Hello, I'm back! Here's the next installment!

Guest: Why thank you!

I don't own KHR.

It was times like these that Mukuro wished he hadn't gotten attached again. Being alone was way better than having your heart getting squeezed and twisted into oblivion right? But then like before, he was reminded of Chrome's smile, Tsuna's hugs, Takeshi's laugh, Kyoya's protective glare, Ryohei's optimism, Hayato's cleverness, and Lambo's joy. And just like before, Mukuro found that he didn't really regret becoming close to all of them at the orphanage. Even Kyoya.

That didn't mean however that he was going to let Tsuna off the hook when he finds him though. Oh heck no. They were all going through too much right now what with Kyoya…being sick to have Tsuna suddenly go AWOL (he learnt that one from the scientists when they were just figuring out that something was terribly wrong at their 'precious' facility. Kufufu).

When Hayato informed them that Tsuna had disappeared while he was taking a nap, Mukuro pushed his anxiety (from the news) and relief (that Kyoya was actually still alive, not that he will ever admit it) aside and after some quick deliberation, gave orders. He instructed that Chrome stay behind in the cave while Takeshi and Hayato search the woods around the cave, on the condition that the two boys will go back to the cave once it gets dark. With or without Tsuna.

Then Mukuro told the others that he and Ryohei will go into town and look for him there. This is where he was now, alone in the middle of town, with no pointy-brown-haired boy in sight. He and Ryohei split up when they reached town in hopes that they will find Tsuna faster, but so far, no luck. Unless one of the others has found him but Mukuro doubted it. Chrome hasn't contacted him saying that Tsuna came back to the cave (by himself or with Hayato and Takeshi) and Ryohei isn't yelling and racing towards him.

"Tsuna!" Mukuro cried despite the risk of unwanted attention. There was no wonderful answer. Mukuro sighed. He could deal with thugs or nosy adults, not with Tsuna…being gone for an indefinite amount of time. Tsuna had to be found. How else can he look Chrome in the eye after promising her that they were going to bring him back? Or Kyoya for that matter?

"Tsunayoshi!" cried Mukuro as his anxiety grew to the point that the ten-year-old boy could feel it closing up his throat slightly. Mukuro took a deep breath which eased his anxiety but honestly, not by much.

"What in the world were you thinking?" Mukuro muttered to himself as his eyes darted around his surroundings much how a fly darts around inside of a car with all the doors and windows closed. "Tsunayoshi!"

Once again, there was no answer. As a result, the image of finding Tsuna lying in an alleyway, blood on his body and his brown eyes open and unseeing, ran through his mind. Mukuro gritted his teeth and shook his head in an attempt to shake away the image.

"Tsunayoshi!" cried Mukuro, a hint of panic in his voice as he looked all around him. But he neither saw nor heard his little brother, only the stares of the lingering townspeople and their unimportant mutterings. And if that wasn't enough make his panic grow; Mukuro noticed that the sky was getting darker by the second.

Then, truly unbidden and unwanted, a memory from his past came to the forefront of Mukuro's mind. He was being led to yet another horrible experiment when he saw them. Going the opposite way, a scientist was dragging two children by the collars of their shirts. Two children who were clearly dead if their blank open eyes, their blood on their clothes, and their limp bodies were any indication. Two children that were no other than his dear cellmates, Ken and Chikusa.

"Gah!" grunted Mukuro as he immediately put his hands on his head and stopped the memory on his tracks. "Calm down, that's not going to happen to Tsuna, I won't let it!"

KHR

Tsuna had reached the middle of the alleyway when suddenly; a middle-aged man with shaggy dirty-blond hair and an ear piercing stepped out in front of him. Tsuna had no choice but to stop in his tracks.

"Hey boy, how are ya doin'?" the stranger asked, with an eerie smile. Tsuna's joy was instantly replaced with fear and apprehension.

"Ah…I…" Tsuna began to stutter as he peered behind him. When he did, the young boy saw that the way he came from was blocked by two other men, one burly and the other really thin but with a creepy grin. What was he thinking, taking this particular shortcut home, especially when it was going to be night soon?! And how didn't he notice earlier that it was twilight now?!

"Oh, don't worry, there's nothin' to be afraid of," the first stranger continued as he took a step forward. Tsuna instinctively took a step backwards only to have someone behind him roughly push him forwards again. "We just wanna know what's in the bag."

"Yeah, we're mighty curious," added a gruff voice that after Tsuna looked behind him, saw that it belonged to the burly one.

"Curious as cats," added the third scary stranger. Tsuna gulped as he clutched the plastic bag like it was his lifeline. What…what should he do? They can't have the medicine; it's the only way to save Kyoya! But…but maybe if Tsuna just tells them its medicine, they will leave him alone! It's not like its food or something expensive, like leather pants!

"Medicine," answered Tsuna softly but clearly. "Yucky medicine."

But instead of a disappointed grunt or anything like that, the stranger's smile only grew wider.

"Oooooo, what kind?" the skinny one asked as Tsuna's blood began to freeze.

"Who cares? We still hit the jackpot!" the burly one exclaimed. Tsuna's breath got caught in his throat as he clutched the bag even tighter. What…what should he do?

"Now boys, calm down, we're scarin' the little rascal," the first man said in a fake chastising voice as he put a hand up. Then he bent over till he was at Tsuna's eye level. "Sorry about them boy, they've been awful sick for a while now, and it'll be really helpful if ya gave us your medicine."

"Yeah, we're *cough* dying over here!" added the skinny mugger with a fake cough. He let out another fake cough while the big one gave a few fake coughs of his own. What should he do? Thanks to Kyoya's and the others' help, Tsuna knows how to fight, but he was alone against three big adults and he has Kyoya's medicine in his hands. But…

"So what about it kid?" asked the first mugger as he put his hand out. "Wanna be super nice and give us your medicine?"

But he can't give them the medicine! He just can't!

"No!" declared Tsuna before punching the man's nose with all of his strength. The man yells in pain as he stumbles backwards, his hands flying to his nose. If Tsuna also saw a flash of orange flames, he didn't take the time to wonder about it. Instead, seeing his chance, the nine-year-old ran like the wind.

However, he didn't get far before someone grabbed him by the back of his shirt and threw him harshly to the ground. A painful shock went up Tsuna's spine and he felt the breath get knocked out of him, causing him to start gasping desperately for air.

"Ya little punk! How dare ya do that to me?!" raged the injured mobster, his nose bleeding and obviously broken (Kyoya broke a lot noses back at the orphanage). "Especially after I've been so nice to ya!"

If Tsuna wasn't trying to get his breathing back under control, he would've snorted at that.

"Kids these days are just a bunch of spoiled brats, right Mike?" asked the skinny one of the burly one.

"Yep, but I believe they can be saved. They just need to be taught the golden rule," responded Mike as he menacingly cracked his knuckles. "So what about it Ricky? Want me to teach him the golden rule?"

Tsuna, who was breathing much better now, gulped as he held the bag close to him. This is it…they're going to beat me up, maybe even kill me, take Kyoya's medicine and then Kyoya will…

"Don't you even think about answering yes."

Tsuna gasped at the threatening voice and with hope, looked up. His hope was fulfilled when he saw Mukuro standing at the end of the alleyway, his trident out and looking absolutely murderous. However, despite the fact that Tsuna could feel Mukuro's bloodlust all the way from here, he knew everything was going to be alright now. Even though Mukuro was going to have his hide after he dealt with the thugs.

Go Mukuro go! So...how was it? Did it make sense and were Tsuna and Mukuro in character? Please tell me whatever you thought about this chapter in a review and I will update...hopefully sooner rather than later! Have a good night/day!