Though his eyes stung and watered, Kensuke couldn't look away from the awe-inspiring yet horrific sight of orange flames engulfing the whole room - the whole house, judging by the sheer intensity and amount of flames. And though the flames were enormous and powerful, not a single lick escaped the walls of the house, not even the heat from the flames.

(Luckily, the baby had the foresight to shove them out of the room before the explosion; and so, all of them were stuck in their backyard, watching the whole thing through the glass doors of Sawada's room.)

He couldn't imagine how that was possible but he couldn't be bothered because there were more important things he was worried about.

"Holy fuck! Sawada!" and Kensuke couldn't even think in full sentences because he didn't bring the kid who saved him from Hibari (even though he didn't need it because he was the captain of the Kendo Club and was more than capable of taking care of himself even without his bokken) to this madhouse only for him to be burned to death because of the Master of Death.

"Calm down. They're both fine," the suit-wearing baby answered him.

(And since when has he been around? And where the hell did Master PaoPao disappear to? When did the tiny boxer disappear in the first place?)

"Who gives a damn about that crazy fucker?" he snarled at the baby, ignoring ignored the incredulous looks he was receiving from everyone else other than Sasagawa and the dark look he received from the baby himself. "It's because of him that Sawada is burning to his death!"

"I give a damn about that crazy fucker," the baby said menacingly. (Kensuke was reminded of Hibari, only a thousand times worse in every way possible.) "And those are Tsuna's flames. Harry was able to remove the seal," he added and Kensuke just stared in shock.

"SAWADA HAS EXTREME FLAMES?" Sasagawa asked and he was grateful that the boxer asked that question for him because his jaw was still hanging. (And he internally snickered at the others who winced at Sasagawa.)

"He was sick because his body was rejecting his flames because of a seal. I'm assuming, since Lupin was able to remove the block as Reborn said, his flames, which have been forcefully sealed for a long time, caused what seemed to be an explosion now that it has been released. Judging by the amount and intensity, it seemed that his flames kept building up in his body since they were completely blocked, which was unnatural really because-" and Kensuke assumed that the white-haired teen could keep going on and on even though he wasn't making any sense.

"I DON'T UNDERSTAND TO THE EXTREME!" the boxer interrupted the other teen and Kensuke never felt more grateful for the other captain for his impulsiveness. As much as he didn't like Sasagawa for his loudness and extreme-ness and his sheer weirdness, he appreciated that he was here and his ally in caring for Sawada's welfare.

(He owed Sawada because even though the tiny brunet didn't need to defend him against Hibari, he did anyway and he was not an ungrateful bastard no matter what anyone said. And so the least he could do was ensure that Sawada was okay, which seemed unlikely with the company he kept.)

"Long story short: Sawada's sick because flames were sealed. Lupin unsealed the flames with his magic. Those," the white-haired teen said, pointing to the glass door where an inferno still raged on. "Are Sawada's unsealed flames. Got it, stupid?" he finished as he dropped his hand and crossed his arms.

Honestly, he didn't get it because normal people don't have flames in their bodies. And magic there was magic, honest to God, magic. When the fuck did his life become a fantasy novel?

And because his life just had to get weirder (and Sawada so owed him for the shit he was putting Kensuke through), a silver stag appeared in the middle of the group.

"Tsuna-kun and I are fine. He's still unconscious, though, and I have to clean up the mess he caused," the deer said with Ryuujin's voice.

"WHAT? DID RYUUJIN BECOME A GHOST TO THE EXTREME?"

"He's not a ghost. Harry just sent a patronus," the baby explained, which didn't really explain anything.

"Who's Harry?" the blond, who just arrived via Ryuujin Express, asked.

"Lupin. Or Ryuujin. That's his first name," the baby said.

"Sasagawa-san, Mochida-san, thank you very much for your help and your concern for Tsuna-kun. Tsuna-kun will be fine though he might not return to school tomorrow. But rest assured that he will return when he is able," the stag said, looking at him and the boxer. "And it's getting late so you can go home now."

"NO! I EXTREMELY REFUSE TO LEAVE UNTIL I HAVE SEEN SAWADA IS EXTREMELY WELL!" Sasagawa protested vehemently and Kensuke actually agreed with the brainless boxer. He has invested too much of his time and effort to just leave without seeing or knowing the state of the tiny brunet.

(And how could he believe that they were fine after an inferno like that?)

"That wasn't a request," the baby said ominously and he swore the shadows lengthened, showing a silhouette of a tall, dangerous man. He shuddered and even Sasagawa looked wary.

He exchanged looks with Sasagawa before both of them left the Ryuujin residence. They would be back tomorrow for Sawada.

. . .

After the teens left, the silver stag (patronus?) faced Shamal. "Thank you for your services, Doctor Shamal. Your debt has been paid in full."

"My debt has been paid?" he scoffed, dangerously stalking towards the stag (and was it him or was there buzzing around?). "I have done nothing of note to cure your boy except to look at him and that's enough to consider my life debt to be paid in full? Are you saying that my life is worth nothing and so it's paid in full because I have done nothing except to be here? Is that it?" he snarled and the stag just looked at him.

"Patronuses are one-way communication methods, among other things. If you want to tell something to Harry, you have to tell it to him to his face," Reborn said blankly, but the glint in his eyes meant that he was pleased with Shamal's reply.

(And from what Dino understood, it meant that Shamal was still in debt to Lupin. And Reborn wanted that. Why would Reborn be happy that someone as important and useful as Shamal was in debt to another person who was not Reborn? That didn't make sense at all.)

Reborn gave him a look which translated to: I have my reasons why I want Shamal to owe Harry so I suggest you keep your amazingly astute conclusion to yourself. He nodded because he knew better than to go against Reborn. (Of course, the look was up to interpretation but Dino would like to think that he got the basic gist of it - Shut up.)

The stag then turned to Dino and said, "Thank you very much for your services, Don Cavallone. I apologize that I cannot return you to your mansion at the moment. I'll apparate you and your underboss as soon as I finish cleaning up here." Here the stag gave him a low bow. He fidgeted a bit (and winced because Mafia Dons were not allowed to fidget, at least that was what he understood from Reborn's significant look at him from across the yard, which meant he was going to go through Reborn's remedial training) before bowing as well.

From the power he displayed, he'd rather act more subservient than he should, despite his standing as the Cavallone Don, lest he offend Lupin - the Master of Death.

"Reborn, please be a dear (and Reborn shot him for snickering but he couldn't help it because a deer just told his tutor to be a dear and it's funny, okay?) and play host to our guests at the moment."

And Dino just severely underestimated the power Lupin held because he was able to order Reborn around. Reborn - the strongest Arcobaleno, the strongest hitman, the man who didn't need to join any family and simply allied himself with those who caught his interest because he was important and powerful enough to do so - did as Lupin told him.

(Was Lupin a god or something? Because he knew that Reborn would never listen to mere mortals yet he did what the teen requested. Should he build a shrine for Lupin or something? Is his title supposed to be God of Death, because he's willing to believe that the teen was a god and he would be a willing and devoted worshipper because Reborn!)

He dodged another bullet because Reborn was a freaking mind-reader and was not happy with his musings (even though they were true, he will now be a devoted follower of the Church of Lupin or whatever his religion is called, Dino promised), before Leon turned into a pocket knife. Reborn cut himself on the finger with Leon and bled on the ground. Suddenly, there was a table set, complete with chairs, food, and drinks. Shamal and Hayato were gaping in awe and he knew Romario was staring in shock, but Dino wasn't surprised. Making things appear was the norm when dealing with Reborn, and he hasn't been his student without learning to accept things as is, at least where Reborn is concerned.

So he took it all in stride as he sat down, with Romario at his heels. Despite his shock, but Romario knew better than to let his surprise stop him from doing his responsibilities as Dino's right-hand man.

When the other two finally got their senses back, they hesitantly took their seats. (And part of Dino approved because dealing with Reborn should be treated with caution.)

"This is good, what is this?" he asked when they finally served themselves some food because he knew his manners, thank you very much. He most certainly didn't want another recap of his manners lesson.

(He inwardly shuddered when he remembered how Reborn taught him manners on the dinner table. And he just realized that he was in the presence of Bianchi's younger brother. He knew the Smoking Bomb's style didn't involve poison but he couldn't help but give the younger boy a wary glance.)

"Treacle tart," Reborn answered with, if he wasn't mistaken, a hint of pride. Did Reborn make this? Even if he didn't, Dino knew he earned bonus points for praising it. Maybe his ex-tutor would ease his torture later for fidgeting.

"Are you a wizard, too? Can you teach me?" the Smoking Bomb asked when the shock finally wore off, slamming his hands on the table and looking at Reborn with a manic glint in his eyes.

He choked on his treacle tart because what was Hayato smoking because he wanted to be Reborn's student? Was he insane?

(He ignored the fact that Reborn was a wizard because that actually explained a lot of what his ex-tutor did or does on a regular basis.)

Romario patted his back to help him clear his airways while he pounded on his chest to speed it up because he had to save the really stupid teen from dying by Reborn's "training". When he could finally speak, he immediately shut his mouth because Reborn gave him a look that said: Shut up or I'll make your remedial training worse because Mafia Dons do no choke on really well-made treacle tarts. It's very unsightly and didn't I teach you better? Well, it seems that you forgot and I will enjoy reminding you in very painful and horrendous ways.

"I can teach you how to be a wizard," Reborn told Hayato seriously, and did the kid sparkle and grow a puppy tail?

Dino sighed quietly, taking another bite from his treacle tart. He might as well enjoy himself before returning to hell. At least this time, he wasn't alone.

Life Debts - End.

note: the first half was in japanese, the second half was in italian, but it's not plot-relevant.

firstly, i'm sorry for the lack of update on wednesday and the extremely late update. i haven't been well these past week. actually, i'm not feeling that much better right now but you guys deserve better so i updated even though it's probably not a very good chapter. (i'll probably go back to edit this and the rest of the fic for grammar and coherency.)

secondly, this fic will now be updated once a week because classes has started and i have to go to school six days a week. (not joking. i'm sorry.) so expect the chapter every sunday (or monday, depending on how late i update and timezone).

thirdly, and it seems i didn't make it too clear in my last an, but the block/seal was the one the ninth put when tsuna was a child. just so we're clear. and everyone except for harry and tsuna left the room before harry started chanting because reborn said so. and they saw the lightshow and stuff through the glass doors, which are magically enhanced so they won't melt or break (and the rest of the walls of the house are magically-reinforced).

to Grayfia, thanks for your review as always. and honestly, i checked my inbox twice because i didn't see your name in the last chapter. i was kinda shocked not to see your review, not that i would ever demand that of you but you kinda spoiled me with your constant reviews. xp and i'm glad that you enjoyed the chapter and honestly, i think reborn would most likely use it to his benefit. but i'm not sure yet. so yeah. x3 and as you can see, shamal's still stuck with them and still in harry's debt. as for their reactions, i'm sorry that it didn't happen in this chapter. kinda.

to Nadin, thank you for your review and i'm glad you liked it. x3 i hope you'll also find the other chapters awesome. ahahaha.

to KK, thanks for your review as always and i'm glad to see you're enjoying the fic. and i'm sorta sorry for the cliffhanger (i should be, not i'm not. xp) to be honest, not many liked shamal's characterization, but i like him well enough. i mean, not everyone gets along and so as lovably insane as harry is, not everyone likes him in-universe. and shamal had the perfect reason so yeah. this chapter probably didn't answer your questions, so i suggest you should just ask them anyway.

to Guest (who should leave behind a name, if you don't mind), thanks for your review and i'm glad you love it. x3

thank you for dropping by and i hope you enjoyed your read~