Disclaimer: Katekyoushi Hitman Reborn! belongs to Amano Akira-sensei. The author does not, in any means, gain any profit from writing the story and is only doing this for the sole purpose of entertainment.
Summary: AU. They were chosen and trained by the world's strongest. The day they finally receive their mentors' proof, they were attacked and their mentors disappeared. To rescue his mentors and siblings, Tsuna had to join the Vongola Famiglia. Despite his deep hatred towards the said family.
Warnings: unbeta-ed, OOC-ness, time shiftings et al.
THE STRONGEST APPRENTICES
Chapter 1: Memories
"Ah! Reborn. Welcome Back!"
A shuffling noise and a 5-year-old brown-haired little boy appeared staring giddily at the man who had just entered the mansion. The man wore an expensive looking black suit and a fedora with an orange lining. He had black hair with swirly side-curls and a face wearing a very serious expression. A pet chameleon nestled on his shoulder.
His eyes, which looked cold and calculating, softened after seeing the boy who was gazing at him expectantly. He sighed and lowered himself into a kneeling position in front of the kid. The boy giggled when the man patted the little brunet.
Reborn greeted his precious student.
"Chaos Tsuna. I'm back."
Reborn was sipping his favorite blend of coffee when he noticed the brunet giving him awkward glances. He was very much amused of his actions and waited for what he wanted to ask him. When he saw the hesitation in Tsuna's eyes, Reborn decided to coax the questions out of the boy.
"Speak Tsuna. How else can I answer your questions if you don't ask me directly."
Tsuna would have shrieked his usual HIEEE! but he stopped himself when he felt the man's icy glare on him. Reborn despised his girly habit when panicking and punished him for it when he was younger. After remembering the punishments, Tsuna gulped and quickly organized his thoughts. Reborn wasn't really fond of waiting.
"Reborn. I am your student right?"
Reborn placed his cup of steaming espresso on the table and raised his eyebrows. "Of course, Tsuna. Why are you asking such a stupid question?"
Instead of being insulted, Tsuna looked at his mentor sadly. "But you don't truly consider me as one, do you? You have been training me for 5 years now but you still haven't given me the proof that I'm your apprentice. You've been telling me that one day I would receive it and honestly, something in me says that I should already have. And yet you ā " Tsuna didn't continue when he saw Reborn face become serious.
After hearing Tsuna's worries, Reborn felt slight guilt in his heart but being the world's greatest hitman, of course, didn't show it. Looks like the time has come, he mused. So much for Vongola blood, huh?
With resolve, he faced his precious student and explained the qualities needed for I Prescelti Sette's apprentice and the terms of being one. He also told the reason why the hitman couldn't give his most precious student his proof even if he wanted to from the moment he had saved the kid.
"Err ā Reborn? Where are we going?"
"We're going to meet the rest of I Prescelti Sette and your fellow apprentices."
Tsuna's eyes widened in excitement. "Ehh? Really? Then, I'm going to meet Luce-sama, Lal-neesama, Colonello-nii, Fon-jii, Verde-san, Viper-nee and Skull-kun again! I can't wait! The last time I saw them, I was only 5 years old."
Tsuna did a little happy dance which made Reborn smile a little. He interrupted his student's gleeful actions with his comments.
"You know, Lal would be furious when she hears that you consider her stupid student to be one of us, even if she likes you so much. And that would conradict the name, won't it? The world's strongest selective seven. With Colonello, we'll be eight." A smirk formed on Reborn's lips. "Hmm... maybe that would work, if we take out Skull."
"Reborn! Why are you being mean towards Skull-kun? He's really cool, you know? I will never forget those deadly stunts he showed me that time!" Tsuna pouted and gave his mentor a scolding look, which didn't look quite like it.
Honestly, this kid. Reborn sighed and listened as Tsuna clumsily re-enacted the tricks his lackey, Skull, showed him.
"... And Viper-nee made these illusions for free so that Skull-kun can do his best stunt."
"Viper-nee?", Reborn deadpanned. It was the first time he noticed how Tsuna called the materialistic illusionist. Does that mean Viper, who claims to be genderless, is actually female? With Tsuna's ability, it might actually be the truth.
Tsuna nodded and continued recalling his fun times with his most favorite people after Reborn. Then, Tsuna paused and remembered that they weren't only meeting his mentor's colleagues but also their apprentices, which meant. "I'm gonna meet my fellow apprentices! I'll do my best to befriend them Reborn!"
Reborn looked at straight at his student's eyes with a proud gleam in them. He nodded and shared his thoughts.
"You should gain their trusts. Since you will be Luce's apprentice, their leader in the future."
Tsuna stopped and gawked admiringly at the mansion they will be staying for an indefinite time. He turned to face Reborn who wasn't quite surprised of the place. He must have been there already, Tsuna thought. The brunet saw that Reborn had already left him and walked briskly to catch up to his mentor.
At the entrance of the mansion stood a woman dressed in white robes. She was smiling gently at approaching hitman and her soon-to-be apprentice when Tsuna saw her. He couldn't stop himself from running towards the woman. When he was right in front of her, he bowed politely first, remembering the gesture Reborn has told him to do whenever he was around I Prescelti Sette's Boss and grinned. He reached to her face and kissed the cheek where the woman's flower tattoo was drawn. In return, she kissed her soon-to-be apprentice's forehead.
"I've really missed you, Tsu-chan. Look at you, you're all grown up."
"Mou... Luce-sama, I told you to not call me that. I'm no longer 5 years old, you know."
"I know, I know. That's why I said you're all grown up. But Tsu-chan is still Tsu-chan, no matter what age you are."
Luce laughed when she saw the frown, which looked more like a pout, on Tsuna. When she looked at the brunet, it was as if he didn't change at all. But, as the Boss of the I Prescelti Sette, she knew more. She could feel that his soul was ready and she smiled a bit sadly that this time has already come.
The moment the proof were already on the children, their fates would also be sealed.
An awkward silence engulfed the dining room of Luce's mansion. The people in the room where silently observing each other, not knowing what to say or do. The adults were still in a meeting and had yet to come to the dining room. All the apprentices were there waiting for their respective mentors.
Tsuna couldn't take the silence anymore. He decided to speak and start his mission: befriending his fellow apprentices.
"Uhmm...", Tsuna fidgeted as the other kids directed their attention to him. "Hello. I'm Sawada Tsunayoshi, but you can call me Tsuna. Iā I hope we get along."
Tsuna waited for any response but when he saw the faces of the others, he was embarrassed and looked down to hide his humiliation. He was startled when he felt someone tap him on the shoulder and saw the grinning faces of a white-haired kid with a bandage on his nose and a black-haired teen with a wooden sword on his back.
"Oh! Could you be Master PaoPao's other student? Extreme! I'm Sasagawa Ryohei but you can call me Onii-san. I'm extremely glad to have a younger brother! I'll teach you Boxing!" Ryohei clasped both hands of the brunet and tugged him a little bit harshly. Tsuna wanted to refuse his new onii-san's request but was afraid that Ryohei would suddenly decide that he doesn't like Tsuna anymore after doing so. He was relieved when the black-haired kid stopped Onii-san from dragging Tsuna to a boxing ring.
"Senpai! Colonello-nii said we should stay here and wait for them. Captain Lal would be angry when she discovers that we planned to step outside that door." Both Ryohei and Tsuna cringed at imagining an angry Lal Mirch. Both knew what the Captain of the COMSUBIN can do whenever she was pissed off.
"Ah.. Tsuna, right? Are you okay?" Tsuna nodded. When he saw the smiling face of the black-haired boy, he felt calmed. The boy sheepishly scratched the back of his head and continued to talk to Tsuna.
"Haha... Sorry about Senpai, he's just very enthusiatic like that. I'm Yamamoto Takeshi, but you can call me Takeshi. Capt. Lal and Colonello-nii had mentioned us about you. So ā you were trained by Reborn-san but you're Luce-sama's apprentice, am I correct?"
Tsuna just nodded reluctantly, since it was just a week ago when he actually knew about the true details of the I Prescelti Sette.
Tsuna felt a sudden chill inside the room followed by a creepy laugh. Tsuna turned around to find its source and saw a pineapple-haired boy, who was still laughing, and girl already walking towards him. The pineapple-haired boy stopped in front of Tsuna, embraced him and placed his forehead against the brunet's.
"Kufufufu~ So, you are to be our leader? Then, I must check if you're worthy first~"
Tsuna's eyes widened when he saw familiar faces of a blonde man and brown-haired woman, several footsteps, gunshots, and fire. He couldn't believe he was seeing these again. He yelled to stop it but no voice came out of his lips.
The visions stopped and he looked up to see a smirking pineapple-haired boy. The pineapple-haired girl looked at him sadly. Tsuna didn't know what happened to him. He wiped his eyes and he realized that he was crying.
"Well~ You barely passed. But that doesn't mean I'm already accepting you. I'm Rokudo Mukuro and this is my sister, Chrome. We are the apprentices of the illusionist, Viper." With that, Mukuro unlatched himself from Tsuna and went back to his seat. Chrome, who had also witnessed what his brother had seen, wanted to somehow comfort the still dazed Tsuna. She timidly walked up to the brunet and reluctantly kissed him on the cheek. Then, she followed her brother who was amused at his sister's bold act.
"Che~ I won't accept someone as pathetic as him to be my Boss." a silver-haired kid stood up and glared at the brunet. Tsuna had somehow recovered from what he had seen after Chrome's action. Now, he could feel contempt coming from the silver-haired kid.
"Speak for yourself, Gokudera Hayato. A herbivore like you isn't even worthy of my uncle's apprenticeship. You're too weak to be trained by him." A raven-haired kid who was leaning on the wall spoke coldly. Tsuna was surprised that there was actually someone there.
"Mind your own business, Hibari Kyoya. If I am weak as you say, mind telling me why the fuck I was chosen by Fon-sensei instead of you." the silver-haired kid, Hayato, yelled at Kyoya.
"What are you implying herbivore?"
"Exactly what you think I am implying stupid skylark."
"I'll bite you to death."
"My bombs will take care of you."
Before a fight broke out between Kyoya and Hayato, the two heard someone speak to stop them. "The two of you, that's enough."
A man who looked quite like Kyoya stood beside Tsuna. The man wearing a chinese traditional clothing was eying Hayato and his nephew. Hayato, knowing the hidden message his mentor was giving through the stare, backed down and stuffed his dynamites back to who-knows-where he puts them. Kyoya also stilled and hid his tonfas inside his jacket.
"Kyoya! I told you to behave while you're here! Go to your seat." A purple-haired man wearing make-up and a biker's attire cried out. Skull fell silent when he saw his supposed apprentice glaring at him. Skull looked up at his apprentice's uncle and complained, "Fon, your nephew won't listen to me."
Fon sighed and looked again at his nephew. Kyoya stared back but relented after a while. He quietly proceeded to his seat which was farther away from the rest.
"You say you're his mentor and yet you can't control him." Reborn had finally entered the room and looked coldly at Skull. Skull was fuming at the remark but did not retort back. However, he was mumbling something about 'stingy and mean hitman' as he went to his seat. Reborn silently commanded Tsuna and the other kids to return to their seats. The other adults, except Luce, started to position themselves around the table.
Tsuna, who had been confused with all the commotion, felt relieved that the adults had appeared. When he saw the familiar faces of his most favorite people, he couldn't stop smiling. With his worries from his first interaction with the other apprentices washed out, the brunet went to his seat which was beside Luce and in front of Reborn.
Luce finally entered the dining room with maids in tow. She couldn't stop herself from laughing when she saw how unusually quiet her colleagues were.
"Uhmm.. Luce? Why are you laughing?" A blue-haired woman, Lal Mirch, asked her Boss.
"Ah no... It's just... You're acting like fine adults in front of your apprentices. It's really... weird."
The apprentices were bewildered at what Luce had said while the adults were murmuring about not being children anymore. Luce had already stopped laughing (but was still giggling) when she reached her chair. Everyone, stood up and waited for I Prescelti Sette's Boss to settle herself. When she had seated, the others followed suit.
"Well now, before anything else. Welcome back." She looked at the right side of the table and smiled to her family. "And to you, young ones." Luce now stared intently to children.
"Continue to be strong." the children blinked at the cryptic message of the woman. Seeing the confused faces of the children, Luce smiled gently and finished her short speech. "Welcome to the family."
"I can't believe it had already been 5 years. Time surely flies." Tsuna stretched his arms lazily beside his mentor. Reborn shrugged at his student's antics.
"Shouldn't you be getting ready for the ceremony later? You know how Luce hates tardiness."
"HIEEE! Right Right! Thanks for reminding me Reborn."
Tsuna gulped when he felt Reborn's killer intent. "Tsuna, you know how much I despise that girly shriek of yours, don't you? Why am I hearing it again?"
Tsuna immediately apologized to his mentor and ran hastily to his room. He sighed when he reached his bed. "That was so close." Tsuna murmured. "I can't really help it if I shriek like that. That habit returned because of Mukuro-nii's pranks and Kyoya-nii's endless battle challenges."
Tsuna smiled when he remembered his fellow apprentices, no, his siblings. Hayato, Takeshi, Chrome, Ryohei-nii, Kyoya-nii, Mukuro-nii and Lambo. It had been a rough start for them but eventually, they learned how alike their life stories were. All of them came to an understanding and had trusted each other ever since. He couldn't imagine his life without them and their mentors.
Tsuna got up and went to his closet for a change of clothes. He quickly got a white suit with a robe like what Luce was wearing. He quickly took a shower and dressed up. When he finished preparing, he looked at the clock and saw that he still has thirty minutes to spare. He kneeled into meditating position and did what Luce had taught him for the past five years.
The meditation was calming him like usual when suddenly he found himself staring at a tablet. The tablet was suddenly destroyed and there was fire, slaughter and destruction around him. But what really frightened him was the bodies of his lifeless mentors and siblings lying on the ground and other people who looked very familiar to him.
He screamed. He desperately wanted to go to the bodies and yet he couldn't move. And then chains suddenly appeared, coiling on him.
Then, darkness engulfed him.
"No, no... I'm going to save them. I won't let that happen... Everyone, Reborn. Reborn!"
Tsuna got up from his bed sweating all over. It was just a dream. But it was no ordinary dream. Those were his memories and all of them had happened. Or in the last memory's case, would happen.
No, I won't let that vision happen. They're still alive. I know it. They are the I Prescelti Sette. The World's Strongest Selective Seven. And my siblings are trained by the best. I'll definitely find them.
But first, I must get all the help that I can.
Tsuna cradled his face with his hands. It was the last thing he wanted to do but it was the most efficient way for him to carry out his plans. He groaned just thinking about it.
No... I shouldn't be picky. This is for my mentors. My siblings. My family. I will just use them to rescue my family. I'm not joining because I like them.
I will join the Vongola Famiglia, no matter how much I hate them for ruining my life.
Author's Rants:
I shouldn't be posting this but the plot bunnies won't leave me alone. Well, this was inspired by the latest KHR chapter even though Tsuna was soooooo clueless for not recognizing Reborn. Adult Reborn is just the epitome of bishi-ness. XD
Updates of this story would be irregular since I am working on another multi-chaptered crossover. BUT, if people start bothering me to update this, you never know. =D
Anyone interested to beta this? =P
So. Until next time. CHAOS! =)
