DISCLAIMER: I don't own KHR or any of the associated characters aside from my OCs.

I stared at the long fingers intertwined with my own small hand. My face felt warm pressed against the shoulder of the man sitting beside me. I was trying to regain my bearings by watching the smoke blown out from his lips. I looked up at his serene expression, those crimson eyes looked content with what had just happened.

Cigarette held between his teeth, he reached over and pulled the blanket tighter around my shoulders. When I looked up at him curiously, he motioned at the bloody bite mark on my collar bone. He was trying to staunch the bleeding rather than keep me warm. I smiled, pressing my free hand against it so he could finish smoking.

Surprisingly, he took the cigarette and put it out on the ashtray. He was quiet for another moment before saying, "Do I kill him?"

I stiffened at the sudden seriousness, "... Squalo-senpai?"

"Did some other piece of trash make you cry today?"

"... Wasn't crying." I grumbled in embarrassment but it was a lie and we both knew it, "And what are you going to do if I say 'yeah, go kill him for me?'"

"Kill him." He said it so simply that I was reminded of how bloodthirsty this guy could be.

I shook my head, "If I wanted to kill him, I'd do it myself."

"You always say those things but you end up sitting there crying." He huffed, pushing the hair up away from his eyes in frustration. Don't tell him how attractive he looked. He doesn't need a bigger ego.

"I just didn't know what to do since that's… you know… Squalo-senpai."

He snorted, "He's trash too. He's not special."

"He's the reason I met you. I'd say it makes him special." Looking down at our connected hands, I realized this wasn't a common thing for us. I couldn't help but turn red when I realized we connected our bodies more often than our hands, "Maybe to you, no one's special."

He squeezed our hands together hard enough to make it hurt and then he dropped the bomb, "You're right. No one's special so you need them. Everyone dies."

Finally. I feel like I've been digging so long to hear him share his worries. I felt a small moment of relief and then I realized what he was saying, "Who's dying? Squalo?!"

He looked at me funny, kind of like I was an idiot for assuming that it was Squalo. And then he gave it to me nice and clear, "There's a tumor. … In my liver."

There's always something. I stared at him with wide eyes, forcing myself to remain calm. He didn't tell me before because he didn't want me to freak out. If I don't want to ruin what we've made, I have to stay calm. But all the questions were screaming in my head, waiting to escape my lips and demand answers.

My breath hitched a moment when I thought he might not be here tomorrow. My eyes shifted to the nightstand where the ashtray sat and then swept around the room. Bottles of various alcoholic drinks and wine glasses lay scattered on the furniture around the room. It's not at all strange that his liver isn't very good.

I have to be rational. What can I do for him now? This is different from everything we've done together up until now. I can't fix this problem by being strong or violent. This is a medical issue. How do you normally fix cancer patients?

Ah.

I turned, meeting his steady gaze that had never left me. He was waiting for a reaction. I spun my leg over his lap, sitting on his thighs comfortably. My hand was still holding one of his, the other pressed flat against his chest. The pounding of the heart beneath his skin betrayed how nervous he was despite his unchanged expression. The unwavering crimson eyes tried to hold his facade but he was growing impatient.

"We're a match, right?" I smiled when he arched a brow at me in confusion, "O blood type?"

"So what?" He said, heart pounding more and more under my hand, "Are you changing the subject?"

I realized he was asking it because he didn't want me to say what he thought I was going to say. He wanted me to change the subject and pretend nothing was wrong. But I had already come to my conclusion.

"Take mine." I told him, "If we match, take mine."

"We don't match." He's lying. I've seen his records too. We're definitely a match. He spun us about when I opened my mouth again, pressing me back into the pillows with a stern, "Don't."

"Why not?!" Frustration was taking hold of me again. I don't understand, "I'm telling you! You're going to live so just let me help you!"

"Let me put it simply for your dumb ass." He snarled, "A human being only has one liver. It's a vital survival organ. If I take yours, you're dead."

Frustration growing into straight ferocity, I took my fist and slammed it straight up into his nose. When he fell back, I sat on his stomach, seething, "Who do you think you're talking to?! I know that! There are other ways! There are people who receive livers from living donors!"

He reached up and yanked me down by means of a fierce hand to the back of my neck. His voice was such a threatening growl when it came out that I almost missed the meaning of the words, "People have died from that."

"I'm fucking healthy! You're a piece of shit if you think my organs aren't good enough for you!" I spat, temporarily stunned when he looked at me like I was the idiot here, "Boss, I'm your best shot! Don't be an asshole!"

He leaned his head back, abandoning the glaring and sneering with a heavy, discontented sigh. A moment's pause and another sigh later, he was saying, "I meant, the living donors have died from that. There are complications for the person losing a chunk of their liver."

I clamped my mouth shut. His words gave away everything. This man is genuinely in love with me and I'll take what I can get. He might never say those words out loud but this is more than enough to know his feelings and this is the reason I can't lose him.

"Don't be an herbivore!" I said through gritted teeth, his hands were starting to heat up in frustration, "I'm strong. You're strong. We'll get over it!"

"Yeah?" He used a challenging kind of tone, betraying drastic measures before he put them in place, "Get over this. We're through."

Now those were words I had never expected to hear. Even if I knew he was just making empty threats, the pains were there. No. He doesn't make empty threats. He means it.

So I have to mean it just as much, "If you're serious, you can dump me after you get the transplant."

"You'd really give your organs to someone who isn't going to be grateful about it?"

"If it's you? Yes." I said it so simply that I surprised myself a little bit. In the past, my answer would have been no but we've been through so much together, "So let's do this."

He was losing ground, betraying his true feelings, "Even if I say you're keeping your team?"

"... I'll deal with it." I rolled my eyes at him but a smile was tugging on my lips. I know he wants to live as badly as I want him to live and that's all I need, "But can we kick Sofia?"

"No."

"Alright. I'll deal with it."

Keeping her or not, I got to see him smile the smallest bit. It was worth it.

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O

"So when were you planning to tell me you're going into surgery?" Kyoya demanded one day as I had just gotten done training the losers who were supposed to be my new team. He had been waiting very patiently for me and of course, this was the reason.

I grinned sheepishly and shrugged, "Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow… is the day of the surgery!" He snapped, swinging tonfas at me like a madman as I tried to placate the rage burning in this precious baby, "You were just going to call and say something herbivorous!"

The accusations were true. I could only grin at the affection he was showing me by getting angry. He would only be mad if it mattered to him.

It had been a long two weeks since the boss and I had decided to give this a shot. As of now, the only people who were told of the boss' condition were the officers of the Varia, Sawada Tsunayoshi and his chosen medical specialists. I'm assuming Kyoya's beastial instincts told him something was up and he came here to investigate. He probably beat the truth out of Sawada.

That and… the Varia is currently operating without our boss. He's been pre-hospitalized for pre-surgery tests and shit. That and he wouldn't stop drinking! The man would drink himself to death if we let him.

In fact, the drinking was the cause of his liver issues! He was literally about to drink himself to death!

"Oh come on!" I groaned, dodging a potential killing blow to the face, "I was going to call you when I was finished tomorrow! I would have let you visit me in the hospital!"

"The hospital or your grave?!" He demanded, swings not slowing as the fury began to show on every inch of his face, "Why was this not discussed with me beforehand? You always do this!"

I had only been dodging but the tonfa slicing at my abdomen forced me to block. A blow to the liver region wouldn't be good for me or the boss, "Jeez. I'm sorry but I don't intend to die."

"No one intends to die. It just happens."

I shuddered, closing my eyes for a moment, "Now that's a morbid thing to say. It's not going to happen this time. Let it go, little brother."

"Kira, stop it." He growled, snatching his weapons from my grip to hide them away once more, "Don't you ever think about how your decisions affect the people around you?"

Ouch. I mean, I guess I don't think it through all the way but…

"How are you any different?" I demanded, "Did you tell me when you fell in love with Kohane? When were you going to tell me that you trained with Dino? If I hadn't stumbled across those details, you would never have told me."

"Those don't result in my potential death!"

"Dino's mafia! He stopped talking to me long ago because he was afraid I was going to die from being involved in Cavallone business! You could die at any moment while you're beside him!"

"You joined the Varia without a word to me!"

"You were ten!"

"I haven't been ten for more than a decade! How long are you going to use that as an excuse?!"

We must've looked like we were going to kill each other. I mean, I can see how someone would think so considering we were snarling in each other's faces with our hands fisted into each other's shirts like we didn't know how to have a civilized conversation… and we kind of don't sometimes.

Anyways, Squalo and Lussuria were on us like policemen breaking up a bar fight.

"Hey!" Squalo huffed when I tried to get out of his grip but he held tight, "If you bruise your liver, boss is dead."

I debated for a moment if this was worth it but I'm too soft now. Boss is definitely worth it. I huffed and shoved him away, crossing my arms stubbornly as Lussuria attempted to calm my brother without seeing much success.

"Look." I said, making my brother stall temporarily, "There was nothing to discuss with you. Unless you're in need of a liver too, there's nothing you could say that would make me change my mind on this one. So unless you're seriously in need of a liver, I'll see you after the surgery. Come visit me, baby brother."

He was extremely put off by the unbending attitude but what can he do? He's also exactly like me when it comes to his decisions. Once he's put his foot down, there's very little that will make him bend the other way. Suddenly, his lips curved upward into a nice, evil smirk.

Judging by his expression, he had just found a way to convince me to keep my liver intact. He turned on his heels and stormed out like a man on a mission. I knew exactly what he was up to the minute he hopped on his motorcycle and began to speed away.

"Son of a bitch!" My ring roared to life with my sense of urgency, "Aquilos, Cambio Forma!"

"Where the fuck are you going?!" Squalo shouted at me like a madman from below as I took off at full speed.

"I'm going to the fucking hospital to save the boss from my crazy brother!"

At top speed, I got there just in time to go crashing through the window, slam into Kyoya's chest, and send him rolling into the wall. All of this while the boss sat in a hospital bed looking awfully amused to see us.

"You crazy lunatic!" I shouted at my brother as we wrestled for dominance, "Leave him alone!"

"If he's dead, you won't be needing that surgery or that absolutely herbivorous decision!" He declared, shoving his elbow against the side of my face as I wrestled him beneath my armpit in a strong headlock, "You let go before I bite you to death!"

"Don't say that if you don't mean it! I actually bite people to death!"

"You actually lack intelligence! I'm not letting you waste your life for that Monkey King!"

"He's not a waste!"

As if the world was trying to save me from my untimely demise at the hands of my brother, Dino arrived with Kyoya's lover in tow. Dino physically restrained him while Kohane dissuaded him from fiery punishments for my poor self who was trying not to full on brawl with him.

"Honestly, Kyoya-kun, if we were in the same position, what would you do?" She huffed at him when he was finally in a rational mood, "I'd do the same for you. That's what happens when people are in love."

"I'd obey my sister." He said without an ounce of regard for her feelings, "I'm all she has left. If she told me not to risk it, I would not argue."

"Don't lie!" We chorused in a collective tone of disbelief. Dino and I rolled our eyes at my dishonest little brother.

"I'm serious." He growled, "I told you before, Kira. You are all I have left. If you ask, I'd do anything."

Ahh… I see. I traumatized him. I killed our parents so I thought I had a hard time coping and getting over it but even more than me, my brother felt guilty. He thinks he let me down when I need him the most and I'm sure my choice to run away without looking back wasn't helpful to his ego either. He probably thinks he lost his place in my heart. He's not over it. He might never get over it.

"Then I have a favor, Kyoya." I smiled when his expression softened, surprising at my timing for making a request, "Open your eyes, little brother. You say I'm all you have left but look around. They came for you."

He blinked, expression blank for a moment. He turned, slowly making eye contact with Dino and then his lover. His eyes widened in realization, finally turning to spare my boss a glance.

"Yeah." I grinned, turning to check on the boss' mood before continuing, "I thought I lost everything too but he came for me. He brought me home."

It was my turn to be surprised when he stepped forward and embraced me in front of so many people. He held me tight for a long moment, ignoring the surprised gasps of Dino and his lover who looked mildly jealous. Laughing quietly, I patted his back until he was ready to let go.

"And last I checked, Fon is still among the living." I joked when he had finally pulled away, grinning at the sight of his scowl, "I'll see you tomorrow after the operation but one more favor, Kyoya."

He waited for me to speak, gauging the reactions of those around him as well.

"Well, now that you all know about the surgery, I can just tell you. The Varia's going to be extremely busy without us. Can you get Sawada to cut us some slack or lend us some men?"

"Consider it done." He said, shaking his head at me as if he couldn't believe my thoughts were only of the people who made up my home, "I'm going to discuss this with him. Right now."

"Thanks." I waved at his retreating back, smiling when Dino and Kohane hurried out with him. Only Dino bothered to wave back but oh well. I turned, still waving, "Hey, boss. Hospital gown isn't a good look on you."

Boss snorted, ignoring my comment and making his own, "He's just like you."

"Heh." I puffed out my chest, proud of our similar points, "He's absolutely adorable."

He only snorted again and motioned for me to come to him. Once I was in range, he pulled me down for a kiss, "Stupid shark got the files?"

I thought for a moment and nodded, "I think so. Squalo was in a mountain of papers this morning so it should be there. They said work's going smoothly without us so we should just take it easy as long as we want."

"But you're a workaholic so you wait until the last possible minute to come join me." He rolled his eyes when I pinched him viciously in denial, "Hurry and get admitted so we can get this over with."

"That's classic coming from someone who was refusing my organs just a few weeks ago." I laughed at his soured expression, "We'd probably be done by now if you hadn't kept it a secret for so long."

He didn't reply, only giving me the first push out the door to get my final tests done.

O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O~O

Everything is not going to be fine. Oh, I mean, not the boss and our surgery. That went absurdly well and I made fun of the boss for hours on end during our recovery period for thinking we wouldn't make it. Honestly, he wasn't even mad. He couldn't be.

There was a surge of empathy on his features when we woke after the completion of the surgery. We shared the same pain. This was literally us being together in sickness and in health. There was no greater sign of love from me. I considered his romantic condom joke from my birthday repaid with this act.

But I digress, I'm dying. I was sitting up stiff in the bed, IV drip on my left, machines beeping all around. Xanxus was still in bed, curiously assessing the situation from the other half of the room with his own drip and machines. His expression was neutral, not sure if he should be angry or calm.

"Sooooooo my team gave you hell and you're blaming me?" I grinned at Squalo, trying not to laugh because my stomach hurt more than enough without laughter shaking my post-surgery frame, "Man… That's…"

"Expected of trash." Boss finished and snickered as I burst into simultaneous complaint and laughter, "Go back and take it like a man."

Squalo sneered at the boss and spat, "You're just mad that I kissed her twice now and I'm alive to tell the tale."

Noting the boss' soured expression, I added a teasing clarification, "Three times."

"Ha. Ha." He huffed angrily, sulking in the most discreet manner, "You've cheated on me twice now and lived to tell the tale, Hibari Kira. You owe me this liver."

I laughed so hard grasping Squalo's hand as hard as a woman going into labor as I tried to catch my breath. It was so funny but it hurt so bad. I blame the meds. They haven't entirely worn off yet.

"Hey!" I finally realized he had said twice, "I told you I never sucked Dino's dick!"

"Shut up!" Squalo shouted over the cloud of an impending argument, "Anyways, recover faster and take back the reins! Both of you! I want to go back to days of self-training and field work!"

"Heh. When we go back, can we go on a hit together, boss?"

"And leave the shark at the desk?" Boss smirked at the violent twitching of Squalo's eyebrow, "Make it a hit a night for twelve nights."

"FUCK YOU BOTH!" Squalo roared indignantly and stormed out because hey, what else can he do? Those are the boss' orders.

Barely able to breathe, I managed to choke out a, "God, we're such assholes."

When I managed to stop laughing and catch my breath, I saw the subtlest smile slipping from his face back into a naturally bored one devoid of emotion. It made my heart flutter for a moment too long. I took my eyes off him for a moment to calm myself only to find that it was no use when I looked back at him and found him looking right back at me. He hadn't taken his eyes off me yet.

A twinge in my gut was telling me the pain meds were wearing off. It was starting to hurt for real. I felt my breath hitch not once but twice and then nothing but the boss was immediately on his feet. I had never seen this lazy ass move so fast. I stared up at him awkwardly as he hovered and I laughed in his face.

His expression went from that wide-eyed, barely-leaking concern gaze to straight pissed. He went right back to his place and refused to talk to me but that's okay. I was still laughing at him. I never saw him make such a concerned expression. Don't tell him but I fell in love all over again.

Between laughs I managed to tease, "What happened to 'you cheated on me so you owe me that liver.' Hmm?"

"I'll shoot you." He snarled, reaching for a gun that was no longer there. He remembered that Lussuria had taken our weapons away since this was a hospital, "As soon as we go home, I'll shoot you."

"Heh. I love you too, boss."

He said nothing in response. He never does but he doesn't argue and honestly, that's more than enough for me. I mean, we beat down all the challenges that came our way and we're still together. Even cancer doesn't stand a chance against us.

I was laughing again at how dumb that sounded in my head but it doesn't matter. Boss was looking rather amused with the whole situation and when we made eye contact he didn't try to hide the small smile that was tugging at his lips. Life is great.

This is the last chapter for this story. There will be one more update with an epilogue.

Thank you for sticking with me through this long story run. I will be working on that third story I promised soooo Squalo will get his turn. LOL