A.N: Hey y'all! Yeah…I'm still alive…hehe. Took a whole week of Rebocon to get me into the mood to write again. Between the bedbugs, computer algorithms and the 9 to 5 work, I realized that it's here I always come back to deflate.

This is my haven and my passion and I wanna thank y'all for reading and sticking on to my story! And seryuTammi, you are welcome to throw me down the cliff since I had you in the cliffhanger for a while :p. Love you and all you guys for your patience!

Disclaimer: I do not own the familiar characters, unfortunately.

WARNINGS: Mentions of assault. If yaoi is not your thing, please steer clear, thank you.


"You performed splendidly today, Juudaime! I always knew you had it in you!"

"That was a close call, eh Tsuna?"

"Susume-sensei was pleased to the extreme, Sawada!"

Tsuna beamed happily at his friends while his chopsticks scanned the array of sushi his mom had meticulously made and brought for the occasion. While his dad and the Ninth chatted aimlessly by his side, Tsuna couldn't take his eyes of the empty chair beside his mother.

Tsuna stifled a chuckle at the speed Xanxus had rushed towards the wash after tasting one of his mom's sushi. Seems like his hardcore Italian stomach couldn't stand fine delicacy like sushi; or maybe it had something to do with Yamamoto pointing out they were raw.

Nevertheless, Tsuna took a hearty bite out of the array of sushi presented before him and savored the brush of the soft meat against his delicate taste buds. "You outdid yourself today, Kaa-san!" he beamed at his mother, never missing an opportunity to shower her with praises.

"I'm glad you like it. Have some more, Tsu-kun…" Nana gave her son an indulgent smile, pushing the assorted bento box towards him. Tsuna, however, didn't miss her concerned glance towards Xanxus' seat.

"Dan-kun is taking a while out there?" His mother pondered, her own plate untouched. "I recall Dan-kun being very fond of Japanese cuisine before but maybe I should have considered the chances of him growing out of it." Her voice took on a guilty tone making Iemitsu briefly glance away from his food.

"He's never tried sushi before, Nana dear. He is probably brooding in the wash on missing his favorite Filet Mignon." Iemitsu smirked before wolfing down his entire bento his eyes fixated towards the cafeteria's entrance. "Then again, he's been gone for more that fifteen minutes…" he drawled out.

"Maybe he decided to get something from the vending machine…" Gokudera offered, "Sushi's probably too good for him anyway…" he mumbled not meeting the Ninth's disapproving eyes.

"Gokudera-kun…" Tsuna admonished him softly. While he didn't expect him to buddy up Xanxus like Yamamoto did, Tsuna did expect them to be civil at least in front of the Ninth.

Guess I expected too much…Tsuna sighed though he knew he couldn't blame Gokudera for the resentment. He was also starting to feel restless now, what with his Will nagging against his consciousness to look for Xanxus immediately.

"Do you think he got himself lost again?" Yamamoto wondered out loud. "I mean this is not the firs—"

Nothing prepared them for the sudden tremor or the windows lining the cafeteria shatter violently outwards causing the room's occupants to duck under the tables. Dead silence filled the room as the crowd of parents and students stared at the disaster in front of them. And when a second tremor shook the building, all hell broke loose.

"Hieeee….! Earthquake, earthquake!" Tsuna squeaked, clinging onto the table in terror while his dad hovered over his mom amidst the chaos.

"What the hell is going on!" Gokudera roared, getting up to his feet only to be knocked down on his back as another rumble shook the building.

"Everyone! Run towards the emergency exit to the extreme!" Ryohei bellowed over the din, helping the Ninth to his feat and gesturing towards the packed fire exit.

"Tch…of all time for the boy to disappear…" Iemitsu grumbled under his breath handing over Nana to Ryohei and coaxing them towards the exit. "You guys go ahead, I'll get Xanxus!"

"I'll come too!" Gokudera rushed behind Iemitsu pleasantly surprising the rest. "Oie, Yakyu baka! I leave Juudaime and the rest to you!" he threw over his shoulders before disappearing down the hallway.

Yamamoto nodded his head, the earlier playfulness gone and now replaced by a man after his mission. He maneuvered not just Nana but the rest of the crowed away from the debris and the glasses and towards the exit.

"Come on, Tsuna, let's get out of here." He called out to the Decimo who seemed to have gone still the second Iemitsu had taken off. "Tsuna…" Yamamoto called out, placing his hands on the disturbingly quiet boy's shoulders and giving it a gentle shake.

"Tsuna…" he tried again, worry clouding his soft voice. "If you are worried about Xanxus, he's gonna be okay." Yamamoto assured him

Xanxus…

The second his dad had mentioned the name, Tsuna felt his Will encase him from within and crash against him like waves while the very name strangely echoed in the hollowed depths of his mind; pulling his consciousness inwards and projecting him astral images one after the other, like a stream of memories from behind a glass window.

And he saw Xanxus with his face pressed against a wooden door, his wrists held from behind and his feet dangling a few good inches from the ground, his bright, red eyes looking terrified and silently screaming for help.

And then he saw HIM…

Hollow eyes that drank in every shudder that rippled across Xanxus' body observing the silent tears that streamed down tanned cheeks with barely controlled glee; ebony hair that framed a vicious face that seem to relish the tiny struggle the body under him would sometimes give.

Tsuna heard his Will growl against its cage as those thin, cruel lips sailed over the taut lines of Xanxus' neck and those lissome but iron hands seemed to single-handedly cuff his prey's wrists within one palm while the fingers of his other palm mercilessly plundered the intimate depths beyond Xanxus' bruised lips.

"Arianna…" Tsuna growled, startling Yamamoto with the sheer hatred behind the sound. Protect, protect…his Will crashed and rumbled like thunder. That's all it matters…it chanted.

And before he could reach out to Tsuna again, he was out of the cafeteria and down the hallway faster than Yamamoto had ever seen him.

"Arianna." Yamamoto worriedly mumbled to himself, "I better ask Mukuro about him the next time he shows up at Squalo's." he sighed leaving the debris behind and following his best friend towards the men's washroom.


"You are an idiot if you think it's going to be easy!"

"And you are an idiot if you think I'm going to mess up, Stupidera!"

Tsuna sighed for the umpteenth time at the never-ending argument between his right-hand and Lambo. Sometimes, he wondered if he was the only matured one in the group. Then again, Lambo did have a rebellious streak in him, especially when he teamed up with Xanxus against Gokudera.

He turned around to see Lambo blow a raspberry at Gokudera who seemed to be struggling against himself from murdering the said guardian.

"Lambo." Tsuna called out in what he hoped was his stern voice. It seemed to effectively get the attention of Gokudera's kids all the time. He suppressed a fond smile when those innocent eyes gave him all the attention.

Very little had changed in Lambo over the ten years and Tsuna would like to keep it that way as long as he can. "You do understand the mission, don't you?"

Lambo gave him his patented giggle. "Sure. Get the supplies truck to Milan, steer clear of the Millefiore, no stunts and no talking to Xanxan about Squ-squ. Did Lambo-san get that all right?"

"Yes, you did." He gave Lambo a gentle smile, ignoring Gokudera's spluttering and send him off to bed with the promise of letting him sleep in after the mission.

"Can you believe that Ahou shi?!" Gokudera muttered in disdain. "Everything is fun and games until everything goes down in flames." He threw his hands up in exasperation and promptly walked out, probably to tighten the perimeter security around the borders of Milan and to double check the truck.

Heck! Tsuna wouldn't be surprised if he discretely followed the pair in the truck in his camouflage motorcycle, Tsuna snickered to himself.

He wasn't sure about sending Xanxus and Lambo, or the Terror Twins as Gokudera would call them, out on the mission but Ryohei was helping out in Japan, Mukuro was out with Chrome and Fran, Hibari was delegating the troops in Venice and Yamamoto…

Squalo said yes, Tsuna, Squalo said yes… Tsuna fondly smiled at the picture of Yamamoto and Squalo wearing matching rings, trying hard to ignore the wheelchair Squalo was seated in.

He recalled the times when he had struggled to decipher the stolen glances, the fleeting smiles and the gossamer touches between his Rain and the Varia Rain.

And he had more than once questioned Yamamoto on the pairs disheveled clothes after a private mission briefing, or the times Squalo would limp into the dojo and just observe the training or all those times the Italian would wave off his invitation to stay in the mansion in Japan and instead bunk in at Tsuyoshi's.

Tsuna couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips. Yamamoto and Squalo were destined to be together just like Gokudera and Haru. Him, on the other hand….

Tsuna sighed, stopping by the ajar door beside his room, observing the figure sprawled out on the bed in the dimly lit space. He felt his legs carry him on its own account and before he could comprehend, he was kneeling beside a snoring Xanxus, observing the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest.

Carefully, he let his hand hover an inch over his exposed navel and he meticulously traced the expanse of scars and sun-kissed skin until his fingers stopped inches from touching those soft, tempting lips.

Tsuna swallowed hard, feeling the gentle touch of Xanxus' breath against his hand. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and slowly leaned in until his forehead was tenderly resting against Xanxus' own.

"Xanxus…" he whispered, so as not to awaken the slumbering man. "I-I…" he started, only to stop and abruptly pull away.

"How long have you been standing there, Gokudera-kun?" he sighed, pulling the sheet and tucking Xanxus in before turning towards the door.

"Long enough to know that you scurried away, again." Gokudera pushed himself away from the door and walked towards the duo. "You should just tell him, Juudaime." He urged sympathetically.

"Xanxus is getting married, Gokudera-kun." Tsuna muttered softly before pushing past his stunned right-hand.

"Juudaime…"

"And I am happy for him. For them!" he bit out, ignoring Gokudera's relentless steps behind him.

"But Juudaime!" Gokudera reached out to grasp Tsuna's wrist within his own. "Are you happy wit—"

"He is happy." Tsuna abruptly cut him off with a bittersweet smile. "And that's all that matters."

Leaving a commiserating Gokudera behind at a loss to comfort his boss, Tsuna walked away, hiding his loss behind his lush bangs. "That's all that matters."


I can't believe I did this...

R & R, peeps!