Pinkie's Part:

Hello there. Sorry for not using my usual quickness. I'm glad I have so many supporters, and I'm so happy, and I apppreciate each and every one of you who take the time out of your day to read this and review. This one may be a little short; but nonetheless, I felt as if I should update. I'm sorry that I'm getting slower; please bare with me. I'm trying my best, :) also, thank you to all who message me back. It makes my day to hear directly from you!

I've reached my energy limit for speaking, so;

Enough of my rambles.

Onwards!

xx

Chapter: If It Sets You Free

The Vongola estate was quiet. The hustle and bustle of early morning preparations already having been completed the night before. Soft footsteps, if any; were what greeted trained ears. Each person within the large mansion were able to rest easy, for the upcoming stress allowed them to put it off, if only for a little bit longer. However, somewhere in the mansion, there was a shadow moving with such practiced speed, that not even the hitman on guard duty had been able to place where it ws coming from.

It was on the morning of the second day after the explosive incident, that this shadow loomed over a slightly covered form. The hair sticking out from under the blankets, a hand shot out, ripping the hospital blanket from the form, and a certain amber eyed male found himself propped up on pillows and calloused fingers were suddenly prodding gently into his back. As they worked over the skin, he would wince every so often, and soon after he would feel a comforting warmth, much like the sun shining down on cool skin. He heard a disappointed grunt and peered behind him to the best of his ability. His eyes were covered by chestnut hair, and a strong hand pushed his face back. Tsuna huffed, and pushed his chin up with his hand. Thinking about what should be said, the brunette decided on the lesser of two evils, seeing as he was currently in no condition to be mischeivious.

"Ne, Reborn, you've been back there for a while.."

He then felt a hand grasp his inner thigh, and he squeaked. Apparently the other had no qualms with sexually harrassing him, despite the injuries. The voice held a slight form on amusement, but a no nonesense undertone swam in the barriatone.

"Shut up, Dame-Tsuna."

Tsuna pouted, "What happened to calling me lion? Lee oh nay."

The smaller male felt the hand smack him on the rear this time. He was responded to with first a chuckle, and then he was flipped, his back on the pillows, and a face very close to his own.

"I'll call you a lion, once I know you won't get burned in the Vongola jungle. Dame-Tsuna."

Tsuna grumbled and looked away, only to have his face pulled back by Reborn's large hand. He smirked down at the amber eyed brunette, and then paused. He found his face was getting closer and closer to the other. He pulled his lips to one side of his face, and then released Tsuna. He happened to have missed the look of disappointement that flickered across that cute face. Reborn's expression got quite serious.

"Tsuna. When you were in danger, your personality shifted.. did you know that?"

Reborn watched the form tense, and then frantically look everywhere but at him. He pulled his fedora down, and then flipped it off, landing on the nightstand next to the hospital bed. He was over Tsuna, his hips resting on the edge and his arms supported on either side of Tsuna's head. The brunette tried to shrink away, but there was no way to avoid that glare. The smaller male gulped, and then bravely looked into the deep black eyes. He felt a surge of strength as he pushed the older man away from him, who in turn allowed the touch. He sat on the edge twirling his curly sideburns. His elegant eyebrow raised expectantly.

"You see, when I was younger.." The voice was low, and Reborn had to lean closer just to catch it. The smaller male was trembling slightly, his hands going in to cover his face. The raven haired man grasped the hands, and held them in his own, before placing them in his lap and gently lifting the chin of the brunette. He saw fresh tears welling up and threatening to spill over.

"Ora, ora non poche lacrime, io sono qui."

(Now now, no tears little one, I'm here)

He was surprised with how softly those words left his mouth, what surprised him even more, was how that pout brought him closer, and he softly pressed his lips to the surface. Nothing more than the sweet feeling of soft skin brushing soft skin. The smaller male hiccuped slightly, before placing his hands hesitantly on Reborn's shoulders. His teary eyes closed and he lost himself in the comforting warmth. As if understanding, Reborn began to dig through the brunette's thoughts, trying to see what was so hard for him to say.

He inclined his head in greeting to the sunset eyes alter persona as he glided into the memories. Needless to say, with each vision, he became progressively angry. With each step into Tsuna's subconcious, Reborn saw the tortured childhood the male endured. The fact that the small brunette was able to smile so brightly despite all of the pain he harboured, Reborn had to apluade him.

But one memory caught the hitman's eye. It was locked away, a shivering vision of a door surfaced, and one Tsunayoshi stood by the side. A knowing look was on his features, as he waved Reborn in. The door clicked open with a snap of his fingers, and Reborn made haste to enter. His eyes were met with a black the rivaled his own. Upon blinking a couple of times, he witnessed the birth of one Tsunayoshi.

(HeWasBreaking)

In the center of the vast blacks and greys, was a young Tsuna. His hands on his face, and shadows kicking him relentlessly. Sneers and inaudiable jeers causing shivers in the vision. Reborn made a step towards it, only to have Tsunayoshi pull him back, a strong arm wrapped around his chest as he fell backwards. He sat on the almost nonexistant floor, his feet hanging off the edge of existance.

He could hear the shattered sobs and pleas from the tiny child, the shadows throwing dirt on the bruised boy. He grit his teeth, and then his eyes widened.

"I...I'll be strong! You won't be able to pick on me anymore!"

"As if Idiot-Tsuna.."

"You're so dame, no one would teach you."

"You can't even pass a remedial math test, how would you train?"

The kicks continued, and as a scream ripped through the tense air, all the shadows fell backwards. A slowly rising Tsuna had his face covered by his matted hair. Small trails of blood slipping down his face. When the eyes became visible by the lifting of his head, Reborn recognized that hue. It caused him to shiver, even as the repeated memory of killing intent left the small figure. He watched as a flame ignited on the forehead, and the tiny hands became engulfed in a soft orange. One step was seen, as the others flinched away from the brilliant light. Reborn could have sworn he saw pale, almost transulcent wings flare from the back of the child. However, it was not enough of a visual to convince himself.

The speed that the child moved in suddenly, had astonished Reborn, and he glanced over at Tsunayoshi, who in turn had a somber expression on his face, gesturing towards the vision. When he cast his gaze back over to the scene, he paused. The child stood above all the shadows, but the shadows began taking the form of children as well. The receeding darkness leaving whimpering children. Tsuna raised his fist, a cry resonating off the vastness as he fell to his knees.

"I don't want to hurt anymore...I don't want..."

Reborn's heart twisted at the sound of the pained voice. He watched the sunset eyes spill over with hot tears. The tiny hands went to the eyes, wiping furiously at the liquid. He heard the internal conversation, and saw the one child tremble before another appeared next to him, the gentle sweeping of hair that gathered the child's attention.

Reborn watched the interaction between child Tsuna and the shivering image of Tsunayoshi. Softened flame colored eyes assessed the sniffling child. The image a spitting reflection of the other. It was almost disconcerting to watch. Reborn snapped out of his trance when he heard the sunset eyed Tsuna speak.

"You are strong... I am you. You are me. We, I'll come back when you need me most.. I won't let you hurt like this again, okay Tsu, you're gaurdian angel will never leave you. Okay?"

Reborn watched as the child Tsuna teetered forward, and the sunset image dispersed at the touch of the boy. The child slumped to the ground, a slumbering face upon the features as the vast black swallowed the memory. The hitman turned towards Tsuna's alternate reflection, and saw the softness that the sunset eyes held for Tsuna. He blinked, when he saw arms stretching towards him, pulling him into the chest. He tensed, and then relaxed. The hands soothing circles into his skin.

"Thank you, for protecting him."

Reborn went to respond, but found himself greeted with the same vast blackness. He turned to find the door he had entered through, only to find nothing but black. He closed his eyes, and tried to calm his rapidly increasing heart beat. He needed to stay calm. Needed to think with a level head.

(HeWasBreaking)

Reborn opened his eyes, greeted with the setting sun. His arm lazily thrown over his forehead. He pinched the bridge of his nose, and went to stretch. Just how long had he been out? His mind snapped back into reality, when he was unable to move. He looked down at his chest, and a light tint of a rosy pink slickered across his cheeks.

Laying, chin upwards towards his face, with a partially parted pout, was one Tsuna, his eyes closed and a steady breathing pattern displaying with the rise and fall of his chest. The smaller male was laid on his chest, the rest of his body curled around him, with Reborn's arm tucked around his slender waist. How the two of them fit onto the hospital bed, Reborn would never know. He smirked, thinking it having to do with a certain otherly wordly entity.

"Così bello..."

Turning his gaze back to the vulnerable male in his grasp, he couldn't help the softness that touched his expression. He sighed gently as he tried to manuver the two of them into a more comfortable position. He moved the brunette's head, so that he was rested evenly on the crook of his arm instead of awkwardly on his chest. He had shifted as well, laying straight, his leg wrapping around the other's.

Reborn unconciously slipped his free hand upwards, resting it on the cheek of the slumbering brunette. He smiled softly, his fingertip dancing in a slow rythmn up and down the smooth, pale skin. He pushed his fedora off, and let it rest on the railing of the hospital bed, not caring if it fell or not. He breathed in, and let it out slowly. He shook his head in disbelief, before allowing himself to settle in closer to the brunette. His eyes closing, his decision proudly made.

"Penso che vi amo, troppo."

He missed the sleepy smirk, the twitch of the edges of the brunette's mouth. The words a sweet lulaby, hovering over the two males as they basked in the warmth given from their bodies. One the sun, and the other a new found sky.

The whispered Italian words, meaning more to both of them than they currently realized.

I think I love you too.