For the first time in years, they were together again. But this was no joyful reunion. The non-tri-ni-sette radiation was killing them slowly, and they knew it. Together, the last of the chosen seven gather together in the Vongola base, planning their last stand. They knew that their chances of survival were slim, but, well, they were the best of the best; they fought until the end. Greeting her long lost friend/student/lover-ish with only a brisk nod, she motioned him into the living room of the base with a flick of her eyes; she didn't want any of the rest of the arcobaleno following. And knowing Lal as he does, Colonello got the signal immediately. Slipping into the room, he quietly closed the door with a click, and looked up to find her on the couch, eyes downcast.

For once, Lal knew how Colonello was feeling when she left; he was going to go on a raid with Viper tomorrow, on a practically suicidal mission. When it was announced, she threatened, begged, and even bribed Reborn in order to let her take his place, go die with him at least. But he was the one who pried her stiff fingers off of Reborn, convincing her that they would be okay, despite their bleak prospects. She was already overexposed to the radiation, he said. She was too weak in her current state, and would only hinder them.

When he put it that way, Lal couldn't do anything except blame herself, mentally beating herself up for not being able-bodied. But he rested his small hand on her cheek, just like back then, except he was small, and she was an adult again (Sometimes, she secretly though that he was the one who deserved the adult form. He was, admittedly, more mature than her). Nevertheless, she felt the same warm feeling that danced down her spine, but when he was gone again, she knew would feel his absence even deeper in her heart. No, she mustn't think like that. They will be all right; they will come back from their mission bruised and cut up, but alive.

As Colonello entered the room, neither spoke. Again, this was a situation where words weren't needed; they already knew what the other was thinking. Smiling, Colonello hopped onto Lal's lap, and this time, she let him sit there instead of brushing him away. There were precious little hours left. Sometimes, Lal wished that there would be a way to stop time, but sadly, the seconds keep ticking, and the end loomed near.

"We're going to be fine kora." At last, Colonello spoke up, reading Lal's expression. Reborn was right; despite her always trying to conceal her emotions, they were surprisingly easy to figure out.

"That's what everyone hopes." Lal huffed gruffly, looking away. Colonello faked a pout.

"Don't be so pessimistic kora." He jumped down from her lap, making her look down at him in surprise. Cracking his signature grin, he put his hands on his waist. "Everything will be fine. We'll be back before you even know it kora." Not trusting her voice, Lal nodded slightly in response, and stood. Walking robotically to the door, she hesitated before pausing, looking back over her shoulder.

"Come to my room tonight." Her voice quivered slightly, though it was as steady as she could muster. She almost rolled her eyes at the naughty expression that crept onto Colonello's face.

"Hmm? What do you plan on doing kora?" He crossed his arms. Lal couldn't help herself as she punched him.

"Sleep, you idiot. If you expect anything more, then consider yourself uninvited." She snapped back, and turned away, cheeks tinted pink.

"I'll be there kora!" Colonello called back, as Lal exited the room. Looking around the room, Colonello's lips curved upwards in a sad little smile that he only showed when Lal wasn't there to see.

He knew that he would probably die in tomorrow's mission. Still, he left himself a little glimmer of optimism to cling on to, that the operation would be a success. They would come back, unharmed, he told himself, trying to get rid of the nervous feeling in his gut. But he knew in his heart, that he wouldn't survive. Ever since the stars fell from the sky, their fate has been sealed. Still, he couldn't let Lal lose her hope just yet, he thought, as he too left the room, dreading what is destined to come.

When Colonello left Lal's room, he didn't wake her up. Quietly picking up his trusty rifle in small battered hands, he looked up at Lal's sleeping face. When the corners of her mouth weren't permanently pointing downwards in a scowl, she looked younger, less worried and troubled. Perhaps sleep is the only place people like them could escape to; nowhere else offered them a safe haven. Brushing away a strand of hair and tucking it behind her ear, Colonello left, without a word, to prepare for his almost suicidal mission. What he did not expect was Lal at the exit of the base to bid him farewell.

"You didn't think you were going to get rid of me that easily, did you?" Lal words were teasing, but her voice betrayed her emotions.

"I tried kora." Colonello shrugged apologetically, slinging his rifle on his back. For a moment, neither spoke.

"I guess this is goodbye." The words made Lal feel heavy. Goodbye. It was the most cruel, yet inconspicuous word that was ever made. Now, she can only hope for the best, praying her tranquil rain won't leave her.

"Here to wish me good luck kora?" Colonello's tone was taunting, but it hid a glimmer of hopefulness, that maybe...

"You know that I don't wish good luck." Lal replied roughly, trying to hide the tears that were trailing down her cheeks. She needed to at least send him off properly.

"Didn't expect you to kora." With a sad smile, Colonello waved a parting, and sucked in a sharp breath as he stepped outside the protective barrier of the base. Catching his breath, he looked up at the line of trees surrounding them, the last sights he would see before he would most likely die. Wonderful, just absolutely wonderful-not. Just as he was about to follow Viper into the forest, he heard Lal, calling his name once again.

"Good luck." Was what she had murmured, before turning back to the base. Suddenly, the fact that he will die seemed ten times worse to Colonello.

When they led her to him, there was an air of grimness in the base, threatening to choke her to death. Even though Lal knew what to expect, the sight of Colonello's limp and bloody body made her eyes widen, her heart break in a sickening crunch that only she can hear. Reborn motioned all the others out of the room, as Lal approached his body, taking in as much of the truth she could bear. His soft and calloused hand lay motionless, no matter how much she shouted at him, screamed for him to wake up, to not leave her, she would do anything. She knew that everyone could hear her, and that she was making a racket, but she didn't care. Colonello was dead; nothing mattered anymore.

For a long while, she stayed by him, speaking ridiculously soft and tender words that she didn't have the courage to utter when he was alive. She hoped that he was listening in heaven; she wasn't going to say them twice. Crumpled in the chair pulled up beside the bed, she let the tears rain down in a freefall. Nobody was there to see, so it was okay.

After what seemed like eternity, she had no more tears to cry. Hands shaking, she gently brushed away his bangs, and kissed him one last time before turning away. Hesitating for a moment, she approached his body once again, and untied his bandanna, gripping it in her trembling hands. The fabric felt soft, reassuring as she left again, not looking back.

For a long time, she was trapped inside living nightmares, losing her mind as some dark, rabid animal consumed what was left of her heart. Others muttered rumours about her, but she didn't mind. Nothing mattered much to her anymore. She would rarely leave her room at all, and even if she did, she would wander the halls listlessly, as if drunk, or in a trance. She didn't care much for food either; Reborn was the one who threatened her to eat, and she did so only grudgingly, tasting nothing. At night, she could never fall asleep, haunted by the memory of her student, crying dry tears, as she held the bandanna and his pacifier close. Those were the only part of him that she had now; tokens, memoirs.

Gradually, sadness turned to anger. She swore to avenge Colonello, to at least make the one who had killed him suffer. Armed with her knowledge, box weapons, and an arm gun, she was tempted to just go and raid the Millifiore base by herself. She knew she would die for sure, but she had many thoughts about suicide anyway.

When the tenth Vongola Famaliga arrived, Lal was intent on steering clear of them, not wanting to train any more students. She has seen enough, lived enough, and just wanted to end her pathetic life. But Reborn's words shook her to the core. Though revenge is still embedded in her mind, she grudgingly agreed to teach. Maybe they would be able to protect someone important to them, something she wasn't able to do.

During the battle against Ginger Bread, for the first time in years, Lal willed herself to remember. What did happen on that ironically sunny day? How long has it been since then? Though the secrets of the Arcobaleno have been buried for almost two hundred years, it was still etched into her mind as if it happened yesterday. The pacifier, clouded and grey, was the start to everything. The magic that allowed the seven to walk outside time was hardly a blessing; it was torture in the worst form. But Colonello was there. With his warm smile and optimistic words, he was the only reason Lal continued to live. There were so many ways things could have happened; yet, fate took them down the tragic road.

Though at that time, she promised him that she would work hard to lift the curse off herself, she didn't stop when she released her true flame. Perhaps, this was one time where she had to make some sacrifices, even if the consequence would leave her bed-ridden for a long time to come.

And as expected, the white lien sheets of the infirmary are what greeted her every day. Though the place wasn't bad... It was a lonesome, with too much time to think. For the long hours she lay on the bed, there wasn't much to do. She tried to refrain herself from remembering, because it pains her somewhere deep in her already numb heart, but once in a while, she can't help herself.

It was then, that she swore never to wish anyone good luck again.

For how long has she dreamed of this? Wished for it, begged for it? She knew it couldn't be true, but her eyes told her no lies as Colonello stood in front of her, his smile even more radiant than the sun. Right there, Lal was tempted just to pick him up by the collar, and slap him senseless. But she could wait; two hundred years alive really tests your patience.

In the end, Colonello was alive, and that was what mattered. Although in her rage of fury, Lal slapped him 86 times, her best record yet, he just rubbed his cheeks, apologizing for making her worry.

Making her worry? That was the understatement of the century. That idiot.

But... in the end, this story had a happy ending. Though the going were tough, they still manage to somehow-no matter how strange or awkward their relationship is- work it all out.

I believe that that would be called true love, would it not?

...because not even death can do us part.

~End

Carolily: That would be the final chapter to the story starcrossed, and thank you for reading up until now! I think this is my best work yet! *sniffles* Also, I just realized that though this is a romance fic, I have never once typed I love you in this story at all. That made me quite surprised O.O Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading it because I enjoyed writing it too! And at the end, please review! It makes me a very happy person!

Ps. Arizona iced tea seems to get rid of my writer's blocks. *stocks up*