Phoenix sighs as she picks up her phone, she had thought about it long and hard and there was only one way to get Reaper to leave Hayato alone. She had to turn herself in. After that she just had to convince Gokudera not to come after her. The phone rings for a minute before Reaper picks up with a questioning hello.

"Hey Ces."

"Phoenix? What a nice surprise? And so nostalgic. You haven't called me Ces in years."

"I would like to ask you to please leave Hayato alone tomorrow. It's his birthday but not only that, it's the anniversary of his mother's death. You once said I'm like your younger sister, so please...do this for me."

"And there is nothing between you two? Ah I can almost hear you getting angry. I know what you are going to say 'No, there is nothing between us' and that you are 'just asking as a friend.' I shall try not to provoke him tomorrow, but I cannot promise anything."

"Thank you, Ces." Phoenix was about to hang up when Reaper starts to talk again.

"What brought this one, Phoenix? According to your little boy-your little friend, you hate me."

"Just...I know what Hayato is going through. And I am going to hold you to that promise, Reaper."

Reaper sighs. "So we are back to calling me Reaper...Tell me Phoenix, why are you suddenly making deals with me? Just yesterday your voicemail said, and I quote, 'If this is Reaper, go to hell, you arrogant son of a bitch.' Really, Phoenix, what is going on?"

"Nothing! And as for that deal you made with Hayato...I want you to let him out of it. You want to cause me pain an that's fine, just don't use him as a proxy for your cruel experiments. He doesn't have to do anything he doesn't want to do."

Reaper is quiet for a moment. "What exactly are you proposing?"

"I'm saying..." Phoenix takes a deep breath, knowing that what she is about to do will lead to her death. "For Hayato." She thinks before speaking again. "I'm saying that you can do whatever you like to me. Whatever experiments you want to do, I'll take them willingly. But leave Hayato out of this."

"An interesting deal. Why would you suggest something like this?"

"Because it's the right thing to do! Now do we have a deal or not?"

"You know what I am going to do to you, Phoenix. And that is without your punishment for betraying the Family. Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I know what you are going to do to me. I am to be a physical and psychological test subject. I know this is going to hurt but you are not going to use Hayato again. So just tell him he's out of the deal and tell him what he wants to know. And then leave him alone."

"He won't like it. But I accept your offer and look forward to seeing you back in Chicago by next Monday."

"He doesn't have to like it. Why are you giving me the week? I could be back in Chicago by tomorrow."

"I am giving you a chance to say goodbye. Don't waste it, dear little Phoenix."

Gokudera sighs as he gets up from his seat and thinks.

"These damn flights are too long."

He grabs his duffel bag from the overhead compartment when he looks at something from the corner of his eye. Some little kid was making a lot of noise in the back and it was pissing him off. As his eyes shifted, he noticed a person still sitting down with purple headphones on. Her black hair covers her face so the Italian teen shrugs and assumes the person probably just fell asleep. With that he walks towards the exit and takes a deep breath as he passes through the door. He was finally in Italy. And he didn't exactly know how to feel about it.

Phoenix stands as soon as Gokudera looks away from her, following him out of the door and through the airport. The black wig she is wearing apparently did a very good job of hiding her long red locks and for that Phoenix is grateful. The last thing she needed was to have Gokudera recognize her and mess up her plan.

Gokudera swings his bag over his shoulder as he starts up the motorcycle he had rented. The teen puts his helmet on and is glad that it blocks the extremely bright sun from glaring into his light-colored eyes. He turns the gas a bit before picking his foot off the ground and letting the bike go. The tan teen takes in his surroundings as he rides past them. It had only been a year since he last visited but it felt strangely different. It felt like home to him and yet at the same time, he detested the place. It was much too close to his father's mansion. He didn't want to risk running into the bastard. So Gokudera sped up and went straight to the hotel. He knew he needed to take a short nap and clean up before visiting his mother's grave. Something catches his eye and he slows down to a stop. It was the gelato store he remembered going to a lot as a child. Gokudera felt a small pang in his chest and knew that he couldn't stop. The shop owners would recognize him for sure. Then they would contact his father. And that was the last thing he wanted. After reminiscing for a moment, he started to continue on his way. Not before glancing into his review mirrors, of course. He just needed to make sure no one was following him. He didn't exactly want to have to kill someone on such a sacred day. He didn't want any more memories to remember on this day. But low and behold, there was a second bike behind him. The riders face is hidden behind a helmet but still, they had stopped and were now currently looking out across the land. The rider pulls a camera out and snaps a picture before starting up their bike again, looking at Gokudera as they pass him and then speeding around a curve. The silver-haired teen thinks he hears a laugh but shakes his head. Whoever they were, they were gone now.

Gokudera swings his leg over his bike as he takes off his helmet and kicks the stand. He stands up and reaches for the bouquet of roses he was carrying in the back. The fifteen-year-old takes a deep breath as he straightens his tie. He wore a suit on this occasion, Gokudera wanted his mother to have only the best so he always put in the effort to look presentable. Hayato slowly walks over to the elegantly designed tombstone right within his view. It had been a long and tedious flight from Japan to Italy but Gokudera soon began to forget that he was tired and slightly jet-lagged. The silver-haired teen bends down and places the crimson-colored flowers onto the grave before moving his hand in a cross formation over his chest before kissing his hand towards the sky. The teen then smiles softly at the tombstone and says.

"Ciao, mamma. Come stai?" Of course he was not expecting an answer so he continues, "I can't believe it's been a year already since the last time I've visited you. I've finally found my place in the world, mamma. I found meaning. I still serve under the Vongola Decimo and...I've finally been able to feel again." Gokudera pauses for a bit as he feels a knot in his throat, "I know you've been watching over me." His eyes shift to the side, "As have others..." The bomber was aware of a pair of eyes behind him but he feels no evil intent so he ignores them. "Some weird things have been going on but I'm sure it'll all be over soon. So please don't worry. I've got a Famiglia I can fight side by side with. Even though the majority of them are idiots. I don't know how Juudaime puts up with them, really. But that's probably why I admire him so much. He is such a kind and caring boss..." The smoker bites his lip before continuing, "For the longest time I thought he was my only friend but lately there has been...someone else." He leans in close as if trying to hide his words from anyone nearby, "There's this girl I've been talking to. And no, mamma, it's not like that! She's just...she's also part of the mafia. But she's different. She reminds me of myself back before I met the Decimo. I feel...connected to her. It's odd, I know. But I like to think of her as a friend as well. I want to save her. She's too good-hearted to be in darkness for too long." The Italian teen playfully puts a finger to his lips, "But promise you won't tell anyone, mamma. I'll never live it down." He smiles lightly. Gokudera then glances at his watch, "Mi dispiace, mamma, but there are things still going on and I still have my duty to protect the Decimo. I'll stop by soon after I handle the situation." The green-eyed teen smiles softly, "I can practically hear you yelling at me, but like I said before, don't worry. I'm not called Hurricane Bomb for nothing." Gokudera's eyesight begin to blur from the tears he has been holding back, "I'll be safe. I promise." His hand goes up to gently lay his hand upon the tombstone, "Ti amo, mamma. I'll be back soon."

Phoenix watches the silver-haired teen leave the grave and sighs. She didn't like graveyards, they reminded her too much of her own family's death.

"We've both lost too much at such a young age..."

Phoenix waits until Gokudera is a little ways away before taking off the black wig and shaking out her long red hair. She believed it to be disrespectful to appear at a grave as someone else. The American teen walks up to Gokudera's mother's grave and bows her head.

"Grazie. Grazie per il vostro figlio." Phoenix taps the center of her chest with her pointer and middle fingers before kissing their tips and raising her hand to the sky. "Is féidir féachaint ar aingeal os cionn tú."

The girl hears the purr of a motorcycle starting up so she quickly bowed and left the grave to follow Gokudera once more.

Phoenix pulls off her helmet as she pulls up opposite of the hotel where Gokudera was staying, her long red hair moving back in a slight breeze. She presses her Bluetooth headset and calls Robin, her hacker.

"Hey Robin? You think you can tell me which is Hayato's window?"

"Yeah...third floor...fifth over."

"Thanks man."

"No problem."

Phoenix quickly locates the window and sees that, despite the beautiful day, Gokudera has the window closed and the blinds drawn. The girl pulls out her cell-phone, pulling her headset off, and dials Gokudera's number, sighing when the he doesn't pick up.

"Ah Hayato...Won't you let me in?"