*A/N: Warning - this chapter is filled with uncensored profanities. Please be advised.
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Tsuna's alive, Tsuna's alive, Tsuna's alive.
Reborn immediately slammed his hands onto Tsuna's chest, pushing Sun flames into his heart, forcing the organ to continue pumping. His student makes no movement of having noticed, but the Sun flames are immediately dissolved into his body. It's a good sign; Tsuna's body was eating Reborn's flames to keep its owner alive.
He's so occupied with first aid that he doesn't feel Hayato coming up behind him. The Storm Guardian is screaming for his boss and doesn't hesitate to inject his own Storm flames next to Reborn. Right away, Reborn can feel Tsuna's system moving faster, moving at a much more normal pace than a slow pump.
If this were any other time, and the person they are trying to save any other person, Reborn would have smirked and praised Hayato for having such strong flames.
However, he doesn't have time to spare when the person they're desperately rescuciating is Tsunayoshi, whose flame capacity far outclasses both of them, even with both of them combined.
There is a light buzz behind him, and Reborn recognizes many of the voices. The other Vongola workers have caught up to Hayato. They are screaming and yelling when they see their unconscious Don lying on the ground, frantically ordering each other to get first aid supplies.
Reborn clicks his tongue. Damn it; of all the times possible, it had to be now that the Ninth Generation, the Varia, and the CEDEF higher-ups were all out of town. Screw his stupidity for letting them all go at the same time.
Shit, shit, shit.
He bites his lip. Calm down. This isn't the time to panic. He sees Hayato doing the same beside him out of the corner of his eye. Judging from the panic going on behind him, he doubts the other workers will be able to be of help. Shouichi seems to be given out orders, but the boy was never good with leading. Plus, if his intonation was anything to go by, he's just as panicked as the rest of them.
Someone needs to take charge of the situation, but neither Hayato nor himself could move. The moment they do, Tsuna will die.
"Octopus-head!"
Reborn lets out a small sigh of relief. He shifts his body so Mukuro and Chrome could help. The Mists don't ask for any instructions; years of being partners with Hayato have long since given them an understanding of each other. They begin pouring indigo flares straight into Tsuna's heart.
Hayato readjusts into a crouch and gives Reborn a look for confirmation.
The former Arcobaleno gives him a strained smirk. Thank god Tsuna's Guardians aren't as idiotic as he is.
"Go, Hayato. We can handle it here."
Tsuna's second-in-command nods and lifts himself from his Don's side. The Storm goes straight to barking orders at the other people.
"Irie and Spanner! Get the ambulance ready to go to Millefiore-Cavallone Hospital! Giannini, stop crying and help them out! Also, someone call Byakuran to meet us there, with some Sun users!"
Reborn tries not to see Hayato's shaking knees and clenched fist.
He turns back to his student, who continues to lay unconscious beneath them. Most of the visible burns and cuts have been mended, but several of Tsuna's organs remain damaged. Mukuro quickly makes illusions to substitute, though all three of them know it won't be able to last long.
A large, white, bulletproof van screeches to a halt beside them. Shouichi screams at the top of his lungs from the passenger's seat beside Spanner.
"Hayato-kun, Reborn-san! We're ready to go!"
Mukuro doesn't wait for either of their orders before channeling illusions to carry Tsuna onto the vehicle. He lifts Reborn and Chrome too, so they can continue feeding flames while they transport him.
Hayato is about to lift himself on after them, when Mukuro pushes him back.
"Absolutely not, you octopus. You have something else to do." The Mist points to the remaining workers, scrambling around the mansion courtyard.
Reborn nods in agreement. "Stay, Hayato. You're the only executive right now capable of maintaining order. We'll be with Tsunayoshi for now."
The Storm growls in irritation, but jumps off the van.
"Don't you dare let him die, pineapple. Don't you dare."
Mukuro smiles. "He's not dying till I kill him, you octopus."
Roughly translated to: I'm never going to let him die.
Despite the circumstances, Reborn finds himself smiling. Tsuna's Guardians may be connected through their Sky, but they are family. Regardless of what they might say otherwise.
He turns to Spanner.
"Make it quick, Spanner. We don't have time."
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Reborn wants to kill the marshmallow-loving idiot when he hears from the head butler that Byakuran had left early in the morning to clean up some illicit gambling house six hours away. Even worse, he took most of his and Uni's Guardians with him.
Leaving the hospital with minimal flame-users.
Why, just why, is life so damn complicated? Is it that hard for these hyperactive, over-virtuous, justice-loving dumbshits to stay in one place for one day!? For one damn day!?
"That piece of marshmallow trash!" Mukuro hisses, his trademark grin more than disappeared from his sweat-drenched face. Chrome next to him is making a similar expression, her remaining eye darkening in a mixture of frustration and fear.
Reborn lets out a breath. "It can't be helped. Tell them to get all of the flame-injecting machines you have available. And tell both of your bosses to get their asses back here right away. Shouichi, call Hayato and tell him to come over right now. Spanner, do me a favor and call the other Arcobaleno for me."
The head butler, along with the two technicians, race out to follow his orders. The Mists got straight to helping the waiting doctors and nurses in transporting Tsuna into the hospital.
Reborn is about to rush in after them, until Spanner thrusts the phone into his hands.
"I could only reach Verde."
The Sun hitman clicks his tongue. Of all the people possible, it had to be the psychologically egoistic mad scientist.
"Verde. I need you to come over here right now. You're closeby, right?"
There's a cackle through the phone. "Oh? His mighty highness Reborn is personally asking me for a favor?"
"Screw you, Verde. I don't have time for this shit. Get over here, right now. Before I drag you here."
Another cackle. "As if you can. What happened that got your panties in a twist?"
Reborn lets out what feels like the thousandth breath of the day.
"Tsunayoshi was attacked. He's unconscious and about to die. Don't waste my time." It's unlikely that Reborn ever loses his cool, but he's at boiling point right now.
Verde, for his part, is quiet.
"... I see. I'll be there in five."
There really isn't much else to say. Verde, as aloof and twisted he is, loves Tsuna just as much as the rest of them. Reborn has no doubt he'll be flying over.
He clicks his tongue. This all could go to hell. He runs into the hospital, praying with all his life that Tsuna didn't stop breathing during the phone call.
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Takeshi's heart stops when he receives a phone call ten minutes after he and Kyoya tumble over in pain. Right after, they had rushed back home, only to find Lambo crying his guts out and Ryohei clutching his chest in a mixture of shock and fear. Nana and Kensuke are both present, trying to calm the Lightning Guardian down, despite looking like deer-at-headlights themselves.
It's when they're all together that the call comes in, as if on cue. He tries hard not to shake.
"...Hello?"
The voice on the other side is worn and only just covering the panic beneath. It is unmistakable. Takeshi places the phone on speaker.
"Takeshi."
The older Guardians narrow their eyes in fear. Hayato never calls them by name.
"Get on the next plane to Italy. Stat."
Ryohei lets out a quiet whisper, still rubbing his heart. "What… happened?"
There is a slight pause as Hayato catches his breath. A shaking huff follows.
"...the Tenth was attacked. His car exploded, and he's unconscious. Reborn-san and the Mists took him to Millefiore-Cavallone Hospital. His organs are barely working, and we're… only keeping him alive by pumping flames into him… but… we don't have enough flames."
It's not hard to see that it took a lot out of Hayato to say those words.
The people on the receiving end, though, are shocked to a standstill.
Kyoya snarls and lunges for the phone.
"How the hell did that happen, herbivore!? Weren't you with him!?"
"I don't know! I don't fucking know, and I don't fucking know what to do! That's why I… I called…"
Takeshi could literally hear the sobs from the Storm Guardian. He bites his lip. This isn't the time for him to panic; he's the Rain of tranquility, after all. He pries the phone away from Kyoya's hands, and pats Lambo's head to calm his crying.
"Ryo-nii, could you book tickets right now? Kyoya-san, we'll understand what happened once we get there. It's not going to do anything to argue now. And… Nana-san? Mochida-senpai? Could you look after the kids and inform Enma about this? We'll head out right away."
Ryohei taps Kyoya's shoulder, ushering him out of the room to get ready. He gives Takeshi a strained smile.
"Got it to the extreme, Takeshi."
Kyoya is still scowling at the phone, but follows Ryohei out.
He turns to Lambo and Fuuta. They are crying, sobs uncontrollable in their fear. He steels his nerves and gives them an apologetic smile.
"We'll go see how Tsuna's doing, okay? Stay here and be good."
Fuuta's eyes widen in disbelief.
"No, no, NO! We're going with you, Take-nii! This time, we aren't going to stay behind and wait! We're going with you!"
Lambo's voice is all cracked from sobbing, but he nods vigorously with Fuuta's words. Nana behind them does as well, much to his surprise.
"Please, Takeshi-kun. Let them go. I'll... also go, once Enma-kun has secured the orphanage."
Kensuke clicks his tongue. "You can't stop the brats, Takeshi. I'll watch over the base while you're gone. Sawada's… going to need all the help he can get."
Takeshi doesn't need an explanation to know that 'help' didn't only mean physical.
He tries hard not to cry.
"...Okay. I'll call Ryo-nii and tell him to add another three tickets."
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"Reborn-san! Our flames aren't working anymore! Tsuna's not taking in any of them!"
Chrome is near hysterics, continuously pushing her flames into Tsuna's chest. As though proving her point, the flames bounce off effortlessly from the skin beneath, as though recoiling from the body.
Mukuro doesn't say a word, but he wears the same desperate expression. He stares hard at Tsuna, both hands pressed on the boy's shoulders as he constantly lets out bursts of indigo flares. Again, they are repelled.
Reborn swears. Fucking hell.
"His body's collapsing. His flames are shutting down… they aren't strong enough to absorb flames of a different nature. Even my Sun flames will be repelled."
Mukuro gnashes his teeth in response. He lets out a poisonous hiss.
"So you're telling me he's dying and there's nothing we can do!? Don't give me shit, Arcobaleno! He's not dying, not when I'm here!"
The Mist is screaming now, the first time Reborn's ever seen him completely mad. It's a reaction that doesn't seem at all like the calm, collected, and sly Mist he's always known.
Chrome looks at him in fear, tears slowly welling up in her remaining good eye.
"No, there isn't anything we can do. We need someone with Sky flames… our flames won't work anymore. Harmonizing Sky flames are all we can hope for now."
Mukuro clenches his teeth harder. "FUCKING HELL!"
Reborn wants to do the same. The one thing they don't have right now is Sky flames. Byakuran and Uni were both notified right away, but it would take them more than two hours to get back. The Ninth, Dino, and Xanxus three hours.
Tsuna's body won't last that long.
Damn it all to hell. This is the one time Reborn curses the world for making Tsuna a Sky.
Right when he's about to pull Mukuro from his spot, the door slams open. Leon shifts into a gun, ready for Reborn to attack the new intruder.
Instead, his back is met with a familiar warmth. Black hair and a strong smell of ash and smoke waft Reborn's nose.
"Move it, pineapple-trash."
Mukuro whips around to retort, but quickly does as ordered when he realizes who the newcomer is. He hates listening to anyone other than Tsunayoshi, but he'll make an exception this time.
Reborn heaves a sigh of relief.
Xanxus slams a hand (much too hard for Reborn to like) on Tsuna's chest, and a blast of Sky flames flow straight down. Tsuna's body absorbs them like a sponge to water.
Thank god, thank god, thank god.
Reborn doesn't question why Xanxus was here, when he should be in England, but Reborn is quite literally kissing the ground the Varia leader walks on right now.
The Varia leader doesn't say anything, focused on keeping his boss alive. He only speaks up once to give them an order.
"Oi, Arcobaleno. Mist-trashes. Get out of here. Your flames are so far gone you all look like pieces of shit."
Mukuro growls, but Chrome holds him back.
She gives Xanxus a relieved smile. She's still nervous, Reborn can see; still terrified about Tsuna, but her fatigue is eating away at her.
"Thank you, Xanxus-san. Mukuro-sama, we should go. We won't be any help with how this is going."
Mukuro doesn't make a move.
It almost looks like Chrome is rolling her eyes when she tugs on the illusionist's jacket sleeve.
"Mukuro-sama… if you don't rest, I will be the one on the hospital bed." Her voice is firm as she tiredly pats her stomach.
Mukuro hisses another string of profanities before threatening Xanxus again.
"If Vongola dies, I'll kill you."
It's an empty threat, filled with frustration at his own uselessness. The Mist Guardian drags himself out, exhaustion coming off him in waves.
Reborn takes one last glance at the Varia leader, who has gone quiet as he works on healing his student, before exiting the hospital room himself.
He smiles at the sight.
The man, despite his hard and angry exterior, was really a softy at heart.
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Xanxus doesn't know how many obscene words he lets out when he takes in Tsunayoshi's condition. It's much worse than he expected; the baby boss was almost dead, for god's sake. He has no doubt if the Mist-trashes and Reborn hadn't been injecting their flames continuously, the baby boss' system would have completely shut down.
"Fucking shit, baby boss. What the hell were you thinking, letting yourself become such a useless pile of trash, huh!?"
Tsuna doesn't respond.
"Damn it fucking all to hell…"
He yells at the unconscious man beneath him, but he yells at himself more than that.
What the hell was he thinking, letting the brat stay on his own!? He had known, months ago, that the brat was pushing himself too hard. He fucking knew the brat would fight off his own assassins before telling him. He fucking knew.
And he had still left him in this state.
What a trash partner he was turning out to be, really. He has got to be the most dumbshit Varia leader in the history of Vongola, to have let his boss, the boss he swore ultimate loyalty to, come to this state.
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Byakuran and Uni run straight to Tsuna's room the moment they return. It took them an hour and a half, less than humanly possible.
Deisy and Zakuro rush in behind them.
They are met with a sweating Xanxus, whose brows were knitted in concentration. His trademark jacket was tossed to the side, ignored and left collecting dust on the floor.
"Marshmallow scum! Little brat! What the hell are you standing for! Get the fuck over here!"
The two Skies don't hesitate before diving to help. Deisy quickly gets to healing whatever wounds are left that wouldn't repel his flames. Zakuro rushes out to yell orders at the Millefiore workers outside.
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For the rest of the night, the three Skies (who are later joined by a panicked Dino), take turns providing Tsuna the aid he needs.
Yet, for all of their hard work, and even after his condition stabilizes from critical to unthreatening, Tsuna doesn't give any inclination of opening his eyes.
And the world comes crashing down on all of them.
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*A/N: Sorry if this chapter seemed rushed at the end. Thank you for reading until the end of Chapter 10.