Gokudera freezes.

"What? No…NO. This can't…why didn't she come back!" The teen looks down at the girl in his arms. "Come on, I just got you back. I can't lose you again Aydan…"

"The only think I can think of is…The Elder of Earth didn't allow Fallow to come back."

Nicky says as he tucks his coat closer around Phoenix but it does nothing to warm her up and she visibly shivers as her body temperature drops below 80. A horrified yet angry expression appears on Gokudera's face.

"Why wouldn't he let her come back! If he knows that her absence would kill Aydan, then why would he…"

"He doesn't like us. Our granddad was a Child of Earth and he left Ireland. The Elder never forgave him for that."

"Tch. That bastard!" Gokudera bites his lip as he tries to control his emotions, keeping his eyes fixed on Phoenix, he leans his head down and touches his forehead against hers. "It'll be alright Aydan. Don't worry. I'll find a way to make this better. I swear I'll do whatever it takes to find away…I won't lose you. Not again."

Phoenix moans in pain.

"Ha-Hayato…I love you…"

Gokudera's expression falls from his face as he realizes that Phoenix is trying to say goodbye.

"No…No, no, no. I am not letting you go!" His eyes begin to tear up. "You can't leave me again…"

Phoenix body temperature drops to 70.

"I can't keep my heart going for long…I love you Hayato." A tear leaks out of Phoenix's eyes. "So much."

Gokudera's restrained tears fall as Phoenix gives up.

"Stop it! I love you too much to have you leave me again! Aydan!"

Gokudera's head snaps up as Nicky is knocked to the side by a guard but before he can react a Hispanic man stabs the guard in the throat.

"You fucking touch her again I swear to God I will rip your lungs out of your chest bastardo!"

"Who the hell is th-?"

Gokudera's tear-filled eyes widen as he recognizes the man.

"R-Reaper!"

"Cesar." The man walks up to Phoenix and kisses her forehead. "La siento…hermanita. This is all my fault."

Phoenix's eyes flutter open.

"Ces? That you?"

Gokudera's eyes narrow as he watches Reaper kiss Phoenix's forehead but say nothing because he senses a different aura around him.

"You're…not Reaper now, are you?"

"No, I finally got through."

"Ces…you gotta get outta here, the Boss will kill you for this…"

"Not a chance Kid." Cesar leans over Phoenix, obscuring her face. "You're stronger than this kid, don't let that bastard of an Elder stop you from living your life." He gestures to Gokudera. "No se puede morir en este idiota ahora. Él va a hacer algo estúpido, sabemos que lo hará."

Gokudera's eyebrows furrow at Cesar's words.

"I'm not gonna do something stupid! And I'm not an idiot!" Gokudera flips Cesar the finger. "Jódete, bastardo."

"The kid knows Spanish? I like him better every day." Cesar looks up and sees more guards running towards them. "Gokudera, you take care of her. Don't you dare let her down, like I did."

For once Gokudera doesn't feel any sort of hatred towards the older man, instead he nods in agreement.

"I won't ever let her down."

He squeezes Phoenix's hand once before running at the men, a knife in his hand.

"CES!"

Phoenix struggles to get out of Gokudera's arms but Gokudera holds her in place.

"No, stop it Aydan. You can't! This is his decision. And as much as you want to protect him, I'm going to protect you, even if that means he has to endanger his life." Gokudera tightens his hold on Phoenix. "Don't worry. He's a good fighter. I'm sure he'll be fine."

At the moment, Gokudera watches as a bullet goes straight into the middle of Cesar's chest. The Hispanic man's mouth opens slightly as he turns his head to look at Phoenix, their eyes connecting for just a moment before a series of bullets enters the rest of his body. Gokudera feels Phoenix tense in his arms and she reaches out an arm for her fallen friend, but he pulls her back.

"Shit…"

The silver-haired teen knows exactly what Phoenix is feeling at this moment and it kills him to know that that Phoenix is going through it.

"No…Cesar…"

"NO!" Phoenix struggles against Gokudera's hold, forgetting about her pain and the cold curling in her chest. "Let me go! I gotta help him! Hayato LET ME GO!" Tears fall down Phoenix's face as she goes limp. "Let me go…please…"