Threeshot. Part of my '_ Sawada' AUs! Tsuna is the priest of the Shrine of Konosuke, the Fox deity protector of Namimori. Enter Reborn, the Arcobaleno sent to check up on the Vongola heir's older brother, who was reluctant to visit a boy who grew up in a shrine. Adult!Reborn

…

Chapter 1 Reborn's Observation

Long ago, the small town of Namimori was plagued with rat demons who trashes every single nook and cranny of the area. Many people died as a result from pest infestation to sickness caused by them, and making people fear them.

In short, it was a disaster.

Konosuke, and Nekota, a fox god and a cat goddess respectively, were passing by the town with their human companions, Konosuke's priestess, Tenri Nadeshiko, and a priest of Nekota, Hibari Saotome, when they were attacked by the rat demons.

Enraged by the blatant attack and the suffering of the town, the two deities used their powers to banish the rats, with the help of their priestess and priest.

The people of the small town were very grateful for their help, that they had built an Inari Shrine to honor Konosuke, and a Nekoma Shrine to honor Nekota, with their companions being each shrine's head priests.

The two deities thought that it would be good to stop wandering around the world aimlessly, and had settled down at the quiet town that they and their priests had helped in their severe time of need.

Generations passed, and Tenri Nadeshiko and Hibari Saotome's descendants continued to serve and care for their respective shrines, located in two sides of the town. The Tenri Clan works side by side with the Hibari Clan, even matching their children to each other at one point.

And thus the story brings us to the current priest of the Inari Shrine of Namimori: Tenri Tsunayoshi.

…

Konosuke was idling at the back garden of the shrine when he heard an angry growl from within the connecting house. The sprites that were also playing by the backyard pond were startled, as the one who owned the voice was too gentle, and too innocent (Konosuke's words) to hurt a fly.

The fox deity sighed as he stood from where he sat, careful not to crumple his traditional clothing and went inside the house. There he saw a sixteen year-old with medium-length hair standing at the doorway, a letter was crumpled in his hand.

"Tsunayoshi. What in the world has gotten you to growl like a mizuchi?" Konosuke asked.

The boy, Tsunayoshi, turned to the fox deity. "My apologies Konosuke. It's just…a distressing letter came." He muttered.

Konosuke tilted his head a bit, "What kind of letter is it? May I see?"

Tsunayoshi didn't answer anymore and handed him the letter that made his head priest distressed. As he read through the letter, Konosuke fought to restrain himself from going after a man that had dared to step in his shrine to leave behind a child.

Dear Tsuna,

If you don't know me, it's your Papa! How have you been? Listen, a friend of mine will be coming at your temple to observe you for a few days. It seems your brother got into something that he shouldn't have and had probably let your name spill in front of…potential enemies.

No worries! The man I will be sending will protect you at all costs! We'll also be there in two months.

Your mother says hello to your aunts!

Love, Dad

As soon as he finished reading it, the letter tore into a thousand pieces. His sharp fangs showed in anger and his eyes turned that of a fox demon's. "That sorry excuse for a human! How dare he?!" he growled.

Tsunayoshi, who had already stopped giving every sprite around the enraged eyes, sighed in sadness. "He didn't even know what happened to me…" he said bitterly. "He had no idea what I had to go through, and now he goes to contact me years later because of what my brother has done?" he grit his teeth.

Konosuke sighed as he held the shoulders of the boy. "Tsunayoshi. Calm yourself. Look, you're scaring the wind and water sprites." He said with a small smile. "It's not good to do something in the spur of the moment,"

The boy glanced at the fox deity who was wearing a smile, yet he could tell that he was also worried for him. When he glanced at the ripped pieces of paper, he smiled, "Says the one who ripped the letter into pieces," he teased.

The fox deity smiled, "Cheeky brat. Now, why don't you get started on lunch?"

Knowing that the deity was merely trying to cheer him up, he went along with it. "Ah! You're right! I just bought some tofu to make aburaage for the kitsune-udon!" he remembered, "And for dessert, let's have some yokan. Kyouya-san sent me some high quality adzuki beans this morning~" he said as he hummed towards the kitchen.

Konosuke smiled for a mission well-done.

He glanced at the ripped pieces of paper that were now being put away by the sprites whom Tsunayoshi had unwillingly 'charmed' when he was twelve. His brows furrowed at the thought of the sender, and what kind of disaster he caused in his shrine the moment he showed up past the torii.

He swore never to harm humans unless they harm his prized priests and their descendants. Tenri Nadeshiko had been like his daughter, and he continued to treat her descendants as his own as the generations passed. But the particular incident of fifteen years ago continued to make his blood boil.

Out of all the priests and priestesses that Tenri could have as descendants, Tenri Nana just had to exist.

The youngest of three daughters, Nana grew up knowing that she has no ability to show for unlike her older sisters. She couldn't see the spirits that roamed around the shrine, and couldn't even see Konosuke converse with her two older sisters. It was normal not to have this ability in certain generations, and it's usually dormant to the younger children. But because of this, her sadness in not seeing them turned to envy, and then resentment, that she kept her distance to them, straining their ties as sisters.

The strain had continued on for years until the older sister was chosen as the head priestess and the younger daughters were given the chance to their own futures.

It seemed that Nana was too ambitious for her own good, wanting to best her sisters at everything. She worked at college and refused any help. In the end, she ended up marrying a Mafia man named Sawada Iemitsu.

When she told her sisters, they were against it, even Konosuke himself, for he showed no hint of respect to the shrine, being all loud, considering that he was a fifth generation child when an Italian foreigner named Ieyatsu had settled down in Namimori, in the territory of both Konosuke and Nekota.

Nana, in her anger, severed all ties with her sisters and left with her husband to Italy.

Until one day, Nana and her husband showed up at the shrine carrying a toddler, looking displeased. She dumped the toddler in the care of her sisters who still lived in the shrine, saying that the boy was starting to see things, and that she didn't want anything to do with him if he would exhibit such divine powers that she was forsaken with.

It took all of Konosuke's willpower not to curse the woman an ill-fated life, and instead, watched over the young boy that they named Tenri Tsunayoshi, or Tsuna, for short.

For years, young Tsuna had grown up splendidly alongside the son of the priest of the Nekoma Shrine, Kyouya, and had lived in peace ever since. He didn't pay any mind to the mother that left him behind, or the younger brother that had been born a year after he was left with his aunts. He was happy just where he is alongside his family, and the spirits that roamed Namimori.

But tragedy befell the shrine when his aunts had died in a bank robbery when Tsuna was in his second year of middle school. He grew up as an emancipated minor, caring for the shrine, all the while, being financially adopted by the Hibari Clan, the clan that has stuck with the Tenri Clan since the beginning until he graduated middle school a few months ago.

And now that Tsuna was happy and content with his life, the letter just had to come.

He just wishes that whoever that person that Sawada Iemitsu had sent, he'd better respect the shrine and not to say something offending.

…

The first thing Reborn noticed when he arrived at Namimori was the fact that it reeked of overwhelming supernatural aura. It would seem that the information was true that the people of Namimori are very spiritual, praying for two patron deities with shrines located on either side of the town, the Inari Shrine, and the Nekoma Shrine.

He cursed under his breath. This was all Ietsuna's fault. If he hadn't blabbered that he had a brother in Japan, the Ninth wouldn't have sent him there to watch over him and give him a run-down on the mafia about his little brother's role.

Iemitsu and Nana were reluctant to share information about the older son, saying that the boy was prone to 'seeing things' and others, that's why they left him under the care of her older sisters.

Now all he had to do is to find the shrine. It was not a hard thing to do. Almost everyone knows where the Inari Shrine is, and he was even given a specific map from where he came from.

He arrived at the many steps that leads to the shrine. "Why are shrines had to be built on top of a mountain?" he wondered as he started to ascend the steps to the shrine.

But halfway there, an arrow was shot in front of him.

Being a hitman for many years, he knows how to sense a hostile presence, and this was one of those situations. The arrow that was shot had a very sharp point, and it was directed at his temple. Had he not dodged, it would have impaled him violently.

He looked at the side of the steps and saw a teenage boy wearing an orange umanori type hakama over a white kimono, with medium-length hair tied in a low ponytail by a ribbon, his caramel eyes looking at him with hostility. Slung on his shoulder was a bag of quivers the same as the one shot in his direction. On his left hand was a bow as long as him.

"Who are you?" the boy asked. "Impure and armed people are not welcome to enter the shrine protected by Konosuke."

"The question is who are you?" Reborn asked calmly, "You attack me halfway to the steps, and then you ask my purpose?"

"I am the high priest of the temple." He replied. "I take care and maintain the shrine of the fox deity Konosuke."

High priest? According to Nana, the one who should be the head of the temple was her eldest sister, Tenri Nishiki. "Then where is Tenri Nishiki?"

A pang of sadness coursed through the boy's eyes at the mention of the woman. "Wouldn't you like to know? Answer my previous question first,"

Reborn sighed. If the entire people living near the shrine are aware of the mafia, then he better come clean before something else happens. "I am Reborn, a hitman sent to check up on Sawada Tsunayoshi." He introduced.

The boy's brows furrowed, "There is no one here by that name." he informed. "There never was, and never will,"

All of a sudden, everything clicked into place. He smirked, "My apologies. I'm here to check up on a boy named Tenri Tsunayoshi."

As if assured, the boy got out of the shade of trees concealing him and came out of the light, showing familiar features that Reborn had seen on Iemitsu's wife. "Then you are looking for me," he said. "I am Tenri Tsunayoshi, the high priest of this shrine." He then turned to go up the steps, "Come, let's talk over tea,"

Reborn had no choice but to follow suit.

Should Reborn had been blessed with the sight, he would notice the sprites living all over the mountain giggling upon seeing his handsome face.

…

"I hope green tea would suffice," Tsuna said as he poured him tea. "I was not given a date of your arrival, so I wasn't able to prepare anything," he then gave him a plate of yokan, which he makes once a week.

"It's fine. I came on my own accord after finishing my job." He looked around the home that was connected to the main shrine. "I see now that you live alone," he concluded.

"And how could you tell?" Tsuna asked. "My aunts could be out of town, for all you know,"

Reborn smiled slightly, "Your eyes said it all." He informed, "When I mentioned Tenri Nishiki, your eyes screamed sadness and longing. Since you claimed that you are the high priest of the shrine, I suppose that Tenri Nuriko is also deceased, since she would have succeeded her without question." He concluded.

Tsuna smiled sadly as he held his tea. "My aunts died in a bank robbery when I was in my second year of middle school. That was two years ago." He shared. "I've taken over the shrine ever since,"

"I see. I'm sorry for your loss." Reborn said. "How did you manage to finish middle school then?"

"Ah, that," Tsuna started. "I was helped out by the Hibari Clan to finish my final year in middle school. They are our long-time friends, you see, spanning from the beginning of the foundation of the two shrines, one is an Inari shrine, and the other is the Nekomata shrine. The Tenri Clan takes care of this shrine, and the Hibari Clan takes care of the Nekomata shrine. I've never been so thankful in my life,"

"Don't you get lonely being all alone?"

Tsuna waved his hand gently, "Oh, I'm not alone. Konosuke is with me everyday along with visiting deities," he said gleefully.

Sitting at the sliding door leading to the garden, Konosuke slapped his own forehead with his fan at the outright confession of the boy. He forgot that he was still every bit innocent in all this…

"Oh dear…" he muttered.

"Excuse me?" Reborn asked him, quite surprised. Now he understood Nana when she told him about him 'seeing' things. But it seems that the things Tsuna sees are pretty much real.

Tsuna, however, stared at him, no such joke present, "People like you who are not blessed with the sight cannot see them. But those of us who do, well, we try our best to cater to their needs if they need them. They are my companions, as well as part of my family." He stated.

"Are you the only one who sees them?"

"Oh, no. There are some others in Namimori. My aunts too, could see them, though my mother did not have that ability, considering that she was born into the Tenri Clan." He frowned, "Maybe that was why she left me under their care. Envious of the fact that they shared the same world, and she doesn't."

'That's why she doesn't talk about them much.' Reborn concluded. "I see." He straightened up, "Well then, I guess it's time for me to tell you why I'm here,"

Tsuna perked up, rather glad that he didn't pry. "You were supposed to…watch me?"

Reborn nodded. "As I said, I'm a hitman. Your family, the Sawada, are a part of the Vongola, a mafia family in Italy. Your brother, Ietsuna, is the future tenth boss of that family."

Konosuke and Tsuna frowned. They knew that they were part of the mafia, but they didn't know they were in too deep. This was bad indeed. "Then? Why does it concern an estranged son like myself? Surely no one knows of my existence since I was given up when I was barely fifteen months old."

"Your brother. He let it slip that he has an older brother. I don't know what had gotten into him, but once they found out, the enemy families heard of it and is now starting a search to kill you, all because you are a Sawada."

Tsuna raised a brow, "How long ago was this?"

"Two months."

"I see…" Tsuna muttered. "But nothing strange here has been happening. Although the flow of tourists from Italy was a lot…" he looked at Konosuke's direction who was smiling. "But then, others might have done something to ward off the bad things," he said.

"You seem to place your trust in these…deities, you say?" Reborn inquired.

"I trust them with my life." He said straight to the point. "There are few humans who I can rely on, and the majority of them are here in Namimori. But I am not a fool to trust just anyone," he said. "But I don't get the feel that I should distrust you, even though you reek of blood and death."

Reborn was taken aback by his sentence. But he composed himself. This kid was the high priest, and had the so-called sight to see spiritual beings. He would be a hypocrite if he tells him there is no such thing when the mafia uses a different kind of supernatural power. And yet, despite him not trusting some people, he has the ability to accept anyone who wish them no harm. 'Just like a sky.'

"You can tell that I have killed many men in my lifetime?"

"Why do you think I attacked you halfway up the shrine? Konosuke doesn't like it when his domain has been breached by a man who had done many sinful things. But then, most of the people who comes here to pray had a tinge of darkness in them, resentment, envy, greed, the list goes on. The only reason you are not repelled is because I can tell that you are no threat to the shrine. Although you did send the sprites giggling, and that's a plus." He mused. "If you have nowhere to go for the duration of this…monitoring, you are free to use one of our spare bedrooms." He offered.

"Are you sure I won't be attacked by anything in my sleep?"

"Of course. This house is protected by Konosuke. No harm will come to those who seek shelter,"

"I beg to differ." Konosuke muttered, but only Tsuna could hear him, "I can play tricks on him when I want."

"You will do no such thing Konosuke," Tsuna said so suddenly, forgetting Reborn was present. "Uh oh…"

"Your patron god is nearby, is he?" Reborn guessed. "And he might have said that he could play tricks on me since he's the one who protects the house from others."

"Bull's-eye…" Konosuke muttered. "Well, there it goes. Fine, I won't play tricks if he doesn't do anything to harm you," he then stood up, "If you need me, I'll be in the sacred grove. Kindaichi and Kenichi will be bringing me news there anyway," he said as he transformed into a white fox with nine tails, and left with a strong gust of wind, that even Tsuna and Reborn felt it.

"He left." Tsuna informed. "But he did promise that he won't do what you think he would," he assured him. "Then, should I show you to your room?"

…

The first few days in the Tenri household was a bit awkward at first. Reborn had to adapt to the fact that wearing a suit and fedora everyday would be too unusual and eye-catching in a bad sense. So to rectify that, Tsuna made him wear a white kimono and a black umanori type hakama as opposed to Tsuna's orange ones.

Tsuna proved to be very serious in his task as the high priest, going about the daily prayers, tidying up the place, and making sure that he leaves some food for Konosuke, whom Reborn hadn't seen yet, nor does he want to.

When the shrine visitors arrive, Tsuna would tell them that Reborn was a friend of his aunts and was just checking up on him, making sure that he was eating properly, and all the other necessary excuses.

It seemed to be a good day, until the son of the Nekoma Shrine's head priest came about.

He was sweeping the entry when he caught sight of a teenager with black hair and blue grey eyes. The boy looked at him skeptically and the moment that he and Reborn made eye contact, the boy instantly took out his tonfas and attacked Reborn.

The hitman immediately used his arm as a shield, noting the held back strength of the impact. 'So he was just giving out a warning.' He thought.

"Who are you and what are you doing here? You reek of death."

"Nice to meet you too. But I have no ill intentions to anyone in the shrine, or Namimori in general." Reborn said simply, knowing that this boy might be from the other shrine where the cat deity resides.

When the boy sensed that he was not any threat, he quickly retreated and put away his tonfas. "Strange for Tsunayoshi to take in someone like you."

Reborn was about to retort when he heard Tsuna's voice with panic. "Hie! Kyouya! Don't attack! He's a guest," he pleaded.

The boy, Kyouya, looked at Tsuna with skeptical eyes. "Tsunayoshi, you do realize that this carnivore reeks of blood and death? He has killed a lot of men and women in his lifetime. What did Konosuke say about this?"

"I can't explain this outside, you know," Tsuna stated.

"No one but us are here right now. Talk."

Tsuna sighed. "This is Reborn. He's been asked by…my parents to watch over me. There was an information leak that happened concerning my identity and location, and he would be here for at least two months…or at least until they come here to make sure everything is fine…"

Silence reigned for a few moments before Kyouya closed his eyes. "I see. Then I guess I would not bite this person to death," he stated.

"Who's he?" Reborn wondered.

Tsuna smiled, "I'd like you to meet my childhood friend, Hibari Kyouya, the next high priest of the Nekoma Shrine!" he introduced.

"A bit…violent, isn't he?" Reborn knew that a priest must not shed any blood, but this kid gives him the violent vibes.

"He might be like that, but he does not kill, and does not beat people up if unprovoked…maybe…" Tsuna muttered the last part, also unsure of the words coming out of his mouth. "T-Then! What brings you here today Kyouya?"

Kyouya raised a brow, "Have you forgotten? Takeshi will be coming home this afternoon. You promised to pick him up at the airport with me in place of his father."

"Hie! I forgot! Reborn and Konosuke were keeping me occupied that I forgot!" he said as he rushed back inside to wear normal clothes.

Kyouya looked at the retreating figure of the brunette before looking back at the hitman. "I expect him to be unscathed both physically and mentally once you're done here in Namimori. Tsunayoshi doesn't need any more trouble than what had happened to him." He said bluntly.

For the past few days, he has been wondering why everyone who visits the shrine were too protective and caring for Tsuna. He thought it was just because he was a young high priest, but now…

Going about with the stories about the Tenri sisters, it seems that they were adored as much as they do Tsunayoshi, who was sometimes a bit clumsy. It appears that almost everyone in Namimori who had been associated with the Tenri sisters knows how Tsuna came to the shrine.

"I can't promise you that. In my world, and in the world of his family, things have the knack to not go the way we want to," Reborn stated simply.

A smirk appeared in the face of the prefect. "I see you are not incompetent." He said. "If you promised me that he wouldn't get hurt, then you are a fool."

Reborn smirked, "Glad to know that you care for Tsuna,"

"Of course. He and I are one in the same. We grew up as brothers. We are distant cousins, if you would. And I swore before Nishiki-san and Nuriko-san that I would never leave Tsunayoshi alone." He stated. "He's my brother in all but blood."

"Tell me something," Reborn said, "Tsuna mentioned that he noticed the increased flow of Italian tourists, but no attacks to Namimori had been made. Do you have something to do with it?"

Kyouya stared at him with sharp eyes. "We protect our own. And they were entering in our territory. Our clan has the right to drive away those who means harm to anyone in town. Crime rate is low, compared to other cities and towns because of it. Protecting Tsunayoshi, though, is my utmost duty." He stated. "And since Tsunayoshi seem to enjoy your company, then I could at least tolerate the aura you emit."

It would seem that sending Reborn to the shrine was unnecessary. He already has people looking after him. And maybe, just maybe, he would also be one of them.

…

Telegram to Vongola Nono

Tenri Tsunayoshi is the current head priest of the Inari shrine taken care of by the Tenri Clan.

He does not go by the name Sawada.

Tenri Nishiki and Tenri Nuriko had been deceased for two years.

Him 'seeing' things is actually real. Gifted with what he calls, the Sight.

Sawada Nana is an unreliable source of information, as well as the CEDEF Boss.

Most of the locals are protective of the shrines and the two clans that takes care of them.

The Hibari Clan, it seems, takes care of Tsunayoshi from afar, eliminating those who enter the town with ill intent on the locals and Tsunayoshi.

Monitoring might not be needed at all, but I will keep up for two months.

-Reborn

TBC

Well, this is off my back.

I know I said I should be studying, but the influx of plot bunnies are distracting me from my studies. I just had to let it out. The second chapter will be out once I find another free time. As for the other fic I'm working on, there are still little chinks that I need to fix, and then It'll be a go at the end of the month.