: Pull the Trigger :

First Shot, Warning

Disclaimer: Katekyo Hitman Reborn! is the property of Amano Akira.

Author's Notes: This … did not turn out at all like I thought it would. It's funny how the characters can just take on a life of their own and write what they want, how they want things to go ;; As promised, though, this chapter does include Reborn! Insert victory dance here.

… Now I have to sadly get back to work on an essay, but enjoy! Ooooor not, since that's a matter of opinion, haha. Later!



Warning Six: Cause and Effect

The frost-frozen wind was more than enough to chill two lone children to the bone. Hurried footsteps echoed in the air. They had exactly fifteen minutes to get to where they were going or their efforts would be wasted. Despite it all, there was a heavy doubt lingering with them.

"This isn't going to work, Hiro." The girl's breath fogged in the chilly air as the wind blew harder, fiercer, tearing and freezing, making everything that much harder to grasp. "We should have told someone. Dad, mom, someone. Hitomi was right. I'm not sure this will -"

His nerves already on edge, Hiro pulled the coat he wore closer around his body, teeth chattering as he managed to say, "No time to think about that now. You never know unless you try. That's what Takeshi-occhan's always saying. We're going to try, Emiko, and we're going to get through this." As much he wanted to, he couldn't muster the confidence to mean what he said. It was just for comfort, to soothe her nerves, but she wasn't stupid. She knew when he meant something and when he didn't.

"Shut up." The harshness in her voice was hard to avoid. "This had better work or I'm going to haunt your fucking corpse."

"That's … mildly disturbing." Hiro shivered, but it wasn't because of the cold this time. He was glad she was with him, regardless. He didn't think he could do this alone. It was a mixed feeling, because he hadn't wanted her to come with him in the first place. But … that's what he meant by the two, right? The two of hearts, the two of us … "We're almost there. You ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

The clock tower came into view soon after, a dilapidated mess of misshapen debris. The essential tower holding up the once magnificent clock was the only thing that had survived the test of time. Most of the stairs were nothing more than an ashen pile of rubble and grim. It would be hard to find footing on their way to the top.

Readjusting the strap to the school bag he had taken with them, Hiro stepped forward. He levered himself up onto a stable platform, one that could be used as a starting point, then leaned over and helped Emiko. He was careful to avoid her injured side when he pulled. It was slow work, refusing to allow speed to overrule safety. When they finally made it, it was just as the clock chimed midnight and it was no small wonder the timepiece still worked at all. The place had been abandoned nearly four years ago. It had once stood proud and tall, for well over six years, and then it had fallen into ruin.

"Bravo. Very good," a rich baritone praised. Not one but two cloaked figures appeared in a billowing cloud of smoke, Hiro immediately thinking trap door and wondering where it could be. "I'm almost disappointed that I have to end the game so soon." The hood to the taller figure's cloak was thrown back, a smirking Ikeda moving to tauntingly bow. "My apologies."

"H-Hold up," Hiro hated how much his voice was shaking, but he persisted, "who says the game is over?"

"Well, I thought that was … obvious. Me."

Just what kind of rules are you playing by? The blond furiously wanted to ask that, but he held back, tightening his hold on the bag hanging around his shoulders. "Yeah, okay. But according to your letter, if we found what you stole, we go free."

"True, true. I'll humor you." Ikeda motioned for Hiro to come closer, sounding far too triumphant and sure of his win. "So just what are you saying, little Sawada Hiroyuki? That you have somehow won the game?" A mockery of what could have been a laugh escaped into the stillness of the air, the wind having died down. It was as if the wind itself had been challenged, too, and had lost. The smaller individual next to the rainbow haired man squirmed, ill at ease, and it was an interesting contrast to Ikeda's self-assured attitude. "Just accept this gracefully, kiddo. You'll go down as ... well, not a martyr, no, but at least your names will be remembered."

By who? Swallowing around the sudden lump in his throat, Hiro opened the bag at his side. He took out a ribbon and a choker and then warily approached the thief to hand them over. "You should have double-checked after Emiko got a way, don't you think? We win, you lose."

"You win?" repeated the smirking Ikeda as if he really hadn't understood. "Last I checked," an identical choker and ribbon were conjured from thin air, snatched away by the clever hands of a thief, "these were the real deal. But I see what you mean. It's commendable. I'd honestly be impressed if I didn't have to kill you now." The objects in question fell to the ground, resting in a heap at Ikeda's feet, discarded without a second thought. "Sorry, this is hard for me to find the words to say, but unfortunately I don't have time to waste on you any more."

Faster than Hiro could react, strong hands wrapped around his throat, squeezing. A hushed "goodbye" met his ears as fingers inched closer to his larynx and pressed down. Instinct taking over, Hiro fought back and clawed at the hands wrapped around his windpipe, a vain attempt to break free.

"Stop it!" That was Emiko, panicking. He could feel it, her fear washing over him in waves. The flight or fight response kicked in and he brought up a knee to weakly leverage away from the suffocating grip of death. The world swayed, blurred, and he could more or less tell he was running out of oxygen.

"S-Stop it. Please." Emiko wouldn't be caught dead saying please, it wasn't her. The tone was too soft and demure and it didn't match her level of severity. "Why do you … why do we," that not quite familiar voice continued steadily, wavering only slightly, "I-I don't understand. Why must we do things like this? Why …?" The person trailed off, unable to finish, but the grip around Hiro's throat loosened.

The blond gasped for much needed air, sagging with relief. T-That guy could have killed me. Yet he …

"You have stood by my side for all these years and you have the gull to ask that now?" Ikeda fisted a hand into Hiro's hair and forced the boy towards the unknown source of the distraction before abruptly letting go with disgust. "Maybe it's about time you started earning your keep. For whose sake do you think I go to such lengths to support, hm? If you believe you can do better, than by all means, go right ahead. Show me how far that arrogance of yours will get you."

Stumbling, Hiro collided with the other cloaked figure that had accompanied Ikeda, knocking the person's hood back. Light blue hair and downcast eyes were revealed, but Hiro was too shaken up to notice and merely wrapped a hand around his aching throat, rubbing the soreness away. When it sank in who it was, though, he jumped back immediately, guarded and suspicious and just generally confused. "Yo-You! You're that … I knew it! You're with Kano!"

"What's this now? Have you been holding out on me, Karou? You've met with little Hiroyuki, now that's interesting. What ever will I find out next?" The boy, Karou, didn't respond to the taunting. "Are you hiding anything else? Should I be concerned?"

While Ikeda looked anything but, something told Hiro there was more to the story than met the eye. "Leave him alone," the blond found himself saying, chanting in his mind what the hell? Why am I helping the kid out? "If you haven't noticed, I'm still alive."

"Oh, I noticed. But there's been a change of plans. Karou." The blue haired boy tensed and Hiro took that as his cue to start edging backwards. Out of the corner of his eyes, he could see his sister and the frightened, pale expression she was wearing seemed a bit disconcerting. She was doing all she could to restrain herself from rushing in, if only because she knew it would mess everything up if she did. They had to bide their time and wait.

"Y-Yes?" Two sets of brown eyes were back on Karou as the boy prompted Ikeda to continue.

"Why don't you take this one while I watch for a change?" There was a menace to the man's speech that hadn't been there previously. "He won't fight back too much. You'll do fine."

Yeah, not going to happen. Moving to stand once more at his sister's side, Hiro wasted no time in grabbing her hand and yanking her in the direction of a crumbling pillar. They had to hide, that was the only thing that registered in his mind. They needed to hide and wait.

"And where do you think you're going?" The pillar disappeared in the blink of an eye, transforming into a billowing cloud of smoke. As it cleared the two teenagers were forced to take a step back, lest they step off a three-story ledge. "Why don't you kids stick around? There's no reason for you to run off and die. Not when Karou here is all too willing to help you along!"

So much for that, Hiro thought, turning with Emiko and trying to stay strong for her sake. An idea presented itself as he stared at the ground, tightening his hold on Emiko's hand. It could work. They just needed a distraction. Chocolate. He hadn't realized he had said it out-loud until the other three on top of the tower gave him funny looks. Ignoring those looks, he rummaged through the bag still at his side and cursed when he noticed the box of candy gone. Dammit, Daichi! Why did you have to find them! His fingers skimmed over something cool and metallic, though. What's this? He brought out what he had found, studying it with unconcealed surprise. Eh, this is … Thinking in the moment, he dropped Emiko's hand and tossed her the object in question, moving forward to stand in front of her. If the other two had noticed the transaction, they didn't deem it necessary to worry about.

"How sweet is he? Trying to protect his little sister. There's something to be said about a good big brother, don't you think?" mocked Ikeda with scathing eyes locked on Karou and seeing no one else for the moment. "Go, finish him off. Before I decide to extend my play time and make this a night you won't be forgetting."

Karou tentatively approached. It wasn't like the two siblings had any where to run, so they stayed put. Once Karou was within reaching distance, Hiro was pulled away from his sister with a mumbled "sorry" from the shorter boy, but he didn't fight back and allowed himself to be dragged along. This person may have been connected to Kano somehow, but that little voice in the back of his mind as of late was telling him he could trust this kid. For one, Karou didn't even seem the sort to harm a fly. He's got to be the key to unraveling Kano. If we can just hold out … ugh, now I'm starting to doubt this plan. We're so screwed.

"What are you waiting for, Karou? There is no time to hesitate. We've been over this a hundred times. The faster you strike, the faster it's over." Ikeda was beginning to grow impatient and it showed. From the very center of the tower, it felt like they were on a stage, being watched for faults by a harsh director, and that director was none other than the infamous Phantom Thief Kano. If the air had felt cold before it felt colder now and heavier, far heavier than it should have been. Karou must have felt it too because the boy's trembling was almost contagious.

"I'm really, really sorry about this," apologized Karou profusely for something Hiro couldn't fathom. Then he was kicked, straight to the gut and right in the kidneys. He thought it best to reevaluate that opinion of Karou being harmless; he really wasn't, not at all. "S-Sorry, but I did warn you!" Hiro was momentarily stuck coughing up whatever had been left in his stomach. "A-Are you okay?"

"That's not something you should be asking someone you are about to kill," Ikeda chided, disappointment lacing each word. "Here, let me show you how it's done." In an instant he was next to Emiko, the girl taking a step back and teetering dangerously close to the edge. "Ah, ah, ah," the man said, lackluster all of a sudden, "the boy needs to be shown what a quick death looks like. Shall we?" He had her in his arms, steering her away from the perilous drop and towards her brother. "I suppose I should ask if you have any last words?" he drawled. There was no real intention of letting her speak. A knife had slipped out from up his sleeve and it was held to her throat, just daring her to say something.

Figuring it was now or never, Hiro called out, "Emiko, now!" He struggled against the hold Karou had on his arms and slipped away, hoping to get closer to where the thief and his accomplice had originally appeared from. If he could catch sight of the chokers and ribbons, he could find the trap door. Every magician has his tricks, right? Behind him there was a furious scream, the sounds of thrashing, and then there were footsteps gaining on him. Three pairs. He dropped to his knees when he saw what he was searching for and began feeling around for a latch he could pull. Come on, come on. We have to find a way out of here. We have to. And soon. Because if not, we'll be caught up in the …

"Move out of the way, you fucking moron!" The blond went sliding, eyes shut tight and grinding his teeth to stave off a wave of pain. He was too close to the opposite edge by now, which left him scrambling to his knees before he could overbalance and fall backwards. Emiko had located the latch he couldn't find and tugged it open not a moment too soon as he made it back to her side. They escaped into the opening, closing the trap door behind them with a bang. Not having the time to even spare for breath, they started running just as an explosion erupted from the overhead roof.

"Where the hell did you learn to make an explosive, by the way?" Emiko's question was so casual and laidback he could have laughed. Well, if they weren't about to die by the hands of two very incensed people. Or quite possibly the collapsing tower, thanks to the whole 'let's blow shit up' plan. It was really an either or kind of situation.

He gasped out a, "Tell you later," as they dodged around a deteriorating column. Smoke was drifting into the traitorous hallways of the tower too, signaling someone had opened the trap door again. They had no choice but to pick up the pace, either that or risk inhaling too much of the smoke that was beginning to build up in the cramped spaces they were escaping through. There was a hole roughly a meter ahead and they were able to lower themselves onto the next floor before the floor could cave in under them. Speeding up again, they met with a dead end and swore up and down as nothing came to mind about how to avoid the inevitable. They would have to double-back and look for a way down one more flight of stairs. Stairs that weren't there, nothing but the hazardous ruins of yesteryear left in their wake. Think, think, think.

"Shi – Emiko, watch out!" She had turned instead of reacting and he did the reacting in her place, jumping in front of her and taking the burnt of the attack. Ikeda had caught up with them. Hell, he hadn't heard the man sneak up on them. If he hadn't noticed the shadows behaving oddly, flickering in a way they shouldn't have in the light of the moon, she probably wouldn't have stood a chance. That strike had been meant to kill, he was lucky to walk away with only a deep cut to his arm. "Emiko, get going! Now!" When that didn't seem to sink into her thick-headed skull, he grabbed her arm roughly and pushed her away again. "Get going or I'll never forgive you!"

That did it. She was gone. He slowly turned to face the rainbow haired magician and almost lost his nerve at the smirk on the older man's face. Ah hell, I'm going to die. Damn, what a way to go. And I never got to … ah well. Goodbye, life, I guess you were nice while you lasted. Holding on tight to a faint hope he would make it out alive, he backed up until his back hit a partially destroyed wall. Fear was anchoring itself in his chest, bubbling to the surface and making him giddy, rash. He felt like he could do anything, but that couldn't have been right. How could he do anything? There was nothing left to do. Maybe pray, but to who? For who? W-What's that last barrier in kyudo again? … Fear? Fear consumes the soul. No wait, that's the kidneys. And god, I'm screwed, screwed, screwed. Ah, it was … yes, that was it! Anxiety. It's anxiety that consumes the soul. Have to calm down, think straight. Pretend it's an inter-club competition and I'm down by two shots.

"Do you know why I picked 'Hickory Dickory Dock', little Hiroyuki?" It was rhetorical and so the blond didn't reply. Ikeda liked hearing himself talk far too much and Hiro was happy to let the man speak if it meant prolonging his life just a fraction of a second longer. God, I never told Daichi … I never told Emiko … I … I … "It's because I figured you could relate to it, you see. A little mouse climbing all the way up to the tall, tall top of the clock." Ikeda was too close, leaning over as an arm rested behind the blond on what was left of the wall. "And then the clock strikes one with a great big," the burning clock above chimed an echoing, broken chorus, one clang after another. The time was all wrong, the situation was all wrong, nothing felt right. "Well, you get the picture."

"N-No." Hiro heard someone speak and belatedly realized it was himself. Gah, like I wasn't going to die soon enough … just had to go and speed it up. Seeing no sense in leaving the sentence hanging, he finished with, "If you were going to choose something, y-you should have went with that lullaby, don't you think?"

"Oh, which one?" The knife spun in masterful hands, waiting for a slip up. "Let me make this clear, though. If I don't like your answer, that'll be the endgame, I'm afraid."

"R-Rock-a-bye, baby." Ikeda laughed, eyes lighting up with what could have been good-natured humor if there wasn't clear, unadulterated bloodlust shining through, tainting the rest of what could have been there. "Y-You know how it goes. Don't you?"

"My memory seems to be failing me. Refresh my mind."

Hiro gulped and tried to bring the words to the forefront of his own mind. They had been in English and he had a hell of a time translating in the midst of chaos. Especially when he had to wince, a part of the floor above them giving way. The smell of burning wood and plaster made him crinkle his nose and he suddenly wanted to throw up as he inhaled too much of the smell. "U-Um." He was getting light-headed again. Was this what they called asphyxia? "When … the wind blows … the cradle will rock." Was it just him or did the ground feel like it was leaning more to the right? Why did I choose this stupid rhyme, anyway? God, I'm going to die like a moron. … Emiko would laugh her head off. For some reason the thought of his sister laughing was enough to keep him going. It kept him from giving in, from letting the anxiety overwhelm him. Stay still, his mind was telling him and he wisely chose to listen to it for once. Go on, finish what you started. "When the bough breaks … the … the cradle will…" He couldn't remember what came next. Fall. And he did.

- XI -

"Hiro!" The shout was dampened only by the louder scream of, "Nii-san!" The pair at the base of the tower watched in horrified fascination as the blond fell, dragging the great Phantom Thief with him. It was a beguiling sight and it was made even more so by the fact that, mid-air, Kano turned them around, forcing his own body to collide with the unforgiving ground first.

Emiko ran faster than she had ever run in her life. "Get up, nii-san! Get up right now or I won't forgive you!" The person behind her came to a screeching halt and she heard someone drop down, kneeling on the ground. She felt, more than saw, Daichi leaning over her brother's prone, unresponsive form. He had shown up a little while ago for some unimaginable reason. But then again, somewhere in the back of her mind she had known he would show up. I bet he followed us. Out of the blue, he had just appeared, helping her get rid of the person chasing her. Not that the kitchen boy turned villain was much of a threat. Karou seemed far too kind for that. The blue haired boy, for his part in the grand scheme, was laying unconscious a few feet away, taken by surprise by the judo club member.

A groan had Daichi instantly on his feet and Emiko eyed the scene with the same suspicion, a bad feeling setting in. That groan hadn't come from her brother, but from the man who had threatened them, tried to kill them, and had just more or less risked his own life to stop Hiro from falling to his death. What the hell was going on? The rainbow haired thief rolled the older Sawada off of him, distaste written in the frown lines of his face. He seemed to watch the gentle rise and fall of the boy's chest, as if hypnotized, and then pulled a knife, resting it over the still beating heart he was being paid to stop. The knife fell from his grip as a sharp, searing pain shot up through his wrist. The same wrist he must have broken from the fall. The man made a hissing noise before reluctantly picking up the knife in his other hand.

Daichi saw this and raised a foot, ready to break the other wrist, but Emiko stilled him with a hand on his shoulder. "H-Hiro said he wanted no one to get hurt. His plan didn't go the way he wanted it to, but for his sake, don't you dare move a muscle." Contradicting herself, the brown haired girl kneeled down to Kano's level and slapped the knife to the side. The man was injured, dazed, and it was easy to get away with a simple move like that. "Fuck you, Phantom Thief. Fuck you." With that of the way, she could move on, breathing out deeply with, "We win. You got that, you bastard? Now leave us alone or I'll sic lover boy on you."

"You think I'm going to give up because of something this?" Kano was standing without too much effort, albeit swaying slightly on the spot. "Unheard of. I am the great Phantom Thief Kano! I …"

"Hiyaaaah!" Emiko had to admire the flying form of the newcomer, the kick aimed straight at the thief's face. Not because she was biased and just wanted to see someone smash that face in or anything, of course not. "Nya, lucky strike!" The other girl landed smoothly, pumping a fist in the air. "Did you see that, dad, did you?"

"Extreme!" Emiko grinned so wide when she heard that voice that it pshyically hurt. "Emiko, get over here and explain what's going on." The girl did just that, but not before enveloping her uncle in a large hug, burying her face in his chest. "Hey, hey, that can wait. Are you okay to the extreme?" The white haired man gripped her by the shoulders, worried eyes scanning her for injuries. "Phew, you look fine." His gaze locked onto Daichi attempting to pick up a limp body and immediately rushed to the boy's side. "Eh, that's Hiro! What happened here? Wait! No time for that! We have to get to an extreme hospital right away."

"Woah, calm down, Ryohei. First things first," a calmer voice interrupted. Takeshi intervened and quickly picked up the unconscious Hiroyuki on Daichi's behalf. "Let me take this one, okay?" At the boy's consenting nod, the older man grinned and motioned with his head to the parked car in the distance. "Come on, we'll talk on the way to the hospital."

Emiko eyed the car in disbelief. "Are we all going to fit?" She was including Karou and Kano and blushed when she realized that. She had just assumed the two bad guys would be coming with them and she was furious with her own way of thinking.

"Sure thing!" Minori was beaming as she pulled Karou onto her back, giving the small boy a ride piggy-back style. "We'll just squish the midget and the rainbow-haired dude in the trunk," she joked, shifting the boy she was carrying into a more comfortable position before trotting off to the car. "Nya, I'll beat you." Emiko met that challenge despite being dead tired and Daichi, too, caught up with them with a shake off his head, remarking how childish they were being. The girls insisted on pulling a fast one and left him in the dust.

"Kids these days, so full of energy to the extreme!" Settling down on his hunches, Ryohei poked the groggy, out of sorts Kano with a finger, wondering idly, "You think the boss will get mad if we leave this one behind?"

"Probably." Takeshi shrugged. "But your little girl had a good idea. Let's just shove him in the trunk, haha. It's not like we have any room in the car with the kids. What harm will it do?"

"Pfft, this coming from the guy who wouldn't even shove a hit into the trunk after I extremely told him to do just that!"

"That was different!" Ryohei gave his closest friend the best 'enlighten me' look he could muster. "T-That was … shut up." Changing the subject, Takeshi insisted, "We should get going. Tsuna's still waiting on us to report back. Bring the dead weight, will you?"

The white haired man snorted, lifting Kano into a semi-standing pose and looping an arm around the younger man's waist. "How come I get stuck with the dead weight?" He wrapped one of Kano's arms around his shoulders as well and then made a half-hearted attempt to drag the man along. "He's extremely heavy."

"Do you want to switch?" amiably suggested Takeshi, smiling. "If that's what senpai wants …"

"… You. Are. An. Asshole." Gripping tighter, Ryohei was determined to drag the 'dead weight' along as best he could. "And I think I'm going to have to teach you a lesson after this."

"By all means. I'm in the mood for a good fight." Honey eyes darkened. "Aren't you?"

"Extremely."

- XI -

The doctor listed off concussion and mild bruising mechanically, addressing the concern over the boy's right arm as nothing to worry about. It was a superficial cut, the bespectacled doctor had said, readjusting his glasses. There had been no torn muscles, broken bones, or anything else for them to be concerned about. Everyone could relax.

Emiko plopped down in a chair close to the hospital bed her brother was resting in and curled up, exhaustion creeping up on her. Her uncle had left moments ago with Takeshi and that left her alone with Daichi to watch over the sleeping Hiro. You moron, wake up already. The hospital had refused to release Hiroyuki until he woke up, but she was getting edgy despite the sleep calling for her. Seeing her brother lying there motionless wasn't something she wanted to deal with and this was playing hell on her nerves. Any day now, genius. If you don't remember, you still owe me an explanation about that bomb thingy. Thinking about explanations, she glanced over to Daichi sitting opposite her in another hardback chair. The soft, relaxed look on his face suited him. He looked about ready to fall asleep any minute now. With Hiro safely out of harm's way, there was no more need for any of them to worry.

What is it that keeps these two together? Daichi … he's always there for nii-san. And nii-san too. He's always there for Daichi. She crossed her arms and studied the two of them. That pocket knife Hiro had thrown to her in the midst of all the trouble, for example. She could distinctly remember that being a gift to Daichi. Why had it been with her brother? Knowing that idiot, he probably did it on purpose. Switching out the chocolates for the knife, did Daichi … know? That couldn't be. Hiro had refused to allow anyone else in on their plan. From the hidden explosive to everything in between, they had kept their secrets. Even when Daichi had given them a look that said he knew something was up, they had persisted and kept quiet. The door to the private room creaked open and Emiko stared uncomprehendingly at the visitor. "You again. What do you want?"

"I … I …" The boy fidgeted under her stare. "I wanted to explain why …"

"Karou, wasn't it?" At his name, the blue haired boy perked up, hopeful. "Go the fuck away. I liked you better unconscious."

"Keep it down, tryin' to sleep," mumbled Daichi tiredly before turning his back on the door and folding in on himself. "Either talk somewhere else or shuddup."

Karou seemed to take that as an invitation and took a seat at the end of the bed. Emiko didn't know what to think of that or the emotions rolling in those hazel eyes. The internal conflict from the other boy was troubling her greatly. What's going on inside that mind of his?

"Is he really going to be all right?" the blue haired boy finally asked.

"No thanks to you," Emiko snapped. It had been too long of a day and pleasantries weren't for her. "Look, not to be rude, but shouldn't you be groveling at Kankun's feet or something?"

The boy's eyes flashed with another emotion she couldn't place. "I-I can't go where Kano-ani is going. They won't let me."

They? "Ah, so you're stuck here too? Might as well get comfortable then, twerp. But let me warn you now, one wrong move and you'll be fish food."

"O-Okay."

Sighing, Emiko pointed to a chair beside her own, the last one left in the room. "Pull up a seat. Unless you plan on sharing the bed with nii-san so you two can cuddle or some shit." Her glare just dared him to try it.

Blushing, Karou obeyed the veiled command. He didn't want her following through with any of her threats. "I-I guess I should start explaining …"

"No need." She closed her eyes and copied Daichi's slumped over posture. "Get some rest, you loser. I don't feel like listening to your pathetic excuses right now." Questions could wait, she was too tired and relieved after the night they had been through. It didn't seem likely Karou would do anything to them while they were sleeping, so she allowed herself some rest, figuring she had earned it.

- XI -

Sawada Tsunayoshi could have been in the equivalant of the North Pole, the air turning frigid in such a short amount of time. "You know. It's one thing to play games. But to harm innocent children. Don't you think that's just distasteful, Phantom Thief Kano?" He was not in a good mood, the only thing keeping him sane was the dark haired man by the window and the fact Ryohei was by the door, guarding it. They had abused a bit of authority to have this room to theirselves, but Tsuna hadn't wanted to waste any time and opted to come down to the hospital. It saved them the trouble of dragging Kano back to the base for interrogation. "You should be grateful. Both my children are alive and healthy. If not, neither would you."

"And you call me distasteful, Vongola? Well, if that's the way you want to see it, then fine. Personally, I like to see it as … investing in the future." Kano was free to cross his arms, no bonds to restrain him. It had been Tsuna's wish to keep the meeting as civilized as possible, given they were in a hospital of all places.

"What kind of future is that?" challenged Tsuna, lacing his fingers together and resting them on top of his legs. He leaned back in his chair and carefully scrutinized the young man in front of him, the one standing for a lack of a better place to sit, besides the bed. "Or maybe you like to make a habit out of harming children? But I'm curious, if that's the case, why do you have a little boy with you? I assume he is with you, he's certainly not with us."

That seemed to strike a nerve within the thief. "Leave Karou out of this."

"A sore spot, is it? What is he to you?" Knuckles going white as he held tight to his own hands, Tsuna attempted a smile. "I can't say I understand you, but if you're trying to protect that boy, then maybe …"

"That's none of your business," ground out Kano, lifting his chin and looking in the opposite direction of the Vongola's Tenth boss. "Keep out of things that don't concern you."

With the conversation at a stalemate, Tsuna steered the subject towards something that was his business. "All right then, but what were you hoping to gain by hurting my children?"

"You have to ask?" Clucking his tongue in disapproval, Kano ran a hand through the messy assortment of colors that made up his hair and then smirked. "Why, money of course."

Of course, Tsuna thought sadly. Greed was as good a reason as any for something like this. "You're being paid, understandable. But by who?"

"You kidding, Vongola? To hell if I know. All I care about is the payout."

It was the truth, the hyper intuition he had inherited from the generations before him never lied. There had been times his intuition had withheld things he would do well not to know, but it had never once lied. "So you really don't know." He noticed Takeshi giving him a skeptical look, but there was a hint of understanding in his Rain Guardian's eyes and the matter wasn't addressed as him being too naive. "Then we'll go with something you do know. You've put on quite the show, Phantom Thief. Or should I say, Ikeda Kanotoshi. You haven't changed at all, have you? Still using such flashy methods."

"Well, a man's got to make a living." The young man rocked back on his heels, eyes lazily glancing at the door. There was a fleeting thought of escape from the thief's perspective and then it was gone. He wouldn't be able to make it around the Sun Guardian and he knew better than to fight recklessly. "I can't believe I lost to a bunch of kids."

"They were fortunate to have you as an opponent," Tsuna agreed before worrying his bottom lip. "Here's what I'll do, Ikeda-kun. You don't strike me as an inherently bad guy and I'd like to give you a chance." When objections started up from both his Guardians, Tsuna stopped them with a raised hand, holding Kano's gaze with his own. "You have, after all, broken the arrangement between the Vongola and the Momokyokai Yakuza. In exchange for keeping this quiet from Sei-chan, I would like you to do me a … little favor."

At the mention of his boss, Kano went rigid. "Don't talk to me about that bastard. I am no longer allied with him."

"Is that so?" Tsuna's eyebrows shot up sky-high. This was news to him. "Okay then. Well, that's even better. Join the Vongola," the Decimo offered with a warm smile that took the younger man off guard. "We could use someone like you, Kanotoshi."

" … You're offering the man who tried to kill your children a job?" Disbelief colored Kano's question through and through. "The rumors about you were true. You're too … forgiving."

"You shouldn't trust rumors," Tsuna stated softly, folding his hands back into his lap. "Regardless of what you have done, the fact remains it has nothing to do with me. It was not my decision. I also heard you saved Hiroyuki when you could have very well have let him die. That, to me, says you're keeping something secret. What is your real reason for being here instead of Tokyo with the rest of your gang?"

A lull in the discussion brought everything to a standstill as Kano debated on what to say. "I'm more interested in your favor," relented the thief moodily. "I don't have all day, get on with it."

"You're taking me up on my offer?" insisted Tsuna happily. "Great," he went on without waiting, "then you won't mind mentoring another kid for me? I knew I could count on you!" There was something to be said about his ability to get someone to agree without realizing what they were agreeing to and then completely changing the playing field.

"Wait a minute, Vongola!" Kano started up angrily. "I didn't agree to -"

"You're such a big help, Kanotoshi!" Smiling, Tsuna explained with a great deal of relief, "You don't know what it means to have you around, really. The kid you're going to be watching over is a bit of handful, but try to make the best of it! He's quite something. You'll see. You two will get along just fine."

When Kano later met the kid he would be 'watching over' he would have to wonder if it wasn't the Decimo's way of punishing him after all.

- XI -

Hiro palmed at his eyes, grumbling as he woke and trying to get his vision to adjust to the dim light funneling in through the cracked door. Where am I? The smell was too sterile to be his home or even the Yoshida's. His mind supplied hospital without too much prompting and that was good, it hurt to think too much at the moment.

"Are you awake, Hiroyuki?" There was a sense of déjà vu as the blond took in his father standing in the doorway, but there was no smirk, only a comforting smile. "Good, you seem healthy. I'll have the doctor draw up the discharge papers and have them ready in the morning. You should get some more sleep. Everyone, including you, looks beat." Tsuna started to the pull the door shut after wishing his soon a good night. "You can tell me all about what happened in the morning. We'll have a lot to talk about then."

"D-Dad," Hiro made to sit up in bed, not willing to go back to sleep just yet, "I want to know what's going on." His efforts were halted as something, or more appropriately someone, snuggled up to his side. He blinked down at the girl holding on to him and made a face. How did I not know she was there? "Minori, wake up …" Shaking his cousin awake didn't seem to work and he helplessly looked at the rest of the sleeping faces in the room. Daichi was draped over the chair in such a way that he had no doubt his friend would be complaining about a stiff neck in the morning and Emiko, too, was curled up in a chair, head resting on the shoulder of the boy next to her. What's Karou doing here?

"I know you have a lot of questions, Hiroyuki, but they will have to wait." Hiro wanted to ask why, but the serious expression on his father's face had him holding his tongue. "I promise. When the time comes, we will talk about everything."

He's being honest, Hiro thought with absolute certainty, relaxing back onto the bed and nodding. "I'll hold you to that, dad."

"Wouldn't expect any less," Tsuna replied with a gentle, light-hearted laugh. "Go back to sleep now, before we wake everyone up." Agreeing that was the best course of action, Hiro allowed Minori to snuggle a bit closer and wrapped an arm around her, closing his eyes. As he drifted back to sleep, he could have sworn he heard his father whisper, "Don't forget what today feels like," but he didn't think he could forget today, even if he tried.

XI

Ugh, I'm never going to hear the end of it, not if I go through with this… Tsuna nearly flung the phone across the room so he didn't have to stare at the taunting screen that had one name highlighted on his speed dial. He didn't give into the urge, though, figuring that would just be too childish. He simply stared at the cellular in morbid fascination. What am I waiting for? I have to call him. It's not like he's going to call me this time. The repairs to his house had been finished two days ahead of schedule, a record-breaking event, and he had the whole place to himself for the time being. He could do this, he could get through this.

He couldn't do this. Sighing heavily, he stood and decided to take a bath instead. He needed to clear his head. I'm so tired I can't think straight. Letting his worn body slip into refreshingly warm water helped. It was enough to ease his worrying, but it was over too soon and he had to get out and stop contemplating drowning himself in the tub while he still had the chance. Picking the phone back up when he reached the study, he punched in the number for the one person he had been hoping to avoid. No need to hit speed dial then, he knew the number by heart.

"Ciaossu," a familiar voice drawled on the other end of the line, comically high-pitched but still the same as ever. "It's about time you called me, Dame Tsuna." Tsuna pulled the phone away from his ear, gaping at it. His old home tutor was seriously telepathic or a mind reader or something. "My phone has caller id, stop gaping like an idiot." Yup, definitely a mind reader. Or maybe the house is bugged? Having let his mind wander, he tuned back in to the conversation to catch the last of the reprimand he was surely receiving. "– calling from your cell, not the base. It does not take a rocket scientist to figure that out. Though, admittedly, I am one. How is it possible you're still alive again?"

"That would be your fault," argued Tsuna, getting his bearings back. "You taught me everything I know, Reborn." When no willing response came, Tsuna prompted, "And that's kind of what I wanted to talk to you about. The kids are growing up fast. I … don't know what to do. They're going to need training and soon and I," Tsuna paused and grimaced, "I was wondering if you wouldn't mind teaching them like you taught me."

There was silence, followed a moment later by a barely there click. Something hit the floor with a sickening thud. "If I must."

With a sigh, Tsuna leaned back in his chair and then ran a hand through his still wet hair. He was tired, a little aggravated, and this wasn't going at all the way he had hoped. "It's not an order, Reborn. I'm asking you as a friend." A quiet, "Mm," was his only reply. "Come on, for old time's sake?" He loosened the tie around his neck and grinned when there was a surprised chuckle. "Is that a yes?"

"No. That's a maybe."

Tsuna would take what he could get. He had nothing left to lose, not where Reborn was concerned.