A/N: I don't own KHR or any of its characters.


I felt like I was going through every stage of hell imaginable.

It was one thing when she left to go back with her 'family'.

But it's a whole other level of anguish not even knowing where the fuck she is at all.

The other Vongola members have been missing as well… My brows furrow. Did she get roped into a Vongola dispute? Is she in a hospital somewhere? Is she being held hostage? But I'd had Kusakabe call every hospital in this town and the surroundings. There had been absolutely no sightings of her. I'd even been around the other herbivores' homes, waiting to see if she'd make an appearance.

The only conclusion I keep coming back to is… she went back 'home'. She left me. Again.

I clench my fists tightly, pain stabbing at my chest. It would explain why I can't get ahold of her and why no one has spotted her since our argument.

I don't care anymore, I'll go to Italy and drag her back if I need to. I need to know that she's okay. I need to know that WE'RE okay. That we can come back from this…

It hurts to even think for a moment of that possibility, so all I can do is continue on another sleepless night, searching for her in the streets of Namimori.

I trudge through the front door of my estate, collapsing in the foyer. More mentally exhausted than physically at this stage.

"Hibari-sama…" I glance up at Sato-san, the housekeeper of the estate. "A package came addressed to Hatsu-chan - I thought you would want to know right away."

She hands me a small brown parcel, then bows, taking her leave. "Thank you."

I rip open the thing with haste. It's pathetic, but this is the only clue I've had since her disappearance.

A cell phone? She did say her phone was destroyed in her last mission…. but if she sent it here then she intended to come back... She definitely wanted to come back to me. Definitely.

I open her phone and see a barrage of incoming texts, missed calls, new voicemails. Yes, 99% of them are from me, what about it. Amongst all of my worried inquiries, there are several missed texts from an encrypted number.

Message 1: Received the images. Mission complete.

Message 2: Mission code - 450021. Tonight.

Message 3: Mission incomplete. 10,000,000 Yen fine processed.

Message 4: Mission code - 470098. 2 Days of preparation.

Message 5: Mission incomplete. 15,000,000 Yen fine processed.

What the fuck? The list goes on for quite a bit, an assortment of incomplete missions and fines. It's fucking infuriating. There's no message about if she's okay, if she's even still fucking alive.

The phone shatters in my grip and I throw the remnants across the foyer.

"Fuck." I lean my head back, taking a deep breath as I gaze at the lingering clouds in the sky.

Whatever. I'll get her a new one. I'll get her as many phones as she wants when I find her. I'll get her the entire world. I'll destroy the Vecchio if that's what it takes to finally have her to myself.

I push myself up.

"I'll find you." I whisper into the wind.


I really had decided not to get involved. Really, truly, I don't want to be a part of this Vongola drama! I mean, a bit more than drama considering it leaves the entire world at the hands of the mafia, who have made it their singular goal to destroy all the other families. I guess that is pretty rough. BUT seriously, so exhausting! I get dragged into the future, I have to fight my way out of their base where they've been keeping my dead body hostage, and APPARENTLY no one even wants to let me out of our underground base. The audacity. And then my greatest amusement in this place - Kyo - actually ditches me here. He thinks I'm not going to go rogue? Please.

"I'm coming with you."

"He really would not want you on the battlefield…."

"That's really funny Tetsu, because I think I'm allowed to do whatever the hell I want to do…" I grin at him, daring him to refute that.

He sweat drops, knowing better than to go against me in this mood. Besides, could he really stop me? HA!

"Hatsu…"

"Tetsu…"

I should've known something was up when I felt Kyo gently tuck me in last night.

"I-I can cast enough illusions for all of us." Chrome supports me from the side with a worried smile. Ironic for her to worry about me, considering how she looks on the verge of passing out every five seconds. Though I'm not likely to refuse the offer if it benefits me.

"See? And besides, I'm easily the strongest here." Chrome looks at me with curiosity at that statement, obviously not really familiar with me, let alone my fighting.

Lambo pokes his head out of Tetsu's backpack. "NO LAMBO IS THE STRONGEST HITMAN, LAMBO WILL BEAT EVERYONE."

Wow, the one way of actually convincing me to stay behind just popped right out of Tetsu's bag.

"Lambo be quiet." I-Pin pulls him back into the backpack.

Tetsu looks conflicted, but sighs in the end. "Hai. Let's hurry."

Good, because there's still one more thing I need to do here.


Chrome's illusion proves highly effective as we gain entrance to the mail hall.

I sneak a glance at Hatsu one more time. It's strange seeing her like this. As sharp as ever, but so young. Though she might know a few of the details of what has happened in this time, she is so blissfully unaware of the suffering I've watched Kyo endure over the years. And… the suffering I've endured. I held her secrets and kept her friendship closely all through the years. She's my friend, too.

Please let this mission succeed.

A rumble shakes the building. "We're getting closer."

Hatsu stops abruptly. "A group is approaching."

"Where?"

She closes her eyes, hand against the wall, feeling the vibrations. "10 of them will round the corner in about 20 seconds."

I grit my teeth. "We need to -"

She waves her hand back and forth lazily. "I got this, I got this. Chrome?" Chrome nods and her illusion quickly changes to that of Yamamoto.

And on queue "3…2…1 -" Hatsu counts down, as she mimics Yamamoto's Shigure Soen Ryu. "1st form: Shajiku no Ame".

I'd forgotten what it was like to watch her fight. She's fast, and even now, I can barely make out half her movements. Unlike Kyo's brutality, she moves like waves of an ocean. One never ending motion. 10 figures drop around her.

Chrome's mouth hangs slightly open at the sight.

Hatsu grins back at us. "Come on, I can feel more commotion ahead of us."

Chrome moves to follow, before collapsing on the ground. "Chrome-san!" I kneel beside her. She's sweating, too weak to put any more weight on her legs.

Hatsu gazes down the hallway, a serious look on her face. She senses something.

"Go on."

She looks back at me.

"I'll catch up."

She nods, wasting no time and sprints ahead without us.


It's almost time now.

Rock debris falls all around me. The Phantom Knight standing proudly in front of me. Two swords at his side. "It's no use, I know the trick behind your technique."

By now she must be awake.

"I'll bite you to death in a world you've never seen" I smirk at him, slipping on my last three rings.

She must be fuming. She's so cute when she's riled up.

"Here I go."

I place all three rings, burning a bright purple, into the box. "Reverse Needle Sphere" Roll quickly expands, ballooning so his entire body envelops the space in a giant dome. My last three rings shatter to the ground.

It's for the best.

"What have you done?" Genkishi interrupts my thought.

"It's impossible to bring box weapons into this space. Your illusions are sealed, and the oxygen levels will decrease rapidly inside here."

"So a fight to the death?"

I would never endanger the only version of her I have left.

"I want to get this over quickly. I'm on a tight schedule."

"Don't think I didn't notice… those were your last rings. You must be confident in your martial arts skills. Even so, illusions are just to hide the strength of my swordsmanship."

But if I could've taken one more look…

He dives in and we exchange quick blows. His four swords against my tonfa.

Just one more…

"Without a ring you have no chance of victory. I'll bury you without mercy!"

No… I chuckle to myself - even one more wouldn't be enough.

"What are you laughing about?! Die!"

He slices at me with the power of all four of his swords. The dome shatters from the inside.

Even one more wouldn't be enough. One hundred more, one thousand more, one million more, nothing would ever be enough.

I shut my eyes as I fall. The shattered dome crumbles all around me.

"KYO!"

- What?

"YA, BAKA!"

My eyes open with a start. I need to get her out of here - no, there's no time, but I - and I'm drowning in her eyes as our gaze connects.

"You can let me go now."

My eyes widen as I open my mouth to refute -

"I'll come back to you. I'll fight for you harder than I've fought for anything else. I'll love you so much, you'll never have to regret anything again. Just watch me!"

And the guilt, the regret, the despair, they melt away. Replaced by something as simple as hope.

A blush spreads across my cheeks, as I smile more than I have ever before.

I've never stopped.

I close my eyes.

It's time.


There's another explosion as the shattered fragments of the dome collide with the ground. Dust sweeps through the room, as I raise my arm to block the debris from getting in my eyes.

"What a racket…"

That voice…

The dust settles and there he is. MY Kyo. Exactly as I left him. Sitting amidst the rubble, glaring at Genkishi with annoyance. "Who are you?"

Genkishi's eyes flicker over to me, analyzing the greater threat between us two. He's smart, I can see him piece together what's happening in an instant. Deciding in a split second the course of action. He draws his four swords, running toward me.

I don't have time to gauge Kyo's reaction, as I slam my ring into the box weapon. A torrent of water spins around me quickly. So thin that the edge of the water is a sharper blade than steel. Genkishi's blades slice at the torrent, pushing him back on impact.

"Should I play with you a bit?" I smirk.

"I'm tired of dealing with you Vongola today. I'll end this quickly."

I lift up my hand, watching the blades swirl around each finger with precision.

"Hmm I'm not Vongola." I swiftly jump into the air, diving for him. The blades of water clash with his swords. It's been awhile since I've faced a master swordsman, though I'd had to face Squalo multiple times in training. This guy is more precise. His technique is far less penetrable.

I sharpen my hand into a point, as the current collects around one arm.

But Squalo is far more insane. And insanity breeds unpredictability.

I jump forward again, dodging his first three attacks relying purely on my speed. I swing toward his chest.

"URGH!" He turns mid-air and my blade strikes his left shoulder armor, sending it clattering to the ground.

"Ehhhh, pretty good." If he waited even a split second longer, that would've been fatale.

I hop back as my ring bursts. I look down at the shattered pieces.

" - Eh? Tsk, these really are weak rings." I have one B-rank and 2 C-ranks left, not the best, but not impossible -

"Hatsu." Kyo calls from behind me, but I keep my eyes forward, watching Genkishi pick himself back up.

"Listen Kyo, this is going to sound confusing, but just trust me. In this timeline they fight with rings and box weapons. You already have both on you."

"Hatsu."

"Just slip the ring into the box and you'll be able to activate its power. Oh and we're in the future, which -"

"Hatsu." I can hear the desperation in his voice. "Look at me."

I shyly turn toward him.

I could hear the desperation in his voice. But god I wasn't ready for the absolute fury in his look. He's pissed. Like PISSED pissed.

"Did he hurt you?"

"Eh? Oh no, um, I'm not even in this fight. I mean, sort of right now at this moment I am. But I wasn't before." Damnit, I'm bumbling over my words.

His eyes scan my figure, lingering on my ribcage where I'd been injured when we fought. He pulls out his tonfa, anger seething in every step he takes toward me. God I've missed him.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah…"

"Don't leave my sight."

His fist shakes, glancing past me at Genkishi. Purple flames spew out around him. Wild. Powerful. So this is the power of a Vongola ring with someone as gifted as Kyo.

Genkishi flies toward us both.

"How irritating. You're interrupting." He inserts his ring into the box. Oh thank god he was actually listening to my instructions.

Out pops the most adorable little hedgehog, proliferating rapidly.

Oh. Proliferating like WAY too rapidly. Like we should get the fuck out of here kind of rapidly.

I laugh, turning Kyo's attention back to me as we both jump backward. How ironic. His flames are so strong he can't even control the impact of his box weapon.

"Try to catch up." I wink at him.

And he dashes after me as I plan our escape route.


She finally stops in an empty passageway that looks long out of use. Her eyes close, listening to all the sounds.

"Hmm… I can feel the walls move around - ah, that's something that happens here. The walls move. Future technology ya know?"

"Hn."

"But I can't hear any footsteps or human voices. We should try and make our way back to the room with the white machine. That was your original mission."

She takes another step and I instantly grab her hand to stop her. My fingers lock with hers. There's no way I've waited this long to say nothing.

"I… I know you probably have questions. I did too, when I first got here, but we should keep moving. I'll explain on the way." I've been living with this growing terror that something happened to her. Not even seeing her in front of me can truly dispel it.

I tug her closer.

She refuses to move and we stand there, stalemate, in a moment of suffocating silence.

I squeeze her hand again, bracing myself for the words I'm about to utter. Words that I won't be able to take back.

"Freedom."

"... Hm?"

"That's what you want, above anything else."

Her eyes flicker toward me, eyes wide.

"When you said I don't know anything about you -" I let out a strained sigh. "I do know you. I -" I love you. "I know you more than anyone else. There isn't anything I wouldn't do to give you that. Should I destroy the entire world for you?" I say, breathless. Exasperated. She needs to know, she HAS to know. Should I beg her to stay? What do I need to do to keep her by my side?

I force my expression to stay impartial, while my thoughts are flooded with chaos. Should I say more? What will she think? Is she still mad? Will -

And then her lips are on mine.

I lose any semblance of reasonable thought.

Time ceases to matter.

My entire body is abuzz with something I can't control.

Her eyes are closed, and she looks heavenly. She tastes so too. God it's so fucking good.

How many times have I thought about how soft her lips might be on mine?

How many times have I thought about more than that?

How many times have I thought of staking my claim on her for the world to see?

She lets out the cutest little squeak as I roughly push her up against the wall, lifting her up and wrapping her legs around my waist. My lips move against hers in deep need. My tongue pushes against her lips and she easily invites me in, deepening the kiss. I push my hips closer against hers, grinding roughly, leaving no space for even the wind. I want more.

She pulls away and I instinctively pull her back in. My grip on her thighs tightens, easily leaving bruises. My lips on hers again before she has a chance to rebuke.

To my very deep annoyance, she pulls back again.

"No." I refuse her movement away from me.

She pushes my chest gently with a chuckle. "We need to get going. Life or death situation and all." We're both out of breath, cheeks rosy, eyes glazed over. I take a snapshot of her at this moment, committing it to my most savored memories.

I let out a long, frustrated sigh as my thumb draws circles on her thigh. I don't want to leave. Even though I know it's a ridiculous thought, I can't help but think What if she slips through my grasp again?

"I'm still furious." It's desperate, but it's one way to get her attention to stay on me.

"Does this help?"

"What -" She nuzzles into my neck, sucking at the tender skin in a small love bite. I let out a small groan in response, cheeks flushed even more red than before. She does the same to the other side.

"...Not so mad anymore neh?" she whispers into my skin, kissing slowly up my neck.

God and even if I wanted to respond I can't.


A/N: I'll be ending this series in only a few more chapters, probably 4! Also it really heated up this chapter lol. But I felt like tension has to dissipate at some point, and they've both reached their max and have come to their own realizations in different ways.