"The first thing in the human personality that dissolves in alcohol is dignity."

Author Unknown


Night had already fallen and the air had turned cold and icy. At a small bar just shy away from the hustle and bustle of the street sat a lone figure on a chair. In front of him was a glass of ice full of gin and a sorrowful burden too heavy to carry.

He took another swig from the glass and slams it loudly on the counter, making a small but unnoticeable dent. The bartender, already well acquainted with customers like him, approaches him and pours him another drink. The man mumbles a slur of "Thank you" and the bartender moves away and returns to his previous activity.

This man-Tsunayoshi Sawada-despised the fact that Reborn had heightened his tolerance of alcohol because now, not even the seventeenth bottle of gin could make him forget about the events of the day.

"After I graduate from Oxford, I'll be leaving for California."

Tsuna's eyes narrowed as he remembered the words that she had spoken. It's not like he had any right to stop her. He didn't own her, and what kind of friend would he be if he tried to cockblock her dreams like that?

But even when the logical part of his brain kept on yelling out the reasons and facts.

His brain couldn't answer the one reason as to why he was so damn angry.

Angry at her for not telling him anything about her decision.

Angry at himself for not stopping her.

Angry at America for taking both Kyoko and Shizuko away.

"Damn," Tsunayoshi grits his teeth and stares at the bottle angrily. He wanted to throw it. He desperately wanted to throw the damn thing.

But before he could do anything, a gentle hand takes hold of his hand. His eyes widened as he looked at the hand gently trying to soothe the shaking fingers that he had not noticed.

Tsunayoshi gently lifts up his eyes to see Shizuko standing next to him with a tired look on her eyes. Before Tsunayoshi could say anything, she takes a sit down next to him and gently-oh so gently, Tsunayoshi noted-rubs small circles on his hand to comfort him, his hand gently loosened their grip on the glass. She looks down at the glass, refusing to meet his eyes as Tsunayoshi stares at her.

"You're not okay," She whispers. This brought Tsunayoshi out of his stupor and he quickly takes his eyes off of her and focuses his gaze on the assorted alignment of liquor in front of him.

"Of course I'm okay," He lied. "Why wouldn't I be?"

"Tsu-kun," Tsunayoshi froze as he heard her say that nickname. He bites his lips in nervousness as she in turn grips his hand. "Don't lie to me. You are not okay."

"Even if I am," He admitted as he continued to ignore the warm feeling spreading within the creases of his heart. "I'll be okay. I didn't become the Boss of Vongola for nothing, you know."

"That's the thing," She takes her gaze away from his hand and focus on the assortment of liquor in front of her too. "Being the Vongola Boss didn't entitle you to drown your sorrows in a bottle, and yet here we are."

Tsunayoshi blinked in surprise. He turns abruptly-ready to defend his honor and his dignity and refute her statement but his eyes widen once more when his gaze fell upon her form. She was trying to hold back tears as her eyes continued to stare at the bottles aligned perfectly on the glass cupboards. Tsunayoshi, confused and frightened, immediately grabs her hand and leads her out of the door-throwing some money on the table before they left.

When both of them reached the outside of the bar, she took greedy amounts of air as she tried to steady herself. Tsunayoshi waited patiently as she tried to compose herself.

When she had enough air, she turned to Tsunayoshi and gave him a weak smile.

"I told you, I never liked alcohol..."

Tsunayoshi's eyes softened. He remembered now. He remembered how even after all these years, she could never stand the sight of the culprit who took away the life of her parents. Even the scent of it made her gag.

He approached her and took her in his arms. He gently rubs his hand on her small form as she calms down her frenzied heart. He hadn't known as to why she had entered the place knowing full well that she would get sick but he hadn't mind. All he cared about was the warm and comforting feeling that swelled in his heart. He never knew that such feeling existed. He never knew that such feeling could be brought upon by her.

But he hadn't minded the feeling.

Because slowly, very slowly...he was starting to realize why he was so angry.

It wasn't because of her decision.

It wasn't because of why he hadn't stopped her.

And it wasn't even because of the American continent.

"Don't go," He whispered softly and she nodded against his chest, agreeing.

She just hadn't known that Tsunayoshi had meant it in more ways than one.

"Don't worry, I won't leave."

And Tsunayoshi just hadn't known that she-after so many years of pain and waiting,

Had finally given up.


Reborn sighed tiredly as he rubbed the small migraine away. He hadn't been expecting these turn of events at all.

He had expected her to last much longer than this.

He had expected that he would notice it sooner rather than later.

With another tired sigh, Reborn picked up the piece of paper sitting on his tabletop as he silently lamented on whether or not to make the call.

Reborn gritted his teeth as he took a swig of expensive imported wine from his glass and shook his head tiredly as he remembered Shizuko making her request.

"I want you to call Kyoko-chan and to tell her to come back home."

Reborn's eyes widened at the sudden request but nonetheless kept as calm as he possibly could as he asked, "Why?"

"Why else?" She answers as she brightly smiles-or as brightly as her heart allowed her to. "To fix Tsuna-kun's heart."

Reborn sighed exasperatedly as he opens his mouth but closed it quickly when a few tears escaped her eyes. Reborn's eyes widened but he didn't move from his spot.

"And I'll take my final bow," She dramatically lowers her upper body as she places one open palm on her chest and her other arm extended sideward. She takes a deep breath and raises her body back up-her tears already gone. "And say goodbye to my famiglia."

She turns away from Reborn, who was still rooted to the spot, and walked towards the door.

"Wait!" Reborn shouted. She turns her head and looks at him-her eyes completely dead. "Are you just going to leave it like this?" He asks.

She smiles sadly and closes her eyes. "Sometimes Reborn," She says with a broken sob. "A family isn't as strong as we try to make it out to be."

And with that she was gone.

Reborn hissed in frustration as he picked up the phone, dialed the number, and waited for the other person to pick up from the other line.

This was never the "happy ending" he had been hoping for.


A/N: *sigh* This is what I get for not writing for so long...my writing style sucks. Anyway, I might be busy this week and next week so I won't probably have time to write stuff. I'll try my best for you know me. I procrastinate at the first sign of work.

Anyway, bye bye for now~

PS. Who likes Exo? Because I'm currently in love with Baekhyun~ 3