Chrome and Mukuro

Hospital...

'Really? You bought Blood Replenisher for me?' Mai croaked out, stunned with how far Tsuna went. 'These things are expensive!' she squeaked as she looked at the empty bottle in her hand with instructions at the back.

'Well, you're in a really bad shape and we had to carefully make you drink it to make sure it really goes down the hatch.' said Tsuna as Iemitsu did the job last night after purchasing a bottle while the blonde reeled from how badly it smells. 'Given the blood you lost, only one bottle is needed and Reborn healed you with his flames before we had you drink it when you were out cold...but you're still on bed rest for a couple days until you no longer feel the effects of blood loss.'

'Right...'

'And no using of powers, either.' Reborn added, taking the empty bottle from her. 'It might work against the magic of the potion so watch it. Well, we'll dispose of the bottle now.'

'Take care now Mai. The others are preparing for theirs, too.' he said. 'Today is Gokudera's match. I hope he gets away with less injuries...'

'It won't be that easy...we're just amateurs against a bunch of trained killers.' Mai told him. 'What works for us is their arrogance and tendency to underestimate us just because we're kids. But given how I did...it will now work against us so I'm a bit sorry for that.' she lamented apologetically.

'We'll do our best Mai.' said Tsuna, promising her.

'And that means I'll train you harder to prepare for that scenario dame-Tsuna.' Reborn told the brunette who became white granite. 'That is indeed a grim possibility.' he said. 'Let's go.'

With that, Mai is left alone in her room.

At least her room has TV so she wouldn't get bored...

By that night, she heard that Gokudera and Bel nearly died from the wind turbines and Tsuna begged for Gokudera to quit than die as it would be pointless to have the ring if he died and he cared more for Gokudera than a ring, and Tsuna had a breakdown from nearly losing him.

'Nearly ground beef from the Turbines, you said?' Mai looked visibly ill as she talked with Gokudera in his room, taking her iv drip with her when Reborn took Tsuna away after the other guardians consoled the distraught brunette.

'Yeah...sure I didn't win but losing was worth it.' said Gokudera, looking happy. Mai blinked owlishly.

'Eh? Why?'

'Juudaime...he said I matter more to him than the ring.' said Gokudera happily. 'It feels like I really won. These injuries are nothing compared to that!' he cried enthusiastically. Mai smiled at that. Indeed, Tsuna cared more for them than being Vongola boss.

'Well, we're lucky with our boss.' Mai told him, her own mood lifted. 'Other bosses would just ditch us like yesterday's fashion trend if we screw up.'

'Yeah, we lucked out.' Gokudera agreed with a wistful smile. 'Juudaime is a really great person. Nobody just sees that since they just see what's not good about him. But dang, these wounds hurt!' he winced as they're still stinging, being fresh. 'Fucking turbines and those damn bitches for bringing in said turbines...geez!'

'Makes me wonder how much of Vongola's money they're spending on this.' Mai snorted wryly. 'If this keeps up Vongola will be bankrupt sometime soon.'

'You kidding? Vongola's one of the richest famiglias...arranging these things probably even didn't dent their bank account!'

Next night, its Yamamoto who came, injured. Mostly cuts from blades and his eyelid.

'Now what happened to you?' Gokudera asked him as Yamamoto laughed.

'Same as Mai-san! But I got away with lighter slashes at least otherwise Tsuna will freak out again.' he chuckled before he wore a somber smile. 'The look on his face when Gokudera nearly died...I can't add to that by nearly dying too but it was difficult. But I'm more worried about Squalo.'

'Hah?!' his fellow Guardians sputtered out.

'Now what happened?!' Gokudera demanded.

'Well, my battle arena is filled with water...' Yamamoto told them. 'Then we have to defeat the other within a time limit before they release a Great White Shark!' Gokudera and Mai looked horrified. 'I managed to beat Squalo...and I tried to save him but he kicked me off and let himself...' he said with a grimace.

'Well...shit.' Gokudera croaked as Mai looked ill. 'Nasty way to go.'

'I don't like where this is going anymore guys.' said Yamamoto. 'I don't want to see Tsuna cry over us anymore nor see any more of us get hurt. Anyway, how are you two faring?'

'I'm almost better but I still can't use my powers.' said Mai. 'I'm on restriction by Reborn.'

'It feels like someone poured vinegar on my wounds because they fucking hurt.' said Gokudera unhappily while wincing. 'Owww...'

'That's harsh.' Yamamoto chuckled. Gokudera's injuries are worser than his after all. His cuts are nothing.

xxx

Next night...

'Nee Gokudera...feeling a bit better?' Mai asked her fellow guardian when she peeked into his room.

'Well, a bit better compared to yesterday...the nurses changed my bandages, cleaned and re-wrapped.' said the bomber. 'What of it?'

'Dino-sama offered us a ride to the Mist Battle even if its a bit late.' Mai chirped. 'Who cares what we wear, free ride is free ride!'

'Really? Then let's go!' Gokudera forced himself up, hissing from his wounds from his legs, prompting Mai to help him out. 'Oy, you're also injured!'

'Its not my legs that's hurt.' Mai rolled her eyes. 'Come on!'

And so...

'You kids sure are bull-headed.' said Dino as Romario drove them to school. 'You kids are injured with things no kid your age should have...' Mai is pierced in many places but nothing too vital and slashed up too, while Gokudera nearly became the first sample of ground human meat.

'Well we really want to know who our Mist is.' said Mai. 'We five know each other, he or she is the odd duck out.' she pointed out. 'And Iemitsu-sama said we're family so family shouldn't be strangers!' Dino laughed jovially at that. And to think this girl used to be a cold, cynical burglar who only cared for herself and survival...and meeting Tsuna turned her into seeing things more brighter and more innocently...although there was little improvement in her personality as she retained her ruthlessness, and is a big fan of disturbing topics.

Even better, Reborn classified him as an Uke too like Tsuna. Whyyyy?

By the time they arrived, Gokudera looked flabbergasted as Mukuro appeared in a swirl of mist while chuckling in a familiar voice. 'You're showing off quite a bit aren't you? For mafia-style.'

'That voice is so deep...is he older than us?' Mai blinked owlishly.

'Sonova!' Gokudera gasped out at the voice. 'HE'S the guardian?!'

'Storm and Lightning, Don Cavallone, please remain outside but you may watch.' said twin 1. 'You weren't entered in the enclosure provided, so that is your restriction.'

'That can't be helped, we are late.' Dino grinned.

'You two!' Tsuna sputtered, seeing his injured Guardians. 'What're you doing here?'

'Curiosity?' Mai chirped with a cat-like smile. 'But you guys seem to know this fella that got you all high-strung~ care to fill me in?'

'Before we met you, we had to deal with this guy and he's the first criminal we met.' said Gokudera. 'Rokudo Mukuro...he killed so many mafioso and Juudaime told us why. A week before you came, he was our opponent before we had to deal with you.'

'Its been a while.' Mukuro greeted. 'I have come back...from the other side of the cycle.'

'...his head looks like a pineapple.' Mai remarked as Mukuro stiffened, as he turned around to see who said that. Ken and Chikusa gulped because that usually pisses him off.

"She just said taboo!" both of them thought in horror.

Mukuro saw Gokudera and an unknown girl who both possessed Vongola Rings, fresh from the hospital. He didn't say a word and decided to let the girl off as she has yet to know 'Mukuro Rules' anyway.

Just this once.

Only one freebie!

'Rokudo Mukuro...I was wondering where I heard that name before, but now I remember.' said Mammon as he got up. 'About a month ago, someone tried to escape Vendicare. That someone was Rokudo Mukuro.' Mai tugged on Dino for an explanation.

'Vendicare is a prison for the most dangerous humans in this planet that now law enforcer can handle. It mostly houses dangerous, out-of-control mafioso.' Dino explained to her. 'Its located in a very cold place, and its so dark its said that you never see the light of day ever again. Its said that if you committed a grave crime so grave and that included killing high-ranking mafioso for no reason, the Vindice will show up and drag you off, before they inform the other bosses of their latest quarry and why. And Rokudo Mukuro along with his associates, are in prison for killing a lot of low-ranking famiglia.'

'I don't understand...isn't killing normal in the mafia community?' Mai asked him as Dino twitched.

'You watch too much anime.' he deadpanned. 'Reality and anime are different. Yes, its normal as long as its a 'job' and you're paid for it. However if you kill for no reason particularly high-ranking members, say hello to the Vindice and you'll be shacking up in Vendicare. Balance of power between all organizations must be maintained or a sudden shift will cause chaos in the balance of power, and there will be mafia wars in a bid to increase territory and even more killings and bloodshed. Rokudo Mukuro's murders of 50 and more low-level famiglia members caused just that after the Vindice imprisoned him two years ago. It was a royal mess, but an opportunity even I used. Hey, I'm a mafia boss too you know.' he said wryly.

The fight begun with Mammon starting to freeze Mukuro in a blizzard but the illusion affects EVERYONE too but Mukuro is the only one to be in ice...but he burst out with flowers and wrapped Mammon in vines. Tightly.

'That's the real Mukuro!' Yamamoto gasped out. 'But what happened to that girl?!'

'Mai, what do you see in our Mist Guardian with your radar?' Reborn asked her. 'You saw her before she transformed.'

'Hai...' Mai remembered seeing a girl in green clothes lying on the floor, but with obscured features due to the fog. 'She possesses a powerful, but inexperienced bio-signature. But when she did a sex change,' a lot of people CHOKED. 'Her own signal somehow got stronger yet no outside interference to influence this strengthening signal but...I see a linking string of something else influencing the change of the signal. From her inexperienced power it instantly turned into master.'

'Well, now you can tell when its Chrome or when its Mukuro.' Reborn told the kids. 'The case is this: Mukuro can exist through Chrome. But Chrome can't live without Mukuro.'

'Er...explain?' Mai croaked out. 'I don't think we get it.'

'A month ago after Mukuro broke out, Chrome, then Asamiya Nagi had a car accident that cost her, her right eye, and most of her abdominal organs.' said Reborn grimly. 'She was taken to the hospital, but...she also has the misfortune of being born to a wealthy family who are also more career oriented than family oriented, hardly seeing the others. Too distant. A famous actress mother, and her businessman father who didn't care about her and pretty much left her for dead.' she said to the teenagers' horror. 'The only way to save her is an organ donor through close relatives but only her mother's is compatible...due to that, her mother left her for dead, unwilling to leave her career which she deemed more important than her own child.'

'Horrible...' Tsuna shuddered.

'While Chrome was dying, she met Mukuro and awakened to her power. Mukuro saved her by creating illusion organs for her but as she just started, she cannot maintain those organs on her own so he maintains them for her...and the trident is their link. When Mammon broke her trident, their link broke and her organs vanished, prompting Mukuro to take over so she won't die.'

'Talk about a rough life...' Mai winced. 'But its also fair trade...he's in prison but he can be out anytime he wanted and Chrome would live longer.'

'That's exactly the case.'

Soon, Mukuro defeated Mammon. Mercilessly too.

'Now then...is this acceptable?' Mukuro showed the Cervello the joined Mist Ring. They exchanged looks.

'Mammon is now unable to battle.' said twin 2. 'Therefore the winner of the Battle for the Mist Ring is Chrome Dokuro.'

'Mai! Go check!' Tsuna yelped. 'Is Mammon really ripped to pieces?!' Mukuro in his opinion, went too far!

'Honestly, still so naive.' Mukuro huffed in amusement. 'Still showing sympathy to the enemy...Sawada Tsunayoshi.'

'Nope...he escaped through the gym windows up in the ceiling. Still alive and kicking.' Mai reassured him. 'I guess when Mukuro inflated him, he was able to prepare his escape while panicking because that really looked painful...'

'Kufufufufu...indeed.' Mukuro chuckled. 'From the start, he had every intention to escape anyway...but still, detection is pretty convenient...but I do hope you see more than just life signs...because something surprising is in store for you. Even I am awed at what's going on behind the scenes, but I'm not such a nice person to go poking into business. But I'm sure your friend knows what I'm talking about.' he said, eyeing Mai.

'...not here.' she said. 'I've had doubts but still...I lack details before I can make something out of it.'

'Mukuro-sama!' Chikusa gasped out as Mukuro returned to them.

'Amazing-byon! You sure kicked ass!' Ken cheered as Mukuro just looked smug.

'Well, I became your guardian simply because its convenient.' Mukuro purred. 'Because I'm closer to possessing you.' he said with a playful smile that triggered something horrifying.

As soon as Mai heard those words, steamy images manifested in her head.

'Y-you bastard!' Gokudera swore as Mai...

Those words translated differently in her head.

'K-kyaaaa!' she squealed excitedly in a high-pitched voice. 'A love proposal from your own guardian, Tsuna-samaaa!' she cried in glee, blushing while having a nosebleed. Dino, Tsuna, Gokudera, Yamamoto and Ryohei(who had to be educated) looked on in alarm and horror.

Reborn face-palmed.

Colonello just looked at Reborn inquiringly.

'You don't want to know.' he said. 'Trust me.'

'You got it all wrong you weird pervert!' Gokudera sputtered out, grabbing her shoulders and shaking her. 'Mukuro didn't mean THAT kind of possessing!'

'Not cool man, NOT cool!' Ryohei choked out, wide-eyed as Mai is in her own fantasy world.

'...its official, they have their own Lussuria over there.' said Bel wryly. The Cervello were speechless.

Mukuro, Ken and Chikusa just blinked owlishly.

'How does she see my possession of you romantic? Weird girl.' he remarked cluelessly.

'Believe me you don't wanna know!' Tsuna shivered, looking blue and ill that got Mukuro more curious. 'Mai-san please stop that way of thinking, I beg you! That's wrong in oh-so-many levels!' he wailed.

'...I'll have Chrome check later.' Mukuro sighed as he wobbled. 'So...so tired...' and he collapsed, reverting back to Chrome.

'Ah, she collapsed!' Dino gasped out as Chrome fell asleep.

'Mukuro recklessly used up a lot of power to manifest himself into reality.' Reborn explained. 'We won't be seeing him for a while.'

'What about her internal organs?!' Tsuna yelped in panic.

'Its OK. The link between them is restored.' Reborn reassured him as the Trident is there. 'Her organs are OK.'

'Geez, this girl gets tired so easily...so much for humans.' Ken grumbled as the others sweatdropped.

'You're human too asshole!' Gokudera said snidely.

'Let's go Ken.' said Chikusa.

'Yup.'

'W-wait, you're leaving her?!' Tsuna sputtered out in disbelief.

'What, she's got two legs anyway.' Ken huffed. 'When she wakes, she can go by herself. Its not as if she's Mukuro-sama anyway.'

'Now that's just plain cold.' Mai huffed, her cheeks puffing up.

'We will continue on with the next battle.' the Cervello declared. 'Tomorrow night will be the last Guardian Battle between the Guardians of Cloud.'