A/N: Hi!~ So since I promised part 2 today, I posted it... But even with part 1 it's pretty short but UGH MY BRAIN IS GOING TO BURST pardon this poor author for today... Those two exams have used up all my brain juice HAHAH

THANK YOU SOO MUCH TO ALL REVIEWERS/FOLLOWERS/FAVORITERS I was feeling really happy clicking on every email before my exams today morning HAHAHA thanks for all of your support! And I'll reply to the reviews when the reply button is ...back. IT JUST DOESN'T SHOW UP NOW!

IMPORTANT: Okay so I've got some people asking me what the notebook/counting is about... Basically, every time Tsuna gets bullied, he draws a new line in the book and the number at the bottom is a tally of how many times he's been beaten up. And once it reaches 1000, I plan to do something special but... I haven't decided yet...? *runs away* It's kinda a spur of the moment/vague-idea-ish thing... SORRY!

Anyways, enough with my rambling!

ENJOY! :)

Dedication: Shizuku Natsume~ she sorta gave me the idea for this portion, and she also wrote a nice long long review HAHAHA arigatou imouto-chan!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything...


Chapter 5 Part 2

Slowly, almost as though unwilling to reveal what was concealed within, the dust settled around the two boys.

With a gentleness that he had never displayed before, the lighter brunet reached out and slid his brother's eyes closed. He shivered at the unseeing gaze, at the coldness of the skin under his trembling fingers.

Tsuna couldn't be dead... Could he?

But his body knew it even if his mind didn't, and he was shuddering violently while his thoughts and feelings warred within him. His mind was frenzied, viciously rejecting the truth that was written plainly before his eyes, though the more rational part continually hissed and whimpered it's the truth it's there for the world to see you're just too afraid to accept it.

Afraid. That's it. He had always been a wimp.

I'm sorry. His brother had nothing to be sorry for.

What for? Those words had never changed anything.

And now, they didn't mean anything anymore. He kneeled before his brother, the one whom he loved and admired more than anyone or anything, his eyes shadowed by his bangs but his grief all too apparent. Tenderly, he lowered Tsuna to the ground, sliding his arms out from underneath the still body.

As he stood, a flame flickered to life on his forehead. Killing intent seeped out of every pore of his body, thick waves of aura pulsing around him. The pressure was so great, the tension so thick that Gokudera stumbled back, eyes widened as his legs lost all strength and he fell to his knees. If this was the Tenth generation boss, he had absolutely no qualms about allowing him to take the position. First off, there was no way he could defeat the boy before him. And secondly, someone who loved his brother so much ...deserved the title.

For a single heart-stopping moment when the brunet had glanced at Gokudera with searing orange orbs, the bomber had truly believed that he would die. But then the moment passed, leaving his heart palpitating in his chest, face pale and body practically frozen in place. Coolly, Ienashi turned his burning gaze to the hitman tutor, saying, "You killed him." While his voice was level and controlled, Reborn did not miss the dangerous undercurrents of fury and hatred.

"The shot was intended for you. Neither your brother nor you would have died had it hit you." Reborn tilted his fedora over his eyes, concealing his expression.

The brunet faltered for a moment, hearing the unsaid but your brother did, because he protected you.

"Don't make any excuses. You killed my brother. The world's greatest hitman would have seen Tsuna jump in front of me - the world's greatest hitman would have been able to stop that shot! Or- was that just a title?"

Reborn's grip on his fedora tightened for a moment, before he continued as evenly as he could, knowing that arguing and riling up his student now was the worst idea there could be, "Calm down, Ienashi, and step aside. I will help your brother."

The boy scoffed. "Am I supposed to believe that?"

But Reborn could see the hesitation in Ienashi's eyes. In Hyper Dying Will mode, his Vongola Hyper Intuition must be overwhelmingly strong, and he should have been able to see everything clearly and rationally. He would know that Reborn was telling the truth. He would have seen the best action to take, and under normal circumstances, would have followed it. The only possible reason that he did not was that his intense hatred was forcing him to deny everything, clouding his judgment. But the hitman tutor would take advantage of that hesitation, no matter how slight.

Using a stronger tone, Reborn ordered, "Move aside. Do you want your brother to live or not?"

Ienashi paused, his mouth opening and closing as though attempting to form words. Urgency and worry was killing Reborn from the inside, but he knew that if he were to move even a step closer to Tsuna, he would be attacked mercilessly and without restraint at all. While he would no doubt come out on top, it was still a fight he would rather avoid – he did not want to injure his student before training even started, and every second wasted on fighting was a decrease in the likelihood of Tsuna's survival.

Finally, the younger twin asked quietly, "...You can revive Tsuna?"

"I will," Reborn replied firmly.

It was as though a layer of mist cleared away from Ienashi's eyes, for his gaze suddenly became more focused, the flames within his sunset-coloured eyes concentrating, instead of burning and destroying everything all around as they previously were. This - this was the true Hyper Dying Will mode.

The boy stepped away slightly, indicating that Reborn was free to approach his brother. When the baby pulled out the Reverse One Ton Mallet, he saw Ienashi's shoulders tense, but as the brunet did not do anything to stop him, Reborn continued with what he could only pray would revive Tsuna. Truthfully, even he himself did not know whether the Reverse One Ton Mallet would work, as a situation such as this had never arisen.

The Mallet ejected the Dying Will bullet successfully, but it was with a sinking heart that Reborn realised the boy was not awakening.


A/N: I'm sorry if I kinda portrayed HDWM wrong ;-; But it should be different in this case, because of how intense Ienashi's feelings are... And did I use the Reverse One Ton Mallet correctly? Haha, my memories of KHR are somewhat fuzzy around the edges.

P.S. This author takes pleasure in torturing her readers with cliffies. Yeah, love y'all too.

P.P.S. This author also feels bad for making her chapters so short. Hence she shall sign her own death petition by saying that she shall try to update again ...tomorrow?