Chapter Forty-Four

Tsuna cursed as he flew to the site.

Of all times to forget on contacting him, it has to be on the fucking day of the operation. If he didn't check on the officers he knew, he won't even be informed. No wonder his head had been killing him since morning. He couldn't stand still and Reborn had to throw him two aspirin pills to make him stop fidgeting. Add the fact that he couldn't contact neither of his classmates or even his Dad? His worry ricocheted.

Good thing Reborn gave a suit to wear instead of rummaging on his packet. He doesn't know how the heck the hitman knows his measurements, but he's still thankful. Plus, it felt like being taken care of again. The hitman even told him that he'll stay put in case Shouta gets heavily injured. Or he might be. Tsuna was so grateful that he hugged Reborn before going out.

When he arrived at the site, he didn't mind the people outside the traditional Japanese home and swoop down to enter the vicinity. He shrugged off the calls for him as he maneuvered in the air and went for a drift to enter the open portal of the wall where his intuition is kicking him to go. He went through the holes that were probably created by Izuku, given the damage. He only paused in midair when his intuition flickered where to go, before directing him again.

When he arrived where it was, it's a door. He knocked and opened the door to see a bandaged Kirishima on a cot, a man with this bird like mask and sticking-around hair at the back of his head, a captured person with the same bird mask as the previous one, and a muscular man with black eye mask. The place looked like a stockroom, but there are opened first aid kits. It's obvious that they tried to patch up Kirishima with how heavy his bandage around his body.

"What the hell happened to Red Riot?" He questioned as he came in.

"Who are you?" The man questioned as the brunet went over and checked Kirishima's pulse while directing his sky flames to inspect damages.

"Vongola Decimo, support." He answered as he let his hands hover on the teen's torso and let his sun flames do its work. "Multiple lacerations. I'll heal most of it, but I'll let you heal naturally, Red Riot. Thank you for the hard work."

"A-Ah! The vigilante!" The man exclaimed in remembrance.

"You have wounds?" He questioned, side-eyeing the hero. "This won't be long. You there." He motioned to the man with bird mask. "Injuries? After him, I'll take care of you."

"H-Ha?"

"Just wait." He hissed before retracting his hands and gestured for the bloody hero to come over. "Come here."

"O-Okay." The hero complied.

Tsuna healed most of their injuries before reminding them to wait for the medic and bidding them goodbye. He flew off again where his intuition is directing him. Like any other, the walls have holes and some have narrow spaces to fly through. It must be done by somebody's quirk. He came upon a dark man with this white and dark costume and some authorities. He made himself known before touching down to check the abdominal wound. He used sun flames to close up the wound while making the police talk. Just when he was about to finish, he felt his intuition flare. The same pain he gets when someone important is near danger. He hissed in pain, retracted his hands and went off without saying anything.

He flew to where he was getting directed. But before he arrived, he saw Togata and a girl with bandages with him. Even if he wanted to rush where Shouta is, he couldn't. He touched down in worry for the upperclassman. He lost his cape and struggling.

"Togata-sempai!" He called out as he jumped in front of them.

"S-Sawada?!" The other exclaimed in shock and relief.

Caramel eyes stared at the teen before he touched the other's shoulder with a sky flame lit hand. "This is Eri-chan?"

Togata turned to Eri who was looking down. "Y-Yes."

He patted the teen's shoulder as the body started to relax. "Good work." He then turned to the child who looked torn and ready to give up. "Eri-chan?"

"A-Ah." The girl in question uttered, looking up to him in fright and small resolve.

He studied the child before carrying her in his arms. "I know that look."

"S-Sawada-"

"She wants to help." He cut off as he started to walk. "It's either I give her to Izuku or she'll run off alone. I'll keep an eye on her." Then he glanced from his shoulder to smile at his sempai. "Trust us on this, right, Eri-chan?"

The girl's eyes widened.

"S-Sawada-"

"What do you want to do, Eri-chan?" He questioned as he started to run for the end of the hallway.

"E-Exchange." A small answer.

He nodded understandingly. "I'm here to save someone too. But I have been in a situation where I want to exchange myself to save someone else's life. But what if there's a third option? I know you have an incredible quirk." He tapped the small horn with a sky flame lit finger. "So why don't you help Izuku this time around?" He put the girl on the ground and gave an encouraging smile that gave so much warmth to the child. "I believe in you and to Izuku. So don't give up, Eri-chan."

Red eyes lit with resolve before she ran off while Tsuna went to find his Dad. He got directed to a room. When he busted in, his sight went red. A blond man is hovering on his Dad who was down. Hearing his entry, the man looked at him. It didn't even took Tsuna seconds to attack the villain. He flew off and kicked the other on the side. He felt so furious as he stood in front of Shouta, ready to defend.

"W-Who are you?!" The villain shouted, trying to stand.

"Come on, Yakuza." He taunted with a smirk as he craned his neck right and left to remove the knots. "Let's see how good you are against an ex-mafia boss."

Tsuna didn't have to put an effort on knocking the man out. All it took was a zero point breakthrough. He quickly went over his Dad as police came over with Amajiki and an unconscious Togata on his shoulder. He put sky flames on Shouta to slow the inserted quirk on the latter, before Asui came running in and reporting about Izuku's situation. Given the situation, Tsuna didn't dwell on his rage first and helped them pick up his Dad for Izuku's sake.

They went for the place where he let Eri ran off. The place was a place of spikes with a big giant in the middle, unconscious and wounded. They were asked to ride on a dragon he discovered to be Ryukyu. She looks equally injured from a scuffle with giant, but she provided transport for them to the above ground. When they got there, Chisaki was defeated and Eri is being cradled by a panting Izuku. Initially, there was no need for them to control the situation anymore. Tsuna patted his Dad of injuries, before moving for Amajiki, who has some wounds, after leaving Shouta to Asui. He healed the upperclassman a little bit, before moving for Ryukyu to elevate her pain. Tsuna took off his coat and covered the lady with it when she transformed back to her human form.

The only time he backed away was when the ambulance came in. Some of the medics he knew waved him up and asked for information of those he had healed. He quickly informed them of who and what kind of wound he had healed and what he didn't. He directed one to his Dad before he got flagged again. His eyes widened when he noticed who he was getting flagged to.

"Sir Nighteye." He uttered as he inspected the gruesome injury.

"Tsuna." Izuku called in worry.

He nodded at the medics, who carried on, as he patted the greenet's head. "I promised you, didn't I?"

Izuku nodded solemnly.

He bumped his head on his friend's before murmuring. "Good job, Izuku. I'm proud of you."

Dabi looked up when he felt a familiar warmth closing in. He grinned as he watched a brunet zooming in to them before stopping just above them. He appraised the teen. Tsuna looked like a corporate owner with his white dress shirt under a black vest, black pants with equally fancy belt and black dress shoes. The gloves on his hands don't make the outfit look bad, it compliments even. Well, except for the red headphones and the missing coat.

It has been months since he last saw the teen, but he heard some things about him. The league discovered that the brunet's parents died three nights after the latter's departure from them. The families of both of his parents want to take his custody, but he fully gave it to Eraserhead. What shocked them though was the fact that he has connection with the mafia. (Not that surprising since he heard the brunet and the hitman talk about the mafia when they were holding them captives). They don't know what's his position, but Twice's intel was never wrong. However, the mafia was the first to back down to the custody fight. They all knew it was Tsuna who scared them off. The brunet is far scarier when angry and crazy, not just crazy.

"Yo, Tsuna." He greeted as the brunet touched down.

"Dabi, Magician." Tsuna nodded before looking skyward and holding up a finger, as if telling them to wait for him. "Yes, Reborn... You're a healer, just help me out... Renato Reborn Sinclair, gentlemen do not break promises... The nearest hospital in here. I need you there because we're going to attend a surgery to save a life." Then the rest was a foreign language before Tsuna sighed and turned to them with a smile. "Where's Chisaki?"

"With Tomura." He answered, gesturing to the two.

"Thank you." The teen expressed and was about to stalk off when orange eyes caught something. "What happened to you, Magician?"

"Ha?" Magician blurted, stepping back a little while holding his robotic arm.

"The last time I saw you, your arm is not an automobile. What the heck happened?" The brunet questioned, eyeing them both with unfurling anger for the injury.

"That Yakuza guy blasted off his arm." He answered for them. He likes it when Tsuna gets a little protective on them. "Magne also died, you know."

"First, Eri. And now this? This keeps getting better and better." Tsuna 'tsk'-ed before walking off.

He and Magician watched as Tsuna greeted Tomura politely. The latter backed away a little, as if getting burned while staring at the brunet.

"I never saw Tomura act like that." Magician pointed out.

"That's Tsuna's magic." He snickered.

He confessed, he was really really impatient on the following weeks Tsuna went out of their den. Well, everyone was different. Some were cranky as hell. Even Tomura was quiet. So when Toga told them that she saw him in the Provisional Hero Licence Exam, they listened all the way from the beginning to the end of their interaction. All Tsuna asked was how were they and told Toga to tell them he said hi. Dabi brightened up that much.

He won't deny that he got attached. He hates to admit that the brunet had him wrapped in his pinky, but Tsuna never knew it. Even if he knew, he doesn't exploit it. He didn't use it to his advantage. The kid is too precious sometimes that it's impossible to think that he has his own crazy past and insane mind. No wonder he wanted to stay vigilante. He fits both role. Not even Eraserhead can make him into a full time hero.

Dabi's eyes widened a little when he saw Tsuna slap Chisaki on the cheek. The brunet looks murderous with how molten his amber eyes are. It's pretty different from all the things he saw from the brunet. This was his first time seeing him that angry.

"That's for Eri-chan. Even if she's not your daughter, her innocence cannot be used. She's a child. She deserves to be free and do the things she wanted. No living things can be experimented against their goddamn will. I won't apologize to how cruel the world was to you. How Yakuza treated you. You should've known better than trying to change the world. I tell you, you fucking deserve this." Tsuna stated before another loud slap resounded. "That's for attacking the league, injuring Magician and killing Magne. You're lucky I don't want to upset my Dad and I have a surgery to take care of. If Sir Nighteye dies, I'll come back and burn you myself until no ash of yours gets seen."

"Oh." Magician uttered, awed.

"Hey!" They all looked back to Lizard who yelled at them from the car they came with. "They're going to send reinforcements soon! Hurry and get on!"

"You three, go on." Tsuna bid while walking with Tomura as a car exploded. He wasn't even fazed with it! "I need to catch up with Reborn. He'll go fretting if I'm not there yet."

"Right." He nodded and raised his arms to stretch them as he stared at the kid, waiting.

The brunet laid his hand to Magician. "The sand man, hand him over."

"But he's my toy." His companion argued.

The brunet's lips quirked a little at the new show of emotion before doing a 'gimme' gesture. "Nope. Hand it over, Magician."

"Fine." The other handed over with indignant expression. "And it's Mister Compress, not Magician. You and Dabi just can't be taught."

"Thank you." Tsuna beamed before tackling Dabi into a quick hug. "Bye, Dabi."

"Hm." He hummed as he reciprocated it a little.

"Bye Tomura-san." Tsuna bid to Tomura who was only watching them. The brunet raised his hand, head inclined to the right. "Touch?"

"Fine."

Tsuna grinned and ruffled Tomura's hair before putting the pebble inside his pocket. He waved them goodbye, shouted a farewell for Lizard before flying off. All three of them moved for the truck and boarded it as they hear police sirens. Dabi can't help smirking at how nice their day has become.

He can't wait to see Tsuna again.

Recovery girl sighed and backed away to signal the two new healers in their ranks. "You can take over now."

She watched Sawada and the man he invited to heal come over, taking Nighteye's both sides.

"Oh. A giant hole and a severed arm." The man pointed out in a nonchalant tone.

"Reborn." Tsuna chided from his spot.

"Yes yes. So what do you think, Boss?" Reborn questioned. "Given your level, you know only much for this."

"That's what you are here, Mister. Guide me."

"Hm. Then let's tackle the bigger problem. Skeletal system first."

"His spinal cord is damaged." One of the doctors relied.

"This is where mist flames is needed." Reborn informed, causing the brunet to curse. "We cannot do it alone with my healing and your sun flames. You do not recreate bones out of get go. The can replace it with steel, but not actual bones. But sometimes not possible because they can't attach the nerves like we do and it's too delicate to operate."

"Damn it." The teen cursed.

"Now now, I want you to concentrate and steel your resolve, Decimo."

"But-"

"A person is on the line, Decimo." They all stilled at the low threatening voice of the man. "Keep it together."

They watched as Tsuna's mouth shut with a click before he closed his eyes. It was new for them to see the teen become submissive.

"I want you to think what you're going to do, why you're going to do it, and how are you going to do it, Decimo. With your Dying Will." The man got a nod. "Good. Ready?"

"A little more."

A beat.

"Now?"

Warm amber eyes opened. "Yes."

Chiyo looked over when she suddenly saw darker purple flames in the mix of orange and yellow as Tsuna put his hands over Nighteye's torso. It was unlike Yagi's operation. If that was the creation of organs, Tsuna is recreating a human body.

Inside the open torso is a forming structure of the spinal cord with the use of those purple flames in the guidance of orange flames. With a tingle of sun flames, those severed nerves are slowly getting attached to the bare bones. Reborn is pointing out where to put what nerve, what organ it is and its uses. Tsuna is nodding along, maneuvering his flames. The doctors she's with have exclaimed their surprise at how everything is coming together. It's as if they're sketching a person to life.

No wonder Tsuna invited Reborn over. The man is like a walking book of human anatomy. He knows every single thing. He even stopped the brunet from attaching one nerve to make sure it gets connected perfectly. She even saw how those orange eyes glanced up to the man with exasperated fondness.

"What's the indigo flame?" She asked out of curiosity.

"It's a mist flame." Reborn answered for Tsuna who is concentrating. "He uses it for constructions and illusion."

"It can solidify if the user wishes to, and if he's strong enough." Tsuna added. "The girl I've been talking about? She uses this flame to fill her missing organs from her teen years until to when we suggested surgery and the on-the-spot making of the stomach. Although her best friend offered her to solidify the organs, she wished not to because I- I mean, their leader promised her when they were young that he'll find ways to give her organs when they grow up."

"But given his condition, he can't solidify it now." Reborn contradicted. "He just manifested the flame and he's not good enough to do it. Regardless of his harmony, there is a possibility that he messes it up and it won't be good for his mental health. The mist flame requires concentration and fine imagination. It's like when you're casting an illusion to the patient that he's in a well place to keep him relaxed."

"But that's what Reborn here is for." Tsuna said, glancing up to them. "He knows these stuffs. He can at least help me do it. He's the best doctor-not-doctor I know."

"Concentrate, brat." Reborn chided, earning a smile behind the mask from the brunet. "Given how dangerous this is, the operation will probably take a while. Decimo will only be the one to do this and no one can sub him out. I'm only here to guide him while you are to close the wound with me after he does. I'm practically useless in this."

She shook her head before Tsuna lose focus to deny the man. "As you've said, Decimo only knows so much. In a way, you're his brain right now. You two are the closest miracle makers we have at this time. Nighteye's life is in your hands. Success or not, we are still grateful for your help."

"We agree." One of the doctors surrounding them seconded. "Not even us can do as much."

"If you are here, all we could do is attach machines and he won't last long." The anaesthesiologist said.

The doctors bowed to them. "Thank you."

Reborn turned to Tsuna, who was smiling while slowly guiding the cells to activation, with an angry scowl. "I'm a hitman, not a vigilante."

All of them froze at that, sans the brunet.

"First of all, you're a healer before you became a hitman." Orange eyes glanced up with unmasked mirth and appreciation. "Second, you love me as much as we love you. Can you blame Leon for having me as his favorite sleeping buddy and Natsu has you and Dad? Third, I promised Izuku. Fourth, I don't know some of these stuffs, so you have to help me. I only was able to study the stomach, not everything. And fifth, just for the heck of it. If you can help, I'll drag you to help me, Reborn. Besides, no one will tell people who helped Sir Nighteye." Tsuna turned his head a little to see their patient. "He tried his best to alter the future he thought is inevitable, even if it means dying himself. If you were there, you'll do the same thing." Orange eyes glanced to the man again. "We'll do the same thing."

"Stupid." The man uttered, looking down go the stretching process. "Even if I want to bail out of this, I know I can't. I'm not someone who quits after starting something."

"I know."

While some of the doctors have stayed a little away from the operating table, Chiyo watched everything turn out with the remaining ones, who are trying to dry the sweat off from Reborn's and Tsuna's foreheads. Watching the two was fascinating. It's like seeing a teacher and a student, a parent and a son, an adviser and a boss, etc. One look from Reborn, and Tsuna understood it already. Their teamwork is formidable.

What makes her assured is the fact that Tsuna keeps on encouraging Nighteye to keep up because a lot of people are waiting for him and praying for him to be alive. The two will fill the silence with a quiet banter, a small story, a lullaby that Reborn will cut off cause he'll fall asleep which will make Tsuna laugh, the soft encouragement from both, and some more antics. The two won't mind when some doctors go out, or some will stay. They didn't mind if Eraserhead came around by the watcher's deck, and asked how they are and stayed there, talking with them.

In some occasions, orange eyes will eye her, gives a smile behind the mask before gazing back at the tissues forming. Abyss-like black eyes glance at her in respect, a nod before chiding the child for not being fast enough. Soft black ones will regard her with gratitude, offers her a wave before admonishing the two who are going off topic again. Chiyo never felt so old in her entire life as the three jokes around and bantered, and go on and on about something whenever Reborn isn't instructing and helping Tsuna, while Nighteye is glowing orange.

It was gruelling ten hours for them. But worth it. All so worth it.