Our Finale

Tsuna looked forward. Then at a small piece of paper. Then back to the front.

On the paper was the last position of Reborn, which he had requested from other people in the region that were in debt to him. Apparently the headquarters of the organization were outside Namimori's. But the cottage before him didn't look like some top-secret headquarters.

Actually, it was a simple little cottage in the middle of nowhere. Tsuna thought back to his training. Well, first impressions can be deceiving.

He gently pushed against the door. It was not locked, and just went open. Tsuna was extremely suspicious. That so screams trap. That or Reborn has come by here already. Tsuna saw a bullet hole by the look. Yep, Reborn is already here.

The little cottage consisted of a small room where all the furniture lay carelessly on the floor. A book was even on a hot plate. What would the fire department say to this?

The most attention attracted an unfolded hatch, under which a stairway led down. After his last adventure underground Tsuna was not particularly keen to go under the earth again so soon.

Tsuna sighed and pulled himself together. What you do for your family.

Tsuna heard the gunfire and the war cries from afar. Seemed as if Reborn vigorously stirred up among the people down there.

Tsuna checked again whether his gun was still there. All clear. Go.

Then he flung himself into a large room with a walk one floor up, that snaked along the walls. Reborn fought against overwhelming odds - and was partly winning. Nevertheless, he had time to react to Tsuna penetration.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Reborn pressed out furiously between his teeth. Tsuna stood with Reborn back to back, and both got ready for battle.

"Thought I'll lend you a hand." Tsuna took his gun in his hand. The men and women looked suspicious, but came closer, nevertheless.

Reborn aimed at a man on his right. "It was stupid to come alone."

Reborn wanted to pull the trigger just as several explosions rocked the room. "Stay away from Tsuna-sama!," Shouted a very familiar voice.

Tsuna grinned. "But I ain't."

"EXTREME FIGHT!" Ryohei crashed with a fist through a wall on the next floor.

"Lambo-sama commands you to let Tsuna-nii in peace." In the next moment, a few grenades flew through the air.

"Kufufu, I agree with the small cow. I also have a debt to pay." Pillars of fire rose up from the ground and spread panic.

Hibari stood on the railing and glared angrily at his enemies. "You have disturbed the peace of Namimori. Prepare yourselves to be bitten to death."

"Tsuna, Reborn." Takeshi cut a way with his sword through the hostile ranks. "We have this under control. Go on."

Tsuna nodded his thanks and then ran behind Reborn through a door into a long corridor. With enemies, short work was made.

Ultimately, they came in a bigger room than the one in which they had just fought. Here were a lot of cabinets.

"That's our goal? A room full of cabinets?" Tsuna asked, ill-humored.

Reborn opened one of the cabinets. Dust flew to meet him. The cabinet contained hundreds of files. "A room full of information," Reborn corrected.

Tsuna wanted to help and went to a cabinet to open it, when an arm was put around his neck and he felt the familiar chill of the metal of a gun to his head.

"And they stay right where they are." Came the voice of the person who hold Tsuna.

Tsuna waited for Reborn to free him, to make short work with the attackers. But instead there stood a petrified Reborn.

That can't be good.

Tsuna then gently turned his head toward the mysterious attacker. Female. Blonde hair. Green, serious eyes. He understood Reborn's hesitation.

"Adriana?" Tsuna whispered incredulously.

But Adriana ignored him. "You've found something in Vendicare what I want, Reborn. Give it to me."

Reborn had regained his usual character. "You have left us with the message."

Adriana smiled evilly. "Of course. Who else should possess such a knife." Tsuna got goose bumps. That was not the same woman he once knew.

"You have hunted the organization. Why are you helping them?" Tsuna spoke up.

"My dear boy, I have not hunted them. I'm one of them." Tsuna could - wanted - not believe what Adriana had just said. With her mouth she pulled the sleeve of her blouse up. On her upper arm a red sword surrounded by multiple flames were shown. It was their sign.

Then she pulled a lighter out of her pocket and lit it. Tsuna thought for a moment that Adriana wanted to brand him, but she threw the burning lighter in one of the open cabinets, and its contents caught fire immediately.

"I haven't got all day, Reborn. Now there's a time limit." In her view was something crazy that scared Tsuna.

Reborn said nothing, but slowly raised his weapon to eye level. The message was clear: he would not go down without a fight. And I won't either!

Tsuna rammed his elbow into Adriana's stomach. She let go of him and touched her belly. Then she raised the gun and shot quickly at Tsuna. Tsuna just could crouch, but was hit at the leg and at the cheek. Both glancing blows, but they still hurt.

Reborn took his chance and tried to hit Adriana, but she surged like a cheetah through the room.

Tsuna sat up with a groan and tried to hit her with his fist. Adriana spectacular blocked and backed away when Tsuna took a swing with the leg after her. He didn't want to seriously injure her, so he tried to limit himself to the melee, but it seemed to him that Adriana was always one step ahead.

Of course, she has taught us everything we know.

As Tsuna tried to catch her with one hand, Adriana grabbed his hand and flung him over her shoulder and from there into one of the cabinets with a few shots behind. This time she hit him at the arm and abdomen. Tsuna couldn't breath because of the force of the impact. He felt the pain of the shots seconds later and it costs him a lot of power not to cry out in pain.

The fire had by now set almost half of the room on fire. Smoke was collecting on the ceiling.

"Tsuna" Reborn looked at him worried and thereby made a fatal mistake that was totally uncharacteristic of Reborn. He shifted his attention from Adriana to him – and Adriana used this opening from Reborn's defense in cold blood.

Adriana took aim. "Goodbye, Reborn."

"NO!"

The shot was fired.

There was an unbearable silence.

Reborn looked even more shocked than before. Slowly, he raised a hand and touched his chest. Then he pulled it away again. His hand was shaking ... and it was red.

Blood red.

No, Tsuna tried to calm himself. This is only because of the glow of the fire. This is not blood. Not ... Reborn's blood.

Reborn stared incredulously at Adriana with a look that asked only one question: Why? She still had her gun aimed at him and looked at him cold.

Then Reborn collapsed. He breathed only flat.

Tsuna immediately tried to sit up. "N-No. R-Reborn" Tsuna whispered. He also began to tremble. Every time he tried to pull himself up, he fell down again.

Again and again.

"Reborn! Stand up" He shouted louder, but Reborn did not respond.

When he saw Reborn lying there so still, a dull numbness spread in him. It was as if the world had suddenly pressed the mute button on the remote control.

Then came a rush of panic and sudden, hopeless despair.

His heart was racing. Since he could not walk, Tsuna tried to crawl to Reborn. First the arm, then a leg. First the arm, then a leg, he quoted inside his head like a mantra.

He no longer paid attention to his surroundings, hit all the rules in the wind. Now he could only think of one thing: he had reach Reborn.

When he finally reached him, his hands were shaking so much that fighting would have made no sense anyway. After a few attempts, Tsuna managed to turn Reborn on his back.

Tsuna saw that his hands were red with Reborn's blood that slowly collected in a puddle around them.

"Reborn."

The gunshot wound was sitting just above his heart.

"Reborn!", cried Tsuna and hugged the older one. Now he really felt safe and at home. After such a long time of waiting. How long ago was it? Ah, six years...Yeah, six years.

Tsuna's face turned red. He let go of Reborn. He wasn't a little kid anymore. And Reborn wasn't one, too.

A hand stroked his hair. Even after all the time, he just couldn't let it be. Reborn smirked. "Long time no see, Dame-Tsuna.", he said and went into the living room. Reborn was back.

Tsuna's hands clenched, as he put them on Reborns chest and tried to resuscitate him.

"I saw you again but only for a short time! You cannot go again! "Tsuna cried desperately. "You just cannot! You wouldn't allow me to just give up!"

"One more time!," Shouted Reborn as Tsuna dodged the hail of bullets and rolled over on the floor. At the same time, he took out his own gun and took aim at the targets that were built a bit away from here.

In one fluid motion, he fired. One bullet missed its target. "Not good enough. One more time!"

They already did this for hours now. But Tsuna knew that this was necessary if he wanted to have a chance to defend himself. In addition, he was, he admitted, a little bit rusty.

Sighing, he got up and went back to his starting position.

Tears clouded Tsuna's vision.

This couldn't be the end. That was simply not true.

Under the sobs mingled a slightly mad laughter. Yes, this was just a bad dream. Soon Reborn would wake him up again with his rudely methods. And Tsuna would just take him in his arms just to know he was still there.

Tsuna was woken up. Reborn-style.

If it were a normal wake-up call at least. But, no. When you were woken up by Reborn it has something to do with electro shocks. It is a wonder that he is still alive after all the years with this sadistic guy around.

And then for breakfast he would steal his food.

"Reborn! Give me back my food!"

But Reborn didn't even look at him. "Than try to get it back, Dame-Tsuna. Naturally, before I eat it. It's not my problem that you can't protect your things. Be more vigilant next time."

Meanwhile, the smoke had come to them. Tsuna had to cough repeatedly and breathing was going significantly heavier.

"I believe you. But I want to stay here. If only for a few month." Tsuna looked Reborn directly into the eyes. There wasn't fear, only resolve.

That was what convinced Reborn in the end. "Okay, but only for a few months. And we will restart your training. Do you understand, Dame-Tsuna?"

But Tsuna just smiled and nodded. Not only because he could be with his friends a little longer, but also because a family member was finally home.

Why did he want to stay in Namimori. He persuaded Reborn to stay and to face more risks than necessary. Reborn had warned him. And what had he now?

Tsuna shook Reborn's shoulders. "P-Plea-se w-ak-e up, R-Rebo-rn "Tsuna cried.

Tsuna tried to feel for a pulse. Something that testified that Reborn was still with him - but there was none.

Reborn arrived a few minutes later. "You really want to go without saying goodbye?" Tsuna asked, almost stripped of all emotions.

"Of course not. I had my reasons."

"I am sick and tired of your reasons and excuses!" Reborn didn't say anything, so Tsuna decided to take the lead.

"Why didn't you mention anything about it at breakfast?" Tsuna felt a lump forming in his chest. "Do you want to leave me alone again? Want to leave like Adriana?" Tsuna was almost yelling now.

Suddenly, two arms were around him and pulled him into an embrace. "I'll never leave you, Tsuna. You're my little brother. I will always be there for you. I promise."

Tsuna was crying on Reborn's chest. He had no strength to hold himself upright, anymore. He was too exhausted from the struggle and sorrow - the smoke did not make it any better.

"You promised! PROMISED!"

He collapsed on Reborn's chest.

Tsuna grabbed Reborn by the shoulders, so that he had to look at him. "It was not your fault."

Reborn stared at Tsuna for a while, then Reborn opened the blanket-wall around him with one arm. Tsuna sat beside Reborn and snuggled up to him when he put the blanket around them.

"Don't you dare tell anyone of this, Dame-Tsuna." Mission accomplished. Reborn was himself again.

Tsuna laughed. With all the chaos that took place at the time, that did really well.

Steps.

Tsuna raised his head. Before his eyes danced louder black dots.

Above him stood Adriana. Sober, he looked at her, felt nothing at that. Had she only remained gone forever.

As Adriana was seated behind the wheel, she drove off.

"That was the fifth assassination attempt this month. Enough is enough. We move."

Move? Sure, because of mother Adriana's work there are people, who want to get rid of her, but that has never stopped us to do what we wanted. And to where should we move?

As if Adriana had heard Tsuna's thoughts, she answered him.

"Japan."

Yes, that was how all his problems had started. That was the starting point for this.

Something wet fell into his hand. Then something else. Does it rain here?

He looked into her face. Small tears streamed down her cheeks, finally falling to the ground.

"They've figured out who you are? Yes, the idiot Iemitsu recognized you." Reborn looked at him intently. "What do you think of your father?"

Tsuna hesitated. Yes, what did he actually think about this man? "At first I was very happy to have a father, but then it occurred to me that this man really is a complete stranger to me. Besides" Tsuna smiled at Reborn. "I do not need a father, as long as you and Adriana are there for me."

Slowly, she sank to her knees. But not to grief. With one hand she pushed Tsuna gently to one side and grabbed something in Reborn's pocket. A small, yellow object appeared.

That was the thing that Reborn had found in Vendicare.

Now it dangled in front of Tsuna's eyes. A yellow pacifier. All the time, did it really just was a stupid pacifier everyone wanted? Tsuna felt anger rise up in him, but was too weak to do anything at all.

Adriana stood up and turned around. "I'm sorry."

Then she went to disappear again from his world.

Tsuna stared after her.

By this question, Tsuna began to cry even more. "I don't have any!" Sobbed Tsuna.

"But you've got us." The boy looked a little shocked by this announcement, but the woman gave him a warning glance. Offended, he turned around.

"My name is Adriana. And this is Reborn. We will be your family from now on." Adriana smiled warmly at him.

Again and again he had to cough. He could barely breathe. That was probably really the end.

At least, Reborn would not be alone.

Then he fell into a soothing darkness.

Preview: Next up is the epilogue of part one.