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I don't own KHR.
Tsuna looked around him in the cave silently, feeling a little bit solemn. Chrome contacted Mukuro a few hours ago and brought them the news that Hayato had woken up. Not that this was what made Tsuna solemn, no far from it. When Mukuro told the rest of them, Tsuna had almost cried with joy as Takeshi and Ryohei cheered and Kyoya smiled. Even Lambo laughed happily, though Tsuna knew that was probably because he liked seeing them so happy, not that he actually understood what Mukuro said.
No, the reason why Tsuna was feeling solemn was because not long after that Kyoya gave them the gist of the plan to rescue Hayato and Chrome from the mafia.
And part of it required them leaving the cave...and never coming back.
It wasn't that Tsuna didn't understand why they had to move. What with the man with the yellow pacifier (whose name may or may not be Reborn, Chrome wasn't sure. If it is, what a strange name), the Ricci Famiglia, and the Vongola, it was too dangerous to stay here anymore.
But that didn't mean Tsuna wasn't going to be sad to say goodbye to the cave. It was the place where Lambo first learned to walk, where Tsuna lost a tooth by accidently bumping into the cave wall, and where Ryohei, Takeshi, and Hayato had a handstanding contest.
This cave...was the place they picked to live in after they ran away from the orphanage.
It...it was their home.
Do they really have to leave?
"Tsu!" Tsuna turned his head to see Lambo waddling his way over to him, his arms outstretched and a big happy smile on his face.
"Hey Lambo," Tsuna greeted him, grabbing and pulling him into his lap as soon as Lambo was close enough. "You're walking so well now, yes you are!"
Lambo giggled as he rubbed his face against Tsuna's chest affectionately. Tsuna smiled as he rubbed his hand through Lambo's dark-brown curls. It was hard to believe that only a few months ago, Lambo was a sickly baby who was in danger of never being able to live to see the light of the next morning.
KHR
"Aww…he's so cute…like a lamb! But...are babies supposed to be this tiny though?" asked Takeshi as Tsuna rubbed his hand gently on the new baby's raven-haired head. When one of the caretakers had gone to get the mail early this morning, she found a cardboard box outside the black iron gates, with the baby boy sniffling quietly inside. The caretaker then took him inside and after a quick inspection and bath from the nurse, they dumped the baby into one of the empty cribs.
"Don't worry Takeshi, some babies are just born smaller than others," appeased Ryohei as he reached down into the crib and grabbed one of the baby's hands gently. "Especially when they just got born to the extreme. But soon, before we know it, we will see him grow up to be a big, strong, healthy boy that lives life to the extreme!"
Kyoya and Mukuro then shared a look that made Tsuna frown. What Ryohei said made sense, so why were Kyoya and Mukuro looking...kind of sad?
"If he even stays here for that long, since babies are more wanted than older kids," mumbled Hayato as he stared at the sleeping baby with speculative green eyes.
Which was true if the caretakers' actions towards babies were any indication. The caretakers, usually cold toward any kid three and older, were very attentive to the babies they received. The caretakers even smiled at the babies, as they patiently took care of their every need. Hayato scoffed at the caretakers' kind deeds, saying that they were only kind because of the money the babies would bring them. Tsuna couldn't deny it, though he was just glad that at least the babies were free from the caretakers' cruelty.
However...now that Tsuna thought about it...none of the caretakers haven't yelled at them to keep their dirty hands away from the baby boy. And at least three caretakers have passed by the open nursery doors since Tsuna and his siblings have been in the nursery.
"True...what did the caretakers name him?" asked Chrome as she took the baby boy's other hand in hers.
"They haven't named him yet," Kyoya said softly as he looked down at the baby, who was currently whimpering while shivering, despite being under a blanket. Tsuna tuck the blanket around the baby as tightly as he could, but still the shivering did not stop. Tsuna frowned.
It wasn't really cold in here...are babies just more sensitive to the cold? Or maybe the warmth of the blanket just hadn't kicked in yet?
"What, really?" Takeshi asked, his head shooting straight up in surprise. "But I thought unnamed orphans got a name right away?!"
The baby was still shivering and not only that, he just let out a little cough.
A cough, despite being soft and short...seemed like it hurt the little baby a lot, if the pain etched on his face was anything to go by.
"Maybe they are arguing over what to name him?" Chrome suggested as she let go of the baby boy's hand and rubbed a thumb on his forehead.
"Yeah, that is probably extremely it," Ryohei added with a firm nod as he also let go of his hold on one of the baby's hand to rub his hand on the baby's chest gently. Tsuna's frown got deeper as his intuition began to whisper to him that the caretakers weren't arguing over what to call him, as well as that babies aren't supposed to be this pale.
Is...is the baby sick?
"Yeah that's it..." Mukuro muttered as he looked at the ground, like he couldn't bear to look at the baby.
Okay, that's it.
"What's wrong with him?" Tsuna asked bluntly. This caused Mukuro to lift his head so fast that Tsuna was mildly afraid that he was going to get whiplash.
"What..." Mukuro started to reply before he apparently saw something in Tsuna's eyes that made his sentence drift off. Then he sighed. "Oh what's the point?"
"Mukuro..."
"No really Kyoya, what's the point?! They're going to find out in a few days anyway!"
"Find out what exactly?" Hayato asked, his brow furrowed deeply. Kyoya sighed.
"The orphanage hasn't named him because they don't see the point. The baby is so malnourished and sickly to the point where unless he gets special treatment, he's going to die in a few days. And from what Mukuro and I overheard...the orphanage doesn't think it's worth it to give him that treatment."
For one second, solemn silence ruled the air.
Then the gravity of the news sunk in.
"No!" Tsuna cried out in horror as he reached into the crib, and grabbed the baby along with the blanket. No one stopped him as he held the baby close to his chest, as if that could stop the baby from dying.
Babies...babies are supposed to be happy and healthy! Not sick, miserable, and dying!
"What...what does malnourished mean?" Takeshi questioned, all traces of his usual carefree smile completely gone.
"Basically means he's starving," Kyoya explained.
"Ser...seriously?" Ryohei asked softly, his face and voice full of empathetic suffering. "Does...does it really cost that much to buy cold medicine for a little baby? And proper baby formula?"
"That or they are too lazy to give him the extra attention he needs," Mukuro responded curtly.
"This is...why can't they just give him to the hospital then?" Chrome pointed out, her voice cracking a bit as she took one of Tsuna's hand and moved it so that he was supporting the baby's head.
"Probably because they're afraid the hospital might want to look into this blasted place," Hayato reasoned gruffly. "And they would rather let an innocent baby die than go to prison."
Which...which was true. In all the time that he spent here, Tsuna never...hated the caretakers and the Head of this honestly horrible orphanage more than he did now. Tsuna thought that the babies here at least were free from the carelessness and blatant selfishness of the adults in charge here, but apparently, he was wrong.
Because the baby in his arms was dying, and the caretakers, the ones were supposed to take care of him, who knew how to save him, were just going to let him die.
This...this isn't fair. This baby just started living...why must death take him already?
"Tsuna...you better put him back down," Mukuro said gently as he placed a hand on Tsuna's shoulder. "We...you can't afford get too attached."
Tsuna knew, deep down, that Mukuro was just looking out for him. That he too was upset about the baby's condition, but he felt like there was nothing they could do about it. That he was just trying to save Tsuna and the others from utter heartbreak.
The same heartbreak he once felt when his two friends from the Estraneo died.
But then, the baby whimpered. Tsuna looked down just as the baby, with his fluffy, dark-brown curls, let out another harsh cough as he grasped Tsuna's white shirt with his oh so tiny hand.
And with that, a fiery feeling that Tsuna barely recognized sparked to life, spreading throughout all of his small body.
The feeling to protect, to preserve, to fight back.
"No," Tsuna refused, his hold tightening on the baby. Mukuro's eyes widened, though whether it was in surprise or alarm, Tsuna honestly couldn't tell.
"Tsuna I..."
"I said no!" Tsuna exclaimed, the fiery feeling growing into a raging inferno. "The caretakers may not care if he lives or dies...but I do! We all do! If they're aren't going to do their job to save him, then we will just have to do it for them!"
"Tsuna..." Hayato gasped in complete awe.
"Yeah, you said it extreme little brother!" Ryohei exclaimed, as he fist-pumped the air. "Who says that we can't be his caretakers?!"
"The world!" Mukuro all but yelled. "Look...I understand how you feel...I...I really do. I mean...this is a senseless death...but there's nothing we can do!"
"Didn't you hear what Tsuna just said?!" Hayato fought back with a raised fist. "We can take care of him! Heck, we will probably do a better job than the stupid caretakers!"
"I'm sure there is plenty of baby formula for him to have in the kitchen," Chrome said, her voice full of determination. "And there is probably baby cold medicine in the infirmary! I know I can steal some without them knowing!"
"We can take turns holding him and making sure he stays warm!" Takeshi added with hopeful smile.
"Guys!" Mukuro protested, his voice torn between frustration and desperation. "It's...it's not that simple! This is a baby we're talking about! If there is one thing I know about babies, it's that they are definitely not easy to take care of! Nevermind a sick, dying one! Man, we should never have let you guys come in here...we shouldn't have told you..."
"But we did," Kyoya stated matter-of-factly. "And now we must deal with the consequences."
"What are you saying Kyoya?" Ryohei asked.
"I'm saying," Kyoya said before rubbing his hand through the baby's fluffy curls with a tiny smile. "That we might as well try to save this baby herbivore."
Mukuro groaned as he buried his face in his hands.
"Of course you decided to join them Skylark. You really do have a gooey, soft heart."
"And you're saying you don't, Pineapple?"
"Mukuro..." Tsuna started to say as he took a step towards his older brother, his hold on the baby still tight yet gentle. "I...I know you're scared. I know that you're afraid that we will get attached only to get hurt if he dies in a few days...but...but that's if. As long as this baby is still alive, there is still a chance, still hope, that he will survive. We just have to give him that chance. He deserves at least that much...don't you think so?"
Mukuro, or anyone else for that matter, didn't say anything at first. Then Mukuro lifted his head and possibly for the first time since they've entered the nursery, he actually looked at the baby. He sighed.
"Man, he really does look like a lamb," he mumbled as he rubbed his thumb on the baby's cheek. The baby then chose that moment to open his eyes, revealing a handsome green color.
"Oh what have you guys done to me," Mukuro groaned. "Fine, I'll make sure the caretakers or any of the other kids won't find out we're trying to save the baby...if they even care."
"Woo-hoo!" Takeshi cheered as Chrome hugged Mukuro happily. "We're all on board to save the baby! Speaking of which...we need to name him."
"You're extremely right Takeshi! Hmm..." Ryohei mused as Tsuna and everyone else pondered silently. "Oh, what about Lambo?"
"Lambo?" Hayato asked with slight derision.
"Yeah, because he looks like an extreme little lamb!" Ryohei reasoned.
"I like it!" Chrome exclaimed.
"Me too!" supported Tsuna full-heartedly.
"It does actually fit him," Kyoya agreed.
"I don't think it's an actual name but whatever," Mukuro said with a shrug.
"Well...if Tsuna likes it..." Hayato mumbled. "Then it is a good name!"
"Then it's decided. We're going to give this baby, I mean Lambo, a chance to live. We may fail, but at least we can take comfort in the fact that we at least tried to do something about it," Kyoya stated.
Tsuna nodded as he looked down at the baby, no, Lambo, in his arms. Lambo was still trembling, pale, and whimpering. But Lambo was looking up at him, and Tsuna saw a spark of the will to live in his green eyes. It was faint, but it was still there.
And with every fiber of his being, Tsuna was going to help Lambo fight to live.
KHR
Mukuro wasn't kidding when he said that taking care of a sick baby wasn't going to be easy. There were times where Lambo had trouble breathing, eating, and sleeping. Chrome couldn't find the baby cold medicine at first and Hayato accidently burned the first batch of baby milk. There also came a point where everyone was more or less afraid that if they put Lambo back down in the crib he might die without them knowing so they started to hold him constantly.
This way, they could either prevent it, or make sure Lambo didn't die alone.
But then, miraculously, Lambo began drinking the whole bottle. He started sleeping peacefully for hours at a time and stopped shivering uncontrollably despite having a blanket. His skin slowly became pink and healthy-looking and Tsuna had forgotten the last time Lambo coughed.
But the moment, the moment everyone agreed that Lambo really was going to live, was when Takeshi played peek-a-boo with him. They were all in the nursery (Tsuna was the one holding him) when suddenly, right after Takeshi uncovered his smiling face from his hands, they heard it.
A baby's laugh.
Lambo laughed. And not only laughed, he smiled as well. And as Takeshi kept on playing peek-a-boo excitedly, Lambo kept on laughing and smiling.
There were many laughs and smiles that day, as well as a few eyes wet with unshed tears.
Just like Tsuna had hoped, Lambo became a happy and healthy baby, as well as the newest and youngest member of their family.
So when Ryohei overheard that the Head was arranging for Lambo to be adopted by a wealthy family, they all quickly decided that it was finally time for them to run away.
Mukuro was one of the adamant about it.
"Tsu!" Lambo cried as he lightly slapped Tsuna's face, successfully breaking Tsuna out of his train of thought. Tsuna looked down and chuckled when he saw Lambo's mischievous grin.
"What was that for? Huh?" Tsuna teased as he poked Lambo's nose, making the baby giggled madly.
"You look better." Tsuna looked up to see Kyoya looking down at him with a small smile. Huh...now that he thought about it...he wasn't feeling solemn anymore.
"I feel better," Tsuna said truthfully with a smile as he gave Lambo a good tight hug. "I mean...I'm gonna miss this cave but...I miss Chrome and Hayato more. I would rather have all of us be together again than stay here forever."
"And we will be together again," Kyoya stated with a firm nod, a proud glint in his gray eyes indicating that he was proud of Tsuna. "We'll just have to wait a few days more at the most."
Satisfied, Tsuna nodded as he began to play peek-a-boo with Lambo.
His baby brother deserved it for reminding him of what was really important.
So...this chapter turned out different than I originally planned. But I am actually pretty happy how it turned out!
What did you think of it though? Did the chapter flow nicely, were the characters in characters, etc? Please tell me whatever you thought in a review and I will update by the end of this month or early next month. Till then, have a good day/night!