Dom: I really need to stop writing and do my homework
Alyssa: Did you do your homework?
Dom: Psh, of course not. You've known me since seventh grade and you still expect me to do my homework
Alyssa: We always wonder how the hell do you still have 4.0 every quarter
Dom: 'Cause I'm just that awesome
Alyssa: You do know Rochell's gonna kill you right?
Dom: Shit, I forgot about her *runs away and start doing homework*
Alyssa: Sorry about Dominique, she's just too lazy to do her schoolwork half of the time. Anyways, since she's busy, I guess I'm in charge of this chapter and DOMINIQUE, YOU BETTER NOT HAVE YOUR TABLET WITH YOU TO READ SOME FANFICS ONLINE!
Dom: Screw you, Sebastian! *grumbles then listen to music while doing homework*
Alyssa: Enjoy *smiles*
~O*~O*~O*~O*
Disclaimer: Don't own
~O*~O*~O*~O*
"What do you suggest we do?" Reborn turned to the now 16-year-old Tsuna.
The young boss looked skeptically at the blueprints presented on the screen, "I can see there's an opening right there," he pointed at the spot, "we can send someone to infiltrate the place through there and from then on they can probably take it down from the inside while we work on the outside."
"But Juudaime, the enemies are well aware that they have openings all around their hideout and they usually patrol. If our spy got caught, we'll lose another life," Gokudera stated.
"I know that, Gokudera-kun, but what choice do we have? If we don't eliminate this Family sooner, we'll lose even more lives in the future. Either way there is death and you know that I want to avoid it as much as possible, but this time it's inevitable," Tsuna reasoned.
The other Guardians and allies sighed. He's right. No matter what they choose, a life or lives would be sacrificed.
Dino spoke up to at least lighten the tension, "So who are we going to send?"
"I can go," Mukuro volunteered.
"Or I can," Hibari added.
Before anymore suggestions can be heard, one voice stood out, "Or you kids can stay and I will."
"We're not kids, Kazuo. We're 17 and 18 year olds and we can take care of ourselves," Mukuro turned to the 20-year-old man standing by the door.
"Look, you guys are the Vongola Guardians, you're way more important than me. Yes, you can take care of yourselves, but our enemies now are in a whole new different level. I think it was proven a fact when they kicked both of your asses AND Tsuna. If I die, it wouldn't matter," Kazuo shrugged.
"Yes, it would!" Yamamoto protested, "You're our friend and family if you die we would be devastated," he added as many, no, all agreed at his statement.
Kazuo arched a brow as an amused expression appeared on his face, "I didn't know I was cared by many so much," he chuckled, "do you hear yourself? You keep saying 'if'. IF I die not I WILL die. Don't worry, I'm not going to die."
"I didn't say you're the person going," Tsuna stood up from his seat.
"Yes, you did."
"When did I say you're going?"
"Now."
"Now?"
"Yes. You just did."
"Bastard," Tsuna said when he realized Kazuo tricked him.
Kazuo winked at him, "Don't worry for my well-being, I'll try to be fine," he walked over the shorter teen, "you should worry about your OTHER Family members. Don't focus on me. I'll do my job and you do yours," he ruffled Tsuna's fluffy hair before turning on his heel and exiting the room.
"Kazuo, wait," Tsuna called out before the man can completely leave the room
"Hmmm?" Kazuo hummed and stopped in his tracks as he turned his head to the side slightly.
"Promise us you won't die."
Kazuo groaned, "Tsuna. You know I don't make those kinds of promises."
"Please. Promise us you won't die on this mission."
Kazuo turned around and saw all the occupants looking at him expectantly; he released an annoyed sigh, "I promise. Now, excuse me I need to see Shouichi and Spanner so they can hook me up," he waved good bye; not caring that he wasn't properly excused.
~O*~O*~O*~O*
Reborn knocked on the door despite it being wide open, "Can I come in?"
Three heads snapped to him, "You're always welcome to come in, Reborn-san," Shouichi told him as he fixed the mini-camera attached to Kazuo's blazer while Spanner fixes an earpiece in his ear.
"Okay, just a bit more," Shouichi mumbled as he adjusted the camera.
Spanner pulled away from Kazuo then took out a headphone with a small microphone, "Hello? Hello? Kazuo can you hear my voice through the piece?" he spoke to the microphone.
"Um, barely," Kazuo tapped the earpiece gently.
Spanner nodded and went over to him to fix the piece again, "How about now?" he asked again when he was done.
"Better."
Reborn was just watching the two preparing Kazuo on his mission, "Would the two of you boys leave us alone, please? I need to talk to Kazuo in private."
The two teens nodded and when they left Reborn turned to see Kazuo looking at him curiously.
"What do you want, Reborn?"
"You lied."
"About what?"
"About coming back."
Kazuo sighed and kneeled down to the pre-teen's height or at least close too since he's pretty tall as a pre-teen. Reborn's growing at a fast rate ever since the curse was broken. In physical age, he looks about 12 or 13, but mentally he's a full grown man, "Reborn, you know too well that this kind of mission is dangerous."
"If I can come back from a mission which is impossible to finished unscathed, you can too," Reborn stomped his feet childishly.
Kazuo chuckled and tapped Reborn's nose playfully, "That's because you're the greatest hitman in the world and an Arcobaleno," he started tying his tie, but Reborn slapped his hands away when he noticed he's doing it wrong.
"Promise me," Reborn demanded when he was done doing Kazuo's tie.
"I can't," Kazuo murmured softly and quickly pulled the child for a hug when the raven-haired tutor started shaking, "I'm sorry. I can't make any promises," he planted a brotherly kiss on Reborn's head before standing up, "please don't tell the others. When they find out, Tsuna's going to make me stay. What I'm doing is for the best, remember that."
Reborn watched him go and wiped the stray tears that fell down his cheeks, "I'll miss you, Kazuo-nii."
Yes, you heard right. Reborn called the younger man 'big brother' because for the past couple years, he's been helping him adjust growing up all over again and he appreciated it.
"I'll miss you too."
~O*~O*~O*~O*
CRASH
BOOM
"Kazuo, are you okay?" Tsuna asked worriedly as he dodged a punch and retaliated with a kick to the gut and a punch to the face to his opponent, "Kazuo!" he yelled to his headphones.
"I'm fine," Kazuo grunted from the other line, "Son of a—" he was cut off for a moment as all the allies connected to him heard fighting sounds and the people watching from the camera in a room with a monitor winced when they saw the violent scene, "As I was saying I'm fine."
"Kazuo, we're just waiting on your signal," Shouichi told him, but for everyone to hear.
"Of course. I'm almost ther—fuck!" there was an explosion then a groan, "Fucking shit, that hurts like a bitch," Kazuo hissed.
"What happened?" Yamamoto asked as he and his team which consisted of Gokudera and Chrome stopped by the entrance.
"Those bastards have been planting bombs in every room and if they aren't, they are ambushing me. This mission became a lot harder," Kazuo laughed.
"Do you really find the idea of dying amusing?" Mukuro asked out of the blue.
"Of course not. Well, kind of," Kazuo admitted sheepishly
Mukuro shook his head, "We don't so you better come back in one piece."
"Does being dead counts? I mean I will still be in one piece," Kazuo said thoughtfully.
Hibari chose this time to speak as well, "Stop joking around!"
"Sorry. Sorry, I couldn't help it. I need to let it all out before I go," Kazuo chuckled in a carefree manner.
The others panicked hearing this, "W-What are you talking about, Kazuo-kun? I m-mean you're coming back right?" Byakuran almost whimpered.
"Y-Yeah, stop messing around," Dino added.
"You know too well death is a serious thing," Kazuo's tone was implying that he meant it, "and I'm only doing this so my death wouldn't be too depressing," he finished with a smile though they can't see it they can practically hear it from his voice.
"You promised!" Tsuna shouted and they all cringed at the loudness when they heard it through their earpiece.
"Some promises are meant to be broken and this is one of them," he explained simply, "sorry for lying to you."
"D-Did you know you w-were going to d-die?" Enma asked sadly as all of them were in the verge of tears.
"I didn't know, but I had a feeling that I'm not coming back once I volunteered. Well, what do you know? A bomb. A ticking bomb," Kazuo stopped in his tracks as some people saw the scene, "Leave. Get away from the base."
"We're EXTREMELY not leaving you!" Ryohei disagreed and they all raced towards inside the base in different routes; trying to get there in time, but deep down in their hearts they knew they wouldn't make it.
"We only have less than 45 seconds left. You have to leave," pure determination was set in Kazuo's voice while fighting some goons who stayed because of their loyalty to their Boss, "the only good thing about this is that this will wipe out the majority of the Family."
30 seconds.
"I'm sorry I lied to you and for breaking my promise. Tell my family I love them and I'm sorry."
"S-Stop, Kazuo-nii," Chrome choked out.
20 seconds.
"I know you guys are crying right now," Kazuo took the camera from his blazer and pointed it at him and the people watching saw him. Silent tears streaming down his face, "Don't. I'm not worth it. Promise me you won't do anything reckless when I'm gone," he exited the room with the bomb inside; trying to distance himself from the bomb even though he's still going to die. He still wants to keep his promise to Mukuro to keep his body in one piece.
10 seconds.
"I love you guys. Don't forget about me. I'll miss you."
5
"I'm proud."
4
"I expect great things from you."
Hibari defeated his opponents with ease. Adrenaline coursing in his veins as he tries to reach the base in time with Mukuro by his side. For the first time in ever, the two work together with no remarks against each other.
3
"I'm glad I met you guys."
The others moved their legs faster.
2
"I'm honored to fight along side with you great people."
"No, please don't," Gokudera whispered.
"I'll always be in your hearts."
Before the bomb went off, Kazuo gave one last smile to the camera and. . .
1
All the transmission to Kazuo was cut off as a big explosion took place. The people who were near the entrance flew at the force as pieces of the base scattered around.
The people still in Vongola HQ watching burst out in tears. Some were sobbing loudly and some were just letting their tears fall silently.
Tsuna and the others got out of the rubble they were buried in.
"KAZUO!"Tsuna screamed, hoping endlessly that the older man will pop out of the rubble grinning like a Cheshire cat and tell them he's okay.
"Kazuo, stop messing around and come out!" Dino searched for any signs of the younger man, "PLEASE!"
Silence. It was all silent except for the fire still raging.
"No," Tsuna shook his head and dropped to his knees, gripping his head, "God no. Please, please come back. Please tell me this all just a nightmare," he pleaded to his Guardians and to his fellow Bosses.
They all shook their heads sadly and that was all the confirmation everyone needed. The dam breaks and salty tears started to fall to the ground.
Lambo who arrived moments later with Basil saw something shining along the pieces of junk. He gestured for the blond-haired teen to be let down and he did. Little Lambo ran towards it and picked it up. He ran to his older brother figure, "Tsuna-nii?"
Tsuna stopped crying for a second to look at his youngest Guardian, "What is it?"
Lambo showed them the shining object in his hands and their breaths got caught in their throat, "Isn't this one of Kazuo-nii's necklace? Why isn't he wearing it? Where is he by the way?" he tilted his head to the side cutely.
Chrome kneeled down before him and stared at him straight in his innocent green eyes with her teary amethyst orbs, "K-Kazuo-nii…he's in a better place now."
"Well, can we visit him? He promised Lambo-san that he'll give him lots of candies after this mission."
"We can't right now, Lambo-kun. He'll be mad at us if we go to where he is right now," Chrome explained patiently.
Lambo scrunched his face together in confusion, "Then how are we going to return this then?" he pointed at the necklace.
Chrome pursed her lips together before taking the necklace and wound it around Lambo's neck and clasped the two ends together, "I don't think he'll mind if you keep it safe for him for a while," she managed to give him a small smile.
Lambo smiled too then took a look at everyone's faces, "Hey, why are you guys crying?" he wiped Chrome's tears away, "Kazuo-nii said we should always have a smile on our face even if we're feeling sad inside so smile," Lambo smiled really wide to prove his point.
The older people chuckled softly at the child's antics and looked up at the sky. Lambo's right. Kazuo wouldn't be too happy if he saw them all depressed and he's right too. He's always going to be in their hearts no matter what.
~O*~O*~O*~O*
Alyssa: That's actually the ending scene. Dominique's serious this time, but she felt really bad so she did an Alternative Ending for the people who doesn't like that one.
~O*~O*~O*~O*
Alternative Ending
1 year later
They never did found Kazuo's body. Perhaps it was lost or it was blown up to pieces, but they don't want to think about that idea. They also told his family and they were devastated to hear the news yet it seems like they were expecting it as well.
The Vongola Guardians along with few others walked into Kazuo's favorite restaurant when he was still alive. The hostess took them into their tables and they quietly followed and read the menus. They decided to go here to celebrate…well, not really celebrate, but it's Kazuo's death anniversary and they had a mutual agreement to eat here.
It was quite obvious to everyone that they are a melancholy group today…there's a black cloud hovering over them. I'm kidding, it's written all over their faces.
The more experience people heard footsteps coming into their way and they reckon it's going to be their server.
"Whoa, what a depressing group," a familiar voice wafted in the air and they all froze; it's just their minds playing tricks on them, letting them imagine that they are hearing Kazuo's voice, "you know usually when I serve a party like this there's supposed to be a lively air around them, but this…this is just sad."
They turned to the speaker and they stopped breathing as their eyes met with a pair of familiar metallic blue eyes. Their eyes drifted to his neck and saw his necklace that has his name engraved on it.
"Hi, the name's Kazuo and I will be your server for today," he offered them a sincere and kind smile, "what can I get for you?"
~O*~O*~O*~O*
Alyssa: Okay, that's the end. Basically, he survived though he doesn't remember them. He had amnesia 'cause of the explosion and was saved by someone. He knows his name because of his necklace, but other than that it's blank. Anyways, thank you! and sorry for the OOCness, I'm just typing what Dominique wrote in her notebook, she's sorry too