Enjoy!

It was getting dark, and Ichigo was still searching. He'd been texting Yuzu updates to make sure Tsuna hadn't gone home, and he could tell his sister was beginning to panic. But, in true Kurosaki form, she was steamrolling over her worry and focusing on having meals and towels ready for when they got home.

"Hey, hey!" turning at the hailing, Ichigo blinked in slight surprise at the sight of a Plus actually coming towards him. Looking her up and down he sighed slightly, before nodding at her to continue speaking.

Stumbling to a halt a few metres from him, the young woman's eyes roved over his face, before determination burned in her eyes and she stood straight.

"Follow me."

And without another word the ghost turned and dashed down the path, not looking back to see to see if he was following. Gritting his teeth in annoyance Ichigo took off after her, easily catching up as she ducked and weaved down different paths, eventually taking a sharp left down an alleyway. As Ichigo rounded the corner and his eyes fell on a small figure lying on the ground, he felt his soul freeze.

Tsuna.

Ignoring the ghost Ichigo darted forward and crouched next to his nephew, hand reaching out and pressing to the side of his neck. Feeling the slow but steady pulse, he began to run his hands down Tsuna's neck, shoulders and spine, carefully pressing and manipulating his arms and legs to make sure of no injuries. Satisfied, Ichigo carefully rolled Tsuna onto his side and balanced hi head against his arm to open his airway. Practised eyes ran over him, disregarding the grime and gunk from the alley and zeroing in the drawn, exhausted face with prominent eye bags and pale lips.

No trauma, no signs of a struggle or a fight. No trace of hollows or any other predators. Frowning Ichigo held his hand before Tsuna's open mouth, nose wrinkling at the heated breath. He's much too warm, and definitely running a fever…

Running his hands carefully through the unruly hair, checking for any further injuries or bumps he felt Tsuna shift and heard a tiny little whimper. Pausing in his ministrations, he gently tilted Tsuna's head back, noting the fluttering eyelashes and glazed golden brown eyes darting around.

"Tsuna." Ichigo spoke, frown deepening at the sharp flinch his voice resulted in, and the way those tired eyes tried to focus on him but ultimately failed. As the boy moaned and curled tightly into himself Ichigo shrugged off his coat, tutting at his nephew's lack of outerwear, clad only in his school uniform. Wrapping the coat around the boy's shouldered he reached and fitted an arm under his knees and around his back. Hifting with a soft grunt Ichigo lifted him up, humming comfortingly as the boy collapsed against his chest, hand weakly coming up and gripping at his shirt collar. Resettling him more comfortably Ichigo turned to exit the alleyway, coming face to face with the Plus. He paused and eyed her thoughtfully. He dipped his head in a short bow, thanking her.

"You can see me." It wasn't a question. The ghost's eyes drifted to Tsuna, and Ichigo tightened his grip at her scrutiny. Her hand reached out and hovered over the teen's warm face, smiling softly at Tsuna's form. "He could too."

Ichigo blinked at that, slightly surprise. Yuzu hadn't exactly had the strongest spiritual power, and Tsuna hadn't inherited much… the fact he could actually see ghosts came as a bit of a surprise. He eyed her, more thoughtful now. He sighed before asking, "Do you know what happened? I can't see any injuries, so it has to be something else."

Humming, the woman withdrew her head and frowned, tapping her fingertip on her chin. A thoughtful look crossed her face. "You know, he was looking really sick when he came down here… like he was gonna hurl. I mean, this place is nasty enough without that, so I told him not to. Kid freaked, babbled a bit and just passed out. I mean, I know I'm dead and all, but something isn't right about him."

Ichigo was silent, digesting what she had said. Another whimper and a shudder wracking Tsuna's body stirred him into action. Nodding again at the ghost he said quietly, "If you stay here I'll make sure someone will come and help you."

"Where else am I gonna go?" the ghost laughed, a bitter look touched her lips. But she stayed there as ichigo walked past, heading out of the alleyway and disappearing along the pathways.

Yumiko stayed quiet as she watched the man leave, hoping she had made the right decision. But then she brushed it off, a wave of apathy flooding her as she turned and walked further into the alley. It wasn't like there was anything she could do now. Either the kid would get better or he would die too.

….

Yuzu had never expected this to be her life. She had always wanted to find love like her parents had, to find the one she would spend her life with, to have children and a home that was always there for her family. And she thought she had found that with Iemitsu, the strange but charming foreigner that had swept her off of her feet and made her feel so very special, unique, amazing. Not just the little sister, the baby. The other twin. She loved her family. She really, really did! But to have someone that was just hers, someone who wanted her for her, and someone who had given her this beautiful home and her precious, sweet little Tsunayoshi…

Well.

It definitely wasn't all she had envisioned so very long ago in her day dreaming.

While she had the home, and she always had her family, she often felt that her husband, while he did love both her and their son might not always have their best interests in mind.

Twisting her hands in the tea towel, Yuzu stared into the distance, worry dancing along her mind. Ichigo will find Tsuna, and then… then I need to talk to him. Her baby needed her. He might not think she cold handle it, her little lion was just so protective… but. She was his mother.

Her eyes hardened and her lips firmed, twisting hands tearing the towel straight down the middle with little effort. Muttering softly in annoyance, Yuzu dropped the towel on the table, turning and continuing to watch out the window for her brother and son, not realizing the sudden spike of power she had unknowingly released had caught the attention of her houseguest.

And it was a very shrewd pair of eyes that looked at the housewife with vague interest, mulling over the hit of killing intent. While it wasn't abnormal for civilians to develop that power over time, finding it in the perpetually cheerful wife of an idiot was a definite surprise. Narrowed obsidian eyes took in her form, noting the straight back and hard look sported by Yuzu, curious as to where she may have picked up such a talent to hide her emotions.

This family is getting more and more interesting…

Both of their thoughts were interrupted as Yuzu gave a small gasp, suddenly full of energy and movement as she dashed for the front door, opening it and holding it open as the wind and rain from the storm lashed through the doorway, preceding a hunched figure. Reborn watched as the man stood straight, gaze sharp and cold as they met the hitman's.

"Tsu-kun! Oh, baby," Yuzu gasped, reached up and brushing dripping hair off of his face, hovering for a moment before dashing off, calling over her shoulder that she was getting some towels.

In Ichigo's protective hold his student was tucked in tight, waddled in a leather jacket that had done some good in protecting him from the elements. But he was much too pale, with spots of cherry red on his cheeks and prominent bags under his clothed eyes.

And he was so still. So small tucked tightly against his uncle's chest.

"Reborn? Is Tsuna back yet- what the hell?" Dino spoke, head poking in from the den. His eyes immediately landed on Tsuna, before snapping up to Ichigo and registering him as an unknown. Reborn noted with satisfaction the way the young Don's spine straightened, chin up and eyes cold as he assessed the man currently holding the teen. "Who are you? What's wrong with Tsuna?" he asked, voice almost low enough to be a grown. Inwardly, Reborn frowned, displeased at the emotion and protectiveness being so obvious.

Kurosaki glared, mouth opening to respond, but Reborn jumped in before he could. "Dino, quiet. Go and make sure your men are doing their job." Turning, he ignored the scowl onhis old student's face who left to do as he was told, taking in the flicker of disapproval and almost anger in Kurosaki's face. Unfortunately before he could interrogate him Yuzu rushed back into the room, wrapping a towel around her son and tossing another on the floor, instructing Ichigo to remove his shoes and socks before ushering them both up the stairs.

Reborn watched, expressionless as the trio passed him on their way up to Tsuna's room. It wasn't often that he was so completely dismissed like they had just done, and he definitely did not care for it.

Pouting slightly, the hitman turned and made his way up, intent on finding out what his idiot student had done to himself now.

Hope you liked it... this chapter was such a bitch to write! Fought me the whole way. So I am sorry if the quality of this one isn't as great but I really want to just get this finished.

Anyways... see you next time!