(no subject)

[andsuddenlydynamite]

When Hayato found himself back in his world, alone, he naturally had written off what happened at the manor as a dream... but at the same time... he couldn’t help but feel the pangs of heartbreak. He felt stupid for falling for something that had to have been a dream.... but the idea of having someone that loved him for just being him... it... it was too good to be true... but didn’t matter now. He had to push his feelings aside. His future self had failed the Tenth, now he was in the future with his boss to try to prevent this from happening. But it wasn’t easy, the Vongola were being hunted for their Vongola rings by the Millefiore family. While he didn't want to admit it... he was scared. He had already failed the Tenth once, he was in this strange foreign world where there was a price on his head, and to top it all off he had lost the boy who loved him.... naturally his mood had taken a SPECIAL turn south. He had already lashed out on Yamamoto a few times. Now him and the baseball idiot were screwed into an all knew lifetime because he lost his temper. One of the Millefiore generals had engaged them in a fight, Yamamoto was down, and now Hayato was being toyed with by Gamma. The man had him pinned on the ground, stepping on his hand until their was a sickening crack. Hayato screamed in agony but refused to say a word... he would gladly die for his boss’s sake. This was all his fault to begin with. If he hadn’t acted out... if his future self hadn’t failed his boss....

Comments

[deeplymeaningless]

At first Ryuutaro had no idea where he was and that was naturally concerning. Though he was getting used to it. Waking up in foreign places was kind of in the manual for living at the Manor. Ryuutaro wondered what kind of horrifying things that field trip would have in store for them.
But none of these thoughts could’ve possibly prepared him for the sight he walked in on.
The fortune-teller froze in movement just staring at the bloody thing that was his boyfriend.
What did happen here? Why did it happen? Why hadn’t he known a thing of it? And what could he even do to stop it?
After a moment that seemingly lasted forever Ryuutaro’s heartbeat started again, now racing in his chest.
What kind of place was this? What was this man doing?
Makehimstopmakehimstop!
It hurt so much to see Hayato like this, to not even know what was going on...
Ryuutaro just couldn’t move and he hated himself for it. He needed to do something. Instead of just standing here, staring, silently panicking.
He knew that this was nothing he could deal with, but if he could at least get his hand to move... launch Pisces... maybe it would do for distraction... Maybe...

[andsuddenlydynamite]

Luckily for Ryuutaro, the other boy next to Gokudera, who seemed in just as rough shape, got to his knees to stave off what would be a deathblow on Gokudera. The blonde man standing before him easily holds off the boy’s wooden sword with his weapon. He looks cooly down on the boy.

“I only need one person to torture. I have no use for you.”

And the two fox-like creatures on either side of the man begin to spark, Gokudera looks on in horror. He let out a weak “st... op...” but obviously it did nothing to prevent the man from having his fox-like weapons send volts of his electric-like thunder flames into the boy with the sword. The boy instantly fell, his wooden sword falling to the ground next to him. Gamma walked over to Hayato, and lifted him into the hair, holding him aloft by the neck. The teen was powerless to even try to struggle against his assailant. Blood dripped from his face, hand and arm, and from various injured on his torso, staining his clothes and mixing with his silver hair.

“If you still refuse to tell... I’m afraid to be no turning back.”

Hayato mumbled something inaudible in response, unable to speak properly due to the grip on his neck. When questioned about it, he conveys his rebellion by spitting in the other man’s face, blood mixed with his saliva. Hayato would rather die then betray his boss. He assumed Yamamoto was either dead, or beyond the point of saving. If only he hadn’t thrown such a fit... then maybe he and Yamamoto wouldn’t BE in this state. But he wouldn’t screw this up. He would die silent.

The blond man was silent for a moment, glaring at the insolent boy in front of him.

“... … So that’s how it is.”

He throws Hayato, using his pool-stick of a weapon to strike Hayato across the chest aggravating the injuries he already has, and slamming him to the ground. Hayato no longer had the strength to let out more then a gargled choking noise. His eyes rolled back into his head. Not much was going through the boy’s head after he hit the ground. He was in so much pain, and was losing so much blood, his mind just couldn’t think straight. His whole boy ached, not just the cuts and slashes, but he felt like his very insides were burning. His breaths were strained and labored, as it was painful to breath, between the broken ribs, electrocution, and the injury to his throat... and it just took so much energy. Then there was the smell. That tell-tale metallic smell, like coins, that smell of death. Only it wasn’t a body this time. It was him.

“Then you’ll just have to die here. I don’t intend to let you two fall into the hands of our white counterparts.” The foxes once again spark to life, “The rain guardian is easily dispatched too. So long.”

(and if there was ever a time to step in to rescue your boyfriend Ryuutaro...)

[deeplymeaningless]

'No turning back'... 'die here'.
No. Nonononononononono, this wasn't happening, this wasn't happening, this wasn't--

Ryuutaro mentally slapped himself at this point. How could he be so stupid? How could he just stand here when everything was at risk? How could he get lost in fear? How could he be so overly foolish?
This was happening.
It was.

And that was why he had to do anything he could to make it stop. He wouldn't turn to stone now. Not now.
That stranger hadn't seen him until now. And nobody in this world knew about beys. Pisces didn't even need to be in sight to affect him.
Thankfully he had perfected the Blazing Inferno by now. Even though he hated it. Even though it was unfair and disgraceful to any beybattle.
But this wasn't a game. Far from it.

Ryuutaro launched silently. No 'Go shoot' would ever be appropriate for something like this. He had to concentrate hard to keep his hands from shaking. No mistakes now.
He knew he couldn't win this. He was no fighter. And this man had brought Hayato in such a state.
But he'd try anyway.

Ryuutaro launched Pisces in front of him and immediately turned everything around himself including the place where the man, Hayato and the other boy were into his private space.
Distortion Drive.

And now... Blazing Inferno. Shouting out loud would've felt good, but the surprise was his only chance here. Ryuutaro mentally told Pisces to just affect the man. Only him.
He sent it hypnosis onto him at full force. He should feel like he was burning to ashes now, complete with illusions of flames.

.... Good look come my way Ryuutaro begged fate in his thought Please let him be affected by this.

[andsuddenlydynamite]

"Hm?"

The man pauses to look around. There was an illusionist here? Could this possibly be the Vongola illusionist? No... the illusions were too weak. This must be something his intelligence wasn't aware of... While the attack doesn't seem to be bothering the blonde man that much, it has caused him to pause in his attack on the two boys.

"Who's there? Show yourself-" He points his weapon at the boys on the ground, "or I kill them both."

[deeplymeaningless]

Ryuutaro had already feared that something like this would happen. Reiji had been able to escape his illusions mostly as well.
And even though he'd trained so much... gotten so much stronger...
It wasn't yet enough.
He needed more strength. More. More. He knew he couldn't push Pisces to much higher power. Anybody from his world would break down, maybe even fall unconscious, at this level. But this wasn't his world.
And this person was way too strong.

....'kill them both'.
It was ringing in Ryuutaro's head. He didn't care about that stranger, the man could kill him, it wouldn't matter... but Hayato... Hayato... It wouldn't take much to end his life now.
Ryuutaro knew that once he stepped out, he'd probably get killed as well. Not even his self-confidence could make him believe he was getting out of here.
He needed to buy time. Time for... anything to happen. Anything to get them out of here.
But he couldn't risk staying hidden longer.
There was no guarantee the man would start by killing the boy he didn't know. He could as well start with Hayato. Ryuutaro couldn't let that happen.

The boy started to step out, into the illusion cosmos he'd created, deliberately leaving Pisces where it was. Maybe he could still use it. The man couldn't know where his attack came from. He just couldn't.
Adrenaline was running through his body and Ryuutaro somehow managed to keepo himself from trembling. There was no room for fear here. It'd just make him go into disadvantage even more.
Just that this was easier thought than done.

Not even Ryuutaro could've foreseen that one day he'd actually risk (and possibly lose) his life on behalf of someone else. It seemed to strange.

[andsuddenlydynamite]

The man didn't make a move to attack. He honestly looked a bit surprised. Like he had thought, this was not the Vongola mist guardian or his vessel. He wasn't anywhere in the information he had been given. Perhaps he could answer his questions.

"Well, well, can't say I've seen you anywhere in the reports. Looks like the Vongola managed to slip one past us. So, maybe you can tell me what these two failed to. Where is the Tenth Vongola?"

[deeplymeaningless]

He was... mistaking him for someone from the Vongola?
Ryuutaro wasn't sure whether this was good or bad.
And he was asking where that mysterious Tenth was. For a moment Ryuutaro wondered if maybe he could find him with his fortune-telling. The Tenth was supposed to be extremely strong after all... But Hayato... Hayato'd never forgive him.
But maybe he'd be alive. Maybe. Or be killed for being useless...
This was so difficult.
But Ryuutaro knew there thoughts were almost pointless. He didn't even know how the Tenth looked.... how was he supposed to find him like that? It was impossible.
"I'm afraid that it's impossible for me to tell you that."
Ryuutaro could more hear himself talking than actually actively talk. His voice sounded foreign to his own ears. But at least it didn't waver much.

[andsuddenlydynamite]

"Well then, lets see if it's easier to get you to talk then these two."

He raises his weapon, and the two foxes once again begin to spark, but at the last minute the blond man turns to his right, blocking an incoming attack with the foxes. There stands another man, dark haired, very Asian.

"I'll give you a hint about what you want to know. They came from the past."

The two men began to engage in combat, the dark haired man leading the fight away from the three boys, but not before casting a curious glance at Ryuutaro.

[deeplymeaningless]

Ryuutaro thought he was going to die from fear at the moment the man raised his weapon. He felt himself turn to stone again. Fear, fear, fear. How did he get into this? How would he get out of it?

The solution apparently appeared to be another man he didn't know. Ryuutaro had no idea where he came from and whether he was good or bad, but he appreciated the fact the he showed up.
Once the two man got away a bit, Ryuutaro felt that he could move again.
There was only one direction his feet would carry him now. It was more of uncoordinated stumbling, but he was dashing over to Hayato, totally disregarding the other injured boy.

Falling to his knees next to him, Ryuutaro looked him over. They needed to get away from here, but he didn't even know how he could touch him without hurting him further.
Hesitantly he brought up his hand, featherly brushing Hayato's cheek.
"Hayato...? C-can you hear me? ... if so... just... look at me, alright? Just..."
Ryuutaro trailed off, not knowing what more he could even say.

[andsuddenlydynamite]

... that voice... it could really be? He could feel his heart beating faster, his chest rises and falls a bit faster, and he forces himself to open his eyes. It's blurry at first, but after blinking a few times he can see him. Ryuutaro. His breaths became shaky and his eyes started to water. He was here... he wasn't alone. The corner of his mouth twitches as he tries to smile. He then opens his mouth slightly to try and talk, but he only manages to make whimpering noise before he starts coughing up blood.

[deeplymeaningless]

"Don't talk!", Ryuutaro quickly ordered, sounding a bit panicked. He had no idea what he could do now, other than hope. Hope, hope, hope.
He needed to think this through rationally, but it was so hard. Seeing Hayato like this made his chest hurt. He couldn't stand it. This shouldn't happen. It just shouldn't.
Ryuutaro held back the tears. There was no way he'd cry now. It'd only make him weaker.
Finally a coherent thought hit him. He couldn't carry Hayato away from here alone, couldn't treat his wounds, but...
"D-do you have any allies around here, who I could get? Don't talk, just blink two times for 'yes' and one time for 'no'."

[andsuddenlydynamite]

Hayato stares for a moment, taking a few moments to process what it was Ryuutaro was saying. Allies... allies... Yamamoto! The teen tries to look over to the other boy, attempting to turn his head to look at him. He found himself unable to do so. He looked up at Ryuutaro, his brows knit together. Hoping Ryuutaro would know if the other boy was dead or not... if Hayato's ineptitude had gotten the rain guardian killed.

He was scared. Scared for Yamamoto's life. Scared for his own. Scared that he would leave Ryuutaro alone in this world. The only thing the teen could do was to lean his head slightly into Ryuutaro's touch. He wanted to tell Ryuutaro he was scared.... to be close to his boyfriend.... but all he could do was just look up at him... frightened.

[deeplymeaningless]

For a little while Ryuutaro didn't understand what Hayato was trying to tell him, but with a bit of thinking the pieces finally found their way together.
"That man... h-he talked about killing you... you 'both'. So he's supposedly... in the same state as you."
Ryuutaro really didn't feel like going over to check. He didn't want to leave Hayato's side even for a second and that boy was just a stranger.

Ryuutaro took a deep breath, trying to keep his sanity. He let his finger gently pet Hayato's face some more, an attempt to calm them both down.
"We're going to get through this...", he whispered even though he had no idea if that was true, "It will be fine... It will be fine..."

[andsuddenlydynamite]

The little swell of pride in the moment is cut short by a sudden and obnoxiously loud-

"VOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOI! YOU LITTLE BASTARDS!!! ARE YOU STILL ALIVE?!"

-Squalo. Who successfully gave most of the room a heart attack (with the exception of Yamamoto who was used to it at this point). Lal sent a sharp glare that could make blood freeze to one of the new tag-alongs, Spanner. Her only order:

"Turn it down."

The order was followed. and Squalo continued.

"Listen up! At this time we, as the Vongola, are together in this! So as far as you little brats-" Then there's a crash and a "YOU ALLHOLE!" before another voice comes on the feed. Gokudera shudders a bit at the raspy tone and leans over to whisper to Ryuutaro who it was that was speaking. Since he knew he had explained Xanxus and the Varia before.

"Sawada Tsunayoshi. Have you become a little less immature yet? Show me in ten days time that the Vongola will be the strongest."

And then the feeds cuts leaving the room in dead silence for a moment... before Yamamoto chuckles and plays 'Captain Obvious'.

"They cut it off..."

Gokudera snapped from his initial daze, to grump at Yamamoto, "Tch, no shit. That damn bastard always just says whatever the hell he wants!"

And then Reborn pipes up with the final say, "Well at least this time he's on our side..."

[deeplymeaningless]

While Ryuutaro naturally twitched heavily at Squalo's loud voice he seemed considerably not startled at the Varia. Something about the way they talked right now just seemed completely familiar to him. Maybe he'd really spent too much time in the Dark Nebula back then...
Looking back it seemed like an almost okay place to stay at, before Battle Bladers at least.

When the conversation ended, he was silent for a moment, just breathing in and out.

"... so what are we doing now?"
He was rather exhausted by now.

[andsuddenlydynamite]

"There are some things we still need to square away, just give us a few more moments."

Gokudera held Ryuutaro a little closer, he did look tired, so while the rest of the Vongola was discussing what happened to Mukuro, or letting Souichi and Spanner into the family, Gokudera leaned down to his boyfriend to make sure he was okay.

"Y'know, if you're tired you can nap, I'll carry you once we get moving." Sure, he was exhausted, achy and sore from the fight with Gamma, but he still had no trouble giving Ryuutaro the offer.

[deeplymeaningless]

Ryuutaro stared at Hayato and for a moment he was really glad he didn't blush very easily.

"I may be tired, but not that tired. I'm not going to pass out like this, you know?"
What did Hayato even think? He wasn't... he wouldn't...
As cute as the offer might've been, now Ryuutaro definitely wouldn't sleep, reacting like kids would usually react.
This went deeper though, to thoughts of keeping up, but for a moment he just seemed to be childishly offended.

[andsuddenlydynamite]

The teen nodded with a smile and gave Ryuutaro a peck on the cheek, "Alright."

The conversation with the rest of the Vongola soon wrapped up and they were ready to head back to the base. Finally they could go out in broad daylight without the fear of being attacked. With a grunt Hayato pushed himself up, staggering a bit before he was able to get himself to move forward.

The group trudged through the halls, those that fought weary and battle worn, but eventually they made it outside for a breath of fresh air they hadn't been able to enjoy for a what felt like years. A silence hung over then at they walked onto the bustling streets of Namimori.

Hayato looked around the area, a sense of calm washing over him, there may be a tough battle approaching... but for now... this familiarity... the home he had grown attached to... while ten years in the future, was still comforting.

[deeplymeaningless]

The sky. Ryuutaro instantly felt so much better. He looked up and took a deep breath.
So this was it... more like it at least. This was the world he'd spend the next time in, albeit it's future. No... not the next time. The rest of his life, if the Author didn't take them back again.
Ryuutaro swallowed. That was a long time... or at least it supposedly would be... if they survived the next weeks. But they would, he was sure of that. Hayato promised. He'd seen his future self.
There was no way they wouldn't actually live to see that age. There was just no way someone would take that from them.

Ryuutaro looked around the streets. It didn't seem so different from his world, not at first sight, but he knew it was. The other worlds never looked so different at first.
He looked over at the group in silence and his look came to rest on Hayato finally.

[andsuddenlydynamite]

Hayato felt the glance on him and turned to look at his boyfriend. He smiled softly and reached for his hand. He couldn't wait to show Ryuutaro around Namimori... however, that would have to wait until after a good long well-deserved sleep.

Though a shout from straight ahead of them, made the silverette turn his attention ahead of him again. Before them stood the Kyoko, Haru, Bianchi, and Fuuta, waving and rushing towards the group of weary soldiers. Lambo and Ipin rushed to the girls, Ryohei rushed to his sister, who while startled at his younger again, was overjoyed. Haru fawned over Tsuna and fretted over the rest of the boys, and Chrome got a great big Bianchi-hug, though of course she looked over to Hayato (with goggles on thankfully) just to make sure her brother was okay.

The moment seemed lighter as there was laughter and chatter. Hayato, however, didn't rush to the crowd. It was a relief to see them okay, but the had been able to see his reason for fighting already. The light feeling of getting to see the one dear to you after fighting for your life... He got to wake up after the fight with his lover at his side. Unfortunately, Ryuutaro had to suffer because of that. But it had meant so much, even thinking about it now made his heart swell.

He returns his focus on Ryuutaro with a smile on his face, and moves a hand to the back of his boyfriend's head to pull him in for a kiss on the forehead.

"Thank you."

[deeplymeaningless]

Ryuutaro didn't really know what Hayato was thanking him for, but he decided it was not important to know right now. The words alone did mean something to him already, why would he bother to try and cut them to pieces just to understand?

He smiled. "Anything for you."
It was just a figure of speech, but Ryuutaro knew that like things were now it was almost shockingly true. Right now he didn't feel up to think about any of this though, the thought vanished almost as soon as it appeared.
He was just so glad to be outside again, together with Hayato. At least now he could feel a lot more optimistic about everything again.

[andsuddenlydynamite]

And finally they made their way back to the base... except Hibari who just seemed to have vanished from the group. Everyone went their separate ways to go and get a much-needed rest. Gokudera ended up in the parlor were he and Ryuutaro usually slept... after he blew up the library anyway. Gokudera didn't last long though, his first reaction was to just flop face down on the couch so glad to be off his feet...

However he didn't think that the second he hit the couch he would just fall asleep.

So there he is, fully clothed, Systema C.A.I. still strapped to his belt, shoes still on... completely passed out on the couch. Should be more painful like that considering the heaviest blows from Gamma were on his chest. But there is no pain now... only delightful couch thing.

[deeplymeaningless]

Ryuutaro had to look at the scene for a moment. That was some spectacular exhaustion there. For a little while he just stood there watching Hayato breath slowly. And then suddenly he had to chuckle a bit.
Paying no mind to his own exhaustion he went over to Hayato. He probably couldn't leave him like this. It looked highly uncomfortable.
... so would it be to have people see him kind of undress a sleeping Hayato, but on other levels. Well, he could at least try and turn him.
Sleeping people were always heavier than expected, but his quest was successful and Ryuutaro grabbed a small blanket lying around to cover Hayato with it. Not perfect, but good enough. It was his own fault for falling asleep like this.

Guiding Ryuutaro to the next problem: He couldn't really climb halfway on top of Hayato with him injured like that. With a sigh the fortune-teller sat down on the ground in front of the couch, leaning his head partly against Hayato's arm. He'd find a solution after a moment of rest...

... or maybe not actually. A few minutes later he was sleeping in his sitting position anyway.

[andsuddenlydynamite]

After about a full 24 hours of sleeping, Gokudera finally woke up- stiff and sore from the fight... and sleeping fully clothed. He grunted and groaned finally sat up on the couch.

Hng... he needed... to do things. Food... shower... make sure organs still worked. Sort of just wanted to go back to sleep though... still tired... well not tired... but groggy. Headache from sleeping so long...

Mmmm... boyfriend. Where was boyfriend? Boyfriend so much better at morning things than him...

...was it even still morning? Uguuh he had no idea...

[deeplymeaningless]

Said boyfriend had really tried to wait for Hayato to wake up. But even with sleeping a lot longer than usually, that had not been manageable. At some point Ryuutaro had given up and gone to get breakfast (and actually socialize with the girls for a moment, amazingly enough) and move his body so that it would stop constantly reminding him that he'd been sleeping while sitting.

Luckily enough he returned to the parlor only a few minutes after Hayato had woken up, immediately smiling as he saw his boyfriend in a state that you could possibly call something close to awake.

"Ah, Hayato, welcome back in the world of consciousness."
Ryuutaro stepped over to kiss his forehead lightly.