A/N I find it a miracle people still read this, much less fav and follow it! Thank you guys so much, you have no idea how happy this makes me feel! I always get this warm, fuzzy, corny feeling inside when I see that some faved or followed this. Btw I reached ten thousand views in January of this year, thanks so much!

I don't think this chapter will be that satisfying after nearly a year's absence but I had to write something. I'm having my exams in a couple of days and to escape from studying for them I am trying to finish this chapter. My logic, ladies and gentlemen, thank you.

I want to thank Diaoyao, Lidara Uchiha Uzumaki, Raizel200296, carmy98, NaruLoveAnime, ArnciaCielo27, Elaine Zhang, ShiroyukixKuroha, SabakuMoon, Foxbrush, marinaiperalta, XxDarkEyesxX, Kirihara Reii, AliceFiore, 22, jgood27, arinesilva, Scarlett190, royalgalaxywolf, malita23, RenaKou2151, MonochromeRen, Scarlet Light Angel, yukino76, HexWick and lovemelolanthe for following and/or saving this story to their favourites! It made me so happy!

Review: Sofi:Hello dear writer. My name is Sofi. Im from Russia. And i want translate your FanFic on Russian language. Can i?

Yes, yes you may. You have no idea how super happy that request made me! If you could, please send me a link to your page as well as the story and even though I can't read nor understand Russian I would like to get updated on it. Feel free to PM me if you have any questions concerning the context or if something is confusing you; I'll try to explain it.

Warnings: Maybe some confusing explanations, but I'll try to keep it simple enough, if not then... sorrypleasedon'tbitemyheadoff! And Kawahira, I think he deserves a warning on his own, he can be so unexpected!

Disclaimer: Don't own (been there, tried it..., failed miserably...)

Chapter 9 Part B

"So when are we going?" Lambo asked. "We are going after we inform Reborn, you will stay here with Chrome and Ryouhei," Mukuro said as he gave Lambo a pointed stare. "Why!?" Lambo asked in defiance. He wanted to come with his brothers to help them find his Tsuna-nii! He felt so useless most of the time and he just wanted to be of help to his brothers. Chrome put her hand on his shoulder. "Please understand Lambo. It's not that you can't help, it's just that we all know that what we just saw wasn't just something. I still feel uncomfortable and I am ten years older than you. We know that even though you try to keep up a brave face that you got hit the hardest out of us. Don't try to hold it in, we're here for you," Chrome said as she gave Lambo a warm smile.

Desperate to try and prove his sister wrong, Lambo clenched his jaws and tightened his hands into fists. Before he realized he was crying and when he realized just how right Chrome was he started crying out loud. He never noticed what his brother went through and he realized that it wasn't because Tsunayoshi thought that he was useless. Tsunayoshi never told him anything because he knew that Lambo wasn't ready yet. Lambo was raised in the Mafia and knew from an early age on that the weak die, but when Tsunayoshi took him the only thing that his brothers and sisters and Reborn made him do were living an ordinary life and attend Annual Parties. He realized that his brothers and sisters never told him anything out of consideration, for they knew that once you take a step into the Mafia, getting out and merely living would be difficult.

Everyone felt their hearts break a little as Lambo cried like a five-year-old. After they all left for Italy, leaving Lambo, I-Pin and Fuuta to continue their education in Namimori, they had never seen Lambo cry again. He was eight when they left and both Lambo's friends and Nana told them that Lambo never cried nor threw a fit after they left. They never paid much attention to it, but as they thought about it they realized that Lambo must have been really lonely. Most of the years I-Pin would be with Fon, training and Fuuta was four years older so by the time Lambo had reached his last two years of elementary he was all alone. They had all the time in the world to make it up to Lambo though. After they would have Tsunayoshi back safe and sound, the older Guardians decided that they would definitely take a Family outing to some resort or amusement park.

Still sniffling slightly, Lambo rubbed his eyes and stood back. He hadn't realized that Ryouhei had pulled him into a hug. When he looked up he saw all his brothers smiling at him and Chrome chuckled as she saw the blush appear over Lambo's cheeks. "Let's get some hot chocolate, okay?" Lambo nodded without saying anything. He felt embarrassed, but it finally got through to him that he wasn't alone. The two continued to make their way to the kitchen as Ryouhei hung around a little longer.

"I'll be sure to keep an eye on them," Ryouhei said as looked at the two most fragile Guardians. "Thanks, Ryouhei," Mukuro said as he closed his eyes. No matter how strong Chrome was, she was still female and very empathic. All the while Lambo was crying he saw how her hands and knees were shaking. Ryouhei gave Mukuro a grin. "No problem, I am after all a doctor," he said as he walked towards the kitchen as well.

"Now then, let us go an prepare shall we?" Mukuro said as he smiled his creepy smile. It didn't look nearly as creepy when the remaining three had the same smile on their face, just a little more murderous than Mukuro's. "First up is telling Reborn-san of the theory that we came up with, right?" Hayato asked. "Hmm, I think that might be a bad idea. I don't think we want Reborn with us when we go visit Kawahira, do we?" Mukuro asked as he gave the three a sly smile. Takeshi felt his smile straining as he remembered the last time Kawahira popped up out of thin air. It had only been three weeks after Tsunayoshi had gone to the past. Let's just keep it at the fact that Tsunayoshi would probably get a heart-attack when he returned and saw the bills on his desk. And Tsunayoshi already had a lot of bills...

"Kawahira?" Reborn asked as he gathered the papers in Tsuna's office. "What does that man have to do with Tsuna?" Reborn asked with a raised eyebrow. "If our theory is right, which I doubt is wrong, then Kawahira must have foreseen our idea of sending Tsunayoshi-kun back to the past. With that in mind, we figured that Kawahira must have had the time to prepare that ring with a special layer of Mist Flames. He said it himself didn't he? That the ring would have no effect in the hands of a non-Mist Flame user. Then why give the ring? We think that there is a time limit on those Mist Flames and if that is true we need to find out when the camouflage will run out. We need to make preparations to either get Tsunayoshi-kun back to our time or for when Tsunayoshi-kun gets here and something happened back in the past. We don't know, so our best option is to go to Kawahira and seek out his intentions," Mukuro explained.

Reborn's fedora was covering his eyes, so no one was able to see what he was thinking or what face he was pulling. A sigh was heard and everyone noticed Reborn relax. "Fine, I'll give you guys a day to get information. Because if what you said is correct, I fear that time will be running short. We need all the time we can get, so get going," Reborn said with a smirk of his own. The other replied in kind and turned to leave the room. "This might get interesting. I just hope nothing bad will happen to Tsuna while the idiot is in the past," Reborn said to himself as he looked out the huge window in Tsuna's office.

"My, my! What a pleasant surprise," Kawahira said as the sliding doors opened. Well, it wasn't really a surprise because Kawahira knew that they would be coming. His face betrayed nothing as he gave his guests a closed-eyed smile. They all silently walked in and stopped in front of the older man. "We want answers," Hayato said with a stone-cold expression. Kawahira opened his eyes and looked at the group thoughtfully. "Care to elaborate what kind of answers?" he asked and Takeshi frowned. "You know full well what kind of answers. What is the deal with the Mist Ring you gave Tsuna?" Kawahira beckoned all of them over and they followed him to the back of the store.

No one was surprised to see a set table with tea and ready to be sit at. He had been expecting them after all. Mukuro hummed as he sat down. The others followed his example and they waited 'patiently' for Kawahira to come back. He did so with a certain item in his hands. It was an hourglass and the sand was unbelievably slowly falling. They all made the connection with Tsunayoshi's ring and some held their breath.

"As I am sure you've already guessed, this hourglass represents Tsunayoshi-kun's 'time' left in the past. But first let me hear your reason for coming here," Kawahira said. Mukuro opened his mouth to speak and explain, for the third time that day, his theory. After he finished Kawahira hummed with a slight smile on his face. "I'm surprised you got all of that," he said. "But your theory is incomplete." "Then please tell us what is missing," Takeshi said.

Kawahira put the hourglass on the table and sat down, across from the four Vongola Guardians. "As you said, the ring itself is of no use if the handler is a non-Mist Flame user, however, Tsunayoshi-kun is very much capable of handeling Mist Flames; it's just not his Primary Flame. As you know Sky Flames hold Harmony and Tsunyoshi-kun is able to utalize that Harmony to tap into your Flames and use a small amount of them. It's a veru crude and old way of handling Flames, but that doesn't matter to a Sky as pure as Tsunayoshi-kun," Kawahira explains and the four men sit with their eyes slightly widened. Kawahira smiles slightly. "I'm guessing he never told you?" At their nods Kawahira shook his head in slight amusement. "That boy never fails to surprise me."

"It's fair to say that Tsunayoshi-kun is aware that he can't control the ring," Kawahira said as he continued. Everyone looked at him in surprise. Kawahira laughed. "He looked at me with so much suspicion when I gave it to him! I didn't tell him anything, apart from the fact that the ring would help him in the past. He took it from me but the wary glance he gave the ring told me that he could feel the seal I had put on it. When this hourglass is empty the seal will unbind and the barrier keeping Tsunayoshi-kun safe in the past and preventing any paradoxes from occuring, will disappear. As a last resort I put a safety on it. When the seal disappears while Tsunayoshi-kun is still in the past, a new barrier will be put into place. This one is an interdimential space."

"But what happens when he is there? Doesn't it mean that he will be stuck there?" Kyouya said with confusion and irritation visible on his face. "Technically, yes, however, as long as he has that ring we should be able to get to him. I made that ring and in such a way that I can always track where it is and if necessary open a portal and go to the location the ring is," he answered. "Why go so far to help him?" Hayato asked. Kawahira sat back in his chair and crossed his legs as he held his cup of tea. He closed his eyes, almost as if remembering something.

"You know, I never put myself on the same level as humans," he started. Hayato snorted. "I think that is very underrated to say," he mumbled and in such a way that everyone heard it. Kawahira laughed and smiled at Hayato. "That's very true, but I am now nowhere near as bad as a couple of hundreds of years ago. I think that these past ten years have changed my view on humans a little.

"I was never close with humans, not even in the beginning. My comrades would often say that one day I would understand why they took such an interest in humans. As vexing as it is, I finally understand it. Though not on the same level as they did and most likely still would had they been here." It was quiet for a moment as they all took in this surprisingly honest revelation. "I still don't like humans, they're just not beings I'm fond of. But you and your Family-antics always seem to keep on amusing me. You know what Tsunayoshi-kun's reaction was when I told him I was quite fond of his Family's antics? He laughed out loud and then told me it was about time I told him.

"Nothing escapes Tsunayoshi-kun's eyes. I'm a hundred percent sure he already knows who the enemy is and what they have planned for him in the past," Kawahira said with mirth in his eyes as he looked at everyone from the rim of his cup. "I'd say get as many trusted allies ready at the exact same spot Tsunayoshi-kun disappeared from. I think you have about five days left to prepare everything."

Everyone stood up and they were just about to leave when Kawahira threw something in Mukuro's direction. He caught it in his hand and just as he opened his hand Kawahira disappeared in a whirl of Mist Flames. Mukuro looked at his hand and his eyes widened. A sweat started to form on his face and Mukuro gulped as he looked at the item in his hands. It seemed that Kawahira was predicting more trouble than they had expected, or he was having more fun than he was letting on. Either way this Capello Famiglia will most certainly bring more misfortune than luck…

A/N – Well it's the best I can do for now. Ha~ it took me nearly a year to write this. Wow time flies… I sometimes hate my procrastination problems, I swear someone up in the skies is having a field day seeing me suffer for my laziness… hmm, that seems like an interesting story.

…

Have you noticed I get distracted easily?

Here's a little extra~

(It's the A/N I had prepared when I started writing this immediately after I had uploaded the previouw chapter… enjoy? My awkward commentation skills, people)

A/N Welcome back and thank you for waiting. I had an amazing time in Iceland, the scenery was absolutely gorgeous! It was unlike anything I had ever seen before. That said, I don't think I want to return any time soon or at all. It was beautiful in a way that makes you glad you can really afford the trip only once. It is so expensive in Iceland! You can call me cheap, but here in Holland even a deck of cards wouldn't cost nearly 8 Euros. It was really sad but the only souvenir I have is 1 Krona... that's not even a tenth of a cent.

Okay, I could go on for hours about my five day trip to Iceland with my parents and sister, but that would take too long, so on with the really important stuff, like uploads and uploads and stuff...

A/N 2 - Well to also make it up to you (for the short chapter), I decided that a side story would be the next best thing instead of another story chapter. I think I am in the mood to make you guys get the feels, so be ready for a story full of angsty stuff and loneliness. I hope you guys like it.

Warning: Some angst? Tears? (I'm seriously trying to go for something that will pull at your heartstrings) Also, open ending (though there will be a continuation, since you know, I wrote that promise in this chapter)

Disclaimer: Everything but the KHR characters belongs to me and me alone. So there!

Special: Lambo's Loneliness

Lambo stared at the empty kitchen. Well, it wasn't empty; Nana was cooking breakfast. But still: He is so used to having his older brothers and I-Pin around that it felt weird when it was just the two of them. He sat at the table quietly and ate the bread that Nana had already prepared for him. It was just as delicious as always, but somehow the aftertaste was a little bland. "Is something wrong, Lambo-kun?" Nana asked. Lambo, who hadn't realized he had pulled a face, sat up straight and looked at Nana. "There is nothing wrong, mama! The breakfast you made is as delicious as always! I was just wondering where Fuuta was," he said as his eyes roamed around the kitchen.

He hadn't seen or properly spoken to Fuuta in a long time. It was probably during the weekend or something, but it felt like years had passed. Fuuta always seemed to disappear during the weekdays. I-Pin was still training for the remaining three months of the school year, but she would be back sometime during Spring Break. Lambo couldn't wait to see her again, as infuriating her attitude might be sometimes.

"Ara, Fuuta-kun? I think he said he was going to meet up with his friends for most of his free time, because he has exams soon so he'll be studying. Let's support him to the best we can okay?" Nana said as she looked at Lambo with kind eyes and her hands balled into a determined fist. Lambo laughed. "I understand mama!" he said. Though sad as it was, Lambo did understand. Tsuna and his friends had been through the same thing for their high school exams and though Lambo figured that middle school exams weren't as hard, exams were energy draining and nerve wrecking all the same. It was something that could even make the ever patient and kind Tsuna snap every now and then.

Lambo might be annoying at times but he completely understood when his Family needed space. Like really needed space. It had happened too often that he had said something upsetting to his Famiglia back in Italy and got yelled at. It took him some years to understand the difference between needing 'space' and really needing space. Lambo got past the stage of being an annoying little dwarf when his Family needed space. He rarely ever acted the part of giving them 'space' though. They never got angry at him, irritated yes, but never angry to the point of blowing their tops…Gokudera was a different story. He always blew his top.

"I'm going to school, mama!" Lambo said as he was standing at the front door. "Be careful and good luck, Lambo-kun!" Nana yelled from the kitchen. Lambo sighed as he walked down the familiar road towards his elementary school. The closer he got the school the more children appeared on the roads. Looking at a group of people in front of him, Lambo felt something in his heart he wasn't quite sure he understood. They all greeted each other. Now don't take him wrong, Lambo isn't friendless when I-Pin isn't there, he just has a harder time taking the first step to be social with his classmates. Though it seemed as if they didn't bother to take the initiative either.

Lambo stared out the window as classes continued on as normal. The day somehow seemed longer than usual. After fifth period ended Lambo realized for the first time in his life that this was what being lonely was. The sudden realization of I-Pin's absence as well as how Fuuta chose studying with friends rather than at home, made tears well up in his eyes. "Sawada, I asked you something," a voice called.

Lambo got out of his thoughts and realized the entire class was looking at him as they waited for an answer. Lambo blushed and although the girls slightly gushed the boys merely rolled their eyes. The teacher raised an eyebrow as he waited for Lambo. Lambo mentally shook his head and looked at the question before answering it correctly. The teacher shook his head, but with a smile, and continued on with the lesson. The moment the attention was off of him he looked out the window again. Although he got distracted, the pain in his heart hadn't left yet. The smiling faces of his Family appeared and a small smile appeared on his face as well. He looked at the blackboard and decided that it was better to pay attention and get good, well average, grades so as to at least not worry Nana; she already worried enough about the family members that would no longer return home regularly.

The three months went by without any hindrances and before long it was Spring Break. Fuuta had graduated elementary school and would start middle school in three weeks. Tsuna and the rest had Skyped and congratulated him but apologized for not being able to come to the opening ceremony either. They would however come back for the summer. Tsuna had said he absolutely refused to stay in Italy during the summers. The first time would be the last time in a long time. Lambo was happy as he had something to look forward to. Fuuta was home, I-Pin would be home in a couple of days and start the new school term with him and in summer hos brothers and sister would return as well. His life couldn't get better.

Until it got worse. Lambo felt like he was stuck in an endless loop, one he saw no escape from. Summer had been absolutely amazing. They had gone an overnight trip at the beach with the whole Family, until Reborn decided that enough was enough and Tsuna and his friends really needed to go back to Italy to finish the extra work they had been given. Lambo remembered gluing himself to Tsuna and not letting go as he fell asleep. It seemed that even Reborn had a hard time getting Lambo to let go of Tsuna. The only thing that Lambo remembered the next morning was Tsuna's worried glance his direction before he fell asleep again.

Not even two months later Lambo had to say goodbye to I-Pin once again and although Fuuta came home with friends more often than not, Lambo felt lonelier than he had in years. Christmas was spent mostly Skyping with the Family as most were overseas. Fuuta had invited his two best friends over for Christmas and Nana had been absolutely ecstatic to cook for more than three people. He had had fun that night, but Sakamoto and Kano were Fuuta's friends not his. They treated him more like a pet than a human being. He was used to it though, most older girls treated him the same way. For some reason when he told Sakamoto and Kano this the two boys fell to the floor and started crying as they banged their heads against the floor. Fuuta had merely laughed and told Lambo that the two were rejected by their crushes. Lambo left it as it was. Middle school students were weird. He really hoped that by the time he went to middle school he wouldn't be like these two weirdos.

After the New Year Lambo realized one thing, something he ought to have realized years ago: he absolutely hates being alone. The loneliness was sometimes unbearable and most nights Lambo would cry himself to sleep. He was only nine for crying out loud! How did Tsuna deal with being alone so often? He didn't want to tell Nana, not because he feared that she would wave his worries away, but because he didn't want to trouble the kind woman. More often than not Lambo would walk past Nana's bedroom and hear sniffles. When he would make a noise the sniffles would stop and after a while Lambo would be able to hear sounds as if Nana was working instead of crying. He really didn't want to trouble Nana anymore than necessary. The only thing he could do to make sure she didn't feel too lonely was get good, again average, grades and come home with a smile on his face. Even if that smile wasn't as genuine as he had wanted it to be.

The Skype call came as a surprise, but not an unwelcome one. "Mama, Tsuna-nii is calling!" Lambo yelled as he ran down the stairs, his I-Pad in his hand. Nana was drying her hands after she had cleaned up the dishes. "Oh? Let's go to the living room shall we?" she said as she walked towards the couch. Lambo pressed the 'take' button and Tsuna's face came into vision. "Hi Mom, Lambo. How are you?" he asked with a smile on his face. From the background Lambo could see that Tsuna was in his bedroom, not his office. Weird. He usually called from his office, where most of his Guardians would be.

"We're fine, we just had dinner. How is everything in Italy?" Nana asked with a smile. There was a small twitch in Tsuna's jaw, but Lambo caught it. Tsuna hesitated for a millisecond before answering. "Nothing out of the ordinary. It seems Dad wanted to talk to you as well mom, so he might call you some time in the evening. Apparently he hasn't confessed his love for you yet," he said dryly and Nana laughed. As Lambo looked at Nana he saw a slight blush on her cheeks. Lambo smiled, but as he looked at Tsuna he could see some sadness in Tsuna's eyes. He didn't speak up though.

Tsuna looked around before asking where Fuuta was. "Fuuta is out, playing with his friends," Lambo answered. "Oh, well, I guess that's fine, but tell him to be careful and home before dark okay?" Tsuna asked. "Yes, mom," Lambo said as he gave Tsuna a military salute as well as a roll of his eyes. Tsuna laughed and told them he loved them before he cut off the call. Nana hummed as she continued working in the kitchen. Lambo couldn't muster up any more energy and called it a day. "I'm going to sleep, see you tomorrow, mama," he said. "Sleep tight, Lambo-kun," Nana said as she continued humming. At least she was happy, although, Lambo deduced from the soft crying he heard from Nana's room, it seemed Iemitsu hadn't called. Lambo could only hope that Tsuna gave the idiot a lecture on it.

His birthday passed without any hassle. Nana got him a present and a card from Italy told him that they had sent over a package, but it would be delayed by a couple of days. He bitterly smiled as he looked at the unopened package on his bed. It seemed like they had mixed up the card and the package. That night a small picture frame with his Family as well as a necklace with nine beads were on his desk.

It was the end of the school year and Lambo had just heard that Reborn refused to let the others go back to Namimori. Mafia business had become dangerous and going back to Namimori meant endangering all the civilians there. Lambo had understood, but that didn't mean he liked it. But he was more worried about his brothers and sister. "Nothing happened right? No one got injured right?" he asked frantically. Reborn had given him an odd look, but answered that everyone was fine. Some people had a couple of scratches but everything was fine. Unfortunately for Lambo 'a few scratches' meant 'an arm nearly blown off' and unfortunately for Reborn, Lambo knew that.

His breaking point came on a cool summer night, two years after everyone had left for Italy. Nana hadn't said anything but she was just as sad that neither her son nor her husband would be coming for the summer. Fuuta was on a study camp and wouldn't be home for another two weeks, while I-Pin would continue her training for another four months longer than planned. She would be home for Christmas.

Lambo was aimlessly walking around Namimori when his feet led him to all the shops around the town that held so many memories. Memories that only made him feel lonelier and sadder than before. It was already late in the evening, but Nana hadn't called to ask him where he was. Meaning she was either on the phone with Iemitsu or she was in her room, crying. As bad as it made him feel, Lambo didn't care. His mind was flooded with memories of his Family smiling and laughing, as well as the scary times. The fights against the Varia and in the future. The huge fight against Enma's Family as well as the friendship that began from there. He remembered everything, but it felt as if it was not his life. He felt like a bystander with all the emotions and experience but without the capabilities to be a part of anything. The tears were already streaming down his face before he realized it. He felt the urge to scream rise from inside his chest and he ran. He ran until he tripped and ran some more. Finally he stopped in a part of a forest area he didn't remember and stood against a tree trying to catch his breath.

And he screamed. He screamed everything he felt and had bottled up. Never in, ten years, had he screamed so hard. He was sure some people living near the forest could hear him, maybe even beyond that. His throat hurt and his nose was stuffed but the tears didn't stop; and neither did Lambo. All the pent-up loneliness was screamed into the open air. There was not a single cloud and the stars seemed to shine with empathy as they blinked in and out of existence. Not that Lambo took notice of any of this. He merely wailed and wailed until he was all out of energy. And even after he had cried, wailed and screamed so much, the loneliness didn't disappear. If anything; Lambo felt even lonelier than before.

A/N Do you hate me for this? 'cause I would understand it, I hate myself as well. I can't really write stuff like this. But I do hope that the message got across that Lambo felt lonely. If there is anything amiss about this, just tell me, because I need the constructive criticism (I think that's the word?). Any grammar mistakes I made will also be fixed if you find any. If you have any suggestions for other side stories I could fit in here, please let me know and I'll consider them. Please tell me if you liked it and I hope to see you soon again.

(btw, is it bad I like this side story more than the actual chapter?)