Sorry for the wait, but I got busy and this chapter was harder to write that I expected...as well as turned out longer than I expected. Hopefully the wait will be worth it!
I don't own KHR.
This was bad. Really bad. Because if G finding them wasn't bad enough, Alaude had jumped through the window behind them immediately after G told them they needed to 'talk.' Then Daemon showed up on their right with Lampo and Knuckle appearing on their left not long afterwards.
There was nowhere for Hayato and his family to run this time.
At least Tsuna, Takeshi, and Lambo weren't here.
"So...why are we just standing here?" Lampo asked after a few minutes of tense silence. "Why aren't we taking them inside and making them tell us what the big deal is?"
"Like they don't know," Mukuro muttered as he clutched Hayato (he was carrying him in the bridal position again) closer to his chest. Hayato found himself clutching Mukuro's shirt tighter as he watched Kyoya gently put Ryohei down on the ground again.
"Don't even think about it," Alaude warned as Kyoya carefully took his tonfas out.
"We're waiting for Primo and the others," G answered ignoring how Kyoya still had his tonfas out while glaring at each of the mafioso. "You would know that if you paid attention."
"For your information, I heard him annoyingly loud and clear," Lampo shot back as he tapped a dark wireless device attached to his ear. "I just would like to know why we can't wait for them inside, where it's comfortable."
With his brows furrowed in frustation, G opened his mouth to reply only to be stopped by an unmistakenable sound.
The wailing of a baby.
"No," Mukuro whispered in dread and fear as Hayato's heart froze in his chest.
Please, please for all that is holy don't let that be...
"Oh no," Knuckle moaned as he shook his head slightly.
"Oh if that is what I think it is, I will scream," Lampo threatened as the sound of wailing and crying got closer and closer.
"Do that and I will shoot you." Hayato looked up at the unfamiliar voice and what he saw unfortunately and horribly confirmed his suspicions. A tall man wearing a black suit, a fedora, and a yellow pacifier walked into view, holding a very upset baby Lambo in his hands.
Tsuna and Takeshi weren't anywhere in sight though.
Hayato wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.
"Chaos," Reborn greeted, wearing an agitated expression on his face as he held a sobbing Lambo as far away from his suit as possible.
"Lambo!" both Ryohei and Chrome cried out as Ryohei took a slightly trembling step towards their captured baby brother.
"Lambo?" Lampo muttered.
"Oh, so you do know him," Reborn observed as Lambo's wailing lessened as the baby opened his green eyes.
"Reborn, with all due respect, can you please hold that poor baby closer to your chest? He is not a rag doll," Knuckle criticized as Lambo landed his watery gaze on them.
"Haya," Lambo whimpered as he reached out his little hands right at him. Then one of hands shifted a bit towards Chrome. "Ome."
Is...is he trying to say...
"I have a better idea," Reborn suggested as Lambo began to cry slightly louder again. "Knuckle, why don't you take him?"
"No you won't!" Kyoya exclaimed as he gripped his tonfas tighter and got into a fighting stance. "You will give our younger brother back to us or I will bite you to death!"
"Younger brother?" Daemon said with a raised eyebrow.
"Kyo!" Lambo cried even harder as he tried to grab Kyoya despite the distance between them. Hayato gritted his teeth as he glared at Reborn, wishing that he could wipe that annoyed and digusted look on his face.
Lambo, even on the days he was suffering from either teething or his diaper rash, had never once cried like this. Never. So to see his baby brother in such distress...filled Hayato with rage.
And he still doesn't know what happened to Tsuna and Takeshi.
"You know, I actually might take you up-"
"How about we strike a deal?"
Hayato stopped glaring at Reborn just in time to see both Giotto and Asari come to a stop beside the suit-clad adult. Hayato instantly widened his eyes in horror. Giotto was carrying Tsuna and Asari was holding Takeshi in his arms as well.
And neither of his brothers were conscious.
"Tsuna! Takeshi!" Hayato cried out in fear as Chrome gasped while covering her mouth with her hands.
"What did you do to them?!" Mukuro yelled, pure fury lacing his words as he took a step forward, inadvertently or not Hayato didn't care. He was too busy looking over his unconscious brothers for any injuries. And while he didn't see any blood on their clothes, he noticed how red and blotchy Takeshi's cheeks were and how Tsuna's face seemed paler than usual.
Hayato didn't like that.
"Nothing! I mean, I did douse Takeshi with rain flames because I was afraid he was going to hyperventilate and Tsuna did tire himself out because of Reborn but they're okay! Both of them will be right as rain in the morning!" Asari tried to reassure them despite the nervous expression he was currently wearing.
Needless to say, Hayato did not feel better at all. In fact, if anything, Hayato was even angrier, as well as afraid.
"Rain flames?! What are rain flames?!" Ryohei exclaimed as Kyoya looked like he was seconds away from attacking.
"Asari, I know you tried, but I think you might have made things worse," Giotto stated nicely to his friend while Lambo started to cry harder.
"Ryo!" Lambo all but screamed as he desperately reached his hands out to Ryohei.
"Ugh, it's getting too loud..."
"Tch, you have no room to talk Lampo."
"On that note, neither do you G, mufufu."
"It's okay little bro, we're gonna get you, along with Takeshi and Tsuna! So just extremely hang on!"
"For hurting my family I will bite you all to death!"
"Put your tonfas down child or you will be arrest-"
"Everyone quiet down."
And just like that, there was silence. Even Lambo stopped crying for a moment as everyone looked at Giotto.
Despite his anger and fear, Hayato couldn't help but stare in wonder at Giotto's now amber-gold eyes and the orange flame at the center of his forehead.
UMA...
"Look, I understand that you kids are afraid and don't trust us," Giotto reasoned with them as the flame on his forehead died and his eyes turned back to their normal blue color. "And after everything that has happened tonight...I honestly don't blame you."
"However," Giotto continued as Lambo started to cry again. "I still need you to listen to us."
"And why would we do that?!" Mukuro exclaimed angrily. "You are all dirty mafioso, do you really expect us to trust you?!"
"I'm not asking you to trust us," Giotto stated calmly. "I'm just asking you to hear our side of the story. If you promise to do so, not only will we promise to hear your side of the story, we will also give all three of your brothers back immediately. Alright?"
Hayato and his siblings that weren't being held by the mafioso silently looked at each other.
They...they do need to get their brothers back...
And as if to emphasize the importance of that, Lambo made one more plea.
"Muku!"
Mukuro instantly looked pained as Hayato saw out of the corner of his eye Kyoya putting his tonfas away, if a bit reluctantly.
"Fine," Kyoya agreed, a tint of a growl edging his statement. He then held out his arms. "You have a deal."
Giotto let out a sigh that suspiciously sounded like relief before he stepped forward and carefully laid Tsuna in Kyoya's arms. Kyoya quickly brought their still unconscious brother closer to his chest and walked backwards to put distance between them and Giotto.
Asari and Reborn then walked forward and this time it was Chrome and Ryohei who stepped up to receive their siblings. A second later, Chrome's arms were curled protectively around Lambo and Ryohei had Takeshi in his arms. Hayato was kind of afraid that Ryohei wasn't going to be able to carry Takeshi in his condition but Ryohei did it. True, his legs were trembling but the arms carrying their sleeping brother were stable as Hayato had ever seen them.
Ryohei wasn't going to let Takeshi fall on his watch.
"Ome," Lambo whimpered as Chrome and Ryohei walked their way back to them, his little hands clutching desperately at Chrome's nightgown.
"Yes, it's me Lambo, it's Chrome," Chrome assured him quietly, the emotion strong in her voice as she planted a light kiss on the top of his forehead. "I'm back, I'm sorry that I was gone for so long."
"Me too," Hayato apologized as well without any prompting whatsoever. By this point, they were all close together again and were currently huddling together as tightly as they could without actually cuddling. Hayato placed his hand on top of Lambo's curls, causing the baby to turn his face towards him.
"Haya," Lambo whined as a few fat tears trailed down his face.
"Hi buddy, I missed ya," Hayato admitted as he patted his baby brother's head. It was true. Even though the situation they were in was dire, very dire, Hayato was thankful to see Lambo well and whole again.
Apparently Lambo felt the same way because he then placed a tiny hand on Haya's chin while making a small contented gurgle.
"You're okay Ryohei?" Mukuro asked as he shifted Hayato in his arms slightly. Hayato looked over and saw that while Ryohei was still holding Takeshi steadily in his arms, his overall expression was quite strained.
"Mukuro, I can stand, you take Takeshi," Hayato quickly offered.
"But you were sh-"
"No, it's okay," Ryohei interrupted Mukuro. "I can still hold him! Though...maybe...for his sake...I should extremely sit down."
"That's a good idea," Knuckle chimed in. "In fact, why don't all you kids, no, we all sit down? It would be more comfortable for everyone."
"Um...I don't think I'm that desperate to be comforta-tah!" Lampo's verbal refusal to sit was interrupted when Knuckle grabbed his sleeve and pulled him down to the ground with him.
"Yeah, that's a great idea!" Asari agreed as he promptly knelt on the ground.
"Of course-"
"Sounds good to me," Giotto interrupted G as he sat down on the ground indian-style.
"It's a good idea!" G quickly finished as he followed suit.
"I'm still going to still stand," Alaude stated when Knuckle gave him a pointed look. "Just in case."
"Me too, don't even dare try to make me," Reborn added. Then everyone looked at Daemon.
"Eh, what the heck," Daemon consented with a shrug as he too sat down on the ground. Hayato looked around at all the mafioso before sharing a glance at his siblings.
These mafioso are weird.
But since Ryohei really looked like he needed some relief, so they all quietly sat down on the ground too.
"So...do you want to start first?" Giotto asked when the kids were all settled. "Or do you want us to start first?"
"Why are you-ow!" Lampo started to protest before Knuckle elbowed him in the side. Hayato couldn't help but smirk a bit as he took out a stray blade of grass out of Tsuna's hair.
"You," Kyoya stated as he pointed a single accusing finger right at Reborn. "You were the one who saved Chrome and Hayato, correct?"
"That is indeed true," Reborn confirmed with a friendly tilt of his fedora.
"Why?"
"Because why not?"
"That's Reborn for 'I may act like a cold-hearted jerk to perserve my strongest hitman persona but I honestly don't like seeing innocent civilians, especially kids and women get injured because I actually have a heart of gold-"
Slap.
"Ow!"
"You talk too much Primo," Reborn criticized as he pulled his fedora down over his eyes while Giotto rubbed the back of his head with a slight pained expression.
...Okay. Wait-
"If that's the case, then what about when you lured Tsuna onto the road like a siren?!" Hayato pointed out not too kindly.
"Wait what?" Giotto responded as all the mafioso turned to look at Reborn, who had pushed his fedora back up so that everyone could clearly see the confused expression on his face. Then that confused expression turned into one of realization.
"Oh, so that's what happened," Reborn said softly.
"Wait, so you did lure a little kid out onto the road?!" Giotto exclaimed as he quickly got to his feet with his fists clenched. G followed suit as well, looking not too happy himself.
Why...why do they care? They...were gonna kill me...
"Hey, believe it or not, it actually wasn't my fault," Reborn defended himself as he put his hands up to placate them. "He got too attracted to my flames."
"...Oh," Giotto said, sounding appeased as he unclenched his fists. "Yeah, that does make sense."
"No it doesn't! What are you guys talking about?" Mukuro exclaimed, sounding very frustrated. Reborn sighed.
"Alright, I don't want to go into all the details tonight since it is rather late but here is the gist. Everyone on this earth has a special gift that we decided to call dying will flames," he lectured as he lifted up his yellow pacifier. As soon as he said the word flames, the pacifier immediately lighted up with truly yellow flames. Hayato's eyes widened a bit as he took in the admittedly beautiful sight.
"However, while everyone has these flames, most people will never get the chance to activate them, not to mention that it is a difficult to do so, especially without the proper training."
"What does this have to do with Tsuna?" Kyoya interrupted a bit impatiently.
"Because he has somehow activated them. I do not know when or where he activated them but I have a feeling his flames have been activated for quite a while now."
Hayato and his conscious siblings then turned their heads at Tsuna, who was still sleeping unawares in Kyoya's lap.
Tsuna...could produce those flames at will?
"He...he would have told us..."
"Maybe he was too afraid to," Daemon told Chrome gently. "Or perhaps he didn't even know he had dying will flames. When people managed to activate them without the proper training, it is often because they were in life-or-death circumstances. I am willing to bet that due to the stress of whatever situation he was in, Tsuna didn't recognize that he had conjured them up."
"That or he forgot due to trauma," Aluade added. "That is the case more than not."
Hayato looked at his siblings and had a strong feeling that they were all thinking the same thing.
The car crash.
"In any case, my flames are pretty abnormally strong," Reborn claimed like it was a matter-of-fact. "So when his flames, which are very young and untrained, sensed mine, they were drawn to mine. To put it into an analogy, it is very much like how moths are attracted to light."
Or fire.
"So...you didn't lure Tsuna to step onto the road in order to kill him?" Ryohei asked. "It was all just...extreme instinct? An accident?"
"Yes," Reborn answered with a firm nod. "I am glad to see that you all understand."
While Hayato did understand (more or less), he wasn't sure that he believed it. At the same time however, it did make sense. Hitmen are paid contract killers, they wouldn't bother killing a kid unless there was some kind of payment behind it.
And while Tsuna was very important to Hayato, he doubt that there was anyone in Italy that cared about a little Japanese boy.
Now though...
"Now that's cleared up, I have a question of my own," G said as he took a step forward. He then looked straight into Hayato's eyes. "Why were you really shot Lucien?"
Hayato felt everyone's eyes on him as he looked down at his chest while he touched his gunshot wound gently. He then felt a hand on his head, causing him to look up to see that the hand belonged to Kyoya. Kyoya then gave him a firm nod before taking his hand back. Hayato sighed as he looked back at G.
"You already know that my name is Hayato," Hayato told him. "Martina didn't like that I was her husband's bastard child and decided that she would do anything to get rid of the reminder that my dad cheated on her. Including...killing my sister Bianchi, her own daughter."
"Oh my..." G muttered as he closed his eyes, kind of looking like he was going to be sick. And he wasn't the only one, while Ryohei and Chrome each placed a hand on his arms for comfort, Hayato noticed that all the mafioso looked like they were disturbed in someway. Even Reborn.
They...they can't actually...
"It's really no wonder why you didn't tell us," Giotto said softly.
"I'm so sorry for your loss little one," Knuckle added just as softly. Not expecting his condolences at all, Hayato jolted a bit and suddenly felt the need to close his eyes.
They...they don't care...they can't.
"Wait, how did you know that we knew?" G asked. "We just found out not even three hours ago."
"I...I overheard you talking about it," Chrome confessed bravely.
"So that's why you weren't in your room! You sneaky little girl!" exclaimed Daemon who seemed rather...proud.
"Just...how much did you overhear?" Giotto asked.
"She heard enough!" Mukuro exclaimed angrily. "She heard you saying that you were gonna kill Hayato!"
"Wait what?! No-"
"No, don't you dare try to excuse or lie yourselves out of this!" Mukuro interrupted G, too worked up to stop now. "You only saved him in the first place because you saw some kind of use for him so when you found out that Martina wants him dead, you decide to kill him either for money or for alliance purposes!"
"No, you-"
"Well, you won't have him!" Mukuro declared passionately as he pulled Hayato to his chest and hugged him like the world might just end if he held him any less tighter. "I lost two friends already to the mafia, I'm not going to let you take my brother away from me too!"
Hayato looked up at Mukuro and saw very clearly the fiery determination in his heterochromatic eyes.
Mukuro...
Then Hayato felt a hand on his shoulder.
"We're not gonna let you take any of our siblings away from us," Kyoya swore as he gripped Hayato's shoulder a bit more tightly as he also held Tsuna closer against his chest. "So just drop the nice guy act. If you really were good people, Tsuna and Takeshi would be awake right now and Ryohei wouldn't be suffering from being electrocuted."
"He does have a point there," Asari admitted.
"We never said we were saints," Reborn rebutted.
"And even if you were actually good people, we still can't trust you," Chrome added. "Because then you would just try to separate us and...we're can't be serparated. We're family."
"Oh Chrome..." Daemon said as he put his hand over his mouth, pure emotion lighting his eyes. Then Giotto sighed.
"So that's the heart of the matter," Giotto stated. "You want to stay together, and you think that we will tear apart your family in one way or another."
"Not think, know!" Mukuro declared.
"We won't," Giotto replied firmly as he got on one knee. "Chrome...what did I say exactly that made you think that I was going to kill your brother?"
"You...you said and I quote, ' looks like it is up to us to take care of him.' And your voice was ice-cold when you said it."
"Yes, because I was furious that Hayato's stepmother would be so heartless as to try to kill him for something that wasn't his fault whatsoever," Giotto explained. "What I really meant was that we, Vongola, were going to take him in and protect him from Martina."
Wh...what?
"You're...still trying to fool us," Mukuro disputed. "What would the mafia gain by protecting a child?"
"Because we're not your typical mafia kid," G responded. "In fact, we're more like a vigilante group than an actual mafia family."
What?
"Exactly, unlike some other mafia families I can think of, we actually want to make this world a better place for everyone to live in, not use the current state of the world as an excuse to selfishly live however we please," Giotto continued. He then stood up, his blue eyes flashing the bright color of amber gold as he looked down on them.
"Protecting people like you is our goal, and if we die fulfilling it, then so be it. Because that is Vongola's true purpose, our duty. And we will not stray from it."
Then, without a word or signal, Daemon, Knuckle, Asari, and even Lampo stood up. Hayato looked around him and found that every one of the men was standing straight and tall as if they weren't facing a group of runaway children. They didn't say anything but they didn't need to. The pure resolve shining in their eyes spoke more than words ever could.
As Hayato looked at them in awe, he recalled how G was both compassionate and passionate when he first talked to Hayato. He recalled how Giotto calmed him down when he first woke up. Hayato remembered how gentle Knuckle was as he took care of him and Chrome, without complaint or causing them unnessary pain. He also remembered how kind and doting Elena was to the both of them.
Maybe...just maybe...they really were what they said they were.
"Then...what about Ryohei?" Mukuro asked, not sounding nearly as fierce as he did before. "And Tsuna and Takeshi? You didn't exactly protect them very well."
"No, we didn't," Knuckle acknowledged. "Unfortunately, it seems that Lampo still has a problem of going overboard, especially when he is crossed."
"That punch did hurt," Lampo defended himself as he rubbed his stomach. "And besides, believe it or not, I did hold back."
"Apparently, not enough," Reborn interjected. "I guess that means I will have to train you some more."
This promise earned a whimper from Lampo which was kind of satisfying.
"And Reborn has a habit of testing people's potential," Asari explained. "Even if it isn't the time or the place for it."
"If it helps at all, both boys have great potential," Reborn added. "Especially Tsuna, he even instinctively conjured up his flames in order to help Takeshi."
"He did?" Hayato responded as he looked at said sleeping brother.
"Yes, though he did end up exhausting himself to the point of sleep because of it. That's nothing a little training won't fix however."
Hayato felt a sense of pride, relief, and awe at Reborn's explanation. Not only was it nice to know that Tsuna really was just tired, but it was really cool to know that Tsuna was able to use his flames like Giotto and Reborn to fight.
Were his flames orange or yellow?
"And Takeshi? You said he was going to hyperventilate?"
"I was afraid he was going to," Asari answered Mukuro with a sigh, right before his hand lighted up with blue flames. "When we caught up with them and were about to take them back here, the poor guy was panicking so bad that he wasn't breathing properly. I didn't really see any other option but to gently put him to sleep, which my flames have the power to do. I am sorry that it got to that point though."
Hayato looked at Takeshi, now knowing why his cheeks were unnaturally red before (they were thankfully all cleared up now). He reached over and squeezed his slightly older brother's arm. Takeshi didn't react but Hayato wasn't expecting him to. He just hoped that Takeshi found some comfort in his dreams.
In any case, Hayato was definitely going to be there for him and Tsuna when they woke up.
"I really am sorry for all that has happened tonight," Giotto apologized as he knelt on the ground once again. "You do have every reason to not trust us but we really do want to help all of you. So...if you are willing, we would like it if you stayed here for a while. At the very least just for the night."
"Are...are you serious?" Mukuro asked in disbelief.
"You don't have to say yes, even though we would greatly prefer it," Giotto continued. "Please at least consider it okay? It has been a very long night, and I'm sure your siblings would like to sleep on a nice, soft bed."
"Not to mention, I can look over Ryohei and treat his hand," Knuckle added. "And make sure Hayato is well on the way to recovery."
"In the end, it is purely your decision," Giotto emphasized as he stood up again and took a few steps back.
Hayato and his siblings were silent as they shared yet another glance at each other.
"I say no," Mukuro whispered adamantly. "No matter what they say, they are still mafia and cannot be trusted!"
"I still don't really trust them either," Kyoya admitted. "But I don't think they will really let us go just like that."
"Me neither, but-"
"I think we should stay," Hayato declared softly and suddenly. His conscious siblings instantly turned their attention to him, their gazes full of startled surprise. Hayato then felt himself get pushed back just enough so that he was face to face with Mukuro.
"Hayato," Mukuro began as he gripped Hayato's shoulders tightly. "You of all people...don't tell me that you actually believe that they actually want to keep you safe?"
"I...maybe, I'm not totally sure," Hayato admitted. "But even if I didn't, we don't really have a choice. Tsuna and Takeshi are out cold, Ryohei's hurt, and I still can't run or walk by myself yet. We...aren't in the best shape to leave right now."
"He's right Mukuro," Chrome supported as she touched Mukuro's shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze. "And...I think that at least some of them aren't as bad as we first thought."
"Chrome no," Mukuro reacted softly. "They are that bad."
"Maybe they are, maybe they aren't, it doesn't matter at the moment," Kyoya interjected quietly. "What does matter that we really aren't in any good shape to run away. At least, not right now."
"So...you're saying that we should run away as soon as all of us are healthy again?" Mukuro asked.
"As soon as we have the chance," Kyoya clarified with a nod. "We will leave."
"I'm...I'm extremely good either way," Ryohei chimed in quietly. Lambo gave his opinion in form of a sleepy gurgle as he rubbed his head slightly against Chrome's chest.
Mukuro looked conflicted and contemplative as he looked at them, his gaze silently lingering on each and every one of his siblings. Then Mukuro finally broke the silence with a sigh.
"I guess it wouldn't be impossible to find some kind of use for them while we're all recovering," Mukuro agreed reluctantly. Hayato and Chrome both sighed in relief as Kyoya stood up and looked straight into Giotto's eyes.
"We will stay. But, I swear, if any of you harm my siblings in any way again, I will bite you all to death."
Giotto nodded.
"Sounds good to me."
So there you have it, an ending that is not a cliffhanger! Woo! I bet you guys are happy about that!
So, how did you guys like it? Were all the adults in character? Is Reborn still a jerk? Did Hayato being the first one to say that they should stay surprised you?
Please feel free to write down any thoughts you have about this chapter in a review and I will update next month! Till then, see you later and have a good day/night!