A/N:

@ethdsjordan: Can I just say I feel you?

Thanks for the reviews. Here's the second update. Hope you don't mind the whatnots. Thanks.

Anyway, go on.

Chapter Thirteen

Maybe it was around one in the early morning when he felt Takeshi thrashing. Panicked, he sat up from hugging his knees to his chest and stood up to tend his patient. He staggered a little with prickling numbness attacked his back, knees and arms as his joints screamed in disuse. He breathed out and soothe himself with sun flames before inspecting Takeshi. The noiret is having this damped, sad expression in his face when Tsuna observed. Understanding the reason why, he touched the man's ankle and shook it.

Tsuna sat still when Takeshi shot up from the bed. He counted seconds first before he went near to rub the noiret's back as he put a glass of water in the latter's hands and urged him to drink. Takeshi did drink to Tsuna's relief.

"O-Oyaji i-is..."

"It was a dream, Takeshi. And if it's a memory, don't dwell on it. Your dad won't like it if he sees you sad." Tsuna whispered.

"B-But he's m-my only fa-family left a-and n-now he-he's -"

"Takeshi." He called. The man looked at him with tearful eyes. Tsuna gave a small smile. "He will always be with you. They will always be with you. No need to be afraid of being alone. If they aren't here, then they're there." Tsuna pats Takeshi's heart. "Like how every single loved ones of us are. As long as you know that they love you and you always love them, they're with you."

Tsuna didn't dare fight when Takeshi hugged him. Hey. He's small and the man is freaking strong, he has no chance of struggling out. He patted the man's back as a solace instead.

Man. He's such a hypocrite.

When he felt Takeshi relaxed and slacked, he placed the man to bed again. But before he can even go far away from the man, he was pulled to the bed and hugged like a bear with a murmuring noiret. Tsuna blinked when he heard Takeshi called him 'Mom' and said 'I love you' and 'I missed you' while hugging him close. He chuckled and let his now bedmate to cuddle him all he wants.

Who can resist a free bed anyway?

Takeshi doesn't want to go. But he needs to. His bladder will burst if he doesn't. So he opened his eyes, went out of the bed and slid inside the bathroom. He did his thing and went out only to hear someone yelling.

He tensed up before looking around with a sudden alertness. He's in his room in the Star Hotel. He felt relief until he felt his hitman instincts goes on as he heard more yelling before some small unfamiliar voice answered.

"Good Morning, this is Tsunayoshi Sawada speaking."

Takeshi blinked then strode near the door to listen.

"Where is Yamamoto?"

"He is unavailable at the moment due to the restriction of the authorities-"

"What the hell-"

"-also known as the doctors per instruction. If you could kindly get off the line cause I'm utterly irritated at your yelling to the point that I want to stuff those baseballs you've been talking about to your mouth with the use of those baseball bats you want to bash on Takeshi's head. With all due respect, Sir. You are a coach that has many players on his team. If you want to win, rely on them not on one single player."

"Put Yamamoto on the phone!"

"Make me." Then a small sound of placing something on its place. Probably the telephone. "At least that went well, unlike Kyouya's. I remember cursing on that one. Stupid Tsuna. Oh well. At least Kyouya's free now."

Takeshi went for the bed when he heard footsteps coming towards the door. He sat on the side of the bed and looked at the door when it opened. A man with gravity-defying brown hair and brown eyes, wearing casual attire came in with a tray of goods. When brown eyes met his, he felt warmth envelop him into a hug. He checked for flames, but none was used. Then he noticed the big smile he can't help reciprocating.

Nope. There are no flames.

"Ah. You're awake. Good to know." Tsuna brought the tray down on the side table before giving Takeshi's body an inspecting eyes. "Let's see..." The brunet put a hand on the noiret's forehead and let it stay for a few minutes before nodding. "It's good. You're okay."

"So..."

"Nope. You can't play baseball today. You're okay, but not good, better or best." Then Tsuna put the bowl of Donburi in his hands. "Eat plenty to get strong and regain energy. Then you'll need to drink milk and water with medicine. Not much of a chore, is it Takeshi?"

"But my team-"

"No." Takeshi stared at Tsuna's stern face. "If they want you to die, let them die for your stead. Those idiots kept on pushing you to your limits. It wasn't even raining yesterday but you caught a fever. It's obvious you overworked yourself and fatigue caught up with you. Now what will happen if you break your arm? They'll put the blame on you cause you practiced too hard? Imbeciles. Now eat before I feed you myself. And I don't take no for an answer, Takeshi."

Takeshi stared at the brunet still. It was... Unusual. It felt years since he was scolded and refused like this. Not like he get everything he want... Well in a sense, yes. No one says no to him, or even scold him. No one even shouts at him or defy the things he says. It's like he's a god of some sort.

And he hates that.

He wants to be treated like a normal person. Like he has equals. Like he's nothing special, but still important in a way. But people tend to disregard it. So sometimes, he just stops thinking. But that doesn't mean he accepts.

And now, seeing Tsuna get so worked up with the conversation he had with his coach, hear him refuse him and complain about his team's stupidity and dependency on him... It's like he can finally breathe a fresh air. Like Tsuna is a fresh air.

So there's a reason why he can't stop himself from grinning then laughing afterwards with happiness he never felt before. He can't even remember the last time he smiled because of this feeling.

"Oh man. Did I give you the wrong med?" He heard Tsuna panicked.

Takeshi had to take a deep breath to stop himself from laughing. "No. No. I'm okay. Thank you Tsuna."

Tsuna tilted his head on the side. It almost made Takeshi blush at the cute action if only the former didn't say such funny things. "Thank you for taking care of you? Thank you for the food? Thank you for being my teddy bear last night? Or thank you for being my little clown at the moment?"

"Hahaha!" He cracked up. "You're such a funny guy!"

"Some said that to me all the time and I can't really remember saying something funny."

He continued to chuckle before asking. "So, what do you say Doc?"

Sawada stared at him before smiling in relief. "Eat, drink, rest. Let's problem my prescription after we say you're good for tomorrow."

"Yoosh!" He cheered before sitting properly on the bed, placed the bowl in front of him and clapped his hands to utter a small thanks. "Ittadakimasu."

'The canary is here.'

Tsuna felt a shiver go down his spine after reading the message Shamal sent him. He can see goosebumps on his arms. His neck too, he thinks.

If he is ever to fear someone, it will never be his Dad, or Nono, or even Nono's guardians. It will be Kyouya. Always Kyouya. Man. The bloodlust is scary enough to not just piss himself, but to also shit out. Although the skylark can be hushed in most times, his emotions will always be shown especially when irritated, angry or furious just by flaring his aura. Carnivore indeed.

He won't fear Hayato, Lambo and Mukuro yet. Heck they're in Italy as he speaks. But he knows he has to be ready if those three ever get angry. Who knows what will happen. It will be a surprise for him.

Tsuna was staring at his phone when it rang. He jumped at the sudden jolt. He shrieked when he read Shamal's name on the caller's profile. Just in time as the staff knocked, he rushed towards the door and gave his phone to the woman.

"Please answer it for my sake. That person on the other line will kill me if he finds out that I'm the one he's calling." Tsuna said in a panicky voice, surprising the staff. "Please? Then tell him you own the phone."

The female staff stared at him then to the phone that went silent. "Is he scary?"

He nodded, face showing absolute fear. "He's a friend of mine but he's really angry at me and I don't want to... Uhm... Face him yet?"

The staff giggled before nodding as the phone went on again. "Okay then."

He prayed and grimaced when the lady answered the phone.

"Hello?" The lady greeted.

"Tsunayoshi."

"Uh... No. It's Akari. Who is this?" The lady asked calmly.

Tsuna sighed in relief when the call ended after seconds of silence. He beamed at the lady who smiled in return. He entertained the staff as he took the food he ordered and apologized for his unreasonable actions. The lady dismissed it happily, a little relieved that she was able to help someone kind as Tsuna.

After putting the food awat, he checked on Takeshi who was still sleeping. Probably because of the medicine he took. Tsuna went back to the living room and watched the baseball game. For once, the team is toe to toe with the opposing team. He somewhat expected that they'll lose because of their dependency on Takeshi. Good thing they know how to play their cards.

To be honest, he didn't know he's helping the Takeshi Yamamoto. The latter is known as a baseball prodigy. He saw the noiret do bats and pitching. And apparently, they're as strong as he is now. Sometimes he wonders if Takeshi holds back whenever he plays. If he remembers right, the noiret can make a ball fly in the sky when he bats, and make a big crack on a wall when he pitches. But now, he doesn't.

Tsuna wiggled his nose as Takeshi's team cheered when they won. He thought he needs to treat Takeshi like how everybody acts around him. But when he saw him so carefree after he prohibited him from playing today, Tsuna got this inking feeling that the baseball star is already fed up with the God-like treatment.

"I wonder if he ever vent out his anger." Tsuna mumbled to himself as he stares at the TV.

He decided to watch something else as he leisures a little. He settled on a movie. He has his eyes trained on the TV when he felt his phone vibrate. He looked at it. It was a message from Shamal. He opened it with curiosity.

'Canary flew.'

Tsuna narrowed his eyes before replying. 'Did it sing?'

'He did.'

'What did he sing this time?'

'Some bunny hiding.'

Tsuna kneaded his forehead. It was obvious that it's Kyouya he's having a conversation with. Shamal never knew the bunny thing. If he was being described as an animal, he'll be a lion. Not a cub, but a big grown up lion. It has something to do with his hair and how he's so protective of his famiglia.

Good thing Kyouya doesn't know.

'Is that a new song? Or a nursery rhyme?' Tsuna went along.

'A new death song if the bunny doesn't come out yet.'

A shiver went down his spine. 'Poor bunny. Is it a friend of the canary?'

'Yes. And that canary is searching now.'

Tsuna gulped before wincing. He is becoming a masochist. 'Oh. That's good. I hope they see each other soon.'

'We will, Tsunayoshi.'

Tsuna gave a loud squeak just as his phone rang. He didn't pick it up. He knew it's Kyouya who's calling. Heartbeats escalating, he made the phone go to silent mode. He sat by the foot of the sofa, hugged his knees and buried his face on top of them. He can't breathe properly. He feels dizzy and he can't stop trembling. He felt so panicked. He's almost hyperventilating.

He tried to do some breathing exercise. And it's not working. Wincing at his doom, he clutched his chest and closed his eyes tightly, chanting a mantra composed of 'happy thoughts'.

"Tsuna?"

He heard footsteps nears him. A hand rubbed his back.

"Are you okay? You're having a panic attack. Did something happen?"

Tsuna shook head.

"Okay. Relax and breathe with me. Inhale." He did. "Exhale." He sighed. "One more time. Inhale." He inhaled. "Exhale." He sighed again. "Now look up. Tell me five things you see."

Sawada lifted his head and looked around. "T-TV. Table. Flower..." He blinked. Dang. He's dizzy. "S-Sofa and picture."

"Four things you touch?"

He patted the floor then the sofa he was resting his back to. "Smooth... R-Rough... Silk... There's spiky and hard."

He heard Takeshi laugh. "Three things you hear?"

He focused. "T-The aircon. I should've shut that off."

The other laughed again.

"You laughing, and the TV."

"Two things you smell?"

Tsuna blinked. He's calming down? "I smell food. And you stink."

"Hey! That's foul."

"You asked!"

Takeshi snickered. "One thing you taste?"

Tsuna clicked his tongue. "Chocolate I ate awhile ago."

"Feel better?"

He blinked again. "Ah yeah. I calmed down."

"Good. Now why is your phone ringing?"

He looked at his phone. "A-Ah-"

"Is it the reason why you're panicking?"

Tsuna sheepishly nodded. "Kind of."

"Okay then."

Tsuna watched as Takeshi reached out for the phone before sitting beside him. He stared as the baseball star tapped the answer button and put the phone by his ears. The noiret noticed him staring and gave an assuring grin. Tsuna blinked. He felt rain flames trying to relax him.

And he let the flame do its magic on him.

"Yo." He heard Takeshi greeted just as he averted his eyes to the TV.

"Where is Tsunayoshi?"

"Eh? Hibari-sempai?"

He stilled. He felt Takeshi patted his shoulder in an assuring manner.

"It's me! Takeshi Yamamoto! We're schoolmates!"

"... Baseball carnivore."

Takeshi gave a jolly laugh. "You remember! Man. I missed that nickname."

"Where is Tsunayoshi?"

"Tsuna? He just got back from his panic attack."

"... What happened?"

He shook his head when Takeshi glanced at him.

"He's shaking his head. He doesn't want you to know."

"Tell me, Carnivore."

"Well he said he was panicking from a phone call."

The other line went quiet.

"I bet he got scared cause you sound angry when I answered."

"Where is he?"

"Beside me. Still shaking."

"Hn..."

"What happened anyway?"

He tugged the other's sleeves.

"That herbivore went somewhere and didn't tell."

Tsuna flinched. He is so dead. He was even called herbivore.

"Relax, Hibari-sempai. Tsuna is starting to hyperventilate again."

"Give him the phone."

He shook his head.

"Ah. I can't. He's shaking."

They heard a sigh.

"I'll give it to him if you don't say anything worth shaking." The noiret tried to compromise.

"Hn."

Takeshi gave him the phone. "It's okay. I'm here."

Tsuna gulped and wince, but took the phone anyway.

"Little Animal." He gulped. He heard a sigh. "I'm angry. But I won't bite you to death. Are you okay?"

"Uh..."

"You're not okay."

"I-It's not your fault, Kyouya." He mollified, but his voice cracked. "I-I was... Thinking too much. And I thought you're furious."

"You ran away."

Tsuna flinched.

"The loud omnivore, cow and pineapple are coming."

He deciphered the nicknames already and panicked. "No no no no-"

"Relax Tsuna. You're panicking again." Takeshi tried to console.

"Tsunayoshi."

He sat straight. "Y-Yes?"

"I do not know why you went away, but I promised you I won't drift away far."

"But Kyouya-"

"We are friends." Tsuna's eyes swelled up. "You are there when I need you. When others needed you. So I... We will be too."

"Ah! Sempai! He's crying!" Takeshi informed.

"Takeshi!" He hissed before hiccuping.

"We will be there once they get here. Expect a lot of scolding, Little Animal."

He whimpered before giving a resigned sigh. "Yes."

"Good."

Takeshi took the phone from him. Tsuna hugged his knees again and started to rock back and forth. His plan backfired. And instead of one, he got four people hunting him down.

He didn't mean to leave them. He just has this tendency to push people away when things become too happy. He's afraid of hurting again after being left behind. That's why he does it in advance and push them away for their own good before they feel suffocated with his presence and left him hanging in the end. He's just a support. The cheerer.

Never the main character.