A/N

Thanks for the reviews.

And four more chapters to go.

Anyway, go on.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Kyouya sauntered toward the Vongola gates like an unconstraint cloud. It was his turn to show himself to the people of the famiglia. It was part of the plan to show up one by one or in pair. It was one of the tactics he learned from Tsuna after visiting a lot of their estates.

First one to show up was Hayato, applying as a driver. It was to check the perimeter if there are any changes. So far, there was not. Second was Takeshi and Ryohei after two days. Takeshi as a mafioso and Ryohei as an assistant doctor. He knew better to put those three in the same place. He was pretty irritated when Takeshi reported their progress. The background was so noisy because of Hayato and Ryohei's bickering.

Lambo and Chrome applied as a butler and a maid, respectively, accompanied by Mukuro hidden with his mist the day after. Mukuro refused to take any job. He knew how hostile other mafiosi whenever they hear his name. Things might go worse if they see him personally. Kyouya almost snorted at the idea, thinking who won't be terrified to see a walking pineapple?

"Kyouya?" Franco, the gate keeper, blurted his name in surprise.

"Hn."

"Oh. Okay. I'll open the gates. What work are you entering?"

Kyouya only inclined his head.

"You can't just do nothing. Decimo-"

"Tsunayoshi." He corrected.

"Tsunayoshi-" Franco repeated the correction with a fond expression on his face. "-will see you. You need to at least be in disguise."

Kyouya looked at the man in the corner of his eyes. He liked talking to Franco. The man can understand him unlike other people. Maybe because he's a veteran in this world, and he's a father. Tsuna is very comfortable with him too.

"Suggestion." The skylark stated.

"Oh. Well, Gary is in a hurry right now. He has an appointment with his doctor. He's been having chest pains lately."

"Hn." Kyouya's only reply as he walked in.

"He's tending the gardens. And since Japanese people are really into cleaning, I thought that maybe you can do it? I mean you practice flower arrangement too, right?"

Kyouya looked at the man from his shoulder and nodded. "Yes. Thanks, Franco."

He didn't need to see the happy smile that graced the man's lips when he expressed his gratitude. He went to the garden and looked for the said gardener. Gary was very pleased to see him and told him what to do. The man also told him about the flower arrangement he was planning with Tsuna. Kyouya only nodded in response as he hung his dress coat on the hanger, wore rubbershoes in exchange to his formal shoes, the green suit that he folded and tied on his waist with the tools belt below it, and a straw hat on his head. He folded the sleeves of his shirt as he listened to the instructions. After five minutes of reminders and such, the man set out while he took his time going out.

He did what was Gary doing. Finished most of it since he's rather accustomed to this kind of work. Who wouldn't when you mother is rather persistent. After doing what should've been done, he went for the training grounds and watched mafiosi have their fill on their trainings. He was amused, found some potential target carnivores. Until Osamo Hitori, ex-soldier with cloud flames, was invited to the ring.

Kyouya turned his head away and muttered 'Pathetic herbivore' under his breathe. Yet, he still watched. Indeed, it was pathetic. Half of the time, the ex-military doesn't know what he was doing. The hesitation in his attacks and the confusion on his face are very evident. No wonder Klaus, the rain carnivore, let him go.

Unable to restrain himself, he stepped up and attack the man with his back on him. Good thing the carnivore was able to prevent his punch. Regardless, he continued his assault. He can almost grin evilly at the failed attempt to retaliate.

"I was only gone for a month and you already became weak, carnivore. Are you getting old?" He carelessly said in a rather insulting way.

Klaus chuckled, recognizing his animal analogy. "No. I was distracted."

"Hn. I'll bite you to death then."

"No!" Klaus shouted as he backed away. He heard the others laugh at their co-worker's cowardice.

Kyouya smirked before glaring at them. "Don't tell the stupid omnivore."

"Yes, Sir!" They all chorused.

He glared at them once more before turning his back on them and started to walk away when a familiar cheerful voice with a ting of innocence in it called them out.

"Ah, Signore?"

"Tsunayoshi!" Klaus acknowledged, giving him a heads up of who it was, not that he really needs it.

"Hi Klaus! What happened? Why are you talking to Signore-"

"Albert?" One mafioso supplied.

Kyouya almost raised a brow at the new given name. A little ancient for his liking, but Italianic in a way.

"Eh?" Tsuna blurted. The skylark could almost imagine his sky tilting his head to the side in bemusement.

He heard most laughed at the show of innocence.

"Where's Sir Gary?" The brunet asked.

"Gary is sick, Decimo." He answered.

"Oh. Is he okay? Can I visit him?" Tsuna asked worriedly.

'Always the worrywart.' "He'll be fine, Decimo." Then he angled his body to look at the boss. "What can I help you with?"

"Oh. It's nothing. I was going to ask Sir Gary if he prepared the flowers that we're planning to put inside the house."

"I can prepare them."

Tsuna's face lit up in a new different level. The show of happiness made his heart flatter. "Really? Thank you, Signore Albert."

He nodded. "Follow me, Decimo."

He waited and watched as Tsuna waved at the others as he followed him. He didn't need to wait for the Don to fall in steps with him. Tsuna never liked it when he walks in front. Although Kyouya knew Tsuna rather walks behind, he'd like to walk beside his companion to make the other feel at ease.

"Hey, Albert!" He looked at Klaus by his shoulder. "He isn't in your level at all!"

"Yeah!" The others agreed.

"Hmm." Kyouya's only reply but the smirk that made its way to his lips tells otherwise.

The silence between them is comforting. It was unusual. He can feel the sky flames from the brunet, but it wasn't reaching out, flaring or anything. It was almost like Tsuna is just the Tsunayoshi Sawada of Namimori. The kid he remembered looking somber most of the time.

Yes. He saved him a lot of times. He can remember seeing him walking out of the school grounds with a serene look and calmness radiating from him, unlike those times he was being bullied or chased. It's his first time realizing that the Tsuna he had been with for the past months isn't really the man he knew. That there is more to him.

"So what can you refer to me, Albert?" Tsuna asked as they entered the garden house.

"What would you want, Decimo?" He asked back as he took some ready vase on the table, ready to be filled with water.

"Hmm... Let me think first." Tsuna murmured as he looked to a side. "I remember Hayato looking at some lavender once. Oh. And some Blue Violets from Mukuro. Freesia from Takeshi and a sunflower to Onii-san since he's a sun."

Kyouya listened to him blabber a lot of things while handing him some tools. He beckoned his sky to do the work with him, well aware of how the brunet hates it when he's only watching when others do some stuffs.

It felt like hours had past when they finished arranging them. The vases contain different colored flowers, just like how the Vongola Decimo wants it. Some contain two colors, to eight colors. He helped him set them in the spot the sky wants them to be seen. To his pleasure, the brunet has this genuine expression whenever he talks about some memories regarding the area they're at. Whenever he apologizes for being noisy, Kyouya will dismiss it.

"I really like the garden, you know." Tsuna said after he put the last vase on the center table of the living room. The chamber is overlooking the vast garden. "It gives me a comforting vibe. If ever I get a chance to see my friends again, I want them to see the garden and make them feel the comfort it gives to me."

Kyouya gave him a peony that the latter took, a little surprised with the flower. "A king does not hope, Decimo. A king can get what he desires when he wants it."

The brunet beamed at him. "You're right. Thank you, Albert. Maybe one day, when everything is okay, I'll try searching for them and invite them over." Then he sighed. "Oh I hope they could forgive me."

Kyouya went back to the garden, refreshing his mind with all the information he got about Tsuna from the person himself. He chuckled as he removed his hat from his head.

"Noisy as ever, Little Animal."

Chrome fixed her maid outfit while looking at herself in the mirror. It's been months since she wore long dresses and let her hair down. Not much of a surprise, but she's really used to see her hair in an up-do style and feel the fabric in her being. The last time she wore a dress was three months ago.

She put her hair in a ponytail, arranged the head ornament before going out, the heel of her boots clicking on the floor. She loves her boots. It was given by Tsuna when they went shopping for her. She was there, but Tsuna was really thoughtful and bought her a black combat boots that goes well with Mukuro's style of clothing. The boss even dubbed them as the Royal (Mukuro) and the Rebel (Her). So she never took it off.

She was going to the kitchen when she felt something trespassing her mist barrier. She materialized her stick and blocked it. It was Hibari's tonfa. The skylark smirked at the response before retreating.

One of the things she also loves to have is the retractable stick she found in Tsuna's drawer when they were arranging their home. It was very much like Mukuro's, but a shade lighter in color. She knew it was for her from the first time she saw it. She just knew.

"Hn." Kyouya complimented before going in.

"I'll take that as a compliment, Kyouya." She beamed while following him in.

"Oya? Birdie-chan giving compliments? That's rare." Mukuro said as he ate the pancake on his plate.

Kyouya rolled his eyes. "I am very much capable of complimenting people."

"Eh? But I didn't hear any compliments on me."

"On the right people." The skylark clarified, making their listeners laugh.

Chikusa walked in with four plates of pancakes with egg omelettes in both hands and arms. "Anymore orders?"

"Yours?" Ryohei asked as he helped him place the platters on the table.

"Later. I'm going to sleep."

"Try sleeping on the couch sometimes, Chikusa." Takeshi smiled. "It's a good remedy for insomnia."

"I'll take that on."

Chrome silently listened on their interactions. She loves how their little group looks like a family, and accept people with sincerity in their group. She sighed after sipping her cup of tea. The influence of Tsuna is really sipping on their skins.

She took her time eating her meal, relishing the nutrients it gives and the flavours that burst in her mouth. If it wasn't for them, she might be starving to death now. She is after all, carrying fake organs. And one day, if she's strong enough, she'll make them real and permanent.

Arriving in the mansion, she was greeted by a lot of people. She answered them with nods of acknowledgements. To them, she's an important guardian of Tsunayoshi Sawada, their adorable and dependable little boss who smiles a lot and loves to hang out at every corner of the mansion. True though, she had seen Tsuna anywhere in the mansion. Walking in the halls with someone, talking in the corner with somebody, and lounging anywhere with anybody. She can see why Sky flame users are really loved. But that doesn't mean Tsuna always use his flames.

Chrome, despite her love of being basked in the comforting blankets of sky flames, loves to be indulged in the brunet's presence. When most people think that Tsuna always uses his flames, she thinks he doesn't. He's just so calm, and genuine and so much nice that he can attract a lot of people without his flames.

She was walking in the hallway when she felt pain spiked in her chest. It was so sudden that she jerked in to a stop and fell on her knees. She gasped out of pain. Her heart is screaming, throbbing and breaking.

'Nagi.' She heard her other half calls.

'Mukuro-sama?'

'Are you near Tsunayoshi? He needs help.'

She didn't answer. She sprinted towards the end of the hall and went right, her brain as a guide towards Tsuna's room. She always volunteers in cleaning it. And she knew the way, the shortcuts and possible entrance by heart.

Without a pause to breathe, she opened the door with her mist to unlock the wood and went in. Her eyes roamed the area with swiftness while approaching the bathroom. She unlocked the door again with her mist and scrambled in. Only to see Tsuna pressing a silver knife on his wrist. On his pulse.

She quickly rashed to his side and flicked the knife away. With shaking hands, she clutched the brunet's shoulder hard for pain to stimulate the latter's brain. The unfocused eyes concentrated a bit, the shaking halted a little and the tense atmosphere that's suffocating them lifted a little.

"Bossu?" She tries to call with a shake. "Bossu? Wake up!"

Tsuna closed his eyes and struggled to the point she almost released him. "N-No! D-Don't touch me! Just let me die! I'm not needed! I'm just a baggage! I only destroy things!"

"Mukuro-sama!" She cried for helped.

"Fuck." Her head snapped to the door where Hayato is standing with a man with many scars.

She backed away when the man with Hayato strode in. She watched as the scarred man took Tsuna in his arms.

"Trash! Wake up! Oi! What the fucking hell-"

She pulled herself to her feet and followed the man as he went out. They ran towards the main entrance. But a lot of mafiosi were loitering and blocking the way, and Hayato and Takeshi are having a hard time shoving them off the way. So she let her stick materialize, brandish it, lit it up with her flame before planting its tip on the floor. Grape vines spouted from nowhere, trapping every mafiosi on the side of the hallway.

With the pathway cleared, she followed them again. She watched Takeshi dozed Tsuna with rain flames as Hayato went for the driver seat. She jumped when she felt a hand on her back. It was Mukuro who appeared beside her before vanishing again after whispering her a saying of gratitude.

"For our sky, Mukuro-sama." She said with a smile. "Watch over him for us with Hayato."

'I will.'

Mukuro did not like the pinched look on Tsuna's face as he sat beside the Varia leader. The car is swivelling everywhere because of Hayato's reckless driving. Not that it was any surprise since he had rode a car with the silveret as the driver once. When Tsuna got hospitalized out of accident.

Ah. That made him a little more angry. He remembers seeing his little sky looked so vulnerable, lifeless and had this pinched look on his face despite the pain he feels. The demons of self-loathe, hatred, insecurities, depression and suicide are very very nasty.

So he thought of a simple gesture that might help his sky. He held the brunet's hand and squeezed it reassuringly. To his relief, the pinched look that marred his face disappeared and his face took a peaceful expression, just like when Takeshi dozed him off with a rain flames. Mukuro didn't let go up until they reached the destination.

It won't hurt Squalo if he witnessed the shark's merry flying to the windshield, will it?

"What is a convict doing here with Tsunayoshi?"

Mukuro did not even try to see who asked that when he laughed. "That's none of your business, I presume."

"Hardly. Especially he is one of my sky."

The mist's ear perked up. "Hmm... How amusing. If you are one of his elements, why is he suffering like that right now?" He looked at the person who tried to claim his sky. It was Mammon. "Harmonization is not only a factor of sky but also his cure. If you were my sky's element, how come you didn't help him when he was out of harmony?"

"Oi. Stop harassing the Arcobaleno." Squalo chided as he sat on the couch. "Baby Boss respects them a fucking lot. So you better too."

Mukuro looked away. "I am not a mafioso."

"Yes. Because you slaughter them."

"Of course. They disgust me the most." Then he stood up. "The only mafioso I will follow is Tsunayoshi. And the only family I will be with is his. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to see my sky to get rid of his nightmares tonight."

And before he disappeared, he heard Mammon's say of gratitude.