Gokudera shakes his head at his girlfriend's pleas.
"I can't. I'm sorry Aydan."
Gokudera feels a tap on his shoulder and sees Nicky pointing to the entrance, Tsuna, Raven, and Hawk had cleared it. He gives Phoenix one last apologetic look before running towards the exit, hearing Phoenix's scream that tell him to stop.
"I HATE YOU!"
Phoenix finally screams before dissolving into sobs. Gokudera feels his throat knot up at Phoenix's words and his chest begins to ache but he says nothing as she cries into his chest.
"I know…it's all my fault. I'm sorry. But this is all for your own good…"
The group runs out of the torture house into the bright sunlight. They were not in the house for long but Gokudera had forgotten that it was still day time, he sighs at the dark atmosphere surrounding him. Phoenix grasps on to Gokudera, shivering from the cold, pain, and the heartache she felt.
"It happened again...not again...I swore I wouldn't let it happen..."
Phoenix begins to sob uncontrollably as Gokudera frowns at her words. He whispers.
"I'm so sorry…" The silver-haired teen follows Raven as they run towards an unknown direction, the sky suddenly darkening as rain begins to fall heavily. Gokudera glances sideways to make sure his boss is okay before concentrating on getting Phoenix out of the rain. "Do you know where we're headed now Rave!"
"Her apartment, it's the safest place in the city now." Raven stops and jogs back to Gokudera and Phoenix, shedding his coat. "Here." He wraps his coat around Phoenix, tucking it around her. "Should keep her a little bit warmer."
Gokudera nods his thanks to the older man and tightens the coat around her, making sure it doesn't slip. Phoenix clams down a little but is still crying heavily when she says in a hoarse voice.
"Hayato…"
"Yeah?"
Phoenix snuggles closer to Gokudera, gently wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I'm sorry…I don't hate you…" She shivers intensely and reaches up to brush the wet hair out of Gokudera's face. "I could never hate you." The girl pulls herself up and pecks his lips lightly. "I can't do anything right…"
"No, you have every right to hate me. You just got Cesar back and I didn't even let you have a proper goodbye…" Gokudera holds Phoenix close and leans into her kiss. "Don't say that. Everything you do is perfect. It's me. Not you Aydan."
"Hayato, don't...don't say that..." Phoenix's breathing gets heavier. "Don't put yourself...down like...that..." She nestles her head on Gokudera's shoulder. "Please…"
Raven calls back to them over his shoulder.
"Almost there!"
Gokudera looks worriedly down at Phoenix.
"Come on Babe, not now. We're almost there. Please, just hold on a little bit longer."
"I love it…when you call…me…babe…" Phoenix's body slumps but she pulls herself back up. "I can't…die…I got too much…to live for…"
Raven runs up to an old house that had been turned into an apartment building, banging on the door.
"Come on, come on, come on!"
Gokudera smirks slightly and leans over to kiss Phoenix's forehead before looking up at the old house. It was a little bit run down and in desperate need for repairs.
"This…is where she lives?"
An old man opens the door and sees Raven.
"Oh Raven, haven't seen you in a while." He looks past Raven and sees Phoenix. "My God! What happened!"
"Captain, please tell me you didn't rent out her apartment!"
"No, come on!"
The old man usurers them all into the building and Gokudera is immediately pounced on by a large black and white Siberian Husky. The dog puts its front paws on Phoenix's side and licks her face, whining softly.
"Hey Benny…you've been good?" Phoenix smiles at her dog and he jumps down but stays beside Gokudera like a guard. "Told you he's the…best guard dog ever."
Gokudera smiles slightly as they climb the stairs to the top floor, once there the old man opens the single door and Gokudera finds himself in Phoenix's apartment. The room was large, that much he could see but because of Phoenix's massive library there was barely any room left. Gokudera looks around the cramped room but keeps his opinion to himself and looks down at Phoenix.
"Hey Babe, you're home."
He smiles softly at her.
"Not exactly…how I wanted you…to see my apartment for the…first time."
Gokudera's smile widens a bit.
"It's okay."
Phoenix's eyes flutter closed but she forces them open, her shaking hand touches Gokudera's face lightly.
"I…I love…love you…"
The redhead's head slumps against Gokudera's chest and her hand falls down as she slips from consciousness.
"Aydan?" Gokudera shakes her slightly. "Aydan!"
Benny whines as Nicky throws open Phoenix's bedroom door.
"Hayato! Lay her down on the bed! I'm gonna call the Elders here and force them to give back Fallow!"
Gokudera quickly does as Nicky says and while the blond-haired Lynch is drawing a crest on the wall out of blood Gokudera realizes that Phoenix's room is covered in pictures. Pictures of her family, of her team, of her and Cesar, and a host of other people. While the silver-haired teen holds on to Phoenix's hand and strokes her hair he realizes just how many people Phoenix has loved and lost in her life.
"Elders! TEACHT ANSEO ANOIS!"
Nicky's yell interrupts Gokudera's thoughts and the four elements gather in the room, four men stepping from them. One is the red-haired man from before and the other three all have green eyes and black hair.
"Child your insolence is-."
"SCREW MY INSOLENCE! GIVE AYDAN BACK FALLOW!"