A/N: Just- just how many stories am I just publishing...? Agh.
Anyway, Hello there! :D Thank you for checking out this story of mine! *Gives you virtual chocolate chip cookies as a thanks*
P.S - I know Reborn arrives late at night, but I just changed that tiny-teeny thing to morning- so yeah. -_-'
The hint of linseed oil, the aroma of paint wafting to his nose as he pried the lid off. And it felt blissful. Heavenly, even. Lightly dipping his index in the green, thick and gooey liquid, not caring if it had just stained his finger, he rubbed his thumb and forefinger together; feeling the wonderful sensation that the paint seemed to spread through his hand. Or that might just be his imagination- his heart fluttering at the familiar presence of oil paints.
For him, it wasn't just a box of colors.
It was… freedom.
His life.
A chance to explore things he had never seen, could never do, never accomplish in his life.
And that… breathed life into him.
Strokes after strokes, the brush danced across the canvas, splattering color over the whiteness; and made it alive. The colors breathed the beauty of life into him, and in return, he gave it a soul of its own. To each and every painting he ever did. His apron was splashed with paint, yet he didn't care. He never did. Painting was like his child, his blood, his soul mate; something that felt like it was a part of his.
It belonged with him- from the very start of his life.
"Mama, can I have that?" Six year old Tsuna pointed toward a random box of watercolor, eager to try something rather than his usual crayons; not understanding that it would then later start to shape his very being.
"Ah?" Nana, his mother, tilted her head to the side as she examined the green box. The title "Camel watercolor: Student grade' had been printed on it in flashy fonts, and it held twelve tubes of colors, if the cover indicated the contents on the inside. "Are you sure, Tsu-kun?"
"Yeah!" Tsuna seemed to vibrate with happiness, as he jumped forward to grab the box, his mother chuckling and handing it to him after a little teasing around.
Nana smiled fondly at the sight of her one and only child laughing so happily. It made her heart just sowarm seeing him happy and content. The child never demanded anything- so what was the harm in buying it for him? She had plenty of money with her. And the boy could draw so beautifully; it almost never made sense- whatever he had drawn, but it still was lovely to look at.
She ruffled his brown locks, still smiling. "Alright then, come on. We still have to buy the brushes, right?" Tsuna nodded rapidly, agreeing with her, and almost dashed toward the section which held paintbrushes with speed rivaling a Cheetah's. Laughing, Nana chased after the child, not caring if the passerby were staring at her oddly.
.
.
.
Sighing again at the numerous offensive scribbles over his desk that were probably written with permanent markers, he laid his messenger bag over them, covering them for the time being. These words- they had long stopped to bother him; but he just couldn't watch the mindless 'slaughter' of the beautiful wooden desk.
His classmates laughed and jeered at him- outright telling him it was done by all of them- but Tsuna paid them no heed and opened his notebook to doodle. He figured it would be easier if he just did that, and he would be safe until class ended- they wouldn't dare to harm him right there; not when the 'Demon of Namimori' was just a moment's width away from them.
His doodle started with spirals and triangles, slowly morphing into the shape of a human face and curled horns around her ears. He found he rather liked the design. Might have just to try and incorporate it into my next painting. Now, his supplies were running out, too, eh… he sure would have to pick a box of Winsor and Newton on the way back. The brunet thought, brushing his index against his lips as he mentally calculated which brand would be have to do for this time. He did prefer Sennelier, but oil paints had gotten expensive.
Unbeknown to him and everyone in the room, a pair of onyx eyes was watching him carefully, studying his every move.
.
.
.
"Ah, Tsu-kun! Good morning!" Nana greeted, smiling at the brunet as he obviously seemed half-asleep and stumbled around, his hair sticking at all the odd directions and his uniform crumpled at places. "You have been painting again, have you?"
Tsuna flushed and rubbed his neck sheepishly. "Yeah… it kept bugging me, you know, and I couldn't just sleep!"
"That's the case with every one of your drawings, Tsu-kun!" The woman said, giggling, and Tsuna seemed even more embarrassed.
"W-well, that's…"
"True?" Nana supplied helpfully, flipping the omelet around on her pan. Her reward was that angelic smile plastered on her son's face, thirty-two teeth bared and cheek red like a ripe tomato. "Honestly, you're going to get sick if this continues, Tsu-kun. And you're smelling of paint, again."
Tsuna deflated slightly, promising her that he wouldn't do that again and make sure to get rid of the scent; Nana replied by ruffling his locks and shoving into a chair as she placed a steaming omelet (which smelt very delicious) on a plate in front of him.
She knew he would. Tsuna knew it too. It was just her motherly concern acting up, perhaps.
And there was another reason… too. Something she deeply regretted. The boy never let anyone else see his paintings except her after that one incident. Nana felt a pang of guilt at the thought, but she was interrupted by Tsuna- beaming as usual.
"Thanks, mom!" He grinned and proceeded to stuff his mouth with the omelet, and instantly screaming as the boiling temperature of the food touched his tongue. Giving a glass of water to him, Nana watched in amusement as the boy tried to finally get around eating the egg properly. Seriously…
Her eyes went to that flyer at the pocket of her apron she had picked up, and deemed it the appropriate time to tell her son as he finished eating and was washing up the dish. "Tsu-kun?"
Tsuna turned his head around, his eyebrows raised in question. "There's a good news for you! You're getting a new tutor! See," She held the flyer up for the brunet, and continued, "It's going to be great, right?"'
"Mom! I don't need a teacher!" Tsuna said, finished with the dish, and walked over to snatch the paper from her grasp and read it. "And it looks like a scam too."
"Really? But it didn't really ask for any money…"
The doorbell rang at the exact moment, Nana saying she'd get it, and opened the door. Tsuna mulled over the contents once more. I don't really like the sound of a home tutor…
His train of thoughts was interrupted by a squeaky voice.
"Ciaossu! I'm Reborn, the home tutor."
Name the devil, and he shall be there.