take those anymore, Boss," he found himself murmuring as his Boss' shaking began to subside. "You can't hurt yourself just because you're scared of what-ifs."

"I don't want to hurt anyone," he replied in a small voice from where he lay across the wide bench-seat of the car. Gokudera leaned down from his seat opposite of him and pressed a hand worriedly to his head. Thankfully, he didn't seem to be feverish anymore, but he was still pale in comparison to his normal hue.

"It hurts everyone more if you hurt yourself, Boss," he admonished.

"That's why I didn't want anyone to know," he said with his eyes slowly slipping shut. "Thank you for not telling them."

"Your secrets are safe with me, Boss," he soothed. "Just get some sleep. I'll wake you when we get to Rome and then you can get everything off your chest so that you won't feel like you need to hurt yourself anymore. Okay?"

"Thank you, Goku...dera..." he murmured while he slipped into sleep. Gokudera tried not to let the fact that the Tenth was worn out from such a small attack bother him, but it was a fine line to walk. The numerous times he'd taken Flare must have been wearing him down greatly. The only difference was that it was doing it over time rather than instantly as if he'd been hit with a full dosage meant for torture. Unwilling to take any chances, Gokudera stepped out of the car and waited another ten minutes before signalling to Xanxus to return from where he was pacing down the road.

"The little twit is taking drugs again, isn't he?" The man snarled the moment he got within range.

"It's not what you think," Gokudera replied while he lit a cigarette and leaned against the car. "They aren't pleasure drugs. They're just to keep him from lashing out when he gets angry. I don't know if you heard, but I was laid out for a week. You remember back when he killed that Havlock guy that attacked Haru?"

"Yeah," Xanxus confirmed with a gesture for him to get on with the explanation.

"Well, his Flame has been boiling over like that left and right," Gokudera continued. "It's taking less and less anger before he loses it. That's the whole reason for this freaking trip. He'd taking meds to keep it under control right now, but Boss needs to Confess in order to fix the problem. The only problem is the meds he's taking hurts him. The more his Flame increases, the more it--"

"Flare..." Xanxus breathed with wide eyes, making the connection without Gokudera having to come out and say it.

"Ah," Gokudera confirmed quietly. "So lay off of him. The last thing he needs is you pushing his damn buttons. I don't really know what's going on between you two nor do I really care. But if you push him so that he thinks he needs to take another dose, I'll shove a stick of dynamite so far up your ass that you'll be shitting gunpowder for a week." Xanxus blinked at the threat for a moment before a wide, cruel grin spread across his face.

"Well look who got some of that shine knocked off his ass," he commented, barking in laughter. Gokudera spat to the side in reply before ducking back into the car. Scooting across the wide bench seat, he made room for Xanxus so that he wouldn't have to disturb the Tenth who was still soundly sleeping. Xanxus ducked inside, as well, and Gokudera jerked in surprise when he realized that the man wasn't moving to actually get in yet. Instead, he was ducking down over the Tenth's head.

"Wha--" Gokudera choked. He was not seeing what he thought he was seeing. "What the FUCK?!" He roared in shock, forgetting for a moment that he needed to be quiet so as to not wake the Tenth. Xanxus was NOT kissing his sleeping Boss. He was NOT. HE WAS NOT! Xanxus lurched in place at the yell before glaring up at the silver-haired man. Gokudera froze at the controlled rage in his eyes. It wasn't like the Tenth's. It had neither passion nor fire in it. Instead, it was cold, calculated, oppressive rage. But deep in those orbs, Gokudera found himself blushing at the hidden gleam of... lust?

"Shut up," he ordered with a rumbling voice, "or you'll wake him." Gokudera choked once more at the words, unable to believe his ears. First his sight was going all wonky and now his ears?! What was next?! He was utterly speechless while Xanxus lifted the Tenth's head up and slipped into the seat under him. It was a measure of how exhausted the Tenth was that neither the movement nor Gokudera's yell had woken him. Gokudera was at a complete loss when Xanxus reached out and shut the car door once the Tenth's head was comfortably settled in his lap.

He started to tell the man to get the hell away from his Boss, but stopped at the sight of the Tenth snuggling his head into a more comfortable position on Xanxus' leg. He suddenly seemed so much more content in his sleep. The wrinkles between his eyebrows had disappeared and his frown had smoothed out. He'd even begun to make small noises that made Gokudera's face turn flush. Those weren't noises that the all-powerful Boss of Vongola should be making!

Yet, he couldn't deny that his Boss seemed happier with Xanxus so close. Even though he wasn't conscious to admit the fact, Gokudera had been serving him long enough to tell. And it wasn't as if the Tenth was breaking any of his vows by such simple contact. Actually, since the divorce papers went through and the wedding wasn't scheduled for another few months, he really didn't have any vows to break in the first place. There was no harm in keeping his nose out of what the two did. At least, for now. When his Boss woke up and gave him better direction, that opinion might change. But until then... Until then, he let his Boss sleep the best sleep he'd gotten in a long while.

"Just no funny stuff," Gokudera grumbled before knocking on the window behind him to tell the chauffer to get moving again.


The Tenth wasn't happy about waking up in Xanxus' lap. Quite the opposite in fact. The complete about-face in attitude between the two left Gokudera somewhat reeling. At first, the Tenth was trying to get Xanxus to open up and Xanxus pushed him away. Now it was the Tenth pushing and Xanxus making small overtures. It made him want to scream to the heavens in hopes that somebody would explain what the hell was really going on between the two of them.

Frustration aside, he decided not to mention the kiss to his Boss. If he was angry over simply waking up with his head in Xanxus' lap, he would probably go on a rampage over finding out he'd been kissed in his sleep. As it was, it took nearly half an hour for him to calm himself enough to actually leave the car. When he did, he showed no sign of emotion to either Gokudera or Xanxus.

The city seemed to buzz around them, but the Tenth ignored it in favor of finding cover in the small hotel that had a room prepared for them. It wasn't a classy high-end hotel like Gokudera had initially expected when he'd heard about the planned itinerary. Instead, it was a small one, that could almost be called a tavern, set into one of the narrow alleys in Rome's back streets. There was no host or concierge upon entry. Instead, there was a bar with a bartender that silently pointed them in the direction of one of the six doors at the top of the balcony overlooking the pub area.

Following the Tenth inside, he quickly found the waiting garments meant for him and began changing. Off went his school uniform while Xanxus and the Tenth mirrored his actions with less haste. Before they'd even gotten so much as their jackets off, Gokudera already had his pressed black shirt, suit, and tie already on. He wasn't in a hurry because they were late. Rather, there was a certain atmosphere that said his Boss needed to be alone with Xanxus for a little while.

"I'll be waiting downstairs, Boss," Gokudera offered. The Tenth raised an eyebrow at him before nodding softly in agreement. Quietly, Gokudera slipped out the door. He tried not to react to what he heard Xanxus say as the door clicked shut.

"Your man isn't as clueless as he looks."

Deciding that he needed to grin and bear it, Gokudera slipped downstairs to watch the door and ordered himself a drink to fortify himself. He hadn't been in a Church since he was a kid, assuming one excluded the time he went to Bianchi's so-called wedding. All he really remembered was the oppressive feel of the place along with numerous admonishments to sit still.

Sitting still had never been his forte.

"You boys sightseeing?" The bartender asked with a questioning look as he wiped out a beer mug that was already spotless.

"No," he grumbled, leaning over his glass. "Heading to Church."

"Which one?" The man asked innocently. "The Vatican?"

"No," he answered, seeing no reason to hide it. "We're not heading that deep into the city. Just stopping by a little Cathedral in the slums."

"You're dressed pretty nice for a trip to the slums," the bartender commented with a raised eyebrow.

"It's called respect," Gokudera informed him while he sipped on his drink. "Plus, hell... We haven't been in a long time. Going to Church in the same clothes we wore during the day just seems wrong."

"Piety is a great virtue," the man grinned.

"Whatever," Gokudera murmured before tossing back the rest of his drink. Piety. Orders. Whatever worked. All he knew was that it was part of the day's plans that they had to change into formal suits. At the particular Church they were going to, it wasn't required. Yet, the Ninth had still ordered for them to all change upon reaching Rome.

Gokudera started to order another drink, but the sound of his Boss already exiting the room upstairs stopped him. He was fainty surprised that they were finished so quickly. The fact that they had, though, gave Gokudera some relief. The speed left no time whatsoever for the two to have done anything other than talk privately.

The Tenth and Xanxus were both in black, pressed suits just like the one Gokudera wore. The Tenth wore a red tie as the only mark of his status, while Xanxus seemed somewhat diminished without his wide leather jacket he normally wore as a symbol of his leadership of the Varia. It wasn't so much that he seemed smaller as he simply seemed less overbearing. Gokudera had to wonder to himself if it was really so much about his change of clothing or if it was possibly some change the Tenth had caused in the short time they'd been alone. Such miracles were known to happen around him, after all. Taming Xanxus' attitude problem would just be another to add to the list if his theory was correct.

"Are you ready, Gokudera?" The Tenth asked quietly, still showing little to no emotion. Gokudera nodded and tossed down enough cash to cover his drink before silently following the Tenth out the door. Rather than grabbing a taxi, the three made their way down the streets on foot. Gokudera took his place following behind the Tenth to his right in a rather possessive manner. Xanxus raised an eyebrow over his attitude, but Gokudera ignored him. He refused to budge even a little bit when it came to his position as the Tenth's Right Hand. His key symbol of that status was to literally be at the Tenth's right side. He'd be damned if he let Xanxus take that symbol for even a moment.

It took nearly an hour of dodging tourists and the city's residents before the streets began to narrow and the buildings began to rise up higher and higher around them. Slowly, the number of people on the streets began to thin until both Gokudera and Xanxus began thumbing their hidden weapons nervously. They were walking down sniper and semi-automatic heaven right now. The very fact only made the two become more and more on edge when nothing showed itself. They weren't in the tourist hotspots anymore. A hitman would have it easy if they chose now to strike. Counter attacking would be difficult due to the way that the road was channeled around buildings with few alleyways to give chase through. An assassin could easily get away across the rooftops before anyone could even achieve the same ground.

"Calm down, both of you," the Tenth ordered quietly. "If you pay attention more to the people standing openly in the windows rather than looking for hidden people, you'd see that we're covered very well. This is Vongola's district. No one is going to make an attempt on us here." Gokudera jerked in surprise and listened to the cue. Lowering his gaze from the rooftop, he was surprised to find armed men and women openly standing on balconies and in windows. They bowed slightly in respect as the Tenth and his party passed by, but otherwise kept their eyes toward the sky and the road in order to ensure the group's safety.

Gokudera blushed slightly at the oversight. He was too used to sneak attacks and ambushes with his team that he'd allowed openly armed civilians to go by unnoticed. He hadn't felt any threat coming from any of them, so he'd closed them out of his mind before he fully registered everything about them. It made him ashamed and unworthy. He made a mental note to send his teams through a training course set up like this in order to keep others from making the same mistake. Civilians like these could be a potential turning factor or a huge obstacle during attack depending on whether or not they were noticed.

"Why are we passing through here, brat?" Xanxus growled. "The Church is in the other direction."

"I need to make a house-call real fast," he replied quietly. "Don't worry. We'll still make it to the Church in time for Mass." Xanxus growled, but didn't comment. Both he and Gokudera didn't bother to hide their surprise when the Tenth abruptly stopped in front of a seemingly random doorway. He barely managed to knock once before the door flew open.

"Tenth!" A man cried, reaching out to grab the Tenth's hand in order to pay his respects in the traditional manner. The Tenth smiled softly at the tears of joy in the man's eyes while he repeatedly kissed the Tenth's ring and began spouting joy-filled exclamations back into the house in Italian. "Please, Tenth, come in! Come in! You honor us greatly with your visit!"

Gokudera silently followed while the man led them into the cramped house and into a modest sitting area. Family seemed to be bursting out of every doorway and every cranny, unintentionally making Gokudera somewhat jumpy. Before he could do anything about it, however, he found himself shuffled onto a couch beside Xanxus while the Tenth was presented with the best chair in the house. There was a flurry of activity while everyone began rushing around for tea and other amenities, all while the Tenth watched on with a sad smile.

It was only after everyone finally settled down that the Tenth finally spoke. When he did, his voice carried clearly so that everyone listening could hear his words.

"You have a fine home, Priscilla," he said with a small nod toward the matron of the house. The woman in question flushed a faint pink and bowed her head slightly in a combination of shyness and embarrassment. "Everyone seems very happy here. You've been taking care of them well, Bruno."

"You honor me with your words, Tenth," the man who'd greeted them replied with a blush. "I only do what I can."

"You don't have to be so humble," the Tenth chuckled. Sipping his tea, he blinked at the flavor and smiled warmly. "This is very good. My compliments to whoever made it."

"That would be little Maddie," Bruno supplied with a small nod toward one of the girls hovering behind where Gokudera had been seated. Gokudera turned in place to see the girl in question and cringed inside. She was young and pretty, but he wasn't sure he particularly liked how she kept glancing at him. It made him wish there was another open seat that he could take.

"Well, I wish I could stay and visit longer, but unfortunately..." The Tenth gave a heart-felt look of apology to the man of the house and was immediately given another small flurry of activity in reply.

"Here she is, Tenth," a older woman said, pushing forward a young child that couldn't be over seven or eight. "Go on, Kitsune," the granny prompted with a small stomp of her cane. "Greet him properly now."

"I-It's a pleasure," she hesitantly said with a small curtsy.

"It's a pleasure to see you again, too," the Tenth replied with a warm smile. She seemed to warm up to him in response to that smile and slowly came forward to sit in his lap. "So, how are you liking it here? Is it everything you hoped for?"

"Oh, yes!" She confirmed with earnest eyes. "Uncle Bruno is a great Uncle and Auntie Priscella makes me pretty dresses. Everyone here is very kind. Grammy is teaching me how to knit and the brothers all make sure no one bullies me at school. I love living here!"

"Wonderful," he praised happily with his gaze seeming to hit on every single person in the room one at a time yet at the same time. Grins spread from person to person as they slowly came to think that he'd praised them personally for taking care of the girl.

"I've missed you, Papa," Kitsune finally blurted, tossing her arms around his waist. Gokudera found himself silently choking on his tea at the title. "You promised you'd visit more often."

"Can you forgive me?" The Tenth pouted without noticing Gokudera's reaction nor Xanxus' mirroring one. "I told you before that I've got to work a lot. I came the first chance I got. Look, I even brought you a present for your birthday." The girl's eyes lit up while the Tenth dug into his blazer pocket and pulled out a small box. The girl squealed in delight and immediately began ripping into the bright wrapping. Once it was open, Gokudera suppressed the need to choke once more at the sight of a small locket that he'd thought the Tenth had intended to give to Haru.

"I love it!" She exclaimed, jumping out of his lap in order to show off her present to her 'Auntie' Priscella. Turning back around, she once more flew forward to hug the Tenth. Although, there was no hesitation this time. "Thank you, Papa!"

"Now, now, Kitsune," Bruno chuckled. "If you keep that up, we're going to be late for Church. Father Robert said he prepared a special sermon for you."

"Really?!" She squealed, letting go of the Tenth in excitement.

"Really," he confirmed. "So you and everyone else better go finish getting ready. I'm sure the Tenth doesn't want to be late for Mass." All eyes fell on the Tenth at the thought that he'd be going to Church with them and he smiled widely in return.

"One should never be tardy for Father Robert's sermon," he agreed. "I can't wait to hear what he's got prepared." Once more a flurry of activity erupted, although this time it was a mass exodus of people into the depths of the house. The Tenth sighed once the three of them were alone with Bruno. "She's grown a lot in the past year," he commented softly.

"We give thanks every day that you brought her to us, Tenth," Bruno replied quietly. "She's been a very bright light to many of us here."

"Has she had any more episodes?" He asked.

"Not since the last time you visited," Bruno answered. "She still has nightmares on occasion, but she doesn't seem to remember anything from before while she's awake."

"It's fine, then," the Tenth mumbled while he once more sipped on his tea. Gokudera couldn't contain his curiosity any longer, especially with the sudden lack of watching eyes and ears.

"Who--"

"I'm her father, Gokudera," he answered before the question even fully left his mouth. "At least, I'm her father as far as the official adoption paperwork is concerned. Truthfully, Bruno should have that title more than I, but there are circumstances that need me to fill that role."

"I'm happy being her Uncle Bruno," the man interjected with a wide smile. "It's better for you to be her Papa, Tenth."

"That fine as long as she's happy with the fact I can't be here with her at all times," the Tenth replied with his face once more showing a complete lack of emotion.

"She's happy, Tenth," Bruno confirmed with a firm nod. Before Gokudera had a chance to ask about the circumstances in question, people began once more returning to the sitting room. The Tenth smoothly got to his feet and handed off his empty tea-cup before going to mingle with the members of the family as they passed through. Formality seemed to disappear now that the initial greeting was over and everyone acted like the Tenth had always been part of their close-knit clan. Gokudera found himself introduced to person after person when he stood to join him.

The whole time while the family slowly gathered themselves in preparation, Gokudera was in complete shock. He'd never known that the Tenth had an adopted daughter. It made him wonder what else he didn't know about him. It made him wonder if he really knew his Boss as well as he thought he did.

"Gokudera," the Tenth mumbled with a toss of his head toward the door. Gokudera caught Xanxus' eye and the three slowly made their way to the exit ahead of everyone else. "I'm just stepping outside to smoke real quick," the Tenth soothed when people thought he was leaving already. "Take your time getting ready. I'm not going anywhere just yet." The air outside seemed fresh and airy once they finally made it out the door, in comparison to the nearly suffocating feeling created from the small house being overstuffed with people. Gokudera lit himself a cigarette alongside the Tenth before finally blurting what he wanted to say.

"When--?!"

"My time sense from back then is still screwy, but it was several months before Xanxus retrieved me," he answered sadly. "I wasn't hiding it from you, Gokudera. I just didn't have a reason to bring her up before now."

"It's kind of hard to forget to tell me you had a daughter!" Gokudera blurted.

"I'm sorry! Okay?! I really did just forget to tell you!" He exclaimed. Gokudera froze at the look of heartache mixed with frustration in the Tenth's eyes. "I'm used to you already knowing everything," he continued. "Plus, it's not like I'm really her Papa. I just come in on occasion, give her pretty trinkets and pat her on the head and then go on my merry fucking way. Bruno is the one that's really her damn father! It's just my name on the paperwork!"

"You really don't know the fucking meaning of moderation, do you?" Xanxus scoffed from where he was listening while he leaned up against the house.

"I don't need to hear that shit from you," the Tenth replied angrily before turning back to Gokduera. "I'll tell you the whole story later. Right now, we've got a way into the Church. It'll be harder for people to notice me in the middle of a crowd. So just hold your questions until later. I've got enough on my plate as it is."

"Alright, Boss," Gokudera agreed. His agreement came at a good time, too, since the family chose that time to exit the house en masse. The Tenth smiled widely at the sight of all the people, but this time Gokudera could tell that it was a fake one. In seemingly familial bliss, he took up his daughter's hand and began walking in the direction of the Cathedral. Along the way, their group seemed to add more and more people until the whole street was filled with a massive mob heading toward evening Mass.

Services were held daily at this particular Cathedral regardless of whether people came or not. To outsiders, it would seem as if the sudden crowd was due to the little girl's birthday. The truth was much different though. Word had spread through the Families in this district that the Tenth had passed through in Church clothes. It hadn't taken long for everyone to realize he planned on going to Friday Evening Mass. Once they'd figured out that far, they'd invited themselves along with him.

The only problem was that with everyone walking beside them in ignorant bliss, no one was warning off would-be hitmen with attentiveness. Even with both Gokudera and Xanxus once more secretly thumbing their weapons and scanning the rooftops as they reached the edges of Vongola's territory, the sound of gunfire caught them by surprise. The Tenth reacted faster than anyone to the sound. Raising a single hand, a shield of Flame spread over the heads of the crowd, deflecting the bullets aimed for his head while people ducked automatically for cover.

Seeing that he was safe, Gokudera leaped into action. The sound of gunfire had come from ahead of them rather than behind, so Gokudera used a random man as a stepping stone to jump over the crowd and give chase. He caught sight of a head peaking up over the rooftop for a single moment before it ducked back down. Thankfully, his eyes lit on a carved piece of statuary within jumping distance of that particular rooftop. Scrambling up it with no thought as to what it was of, Gokudera gained access to the roof.

The would-be sniper was already retreating. Gokudera gave chase at his top speed, grumbling the whole time over the slate roofs in this quarter of the city. He spat a curse when the man ahead of him jumped down into one of the few alleyways between streets before Gokudera could do more than prepare a bomb. Automatically, Gokudera jumped down after him.

The hitman was dead before Gokudera landed.

Gokudera stared with a blank mind. His Boss had gotten there ahead of him. He'd even had time to roll up his sleeves before crushing the hitman's skull with a single hit. Blood was sprayed across the wall behind him from the force of the blow. And the Tenth wasn't stopping with that. Gokudera's eyes widened when he began turning the man to ash piece by piece. By the time he was completely finished, nothing but the blood spray remained, which was quickly turned into a black stain on the wall instead of a red one.

"Boss...?" Gokudera inquired worriedly once he was done. The Tenth merely stood in place, staring at the charred wall with a complete lack of feeling in his eyes. Then he began laughing softly. Gokudera choked when the sound got louder, turning into a sound that was like a dagger in his heart. Standing, Gokudera quickly darted forward to shake his beloved Boss, wanting nothing more than to get that laughter to stop. His Boss wouldn't laugh after killing someone! Never! NEVER! "Stop it, Boss!" He cried in growing panic. "Get a hold of yourself!"

"Sorry, Gokudera," he chuckled, wiping tears out of his eyes from where he'd been laughing so hard. Gokudera let him go, but his next words made him wish he could shake him a little more. "It's just that I didn't feel anything. After all this time, this is the first time I've been able to kill without feeling a single thing. It just seemed funny because I'm on my way to Confession. Are you supposed to Confess things you don't feel sorry for?"

The dagger in Gokudera's heart twisted.

"Boss..." He was at a complete loss of how to respond. He was almost grateful that Xanxus chose that moment to find them and drop down into the alley.

"The crowd is going to meet us outside the Church," he growled, looking over the burnt bloodstains with a raised eyebrow. "I see you've got shit taken care of here. Who was he?"

"Don't know, don't care," the Tenth replied lazily.

"What do you mean you don't know and don't care?" Xanxus growled with narrowed eyes. "You caught the son of a bitch, right?"

"Boss..." Gokudera interjected, "Boss killed him before bothering to question him."

"Oops," the Tenth added with a sheepish grin that left Gokudera feeling faintly sick. Then he gave a nonchalant shrug and began unrolling his sleeves. "I did, didn't I? Ah, well, he had it coming. He shouldn't have tried to shoot me in the middle of a crowd."

"What the fuck's wrong with you, brat?" Xanxus snapped, reaching forward to cuff the Tenth across the back of his head. Gokudera grimaced, but couldn't argue with the need. He had been suppressing the sudden desire to do it himself.

"Absolutely nothing," the Tenth answered, seemingly ignoring the strike. "I've never felt better, actually."

"You're fucking insane," someone said. Gokudera lurched in place and covered his mouth, realizing in a horrified instant that he'd been the one to say it. The Tenth stared at him with wide eyes, having never been told that by his Right Hand. Especially not in such a rude manner. Then the Tenth's face softened and he looked away, showing a small sign of his normal self.

"Maybe you're right," he whispered painfully.

"Come on, Boss," Gokudera replied, somewhat relieved by the small glimmering of hope. "Let's get to the Church. Confession should fix you right up." The Tenth gave a small, numb nod before leading the way. Xanxus raised an eyebrow over the Tenth's abrupt mood-swing, but seemed to understand he needed to keep his mouth shut.

To his credit, the Tenth didn't have a drop of blood on him, despite the brutal method he'd chose for killing. What blood there might have been on his Gloves had been burnt away and dusted off like it was nothing. He was also able to plaster that fake smile on his face that no one was able to see through. No one except Gokudera, that was. It was painful to watch him interact with the crowd once they regrouped with them. The lies fell from his lips with complete ease while he told them that the criminal had been handed over to the police. It was a sad fact that much of what they did would forever be on a need-to-know basis, but he'd never thought he'd see the day where it was easy.

Such ease felt wrong, although he couldn't say exactly why. Wasn't this what they'd been training to do? Kill, lie, cheat, and deal with complete ease? Then he realized the problem. They were supposed to do it easily, but that didn't mean they were supposed to be comfortable with it. If they became heartless, they were no different from their Rivals. And the Tenth looked to be completely comfortable with himself despite what he'd just done.

Gokudera kept his mouth shut while the crowd filed into the Cathedral. Father Robert greeted them as they went through the door without giving them any extra attention. He was absolutely delighted that so many had shown up for his birthday sermon for Kitsune. He was even more delighted to see the Tenth, although he didn't shout it to the world. Gokudera could tell because how his eyes seemed to light up everytime they passed over him. If there was any single one of his 'flock' that he wished to see come to Church, apparently the Tenth was it.

The Tenth escorted Kitsune to a seat in the front row next to her Grandmother before giving her a hug and retreating to a seat at the back corner of the Cathedral with Gokudera and Xanxus. No one questioned him over his choice, considering he could watch over everyone else from the rear. It was also the safest place to be since it lowered the available lines of sight between him and the door. Gokudera eyed the stained glass inset at intervals across the walls, although he didn't look to admire the craftsmanship. Instead, he was looking to ensure that they were painted well enough to close off any possibility of someone finding a clean line-of-sight through them, as well.

Satisfied that they were, Gokudera kneeled for a moment in genuflection before entering the pew behind the Tenth. As the saying went, 'When in Rome, do what the Romans do.' Right now, they were indeed in Rome and there were hundreds of traditional things that one did. Especially when in a Church. It didn't matter if they were or weren't Catholic. They weren't going to insult the traditions and rituals of the house they'd come to for help.

Although, seeing Xanxus perform the same motions as everyone else without any hesitation was a surprise. As the service began, Xanxus acted as though he'd been going to Church every Sunday without fail. He did what tradition asked without a single moment spent looking around to see what he was supposed to do. He stood, knelt, and sat in unison when everyone else did, while Gokudera and the Tenth both fumbled in what felt like a strange game of janken. The sight of him handing over a book to the Tenth that had already been turned to the proper prayers left Gokudera somewhat dumbfounded.

Although, what truthfully left Gokudera gaping was hearing Xanxus singing along with everyone else. Without a book. He had the prayers and songs memorized, apparently. Even the Tenth seemed somewhat wide-eyed over it, although he pointedly didn't look at the man standing to his left. He did send one or two hidden looks of incredulity toward his Right Hand, though. Gokudera couldn't blame him. Xanxus and Church Services just didn't seem like they'd go hand in hand.

Then the time came for Communion. Gokudera stubbornly stayed seated while Xanxus led the Tenth into the line of people waiting to recieve a sip from the chalice the Priest held along with a small bread wafer. He knew it was silly of him, but deep down he couldn't honestly say what he believed in anymore. Taking Communion when he was unsure of his own faith seemed somewhat wrong, so he waited rather than take part in a ritual that he wasn't feeling particularly good about. Thankfully, he wasn't alone. There were a scattering of other people who kept their seats for their own reasons.

Considering his vantage point, Gokudera was able to see the moment that the Priest traded out a normal wafer for the Trinity wafer. The Tenth hesitated for a small moment before accepting it. A moment later, Gokudera darted for the front of the Church at a small scream. The reaction to the Special Bullet obviously wasn't what anyone expected. Even the Priest, Father Robert, was surprised as the Tenth fell over upon taking it in its edible form.

Pushing people out of his way, Gokudera stumbled to a stop upon reaching his Boss. Xanxus had caught him when he had fallen unconscious, but that wasn't what etched horror into their faces. The sight of thorns growing out of his forehead was. Even while they watched, the thorns continued to spread and grow until they began to completely wrap around his head like a crown. Seeing such a thing left Gokudera gasping for air.

"What the f--" Gokudera paused, remembering he was in a Church. "What's going on?!" He yelled at the Priest while Father Robert finally knelt down next to the Tenth. He cringed backward when Xanxus shot him a cold glare in return.

"It's a physical representation of an internal pain," Father Robert replied calmly. "It's the third effect of the Trinity wafer, but I've not heard of anyone bringing it out within my lifetime. From what I was taught, it means that he'd trying to bear someone else's pain alongside his own."

"Wayra..." Gokudera murmured in understanding. "I-Is he going to be okay?"

"He'll be fine," Father Robert answered with a peaceful smile. Then he turned his smile down to the Tenth as his charge already began to wake. "Good morning, sleepy-head," the Priest greeted. "Weren't you ever taught not to sleep in Church?"

"What happened?" The Tenth moaned, sitting up in Xanxus' arms. Gokudera grimaced when he reached up to scratch his head and his hand hit the briar patch that had finally stopped wrapping itself around him. "Huh? What--?"

"No worries," Father Robert soothed with an almost unnatural calm. "Let us finish the service and I'll help you to remove the thorns." The Tenth paled at the words, but nodded slightly. A sigh of relief passed across the congregation and everyone instantly became oblivious to the crown that the Tenth now bore. Moving carefully so as not to jar it and potentially stab himself, the Tenth accepted Gokudera and Xanxus' aid in getting to his feet. Rather than return to the back of the Church, several people offered their seats in the front row to them. Gratefully accepting, Gokudera helped his Boss seat himself while Father Robert continued the traditional services as if nothing had happened.

Gokudera had a feeling that even if the world was coming to an end, Father Robert would still finish his planned service. That kind of determination made Gokudera warm up to him despite his own internal panic over the briar patch attached to the Tenth's head. Thankfully, there wasn't much left once Communion was finished. There were several more prayers and psalms to sing, but Father Robert got through them with surprising efficiency. Within fifteen minutes, he said his closing words and dismissed the congregation.

He wasn't sure if it was because everyone had faith that nothing bad could happen inside the Church or because of their trust in Father Robert, but absolutely no one seemed upset over the strange occurrence. There were a few mumbles and whispers about miracles and such, but Gokudera ignored them. It wasn't a miracle that had done this. It was a side effect from a man-made creation. Even knowing that, though, he let them believe what they wanted. It harmed no one if they thought miracles happened around the Tenth, especially considering they sometimes did.

Yet, the seeming lack of haste Father Robert showed when he went forward to speak to several of his congregation before they left was irritating. Couldn't the man see that the Tenth should be dealt with first?! Father Robert seemed to sense his growing vexation and sent a pointed look toward the Tenth. Following his gaze, he realized that his Boss was quietly still seated with a pale face. He was pressing his lips together so hard that they, too, were turning white.

"Are you okay, Boss?" Gokudera asked worriedly.

"No," he snapped before once more clenching his jaw shut. Then Gokudera understood the problem. He was fighting the effects of the Trinity wafer. The first affect was to make him only speak the truth. The second affect was to make him speak of the things he wished to hide. The third effect was to allow others to know of the pain he bore by creating a physical representation that they could see. Gokudera's eyes widened when he saw the same flash of understanding in Xanxus' eyes. He began to jerk forward in an attempt to silence the man, but didn't manage to make it in time.

"If you could kill anyone in the world, who would you kill?" He inquired with a cruel grin.

Gokudera froze in place.

"Crimson Curtain," the Tenth answered with a look that said he wanted to kill Xanxus, as well.

"Why didn't you really tell your Family about your daughter?" He continued mercilessly.

For some reason, Gokudera still couldn't move.

"Because I didn't think they'd understand," he snarled with an eye twitching in anger. "Keeping it a secret was easier than dealing with their bullshit antics over it."

"So why did you decide to tell your man about it now?" Xanxus asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Because he promised to keep my secrets and I trust that," the Tenth hissed through clenched teeth.

"Stop taking advantage of him or else," Gokudera warned, finally able to move and speak again. Xanxus gave him a knowing grin over how he'd hesitated before completely ignoring him.

"One last question, brat," he said with a strange gleam in his eye. "I want to know whether you were lying or not. What do you really think about me? You consider me to be just another one of your dogs like the old man does. Don't you?"

"I..." The Tenth replied, openly fighting the effects of the Special Bullet. There was a look of sudden panic on his face. Sweat began to break out on the back of his neck while he tried to stay silent and the effects he was under continued to force him to speak. "I... I...lo--"

"What's your favorite food?"

"Hamburger," the Tenth gasped, looking over at where Father Robert had finally come up to meet with them. Xanxus had a poleaxed look on his face and Gokudera was sure that his expression wasn't much different. The Tenth couldn't have been about to say what he thought he was about to say. There was no way in hell.

"Taking advantage like that isn't right," Father Robert admonished. Then he showed his playful side. "If you're going to do it, you should do it like this. What is your image of heaven?" Gokudera choked, immediately answering the question in his own mind. Needless to say, Sangia was a very prominent part of it. He could only imagine what the Tenth's was like considering he was going to be married to two women before long.

"Don't have one," the Tenth snapped with narrowed eyes. Gokudera raised an eyebrow over the answer while Xanxus continued to be silently shocked over his own little revelation. Father Robert, however, knitted his eyebrows together, having not expected the reply.

"Why not?" He asked innocently.

"I've already seen what's after death," the Tenth replied through clenched teeth. "There's no heaven for me. Just a lot of pain while the Lake-Dwellers rip me to shreds. There's no point in imagining what I can't ever touch."

"You still think that way," Father Robert commented with a sad sigh. "I had hoped that you'd found some peace after the last time you came to me."

"Peace is for the peaceful," the Tenth growled before once more clamping his mouth shut so hard that his lips turned white. Gokudera grimaced as the thorns on his head seemed to grow in response to his words and stabbed into his forehead. In panic, Gokudera reached into his jacket to pull out a handkerchief for him when small droplets of blood began to appear, soaking the tips in a bright red. The Tenth ignored the offering while he stood with a dark look in his eyes.

"Come, my son," Father Robert said quietly in reply to that look. "We won't tease you any longer. Let us go so that you might find some measure of peace even though you are unable to live peacefully." The Tenth nodded and slowly allowed himself to be led into the depths of the Church. Gokudera made to follow, but Father Robert gently turned him away. "Return in seven hours and I'll tell you how he's faring," he explained. "Don't worry. The Confessional is shrouded from outsiders. He will be perfectly safe until he leaves here."

Then they were gone and Gokudera was left standing by the altar with only a dumbfounded leader of the Varia as company.


Gokudera continued to pace the streets while he smoked in an attempt not to panic. When seven hours had been up, he'd halfway expected for Father Robert to turn him away. The Tenth had said that he would probably take longer than seven hours. Then the fourteen hour marker had hit and he'd been turned away again. After that, he'd kept his phone handy, believing his Boss would call to be picked up within another hour or so. Then the seventeenth hour had hit. Then the nineteenth. At the twenty-first, he'd returned once more to the Church to get a report but had been turned away yet again with only the words 'He's still confessing,' to soothe him.

Now, it was a solid twenty-seven hours later and Gokudera was starting to panic. Although, if he was honest with himself, he'd already begun panicking half a day ago. His call to the Ninth hadn't helped any, either. The man had simply said it took as long as it took. Gokudera had dared to question him more about it, considering he was nearly ripping his hair out in worry. The Ninth, being the understanding man that he was, had answered those questions.

The Tenth wasn't confessing in hopes of forgiveness. That's why the two had termed it as a purge instead. He was merely seeking a release for everything he subconsciously held back in effort to protect those around him. The remorse he showed to his Family was only the tip of the iceberg, if what the Ninth had told him was right. There was a tremendous amount of pain that the Tenth couldn't let out. Not because he didn't want to, but because he didn't know how. That was where the Vongola Priests came in. They gave him a way to let out the heartache that otherwise couldn't be released. The act of confessing was only a medium for doing so. Hence, why they used the Special Bullet. If he'd been seeking forgiveness from the heavens, they'd have waited for him to speak on his own. Since he was merely needing to purge himself of his pain and remorse without any thought toward such a thing, the Priests were willing to give him the needed push to truly let out his feelings by forcing him to speak.

Although, the Ninth had said something else that Gokudera found interesting. The Priests couldn't give the Tenth a Holy Blessing after this was over since they'd used such a method, but they could give him their personal forgiveness. Father Robert, as a man instead of a Priest, could give the Tenth forgiveness. Although it didn't seem like much to Gokudera, the Ninth claimed that it helped immensely. As for the insane amount of time it was taking, the Ninth has suggested he eat and get some sleep before summarily hanging up.

Gokudera had taken the advice to eat, but he refused to sleep. Not until he knew the Tenth was alright. The image of him with those thorns stuck to his head was still bright in his mind, making him scared out of his wits that they'd grown bigger and possibly injured his beloved Boss even worse. Had his Boss eaten anything since going in to Confess? Were they treating him properly? They better not have slapped his hands with a yard-stick!

The mere thought sent Gokudera into fits. Looking at his watch, he growled over the fact that only twenty minutes remained until the effects of the fourth wafer wore off and there had still been no call that he was finished. Turning his feet in that direction, he was unsurprised when Xanxus appeared along the way, also heading in that direction. The two had went their separate ways upon leaving the Church, but always seemed to meet back up around the time that Gokudera headed back to get a report.

This time was slightly different than all the rest. Gokudera nearly fainted when he poked his head past the Cathedral doors and saw Father Robert kneeling down at the alter in prayer. Quietly, so not as to disturb him, Gokudera went in with Xanxus behind him. Father Robert rose at the muffled sound of the door closing, showing no surprise at their entrance.

"We've returned," Gokudera said needlessly.

"I fear he's not ready to leave," the Priest replied while the two slowly closed the distance between them. "He has asked for Sanctuary and we've granted his request. He'll be staying with us for several days yet."

"What?" Gokudera and Xanxus asked in dead-panned unison.

"He needs time," Father Robert explained gently. "The pain he's trying to overcome is not merely his own. He has asked for Sanctuary in hopes that he can find peace within our walls long enough to vanquish the darkness in his own heart. Surely you two understand why he cannot gain that elsewhere...?" Gokudera bowed his head, unable to deny the man's words. Thinking back to what he had to deal with at home... at both of his homes... there truly wasn't the kind of peace that he probably needed.

"How long?" Gokudera asked quietly.

"Three days for starters," Father Robert answered solemnly. "He's preparing now for a three day ritual Fast for while he's in voluntary seclusion. We won't know whether or not it helps until after then. He might need longer or he might not. All of it depends on him."

"Let me see him," Gokudera demanded. "Forgive my impudence in your house, but I can't just stand by while you're doing who-knows-what to him. It's my responsibility to make sure that--"

"Alright," Father Robert interrupted with a small smile. "I'll allow you to look in on him to see that he is here of his own free will, but only if you swear to keep yourself hidden. You are part of the world that shouldn't touch him right now, so I'll have you forgive the demand." Gokudera felt the need to spit at the condition, but nodded in agreement anyway. He didn't know much about the Vongola Priests, but he was positive that they had ways to enforce the protections that came with Sanctuary if needed. They were still Vongola, after all, even if they were of a strange branch that had a large measure of independence.

"I'm coming, too," Xanxus interjected.

"No, you're not," Father Robert corrected firmly, raising up an admonishing finger. Xanxus froze at the icy stare the Priest pinned on him. "I'm allowing Hayato because his desire to see Tsunayoshi is out of love. You, however, have a lot to learn. Plus, I told you that I wouldn't forgive you until you were willing to be a proper page-boy."

"That was over twenty years ago!" Xanxus spluttered.

"You still haven't apologized about breaking into the wine casks," Father Robert continued mercilessly. "And you haven't asked Father Lerrid for forgiveness for burning his vestments."

"That was back when I was a kid!" Xanxus goggled while Gokudera surpressed a chuckle. "You can't hold that against me!"

"I can and I will," Father Robert replied firmly. "Just because you've been going to Church and paying tithes, doesn't mean you've been given forgiveness. You can't gain forgiveness until you ask for it from your heart, Xanxus. Until then, you'll get no favors from me."

"m ory," Xanxus growled under his breath.

"What was that?" Father Robert asked with a raised eyebrow and a grin flickering along his lips.

"I'm sorry," Xanxus repeated through barred teeth, obviously hating how the Priest was manipulating him.

"I forgive you," Father Robert replied graciously. Then, he turned to Gokudera and prompted, "Let us go."

"Wait!" Xanxus snapped, staring at the Priest with wide eyes. "What about me?"

"I said I forgave you," the Priest grinned, openly enjoying how he was playing with Xanxus. "I never said I'd allow you to come if you apologized." Gokudera found himself fighting laughter while Xanxus' jaw dropped and his face began to turn red. Then, before Xanxus could get his mouth working, Father Robert quickly led Gokudera into the depths of the Church. They both paused once they were out of hearing range of the main Chapel and began laughing hysterically. It took nearly ten minutes before the two began to get a hold of themselves.

"Oh...my..." Gokudera gasped around his laughter with Xanxus' dumbfounded look etched into his mind.

"Oh, blessed me," Father Robert laughed beside him, wiping tears out of his eyes from laughing so hard. "I know that was cruel of me, but I'll Confess to Father Lerrid later. May God forgive me of my everlasting need to poke that boy's pride. He has too much as it stands. Yet, I have hope now. He never would have given in before. The last time I tried to get an apology from him, he caught a pew on fire before running out the door and that was when he was fourteen."

"Sounds like he was a handful," Gokudera commented with a wide smile, warming up to the Priest like never before.

"He was," Father Robert admitted. "He always had such rage inside him and never saw the need for Confession. He took what he wanted and did what he wanted and never thought twice about how he hurt others in the process. He's different now, though. I can't put my finger on it, but he seems much more at peace with himself. Less angry with the world."

"I hate to agree," Gokudera grimaced while he smoothed his suit back down, "But that's probably Boss' doing. They've been friend for a long time now, but I didn't notice until recently how Xanxus seems to get more subdued around him. He's still Xanxus, but he's... I don't know. He's just more subdued. He cusses less and he doesn't seem to have the same bite that he has when I see him elsewhere."

"I see," Father Robert murmured with a sad expression on his face. "He was willing to apologize because he was truly worried about Tsunayoshi. He doesn't show it, but he cares about him almost as much as you do. I wouldn't have though it possible." Shaking his head to clear it, he looked up at Gokudera with clear eyes. "I'll apologize to him later for picking on him. For now, it would still be best for only you to look in on Tsunayoshi."

Gokudera nodded and once more silently followed the Priest farther into the depths of the Church. He tried not to show any surprise when they started down a set of ancient looking stone stairs. He tried to contain his curiosity at mosaics and carvings inlaid into the walls of the aged hallways they traversed. He tried not to ask about the opaque shrouds barring the corridors that they began to duck under while they passed. However, when Father Robert led him deeper into the depths of the Church, he began to quiver in excitement over the ancient and mysterious quality that seemed to fill the air. When Father Robert grabbed a lit torch from a wall in front of yet another broken stone stair, Gokudera couldn't hold his questions back any longer.

"Where--"

"Shh," Father Robert admonished before explaining in a whisper. "There is a Blessed Spring down here that Sister Nego, Sister Argentae, and Sister Dragotea are tending to Tsunayoshi in. He is purifying his body in preparation for his Fast. This is a sacred place, so I'll ask you not to speak beyond here." Gokudera nodded firmly to show his agreement before silently following the man down the stairs. The stairs themselves quickly gave way into a natural cave hidden deep below the Cathedral above. The sound of water seemed to resound from every direction and steam filled the room before wafting up through natural vents, marking the water as that of a hot spring.

Taking Father Robert's cue, the two peeked around a large stalagmite and Gokudera had to cover his mouth to keep his gasp from being heard. The seemingly small cavern opened up into an ancient Roman Bath that could quite possibly have been once used for royalty. Mosaics were laid across the bare floor of the enormous cavern, making it smooth and brightly glittering despite its age. Stalagmites and stalactites had been carved into saintly images where they rose up through the floor or hung down from the ceiling. An altar stretched around the cavern's walls and was lit in an enormous array of candles, lighting the room as a consequence.

In the center of the room was the Great Bath. It was gigantic in scale, easily the size of half a football field. It, too, was lined and covered in mosaic tiles where it was inset into the floor, but the image it was supposed to be of was hidden under the cloudy tint of the hot water filling it. It was an awe-inspiring sight with how the water swallowed the candlelight and created the effect that the water was lit from below. More ancient statuary, placed at each of the Bath's corners, diverted the hot springs flow into it at a constant rate, although the water level never seemed to rise.

Then Gokudera's eyes finally found the Tenth. He was sitting at one end of the Great Bath with his back turned to where Gokudera and Father Robert watched from. Gokudera felt his heart clench tightly at the way his shoulders were sagged while the three nuns that Father Robert had named continued to carefully bathe him. Here, when he thought no one was watching and there was no point in hiding his suffering, it was plain that the Tenth was in need. Even from a distance, Gokudera could tell that he was in pain.

The sound of soft sobs reached his ears, making him want to cry in response. He suddenly understood the Tenth's surges of anger. If he'd been trying to deal with such heartache that Gokudera only now was able to witness, it was no wonder that he'd turned to anger in hopes to find some release.

Mistakes. That's what it came down to. The Tenth was hurting so badly because he'd made a mistake. It had been a mistake to let sleeping dogs lie. It had been a mistake not to question his Boss about all the things he'd done while he was locked away. It was a mistake not to allow himself to become more friendly with his Boss. His Boss needed him as a Right Hand, but hadn't he said it before? He needed him as a friend, too.

Father Robert smiled softly at the determination in Gokudera's eyes before silently leading the way back out. Gokudera knew what he had to do to keep his Boss from falling this low again. First, he'd ensure that his Boss came to Confession more often. Second, he'd spend the next three days practicing. He'd practice like there was no tomorrow. When the Tenth left Sanctuary, he'd have himself ready.

He'd call the Tenth by name...

To his face...

Without stuttering...

Occasionally.


Author's notes: Whew... done. Although, I still didn't get everything I wanted in this chapter. Oh well, I'll work the other stuff into the next chapter. Up next with the Guardian POVs...

Mukuro-sama!

Warning: It might take me a while on each of these chapters. Mukuro is one hard person to write.