Code: KHR-BTW-CH.02

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Blood is thicker then Water.

Chapter.02.

Hazed chocolate eyes were barely open as the man had just woken from the dreamless and tiring sleep. His body was stiff and heavy but he hardly registered it as his mind was still slow and his processing power was at a snails pace. His chest heave and wheeze and his breathing rattled in his rib cage - the sound was like driving over gavel, invisible knots aching.

"Tsunayoshi" the voice rung in his ears, above the rush of blood and annoying buzzing, and said brunet just recognised it. Slowly, he blinked, looking - really looking to the man who was laid out beside him, laying on his side and crimson eyes staring at Tsuna intently.

Realisation glinted in Tsuna's eyes, his lips slipped apart without his knowledge, to allow one name to exit his very dry mouth "Xanxus…?" and that was all he needed, his chocolate orbs widened and he blinked back the moister. Jerking upwards, he quickly took everything in; he was in his room, the curtains were pulled, but the brunet could tell by the sunlight that was steaming in through the sides that it was well into the day. The corridors were quiet and they were both in his bed. But finally, he acknowledged his companion "Xanxus!"

The raven-head sighed tiredly; how troublesome "Took you long enough to notice" he muttered, eyeing the brunet how a moment, before moving himself into a sitting position. His body was stiff and sore from being so still, but he didn't voice his complaint - that'd just annoy him more then he already was.

Being Varia meant that they were in close contact with the Vignola - very close in fact, seeing as they were practically sister organisations, but Xanxus hadn't expected to get a call from Reborn - telling him not-too-politely to get his ass over to the Vongola estate and give his brother a talking to.

The ending had made Xanxus pause from his murderous plans. At that time, he hadn't heard from Tsunayoshi for almost three weeks and for the overzealous, over concerned brunet, had made everyone in Varia do a double-take. But they had put it down to being busy and left it at that.

With that phone-call, Xanxus had revaluated the situation "What the hell, trash!. What the fucks he done with this time?.!"

When the Vongola couldn't handle Tsunayoshi, he was called in. Xanxus wouldn't fight it. Much. Having a kid brother was never simple, or at least, when said kid brother was Tsuna. He took it with the job description and although Xanxus would curse and rage he'd do what he had to.

There had been a irritated sigh of sorts "Overworked. 'Got him to bed just before he collapsed. Tsuna said something about not wanting to sleep, not to mention something's happening with his intuition. He's pushed it off, but I'm fed up with having a zombie for a boss."

This wasn't new, and probably wasn't the worst call out he had had from the Vignola "What, can't handle him yourself?"

"Just get your ass down here. Something's coming to a head and I don't have to tell you what happened last time."

With that, the hit-man had hung up and Xanxus promptly destroyed the phone, which alerted his second-in-command, who came bursting through the doors to his office with a furious scowl on his face. Though the sword-man shut his mouth; noticing something was wrong. The look in those crimson eyes only got like that a handful of times and every time one brunet was always involved.

"Don't just stand there!. Get the fucking car ready!"

They had arrived an hour later, and Xanxus, along with Squalo and Mammon noticed instantly something was wrong. They all knew that Tsunayoshi ruled with a lenient, steel fist and that his estate was always full of busy people - going places, coming from places. Chatter filling the air. It was loud and nosy - completely headache inducing for the Varia, but this silence; it was eerie.

Xanxus' eyes had narrowed, before he and his lackeys stalked to Vongola Primo's office, flinging the doors open without even a knock. Though, there was no brunet in sight, just his right-hand organising files. Gokudera's head had snapped to the abrupt and rube entrance, before his eyes widened.

There was silence until Hayato sighed tiredly and with a shake of the head, said in a irritated voice "Wrong room" the rough translation: 'you guessed wrong. Primo's in his bedroom' . Xanxus grunted his acceptance, before glaring at both his men to stay put. They understood the silent message because when he started to walk to the living quarters, he no longer had two shadows.

Once he had made it to his brother's bedroom, he had paused for a minute, before knocking once and allowing himself in. Though as soon as the door closed behind him, he froze as his eyes locked onto the hit-man that had just turned to him.

"What the fu-"

If Reborn was a lesser man, he would have rolled his eyes "'Asked me to stay, Xanxus" he stretched; some joints popping with the movement, before he slung his legs out of the bed and mindful to be quiet, collected his clothes without putting them on "You're here to take my place." Reborn left.

And Xanxus had, stayed that is. For two days. The Varia leader had no idea how someone who was used to sleeping for little over five hours could go over forty-eight, but that just proved how far Tsuna was pushing himself - too far and if he didn't give a very good explanation, he'd be in a lot of trouble.

So now he stared at his foolish little brother as he started to ramble "But, what - how - why - why are you here?. Don't you - I thought you had a meeting today, or…" one of his tiny hands went up to his head in thought and Xanxus could see the confusion all too easily "Or is it even today?…"

Question after question entered Tsuna's head. What the hell had happened? He couldn't even remember going to sleep and now he was waking up, with a bed full of Xanxus. Oh God, he didn't collapse, did he?…

Tsuna cringed, a bread of sweat rolling down his face as he caught himself from mumbling anymore then already had "Why…um…did Reborn call…you?" he asked awkwardly, though his voice trailed once he saw the irritation on his brother's face.

Xanxus bit down a disgruntled sigh "That's a yes then" Tsuna muttered, running a hand through his hair as he adverted his eyes.

"Tsunayoshi, we need to talk" Crimson orbs watched as his brother tensed. Those words always followed tears and possible fights. The last time hadn't ended well and although it was completely needed, Tsuna still worried about it and Xanxus knew that "You've gone too far this time, even your caretaker's worried"

Tsuna's eyes slowly trailed to Xanxus and guilt swelled in his chest, he realised that "I…really didn't do it deliberately this time" he whispered with a slight quiver to his voice.

Xanxus raised and eyebrow "Why haven't you been sleeping?" something inside him clenched as he hesitated and swallowed thickly "are you…having nightmares again?" he watched as every muscle in Tsuna's body stiffened and his spine straightened.

Tsuna continuously swallowed as his mouth immediately dried; suppressed memories resurfacing with the mention "No…no, I haven't…that hasn't -" he cut himself off before he broke down any further as he gathered himself up "no. It's something else"

Xanxus turned fully to Tsuna - to show he had his full attention "Explain 'something else'."

Tsuna shifted on his mattress, rubbing his chuckles of one hand onto the palm of his other, nervousness coming off of him in waves "Something else…" he repeated "…a mixture" was admitted and Xanxus had to strain to hear even that much "images - flashing images. Of - of the past, and things…things that haven't happened"

Crimson orbs widened slightly "The future?"

Tsuna barely surpassed a shiver "Maybe. I - I've sent up a meeting with Uni to… talk about it; my nerves are fraying and…I can't - I can't…I just can't"

He was at his wits end, Xanxus knew but what could be so bad? "What did you so?" the raven-head questioned darkly.

The friction continued to build in Tsuna's hands as he grimaced "I…can't really remember, it's a muddle of feelings and…clips of things" he answered unsurely, his tone completely uneasily as he tried to keep eye contact.

Xanxus suppressed a sigh; they were going around in circles "Clips of what?, and what feelings?" feelings, when it came to Tsunayoshi Sawada should never be ignored; they were more then a little important and intuition had saved more then a few lives - including his, more then once.

Tsuna knew from spending nearly have his life with this man that he wasn't going to take 'no' for an answer. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate, starting to explain how it start with the face of a crying lady who was trying to smile, then switching to wedding rings. A gun. A stuffed lion being held in big, rough hands. An orphanage that Tsuna used to live in. A swing. A plain, dull sky. Meeting Hayato. The streets….

Tsuna released a shaky breath, cringing as he tried to swallow "meeting father Timoteo,…you and then…that night"

Xanxus pinched the bridge of his nose "I thought the idiot said it wasn't that?.!"

Tsuna opened his eyes for a moment and chocolate and crimson clashed "It gets…worse after that" he whispered, ignoring his big brother's annoyance and Xanxus had to wonder what could possible be inferior to that?.! "A - a Sky flame filled with…something like sadness followed. Myself looking in a mirror. A bad - bad fight. A bullet and lots and lots of blood flowing"

A feeling of dread curled in Xanxus' stomach "And that's - that's why your not sleeping?"

Tsuna shook his head "I…can't allow myself to, my intuitions already killing me, I can't handle this on top of that. I've…tried to keep myself busy, but even when I sleep, I'm tired - my body just seems to want to sleep; to see those images" he made a disgruntled noise "Nothings shown itself that I've started to think that nothing 'll come from it…"

Xanxus' eyebrow twitched "Damn it, Tsunayoshi!. Trust your goddamn instincts more!" he snapped. Tsuna nearly flinched, but nodded "And Tsunayoshi?…" said brunet glanced at his brother as Xanxus' expression turned lax "Your hands are on fire"

Chocolate eyes widened as his head snapped downward, and saw the Sky flame the friction he was making had caused and immediately stopped and waved both of his hands to make it stop "Crap!" he exclaimed, before the flame frizzled out. Tsuna sighed, looking back up to his brother and scowled, recognising the amusement swimming in his crimson counterparts "…Your laughing at me, aren't you?"

BTWBTWBTWBTWBTWBTWBTWBTWBTWB TWBTWBTWBTWBTWBTWBTWBTWBTW

Hayato's eyes skimmed back over the document, worry in his brow with his lips hard set. G, the guardians and all the other ankle-bitters were worried sick but waited for the time that Xanxus and Tsuna would reappear on their own; not wanting to interrupt his dear boss' sleep or a brother to brother talk.

It always irritated Hayato how Xanxus would always know what was wrong - how he seemed to be able to fix things. Gokudera had known Tsuna for a long, long time; that small brunet was his childhood friend and he'd do anything for that friendship - for the only loyalty that he was every shown, so it hurt to know that there was some things he just couldn't do for primo.

Hayato was just about to sign his signature - his work signature anyway, when the door was flung open for second time in two days; the double wooden barrier clattered against the wall harshly that the right-hand man's head snapped upwards so fast his neck clicked.

He slammed the pen down and instantly went to nurse the back of his nape with a small moan. Hesitantly he looked back up and saw a panicked recruit standing there, out of breath, red faced and eyes haunted 'Padrone Gokudera!' he shouted 'P - please, it - it's Primo! The - the west wing, a - assassination!'

Emerald orbs widened, his stomach dropped before it churned with dread and he sprinted out of the office - not letting the recruit another word as he ran and ran.

And for the first time in years, prayed - prayed that his boss was okay and that this was just some horrible misunderstanding.

Translation/ Information -

"Padrone" in Italian- 'Master', 'Boss'

A/N (27.12.12) -

Goodness, I've been trying to think of how to work this out; trying to plan this story the right way, but it didn't turn out quite right with my writers block, so even though it's not brilliant I hope you enjoy it.

Sorry it took so long, and sorry for the quality.

Livejournal: sky-flower24

I Apologise if there are any mistakes in my spelling/ grammar, or if you find anything I have written offensive.

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OW