Pinkie's Part: I will be working quite a lot this week. So as a special treat, I'm updating again. :)
Please leave a review on your way out, I love learning ways that I can improve.
I was so bored as I waited for my shift to start, that I took out the old notebook and pen, and scribbled this out for you all. Stay fabulous.
Onward.
xx
Chapter: When Petals Fall
There was a click. The cylinder spun, and the hollow confirmation of a successfully loaded bullet ticked. The nuzzle of the gun slowly rising in the steady hand, aimed in perfect alignment to the small man's chest. Obsidian eyes narrowed dangerously, his mind spinning; kicking into overdrive. Each sweep of his trained eyes looking for a way to reconcile; to salvage any type of solution; this situtaion. There was a small shift of weight in the fingers that were wrapped around the trigger. The chance -no matter how miniscule- was not.
A burst of gunpowder send the cylinder into motion. Reborn acted quickly, his arms caging Tsuna as he threw the both of them to the ground harshly. As the bullet whizzed passed them, barely missing his head. Small tufts of black lazily fell to the pink covered concrete. He withdrew Leon; his most trusted weapon- the only one he took with him on missions- and fired six rounds with deadly accuracy. Two shot through pressure points in the shoulders, whilst the others took out Mochida's knee caps. Tsuna screamed before he was fully covered by Reborn's form overlapping his. The vibrations from the vicious snarl in which the fedora man had released, had caused him to flinch. Tsuna didn't know where his tears had founf the time to be produced- an incredious look of shock smacked onto his face- as they spilled over.
The scen then stood still, Mochida dropping to his ruined knees; an agonized roar ripping through the air. Tsuna had ben ordered by a solemn Reborn ro remain on the ground. Tsuna watched as the onyx eyes man elegantly returned to his full height. He blinked away any thoughts- watching as the man's fluid movements inched him closer and closer to the person who had just raised a firearm at him. Tsuna had just stared death in the face- and had been saved by an angel clad in black. The one and the same who had thrown himself into the face of the same danger; only for his benefit.
Reborn took a defensive stance, his form looming over the twitching body of Mochida. His eyes glinting in the soft, floral air. His voice a decibal above a whisper;
"Just what in the hell do you think you just tried?"
His voice was filled to the very brim with rage, that rang with such clarity. His tone was dangerously calm. He was greeted in a response with a series of strangled chuckles- a broken voice lifted it's way to his ears.
"No one.. would have cared. He..he deserves to be erased... the.. world has no use..for useless people."
Reborn brsitled at that- He thought back to the first instance in which he had helped the little lion -he now realized that those frustrated tears had been caused by none other than the twitching nuisance pinned by his stare. He then smirked, the fading vision that Mochida held allowing him to witness this look; his running blood suddenly felt cold as he watched the black clad student pull up his green tipped revolver.
"You, have a point."
Mochida looked hopeful here, gesturing to the other, asking for assistance in a sense; but the pleading look ceased as he froze once more as he heard the cylinder click into place; the nuzzle lining up with his head.
"There is no room for worthless people- I think I can exterminate at least one cockroach without compensation."
The protesting retort was cut off by the sound of two bullets being fired. Reborn emptied his cylinder at a point blank range, completeing the assassination.
"The payment is easily payed in full- if he no longer has to worry about you."
The wind washed away those words, as Reborn tilted his fedora downward, shiedling his expression from the world as he finsihed with his ritual actions.
"Adaravicci, asshole."
He pulled his cell phone out of his breast pocket after reholstering Leon. A few moments passed by until a successful click indicated that the other line had picked up. Rapid fire Italian rang out, the sun edging just over the horizon. The rays looming closer and closer, illuminating the entire scene.
"Si, grazie, Gokudera."
He snapped the phone closed, hiding it from view as he glared hatefully down at the peacful looking face of his recent kill. He kicked the still foot in distaste. He missed the calculating eyes the were observing him. Taking in the colours. The reds of freshly spilled blood masking the gentle whites and pastel pinks of the falling sakura petals; creating a pool of contrastic colours. The brunette felt a new warmth on his cheek. He stared up with blank eyes, moving his head from the cradle of his arms.
"Don't faint on me. We need to get out of here. We can't afford witnesses. Come on, Leone."
Tsuna's voice was hoarse from the inital shock. With the help of Reborn's guiding hands, the youth was able to stand on his shaking legs. Reborn was murmuring words of comfort to the little brunette; having noticed an alarming amount of color leaving his face. The pair was roughly out of the viewing range of the scene; when a piercing scream echoed throughout the once silent morning air. Reborn dropped his fedora onto Tsuna's head and began to transition the steady steps into that of a frantic sprint- his hand latched onto Tsuna's upper arm- dragging the shocked male with him.
The pair had ran a considerable amount of time before Reborn remembered a suitable place for them to rest. He pulled the male through the market district, only pausing to evaluate his surroundings; before resuming his mother duck act. His hand was never lifted off of the trembling male behind him.
They came to a stop in front of a decent looking home, the slight jingle of keys had gone almost unnoticed as the two slipped silently into the door. Once the door was closed; Tsuna lost it. The petite youth broke into a fit of tears, slumping against the entrance wall. Reborn stood to the side, merely witnessing the break down. His stance had been defensive initially, but he slowly relaxed, moving slightly toward the sobbing form. He let his hand drop onto the chestnut hair, and to his utter surprise, instead of flinching away-like most would have- the smaller male threw himself into Reborn's arms.
The face burried deeply into the dress shirt, nearly soaking it through with just the first bit of tears; as the other gently wrapped an arm around the waist allowing the other to begin sifting gently through the silky tresses.
"T-thank you...thank you."
The words were broken, almsot repeated as though trying to be credited as a mantra. Reborn's eyes widened, the hand in the trembling form's hair pausing. The grip tightening when he felt trembling hands in search of his own waist. The pair of arms encircling him in a tight, close quartered hug. This little lion certainly was interesting; he was thanking him. Him, a hitman. The person who had just ruthlessly gunned down one of his classmates in cold blood. He wasn't flinching away from him; he wasn't demanding answers about who he really was. Nothing.
Reborn was so caught up in his train of thought as he shifted them into a more comfortable position. Tsuna was settled between the older male's legs, arms loosely draped around his waist. Reborn's back was propped against the entrance step, his hold tightly wound around the other; fearful that if it loosened even slightly, the small man would physically break along with the small sense of fucnctioning mentallity in which he was desperately clinging to. Reborn heard it. The softly spoken resolve as the breathing slowed to that of an emotionally distraught sleep.
"I want...to protect, you."
(Break)
Gokudera stared at the closed cell phone. It was rougly six thirty in the morning on a Thursday. The call had been from Reborn- it then clicked as he threw himself out of bed, hastily throwing on anything he could in order to make himself look even remotely decent.
Reborn had actually called him, had actually asked him a for a favour. Gokudera rushed out of his apartment- The Vongola clean up crew at his ear. Reborn's words of thanks ringing in his ears.
(Transition Back)
Reborn looked at the peacful looking expression on a certain brunette. The possessive way the arms were looped around him was surprising. He felt a sudden jolt of elecricity near his heart when he had heard those words. He had to convince himself that he had in fact, actually had heard the soft tone speak those words.
It had been nearly nine hours since the petite male had fallen into an emotinal, fitfull slumber. Reborn felt oddly relaxed laying next to the smaller male, and he decided that he would only allow this little lion cub to get this close to him. Not even his lovers, past and present had been able to coax this type of gentle behaviour from the hitman. He allowed his fingers ro sift through the soft tresses, before chancing a sudden urge. Reborn leaned forward, brushing back some of those stubborn chestnut bangs, and pressed his lips to slightly heated skin. A sigh of apprival left the lips of the slumbering brunette as Reborn pulled away. A few seconds passed before he stirred. Upon the slight slutter of eyelashes, Reborn feighned sleep, using it as an excuse to cuddle up to the smaller male; though he would never admit it.
Tsuna tensed, and then melted into the tightening of arms, moving his head from the pillow in liue of Reborn's chest. He placed his ear over the general location of the hitman's heart, sighing in content before settling back into the warmth at his side.
"I want to protect you- like you've protected me. I'll do it. Even if it costs me my life."
Upon the sound of those words, Reborn knew. He was absolutely certain that he could entust everything to this kindhearted man. That he could show him how to be a great leader- to show him, alloe him to believe fully in himself.
As the head of hair settled down, sleep reclaiming the bold brunette, a simple spoken sentence hung over the two of them.
"I'll teach you, Leone- What dying will you truly posses."