KHR

Chapter point of view Tsunayoshi.

7 Italian Assassins

Morning came, I chose to ignore Hibari-senpai that I left early not bothering to face him. It wasn't that I hate him; I just want him to reflect that we have a sempai-kouhai relationship. That there are some boundaries that he can't overstep and so do I. Still I can't hide it well that I was curious about what everything happened so far.

"Gokudera!" I greeted with a warm smile. I felt that I had done so in a while. I saw Yamamoto smile, knew that he is happy to regain back their usual relationship. I didn't expect that it would be a short-lived one.

Right after all the classes ended, the three of us walk to spend some time together when a male with long hair attacks us. I am quick enough to sense the attack before it got closer so I managed to push aside Gokudera and Yamamoto, both falling onto the ground. My attention turned to out attacker – a male with ling silver hair wearing black clothes. "Who are you?" I asked frowning, angry and annoyed that we were attacked without reason. "What did we do?"

"Squalo?!" Gokudera shouts enraged.

I turned to Gokudera, SO he knows him? Someone from the mafia then? I stare at the blond male, waited for a response while I remain in an attack-defense position. I didn't want to be in a disadvantage, knowing that the male before us is someone professional as I guess.

The silver hair met my gaze, then frowns. "Geez. What a weak looking boy! Just because of the blood!" He spoke in Italian, thanks to uncle Reborn and Dino-nii's teachings I could understand the words perfectly. (A/N: sorry readers, I don't know any Italian. Too tiresome for me to translate.)

"What the hell are you doing here?" Gokudera shouts angry cursing in Italian same as the man called Squalo, he was about to explode. Ready to attack the man called Squalo.

Squalo smiles, "What else but to do my job!" He went on speaking in Italian, he drew out a sword. He grins as he turned the sword against us.

Fighting skill or not, without a weapon I knew that we can't win against the professional fighter. I glance at the crowd slowly gathering around us. As much as I care that an audience would mean witness and security, I didn't want to have anyone get injured. Not sure if Squalo is targeting Gokudera, I went ahead and demand that we flee the scene to a less populated area.

Gokudera responded to my demand without argue, I didn't expect that Yamamoto would also come with us as did Squalo ran after us.

"You don't need to run as well." Gokudera informed while we ran, once again speaking in normal language. "You can escape." He obviously directed the words to me and Yamamoto, the easiest words he could come up with that he doesn't need us around and would only get worried.

"I can't leave a friend behind." I smile. I don't know if I had said something wrong, Gokudera looked at me shocked. I noticed a small smile form on Gokudera's lips and a blush as he turned his head away. I wonder had he been embarrassed.

Gokudera suggested a place where we could go to, knowing he couldn't go to the police and have them involved. He instructs us to tell his family if he were to lose the fight.

Yamamoto easily agreed to the terms, he seemed used to it already. I nodded in response to Gokudera's request, reluctant about the decision that he had made for I wasn't confident that Gokudera could defeat the man.

Squalo looked surprised as Gokudera stepped up. He grins. "Well I don't care who goes first since I intend to dispose the three of you." I hear for the first time the common language I use leave his lips.

I frown as Squalo's eyes met mine once again. I started to wonder why that he took time to look at my direction. I watch as Gokudera fight with Squalo, gave me a surprise that they were on the same level of fighting skill, my instincts told me otherwise, that Squalo is playing around with Gokudera – for what purpose that I don't know.

"Watch out!" Hibari-senpai shouts which gave me a surprise appearing out of nowhere. I found myself in Hibari-senpai's arms holding me tight not long after him shouting. On the ground where I stood were blades that would have killed me if Hibari-senpai had not pulled me away in time.

"Oi Bel! You missed!" Squalo shouts as he had stopped his spar with Gokudera. He sounded really angry.

Another male appeared he had short blond hair wearing a small crown. He was playing with a knife, something similar on the ground that would have injured me, much worst killed me. He appeared from somewhere so suspect that he had been targeting me.

"Are you alright Tsuna?" Yamamoto looked at me alarmed.

I smiled to assure him that I have come to no harm thanks to Hibari-senpai. "I'm fine." I responded. I try to separate from Hibari-senpai though he refuses to release me. "Hibari-senpai." I called in hope he would loosen his grip on me only to catch him with a serious look on his face directed to Squalo and the other male blond, a strange expression. I didn't move sensing the tension.

"Let's go!" Squalo commanded, started speaking in Italian again.

"Eh?!" the other male blonde look dismayed, made a whining child's tone more. "Can't we just play around more? You had all your fun." He responded with Italian language, looked at my direction with a dejected look.

"I am not having fun!" Squalo shouts continuing in Italian. He glares at us then took off as if nothing happened; the other blond following behind.

"Are you okay?" Gokudera asked running towards where I am.

"Yeah." I replied, glance at Hibari-senpai who slowly loosened his grip on me as soon our attackers are gone. I stood up, left his side. I stare at senpai, wanted to ask him so many question considering what happened. I put it on hold not wanting to worry Yamamoto and Gokudera more. "Are you okay senpai?" I asked noticed that he had received some scratches falling along with me when he grabbed me out of the path of the knives. "Let me tend to that." I spoke softly feeling weak willed. Senpai saved me after all so I had no power to scold him despite the secrecy.

"They came for me, didn't they?" I asked while treating the scratches that Hibari-senpai received in our room, the most private place I could come up with where Yamamoto and Gokudera would not even dare to step in unless necessary. "It is weird how they pulled away when you appeared saving me. That Squalo presented himself as distraction while the other one finish me off in secret." I looked up facing Hibari-senpai's gaze. "Why? I am sure now that you know something. You know my uncle as well, don't you?"

Hibari-senpai sighs. "Yes, and more will come." He reached out as I finished treating him, touched my left cheek. "You are someone important because of your blood and family. You were taught by your uncle to protect yourself just in case something an attack happens."

"Like today?" I asked. He wasn't deflecting me, I suppose he is tired, believed that it was time that he told me things.

He shook his head, removed his hand on me. "There were other attacks, though I always take care of it. In this school, NO, in your current life you have me as your body guard. Your uncle acts like one as well, though some things are going on so he left you in my full care. I can't say no to him so I agreed to take up the task of guarding."

"And Gokudera?"

"He is from another family, as well as your Dino. It isn't that we can't trust Dino, they have their own family to worry about."

I started to wonder how Gokudera had lived for so long as a mafia man's child. Dini-nii, Reborn and even Hibari-senpai had kept everything a secret from me. I understood the bigger picture, WHY Reborn had taught me everything – in preparation for the future. "Because of the positions, YOU wanted ME to stay away from Gokudera."

"Yes, and considering the situation MORE assassins will come for you." Hibari-senpai grips my shoulders; he looked like he was in pain which saddened me. "Do you understand now why you are needed to be kept in the dark? So that you can enjoy your peaceful life as much as you can. Time will come that your normal life would disappear."

I started to feel terrible why I had to be protected. I imagine the life that Gokudera and Hibari had growing as part of mafia day one. "And you? How about Gokudera? From what I can see and learned you don't enjoy it. I shouldn't be treated so differently."

Hibari tensed, I could guess he understand perfectly what I meant; the image which I provided for him to imagine; that although I am special as they claim, I am still a child of a mafia man. I shouldn't be left alone protected in the dark.