slowly opened her eyes to a strange ceiling
, for what was a blissful minute, was blank, not thinking about anything, not remembering. Then everything came rushing back to her.
groaned and looked down on her torso, neatly bandaged with quite a lot of gauze. She was still a bit worn out, despite the long sleep.
wondered where Dr. Shamal was. And - Oh! Takeshi! Where was he? Chrome hoped he was okay.
Chrome
was
now thinking how to explain to Squalo. He probably knows what happened by now. Moreso, what to tell Kaoko...
Yamamoto
is
puttering around in Shamal's apartment, cooking up a meal for Chrome, setting things in order.
promised to hold the fort while the doctor went out on "business". Someone needs to watch over Chrome, after all. 
eventually comes around to check on the girl, bearing a tray of food. :0
Chrome
was
expecting Shamal to go through the door, but was very glad to see Yamamoto too. "Takeshi-san!"
Yamamoto
says
"Oh, you're up!" the boy immediately walks over with a bright smile. "How are you feeling?"
tries to lift herself up to sit, winces in pain, and flops back. Still painful, but not like last night..
Chrome
says
Like cheese that has too many holes on it >_<
Yamamoto
says
Take it easy.
sets up the tray and helps Chrome sit up, cushioning her with pillows. "There. Can you manage?" o_o
wriggles gingerly, settling herself against Shamal's surprisingly fluffy pillows ^^ "Umn" she nods, and sees the tray of food.
Chrome
asks
... you made all that, Takeshi-san?
Yamamoto
says
Yep! Dr. Shamal says that you need to eat in order to gain back your strength. Cooking's one of the few things I do right, so... 
blinked at the large amount of sushi arrayed on the plates on the tray. "... mm, I remember. You have a sushi shop. Wow..."
Yamamoto
says
Yep~ when you're better, we'll have a proper meal there, yeah? 
Chrome
says
"They all look delicious. I don't think I can eat them all..." She looks at him gratefully "Thank you, Takeshi-san. I'd like that..."
only smiles and pulls up a chair at the bedside. "Let me know if you need help~ I'll be right here."
Chrome
is
feeling a bit embarrassed that Yamamoto was going to watch her eat. But she shrugs and decides to dig in anywa. She was pretty hungry.
Chrome
says
Itadakimasu ^^
stares at the food for a bit, before starting trying to lift her right hand to hover it over the tray. Good, not too painful to hold that up
gingerly takes a piece of tamago sushi and takes a bite.
's eyes widen. That was possibly the most delicious thing she has ever tasted in a very long time. Far more better than kombini sushi.
finishes the rest of the tamago sushi in two bites and reaches for the shrimp.
Yamamoto
feels
happy and a little proud when he notices that Chrome seems to be enjoying the food.
Chrome
says
... really, really delicious. ^^
now wanted to know what happened last night after she was sedated by Shamal. She looked at Yamamoto's smiling face while she munched.
Chrome
asks
Yamamoto, after she's swallowed the last piece of rice, about the men that trailed them last night...
Yamamoto
says
Ah... I think they gave up for the moment. I didn't end up having to fight anyone.
Chrome
says
"I see...", biting her lip nervously. And she almost led them to the others. Now Shamal and Takeshi will be targeted.
Kaoko Hibari
has
pulled her car up to Shamal's place, with Mukuro and Tsuna's future self in her company.
Kaoko Hibari
gives
Tsuna the keys to Shamal's apartment (Shamal had given her a set before). She lingers behind them on the way up.
blinked when Kaoko gave him the keys to Shamal's apartment, and would have asked why she isn't leading the way.
shrugged and set off instead, and made his way over to the doctor's doorstep.
used the keys to unlock the door and carefully - but not silently pushed it open.
would rather not get mistaken for a burglar. Or a rival hitman or something similar.
perks up at the sound of the door opening. It was probably Shamal returning. He heads over to see who it is. :0
Yamamoto
says
Oh, Tsuna-- eh. o_o
Yamamoto
feels
that the man he's looking at is not quite Tsuna. o_o;
Tsuna
is
... enjoying this more than he should, seeing people's reactions to his appearance in this time period. <s>8D</s>
hears the door open and Takeshi say the boss' name outside. "The b-boss? Here?" she thought, almost crumpling against the pillows more ~_~
Yamamoto
says
...Wow. I guess you and your younger self switched somehow. You're looking good, boss.
went in after Tsuna and started poking around, looking for Chrome.
Tsuna
says
You too.
smiles, and nods his greeting to Kaoko. "Chrome is in Shamal-san's room, if you guys want to see her."
Yamamoto
says
I'll go and make you all some food~
followed after Mukuro. He still wants to grill the boy about that feeling he got earlier when he asked who attacked Chrome.
Kaoko Hibari
will
stay in the living room for the moment, to give Tsuna and Mukuro their time with the girl.
peeked into another room and found Chrome propped up on the bed.
knocked on the door before entering, walking over to the bed.
Chrome
was
setting the tray aside when she heard the knock and looked up to see him walking towards her. "M-mukuro-sama!" she exclaimed in surprise
decides to hover by the door and give Mukuro time to talk with Chrome, in case they needed privacy.
reached out with both hands to grab at him, in case he was only another illusion that he - or she - conjured up to comfort her.
felt embarrassed, ashamed, tearful, regretful that he was seeing her this way, but he was *here*, and that was all that mattered now.
could feel the rage growing inside him when he noticed how badly hurt Chrome was,
--but he put on a soft smile and sat on the edge of the bed, taking both of the girl's hands in his.
Mukuro
asks
"...How are you feeling?"
grips at his hands with all the strength she could. "... better, now that you're here, Mukuro-sama." she says, smiling and starting to -
tear up at the same time.
nodded . "That's good to hear. *pauses* ...Who did this to you, Chrome?"
Tsuna
is
listening and watching Mukuro veeery closely. 
hoped that he didn't have to ask that question, at least this early. Chrome cast her eyes downward, her insides burning with shame.
Chrome
says
... targets. Targets that I failed to kill.
Chrome
says
"for the Varia..." she trails off...
let go of one of Chrome's hands and reached over to pat the girl's head. "It doesn't matter if you failed to kill them."
looks at Mukuro questioningly, not exactly understanding what he means by that.
sighed. He knew exactly what Mukuro was thinking--well, had his suspicions, but they've just been confirmed.
gave Chrome another smile. "Could you give me the data on the targets?"
tells him what she knew about the twin assassins, location of their hideout, their men, their guns... her eyes widen as she got what Mukuro-
Chrome
was
planning to do. "Mukuro-sama..."
also did hear someone sigh by the doorway, turning to see and receiving yet another surprise as she sees... an older Tsuna 0.o
"B-boss?" she stammers.
Mukuro
says
, without turning to look at Tsuna, "...Don't stop me, Tsunayoshi."
pushed off from the doorway and padded over to join the two, and then gave Mukuro his most level look yet.
let some of the annoyance he was feeling seep into his voice. Better if it's coming out a bit more frigid than he'd expected.
Tsuna
says
I wasn't planning to. But don't you run off while I'm talking to her. I need to send you off properly.
turned to Chrome and smiled at her warmly and reassuringly. "Don't worry. I'll make sure that he comes back safely."
paused and explained, "Err. I got hit by a Bovino bazooka. My younger self's in the future now, probably getting molested by his-"
paused again and jerked a thumb at Mukuro-- "older self. Come to think of it, I do remember crying over how much of a jerk he was..."
Tsuna
says
... Ah.
leaned down and gave the younger Chrome a mirror of one of her customary kisses. "Buon giorno."
's heart beat a bit faster when the older!boss smiled at her, so she blushed furiously when he leaned down to give her a kiss on the cheek
Chrome
says
"B-buon guorno, boss" in reply. Like Kyouya, the older Tsuna seemed vastly different from his younger self. He seemed more... confident now.
thought. More self-assured. "I... I'm sorry. I should've prepared myself more... I..."
let go of her grip on Mukuro and curled her fists on her lap, feeling doubly ashamed of explaining her failure in front of the boss...
shook his head. "I think you know that my younger self will be very distressed when he finds out what you've been doing alone."
Tsuna
says
He wouldn't want you putting yourself in danger. *I* didn't like what you did. .-. Err. What you're doing right now.
Tsuna
says
But I understand *why* you're doing this, and I don't think you did anything wrong, so...
sat on the side of the bed and took the girl's hands in his. "Don't be too hard on yourself. You're still young. You'll get stronger soon."
Tsuna
says
... Going after multiple targets one after another might be overkill, though. ._.
Tsuna
says
I mean, you should at least have someone with you as backup...
stopped and scowled.
Tsuna
says
... I am going to kick Squalo's ass when I get back to the future for making you go through all this without proper backup.
filters all that he said in, the feeling inside her lifting slowly. "I... I understand. Th-thank you boss..."
Chrome
was
looking at Tsuna's hands holding hers. Bigger, strong and solid against her small and spindly ones...
looks up to look at Tsuna, who was now seated on the bed, for a closer look at his ten years older self. Which left her blushing again.
thought he definitely looked more confident and self-assured. Handsome too :3
Chrome
says
Y-you look g-good, boss...
Chrome
asks
H-how are things in the future?
smiled when he saw that the girl had stopped looking like she might start bawling at her perceived failure.
Tsuna
says
Business as usual~
Chrome
asks
"Oh. A-and the others?" she was deathly curious about the others in the future. Wanting to ask about two - well, three persons in particular
Tsuna
says
... Making my life difficult, as usual. |3
Chrome
says
Oh. >_<;;; I-I hope not very difficult, boss...
Chrome
asks
How... how is Mukuro-sama?
Tsuna
says
Doing very well. He just went for hot oil therapy for his ponytail the other day. |3
blinks at that, the thought of Mukuro on a salon chair... sent her giggling. "Ouch..." she muttered, not too much giggling then...
Chrome
asks
, softly, as if willing only the two of them can hear the next question "... Kyouya-san?"
Tsuna
says
Mm. He's good, too. He's been busy lately. I caught him and Kusakabe talking about starting some kind of husbandry project the other day.
Tsuna
says
...I think they're thinking of making a fleet of Hibirds for the family. ._.
also blinks at that, wondering what they were going to do with a whole... fleet of Hibirds 0.o
Chrome
asks
... and me? How am I in the future, boss?
considers telling the girl that Fuuta's been placing her in the top five in his listing of hottest lady hitmen for four years running now,
--but doesn't because a more appropriate answer is needed in this situation.
smiled. "You grow up to be a powerful woman. Strong-willed and independent, and a very capable Guardian."
Tsuna
says
*in a stage whisper* And you're probably my sanest Guardian, to tell you the truth. Don't tell the others.
could not quite see herself turning into who she *will* be, as the boss described her, but... it must be true, he said it, he was there...
smiles back at him. "... I can't wait to turn into her then, boss. And... it's a secret."
smiled again, and then reached out, using his fingertips to tuck the girl's hair behind her right ear.
Tsuna
says
*sadly* I'm sorry I wasn't there to help when you needed it.
shakes her head. "Please, don't be. I didn't tell you and the others. I wanted to be stronger... by myself. For everyone, so I could help."
Mukuro
has
started poking around the room while Tsuna and Chrome were talking, opening random cabinets and flipping through various documents.
...discretely slipped a couple of vials of heparin into his pocket when he got to the medicine cupboard.
would really like to go after those targets right now, but he's sticking around for a while since Tsuna asked him to.
Mukuro
has
already thought of a way to deal with them.
chuckled darkly to himself. ...Oh yes, how amusing it would be to watch them writhe as they slowly bled to death...
Chrome
is
dimly registering Mukuro busying himself around the room. She might've detected the small, odd chuckle from him, but is saying nothing.
Tsuna
is
also quite aware that Mukuro's been rummaging around. He wonders if he should point out that the boy is leaking killing intent.
Tsuna
says
Well... I don't know if anyone's told you this before, but... thank you. For fighting.
steels herself, leans forward from the pillows and puts her arms around The Tenth in a hug. "... for you boss, I always will."
murmured against his shoulder.
Tsuna
is
surprised at the gesture, but doesn't hesitate to respond by hugging back, being careful to avoid any visible wounds.
Tsuna
says
... You'll be all right. But don't push yourself too hard. You can always ask the others for help.
pulls back and leans against the pillows once more. "... I'll remember that now."
Tsuna
says
Good girl. *pause* ... I'll just go see what Mukuro's up to, okay?
*pause* ... I'll just go see what Mukuro's up to, okay?
Chrome
says
"Umn."
gave Chrome one last pat on the head, got off the bed, and went off to check what his other Mist guardian was doing.