DISCLAIMER: As usual, all that yabadoo about KHR belonging to its rightful owners.

CHAPTER 5

When Gokudera pulled away, Tsurishi could only stare at him in shock. "H-how…why…" As if just registering what happened, her fingers subconsciously felt the spot where it tingled. Sudden realization felt worse that gunshot. She didn't want to believe he of all people would do it. "What the fuck are you playing at!?"

But he was in no position to respond. How was he going to tell her that he failed to further resist and it was her fault for being so damn close? He acted on instinct and did something stupid. The appropriate course of action would be to apologize, hands down. But no way was his pride going to let him do that. "Yeah well, I bet you enjoyed that didn't you?" Immediate regret flooded his head. Oh gods. I'm screwed. Right he is.

"How could you do that?" The pain in his chest seemed to overwhelm the sting of the antiseptics on his wounds when tears cascaded down her cheeks. "Y-you…manwhore, hypocritic snob!"

"That didn't even make sense!" he answered back, trying his best to be defiant. If she thought she could get him to pack up after some random insult then-

"I HATE YOU!"

Ouch. If words were daggers he swore he would be lying dead on a pool of his own blood.

Why do you affect me so much?

Any profanities hanging by the tip of her tongue stayed there and died. "H-Hayato…kun…" His hand flew between his teeth and he bit on it hard enough that she heard his knuckles crack. Had he really said that out loud? She flinched at the sound of his fingers at breaking point. But that wasn't the only reason. "…Do you really mean that?" softly she asked, trying to pry his hand from his own mouth. He was sure she wasn't releasing any Lightning flames but he felt numbness spread throughout his body when she touched him.

He looked away.

She continued to wait for an answer.

His eyes checked if she had turned away, and jerked back to somewhere else when they clashed gazes. The room was engulfed in an uneasy silence until a sigh of defeat escaped his lips. Tsurishi perked up, ready for an honest reply. But he grips her by both arms and forces her to sit on the bed, whilst he muttered a string of Italian words that she couldn't comprehend at all.

As much as possible he wouldn't say anything unless forced in a life or death situation, but considering what they've just been through, it wasn't so bad of an opportunity to miss. Heaven knows when he'll next get a chance. "Yeah," he said at last, "I really mean it. I just wasn't...ready before."

Wide-eyed, she gaped at him in surprise, which quickly withered to a scowl. "You're such a jerk." And she punched his face with all mustered strength (or what was left of it at least).

Gokudera staggered a bit then replied calmly, clasping the hand that socked his jaw which she almost automatically used to slap him, "I know." His heart was pounding in his chest. Apparently, he was now functioning on auto-pilot because he totally had no idea what he was doing. All this mushiness was more difficult to comprehend than anything he had ever encountered.

"Either you're an impostor or you banged your head hard."

At that remark, he didn't know why but he found himself laughing as if his life depended on it. She hasn't forgiven him yet, though.

"Wait 'till Takeshi hears about this."

His laughter promptly faded into dust.

"Tsuna," Reborn said as he mercilessly shot three more of the enemy, "can you pick up anything with your Hyper Intuition?"

The student did not answer at once due to his preoccupation with a group of enemies clad in black leather with an insignia that he could not identify as they were enveloped in utter darkness. He elbowed one burly assailant in the nape before responding. "I can, but it's too faint to be useful."

"I see." He moved on to target someone approaching Tsuna, and as instinct to a killing intent from up a post. There seemed to be no end to them. After gauging the ability of the enemy, however, they seemed to be more cautious, approaching simultaneously in packs one after another to tire the pair.

"Eh?" Tsuna thought he felt someone calling out, not specifically for him he surmised but entreating nevertheless. Then one by one the enemies fell back, leaving a dumbfounded Tsuna who was now out of the Hyper Dying Will Mode and an anxious Reborn. It was getting hard to keep up a deadpan with all this shit going on.

"Oi, dame-Tsuna, what's wrong?"

"I just thought…well never mind that now. I wonder how everyone else is doing. Gods, I hope they're-" A yawn interrupted him mid-speech. "-okay." Fatigue was starting to catch up after the sudden attack.

Suddenly, the phone in his pocket vibrated and he nearly jumped out of surprise. He saw that the number was not registered on his device but he connected anyway.

"Kimi," someone he knew very well started to say, "Give the phone to the infant." This he did swiftly out of fear of certain doom. He could still hear Hibari's voice as his tutor held the phone, even the chills that he got when faced with the Chairman were still there. "Do you mind explaining why there suddenly are people who wish to disturb the peace in Namimori?"

"No can do, Hibari," was Reborn's reply. "Though it probably has something to do with what's to come next week." The Inheritance Ceremony.

"I normally wouldn't care, but if that's the case…" The Arcobaleno held the phone closer to his ear and farther from Tsuna's range of hearing. Without saying goodbye, he nodded and disconnected the call, tossing back the phone to his student and made him save Hibari Kyoya's contact number.

"Reborn, we need to check on everyone!" But seriously, he wasn't sure where to start.

For one, Team Kokuyo had just begun to wage their battle in the decrepit Kokuyo Health Land.

Hm, to follow the canon plot or to give Chrome some serious butt-kicking moments that she deserves to own?
Thank you very much for putting up with me. Ugh, if only I could update as fast as desired. And this isn't even Med School yet. Okay, ignore my rants and enjoy the season~!

Happy holidays, everyone! Feel the looove~