A/N:

Thanks for all the reviews! Hahaha! Hi there to you @arisasonoda84, @foxchick1, @Levi1228, @ethdsjordan and that one guest! Thanks for the favorites and follows too. You guys are awesome.

So here is the first of three updates of the week. Hope you don't mind the grammar and spelling errors.

Anyway, go on.

Chapter Nine

He should have brought him along. He felt like crying or thrashing everything. He's a failure for being too stubborn not to follow his intuition. When did he ever learn? Honestly, he regrets not following it. He vows to never defy it ever again, he'll bet all his lifetime on that promise.

He took a shaky breath as he inspected the damage. Good thing the explosion only made a little hole on the wall behind his table. The place is thrashed, and Lambo was taken. The whole thing doesn't need a genius to figure out who did all this damage. But surely, Hayato and Kyouya will be very pissed that Lambo was taken.

Much more him that is already bubbling in anger.

Imagine them tormenting his friend, his self-appointed brother, to participate in something inhumane and painful. Poking him injections, labeling his capacity with numbers and such. God. He'll kill them. He'll burn them.

"What happened here, Tsunayoshi?" A toneless voice queried.

Tsuna didn't face Kyouya when he answered. "Bovino took Lambo."

Kyouya froze before bloodlust took over him.

"I was buying ice cream when they did it. I already told Hayato and he's doing everything he can to locate every single house the Bovino's have."

"Are you going to call the Vongola?"

"After I deal with this people." Tsuna answered then he felt a presence. "Mukuro." He addressed. "I want you to use your mist to track Lambo." He fixed his gaze to the mist. "Do it with Hayato, he knows where the Bovino Mansions are."

"In other words, infiltrate." The man interpreted.

"If it's okay, yes." Tsuna replied as he arranged the left papers on his table. He'll deal with the other ones scattered on the floor later. "Kyouya and I will be there as soon as possible."

"So I need to go to puppy."

Tsuna nodded. "If possible, free Lambo if he's held captive." He can't help himself from gripping the sides of the table in anger as his mind races. "Once I find out that they touched a single strand of hair on my brother's head, I'll pulverize them."

Mukuro started to laugh before grinning devilishly. "Affirmative, Tsunayoshi."

"Thank you." He expressed.

Tsuna kept arranging the papers before going inside his room, leaving Kyouya waiting for him outside. He pulled on a dark shirt, fixed his arm bandages and went out. They had a little chat before leaving. He took the keys for a drive, even though he knew Kyouya wants to do the driving instead. Hayato called him just as he started the engine, told him the place where he traced Lambo and informed him that Mukuro is already there. He thanked the silveret and hurried down the said mansion.

The moment Tsuna arrived there with Kyouya with his car hastily parked on the side, he stormed in. No. He wasn't in the mood for pleasantries, especially that he can feel his intuition twitching and wanting to guide him to his brother. Men poured out of their hiding spots before the duo can even step forward from the second gates of the compound. Tsuna looked at Kyouya, and the latter is already straightening his tonfas.

"I'll leave you here then." Tsuna bid as he walked forward. "Be careful, Kyouya."

"Don't be a herbivore, Little Animal. I'm a carnivore." Kyouya growled.

Tsuna shrugged and darted forward with his flames as boosters. Too fast for the men to follow or even catch. In record time, he's already inside the mansion, stealthily crossing the big ballroom with light steps to get to the lower chambers. He blended in the dark with his clothes and bypassed the guards who were guarding and panicking because of Kyouya's rampage upstairs.

Thinking he needs to buy a reward for his friend, he followed his intuition to a room. He halted when he felt incredible amount of mist flame oozing from the said quarter. He could only think of one person who's doing these. So cautiously, he opened the door.

He can feel Lambo's and Mukuro's presences somewhere amidst the thick purple mist in the room. He breathed out before letting his sky flames counter the mist. Deeming the place safe enough to enter fully, he walked in.

"Stay away." He heard a familiar voice threatening him.

"Mukuro? It's me, Tsunayoshi." He tried to say.

He put his arms in front of him as gust of flames tried to fly him away. He tried countering it with his sky flames, but the mist user is too strong to calm down. He can counter it with his own, but he doesn't want to burn the place down and force the other to submission that will cause a lot more disturbances. He was going to try convincing the man again to calm down when he felt two presence behind him.

Tsuna let himself fly out. Arms caught his midsection while a flash of silver suddenly disappears. The brunet looked up to Hayato and gave a small smile. Hayato gave a reassuring one, and Tsuna felt a little relieved.

Suddenly the heavy mist disappeared. Tsuna stood up properly and took Hayato's arm to go near to the three men at the corner of the room. Kyouya is behind Mukuro, who was slumped and out cold on Lambo's unconscious body. Tsuna dropped on his knees and checked the two for injuries. He saw a big gash on Mukuro's back, and possibly some broken ribs and forming bruises somewhere, while Lambo is pale, his face expresses pain and clothes are bloody.

"Did you really have to put a lump on his head?" Hayato deadpanned to the skylark after noticing the red spot on the mist's forehead.

"Hn." Kyouya smirked, satisfied.

"He just wants to have his revenge on Mukuro." Tsuna pipped in, earning a laugh from Hayato.

"I'd like one too." The silveret said. "Can I have a revenge?"

Brown eyes blinked in thought. "Maybe later? While we bandage him up? I know that's mean but at least you have an excuse to hear him groan in pain."

Hayato guffawed while Kyouya shook his head at Tsuna's craziness.

"So how's outside?" Tsuna asked as he took off Lambo's shirt and ripped it apart. "Did you kill them? I hope you didn't."

"Bloody but breathing." Hayato reported as he assists the brunet on bandaging Mukuro. "Is this it now?"

"No." A small sadistic smile graced them. "Wait till we get to the mansion."

"Drive." Kyouya volunteered.

Tsuna tossed him the keys. "Good thing you didn't got sick."

Kyouya snorted. "Like I'll get sick on that small reckless driving."

Sawada hummed. "Or you didn't bite me to death."

Hibari grinned. "I will."

"Bastard! Tenth will be busy later!" Gokudera admonished snappily.

Kyouya raised a brow, saying 'so?'.

Tsuna sighed. "Go get Lambo, Hayato. I'll take care of Mukuro."

"Short." Kyouya commented as he makes his way to the door.

"Hey! That's mean!" Tsuna pouted on the skylark's back.

Hayato sighed with amusement. "I'll get that Pineapple, Tenth. You'll have this brat. He'll panic if I was the one attending him."

"So is Mukuro." Tsuna mumbled before piggybacking Lambo. "Let's just hurry. I don't think I can heal Lambo's pain. But I can do first aid on Mukuro."

"Tenth. You can't drain yourself." Hayato scolded as he hoist the mist on his back carefully, not to aggravate the injury of the man.

"I won't. I promise you."

Kyouya led them out and beat every single soul that tried to get near, attack or even stand with them. When they got into the car, Tsuna started on healing Mukuro's back, deeming it not life threatening, then tried to soothe Lambo's pain and discomfort with his sky flames and some small whispering of nothings.

Hayato glanced to the rear mirror to check on Tsuna. The latter has Mukuro on steady position while trying to comfort Lambo's pain. He was also holding the mist's hand and hugging the teen. Hayato stared. He can see the fatigue on his friend, but the brunet is very insistent on staying awake for the two. Well, he can't be choosy now. He was in their positions days ago, but in much lighter situation.

Hayato directed Kyouya to a more safe route to the mansion than the bumpy one. The latter didn't dare shot an angry look on the brunet. His friend was just being cautious... And wants to have his own little fun by jumping on high rocks just to bump his head on the car ceiling. He'll admit he had fun doing it too.

Doing the usual security, Tsuna gaped at Kyouya who spoke in straight Italian to communicate to Franco. His eyes shifted to the smug looking Hayato. Of course. Who would teach the all mighty Kyouya Hibari with all the patience other than Hayato when he's out doing his paper works or attending Lambo's needs before the teen partly went out of his shell to interact with others.

They were welcomed by many men when they parked by the doors. Tsuna helped them up and took Hayato with them, wanting to fulfill his friend's wish. Well, the silveret did and sarcastically apologized before bandaging the man properly with the sun guardian of Nono. Tsuna was with Lambo, assisting the doctors with things he can do.

In terms of injuries, Mukuro took most damage. But Lambo was poisoned. Good thing Tsuna put those factors hovering the borderlines of their lives and practically saved them.

It all ended up with Tsuna laying on the bed between the two patients, asleep with them. Three beds were pushed together just as requested by the Decimo. The brunet is hugging the noiret teen while his free hand is under his arm, holding the mist's hand. Hayato also stayed, lounging on the couch while Kyouya went for the sofa by the window to take his rest too.

The doctors didn't bother them. They know the five me inside deserve their sleeps, especially the worrywart Decimo.

Tsuna tried to reach out as he watched Mukuro scream in pain after those scientist do things to him. He saw him get through hell six times, thus gifting the mist his red right eye with Kanji number written on it. He wanted to scream at them to stop. He wanted to pry them off him. But what can he do in a memory like this? Heck, he only remembered smiling that one time, when he watched Mukuro protecting two boys around his age.

Tsuna doesn't know what happen. He was sleeping and having this dreamless sleep, when his mindscape suddenly shifted. He was plunged into a full rollercoaster ride memory theme, featuring Mukuro. He doesn't even know if Mukuro is aware that he's seeing this. There's no sign of any acknowledgement.

And honestly, Tsuna's emotions are all jumbled up as he watched every single thing.

Mukuro killed every Estrano scientist within his reach when they tried to kill him.

He killed a Mafia Famiglia that adopted him and his friends cause they were planning to kill his friends and use him for their mafia purposes. But he spared a man who was innocent about all the ordeal, cared for them thus taking him with them.

They were caught by the mafia police, but they escaped with some friends.

Vindice are on their tails. But they evade them.

They went to Namimori, Japan to hide then left the man they spared there after Mukuro decided that he doesn't need to be included in their messed up hiding.Mukuro and his friends went to various places to hide. Jumped to countries to cities and towns.

He let go some of their companions to give their freedom.

They wandered for years, but didn't kill any famiglia.

His two companions were taken by the Estranos again.

Mukuro tried to track them but they were able to give him a big wound, left him with a broken weapon and escape for weeks.

Mukuro tracked them again on a hotel. He met Tsuna there who helped him have a good staff for his weapon.

He fought against Kyouya, played and watch with Lambo, have an argument and laugh with Hayato, and share companies with Tsuna.

He watched Tsuna get furious when Lambo was kidnapped. He went to Hayato for a specific location, infiltrated the Bovino, saw them injecting something to Lambo, and went wild. Then he went blank.

Tsuna opened his eyes. He let a sob escape from his lips before he sniffed and hugged Lambo tighter as he cried silently. He can feel his heart throb in sympathy for Mukuro and his friends. It was painful to even see them be treated like animals as they were experimented. To see them have no peace of minds because they were on the run. No proper rest to look out for any danger.

How can be the world be so cruel to them? They're innocents. They didn't do anything bad. They were victims of cruel people, the one who was wronged. And yet, they were suspected and hunted. It was self defense. They did what they have to do to survive and keep on living.

Tsuna let those fat tears stream down his cheeks while remembering the children Mukuro and his friends checked to free. They all died from the things the scientists injected on them. He wants to thank the heaven for making Mukuro live up until now. Cause to Tsuna, he is already a friend to him. Someone who granted him his wish even though they don't know each other that well.

"Tenth?"

"Hmmm?"

"Are you okay?" Tsuna smiled a little when he heard the worry in Hayato's voice.

"I'm okay, Hayato. Just some dream."

"Uhm... Why are you crying? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Tsuna peered at Hayato, not even considering of answering. "Can you be my messenger for a little while, Hayato?"

Hayato nodded earnestly. "Sure, Tenth."

"Lambo." Tsuna tried to console as he held the child's frantic eyes with his own, keeping the latter's head gently cupped between his hands. "Lambo. It's me. Tsuna. You're with me. You're with me."

"T-Tsu-Tsuna-Tsuna-nii..." The child stuttered with uncertainty.

Brown eyes swelled up with relief and happiness. He smiled indulgently at the curly noiret as tears dropped to his cheeks. "Yes, Lambo?"

"Tsuna-nii!"

Tsuna hugged the teen as the latter jumped on him. He hugged him tight, kissed his head and said sweet nothings. The teen kept on crying, saying his name and hugged him desperately. It was painful for the brunet to hear the child, he's responsible of, cry like this. It's even painful when he remembers what happened when Lambo woke up.

He was leaning on his headrest when Lambo started to whimper and cry. He had to hold the teen's hand and tried wake him up, but the kid won't budge. He even felt electricity shot to his entire system when he continuously tried, but he held on. He has to be strong. When Lambo shot up, and started to cry, Tsuna tried to approach. But his heart clenched when the child backed away from his touch, eyes looking at him with fear and hostility. So he did the most obvious thing, he calmed the teen up with a little sky flames before approaching again.

Tsuna looked at Lambo when the kid went limp. The noiret is sleeping, with a peaceful expression. He sighed in relief before gently maneuvering the child to lay down and put the latter's head on his lap. He looked at Mukuro who was still sleeping. He really thought the man will wake up first before the teen. He reached out and took a hold of the mist's hand before looking at Lambo again.

"Lightning, huh?" Tsuna whispered to himself.

Mukuro groaned. He's so not feeling well. Everything aches and he can't move freely. He feels like a metal being strongly pulled down by the gravity.

And where the six hells is he?

"Easy there." His head snapped to the source of voice. Tsuna smiled at him and offered some chocolate. "Want some?"

He stared at the sweets that's being handed to him before taking it and tried to sit. The brunet helped him up and put some pillows behind him while still sitting. He stared at Tsuna who was patting Lambo's head that was resting on his lap. Then he looked at the sweet in his hand before taking a bite.

He decided to look around and inspect the place they're in as his mind clears from the haziness. He's inside a clinic of some sort with four corners of the room painted with warm colors. Judging from the height when he looked outside the window, the room they're in is in the second floor. He noticed that the facilities are well-equipped and well-maintained. He can feel some presence outside but no ominous ones. He wonders where they are.

"What do you feel? Any pains?" He looked at Tsuna who asked that. "You've been asleep for a week now. You exhausted yourself when you saved Lambo. And went on some recovery because of your wounds. Thank goodness they weren't as fatal as I thought."

"Where are we?" He managed to ask, voice raspy from being unused.

Tsuna smiled. "Just somewhere I trust enough not to harm us."

"Tsunayoshi-"

"Let's worry about that after you recover, okay Mukuro? I'm sorry if I can't get you any water. Lambo is napping."

"How is he?" He whispered, eyeing the slumbering teen.

The brunet gave a happy smile. "He's okay. Recovering. It's a good thing I stayed with you two. He could've run away if he saw someone else."

"Bovinos are stupid." He mumbled as he bit another piece of chocolate.

"Yeah." The other agreed softly. "Thank you for saving Lambo before I got there, Mukuro. They could've done a lot more horrible things if you didn't do something."

"Kufufufufufufu. Don't flatter me, Tsunayoshi."

"Hmm..."

Both tensed up when the room's door opened up. Hayato came in with Kyouya. The latter glared at Mukuro before smirking as he went for the sofa. Hayato stood at their feet and stared at them.

The two have been their look outs for a week. They won't even go out of the mansion, not unless Tsuna says so. Though Hayato has been in and out of the mansion to do things he needs to do. Kyouya has been doing spars (fights) with the mafiosi of the famiglia whenever he's not in the mood to sleep.

"Ah. The pineapple is awake." Hayato sighed with mock disappoinment before going for the water jug. "Let me get you water then. Knowing Tenth's predicament, he surely can't get you water."

"Sorry, Hayato." Tsuna apologized with a sheepish expression.

The silveret waved a hand as he handed the water to the mist. "No worries, Tenth. It's fine. It's just pineapple."

Mukuro laughed menacingly. "Shut up, puppy. I'll stab you with my trident if you continue calling me that."

"Aw. Piney pissy?" Kyouya taunted with a smirk.

Hayato cacchinated while multiple tick marks appeared on Mukuro's head. Tsuna sweat dropped as Lambo rubbed his cheek on Tsuna's thigh, making himself comfortable. The brunet patted the child's head as he listens and laughs at the three's threats to one another.

After a non-stop threat throwing between the three, Tsuna forced Mukuro to rest some more. Their supper was brought to them. Whilst eating, Lambo thanked Mukuro for saving him. The mist just laughed in response. That night, they rested on the same place, but Tsuna was wide awake. Hand gripping Mukuro's hand while his other arm is embracing Lambo.

"A little more." Tsuna whispered to himself before closing his eyes. "Hold on for a little more."

He didn't know two people heard what he said.

"Mwahahaha!" Tsuna cracked up as Mukuro's piece fell all the way down to the snake's tail.

"I'm next!" Lambo cheered as he took the dice from the center of their board.

"There must be something in this board." Mukuro muttered under his breath, left eye twitching in frustration.

Hayato snickered teasingly. "Because you keep on getting one or two, and getting snakes? That's low of you."

"Silence, Puppy." Mukuro sneered.

Tsuna held out his hand. "Give me your hand, Mukuro."

Mukuro complied and gave his hand. Tsuna gripped it gently and made a concentrating face, lips pursed with eyes narrowed a little. Hayato, Lambo and Mukuro stared at him. Kyouya, who was just listening, looked at the brunet at the corner of his eyes. It went for ten seconds before Tsuna released his hold. Mukuro stared at his hand with Hayato and Lambo while Tsuna smiled happily.

"There. I transferred some of my luck to you." Tsuna giggled like a kid.

Hayato laughed. Lambo fell on his back cracking up while Kyouya snorted. Mukuro stared at the brunet before smiling then laughed too. Tsuna giggled as he took the dice and did his turn.

They're still inside the clinic, playing Snakes and Ladders on top of a low table. It was out of boredom that Tsuna started to rummage inside the room. No one stopped him. They were bored too. Their situation changed after they all perked up when he made an excited exclamation and showed the board and card games to them. They settled on the snake and ladder first.

It seems like Tsuna's transfer of luck worked when Mukuro got higher dots other than two and never seems to fall down on some snakes. The mist made nasty remarks on Hayato when he won two times in a row. Tsuna just laughed and gave some luck to Lambo, who was bugging him to give out too.

After snakes and ladders, they went for the colored and numbered bricks. They kept on laughing everytime one of them get a hard time taking a brick from a tipping building like structure. Hayato almost fell of the bed as he laughed when Lambo couldn't take out a brick. After that they went for cards.

Tsuna is so grateful of Kyouya for tolerating their crowding though. They had been bantering, shouting in enjoyment and laughing while teasing each other. If the skylark was in the mood, they could've been beaten to death.

They were in the middle of playing Go Fish when the door opened. Kyouya and Hayato tensed up when Nono's mist, Bouche Croquant, entered the room. Tsuna beamed at the man with a wave, the other hand is under the low table in the bed, grasping Mukuro's hand in a tight, comforting manner. Although Rokudou does not know that the man is a Vongola mafioso, the sudden presence made him tense. And instead of dropping his hand on his laps, Tsuna patted Lambo's thigh to assure the cowering kid behind him. Even if the Ninth's mist noticed the act, he didn't point it out. Rather, he smiled at Tsuna in return.

"Good afternoon, Tsunayoshi." Bouche greeted. "About your request, the news has arrived."

All four people surrounding the brunet tensed up when the latter's brow furrowed a little.

"Good or bad?" He queried.

The mist smiled. "Good."

He sighed in relief.

"A famiglia is also requesting some entrance to the mansion." The young Decimo tensed up at what the man said. "He granted the request, they'll be here by five days."

Tsuna's eyes narrowed as he nodded. "I'll talk to Grandpa."

"Understood."

The brunet smiled at the man. "Thank you, Bouche."

"A pleasure, Tsunayoshi." And the man went out.

Tsuna took a deep breath before smiling to the others. "So," He drawled before beaming. "go fish, Lambo."

"Ugh." Lambo groaned, making the others laugh again.