Obscure Sympathy

By: PhoenixJustice

Disclaimer: Katekyo Hitman Reborn! is owned by Akira Amano. I only own this story and make no profit from this.

Warning: Rated Mature for swearing, violent situations, sexual situations, yaoi, etc.

Pairings: eventual 6927 (Mukuro/Tsuna), with some S80 (Squalo/Yamamoto), etc

Setting: Post-TYL!arc

Summary: He didn't understand what it all meant, at first. Then he learned what liking someone truly meant. That would have been the end of it if he wasn't the next Vongola Boss and the person he liked was a ex-Mafia guy who wanted nothing better than to take control of his body to destroy the very Mafia that he came from, and which, Tsuna would soon be apart of. And that was the least of their worries.

Part One ~

It was hard to do what Reborn said. "Don't sympathize with him. Don't ever forget what he's done to you." He hadn't forgotten, and he wouldn't, but it was hard not to feel sorry for Mukuro, in the place he was in. The Vendichi Prison was an impregnable fortress, though Mukuro had nearly escaped from it, as good as his talents were, but because of his near-escape, he had been put into an even harder place to leave; tied up, sedated constantly and left alone in the dark for hours on end, it made it very hard to not feel sorry for him.

And...although Mukuro stated he would not be getting involved in any Mafia business, he had. Yes, he had explained after that it was so he could get closer to taking over Tsuna's body, but that just...didn't ring true for Tsuna. There was something more there, something more that Mukuro wasn't saying. He had no idea what it was, but he wanted to know.

He had to be bugging everyone; his thoughts were so preoccupied with Mukuro and his confusing words and actions-months after the fact, after the battle of the Rings and their trip ten years into the future- that it was a wonder that no one had yelled at him for it, for his preoccupation. Not that Gokudera ever would, but surprisingly no one had; not even Reborn. Now that he thought about it...Reborn always did seem remarkably patient when it came to the subject of Rokudo Mukuro and never scolded or hit Tsuna for asking too many questions. He wondered why.

He pauses in the midst of his thoughts as he starts to head inside the house, after having a full day of school. His brows furrow as he sets his bag down next to the umbrella stand, closing the door as quietly behind him as possible. There were voices speaking, attempting to be quiet, in the living room.

"-keeps talking in his sleep." the voice of Reborn speaks quietly. Tsuna takes a cautious step forward, trying, for once, to remember all that Reborn had told him of stealth (for if anyone would hear the slightest noise, it would be Reborn.) "I keep wondering how much more will come, and he'll take. ...I worry, Iemitsu."

Dad was here! The gruff voice of his father speaks nearly quieter than Reborn, so much so, Tsuna has to strain farther to hear it. "...He has a lot on his mind, Reborn. More than he probably realizes. I'm not talking just about the battle for the title of Tenth, nor the recent events ten years into the future. He's a young man and he's sorting out his feelings. We've all been there."

"You really think that..."

"If from what you said he's been saying while he's asleep is true." replied Iemitsu. "And all this time, I thought it was Kyoko-chan who-"

As if Kyoko's name was a trigger, Tsuna heads back to the door, opening it and closing it back loudly enough so it would be heard this time. "I'm back!" he calls. He takes his shoes off, placing them next to the others' and walks into the living room where his father and his tutor had been talking about him with such worry. They looked completely calm and betrayed nothing; they were the best at what they did, after all, so he didn't expect to. Though he was rather surprised that he had been able to hear some of what they were talking about without their knowledge; they must have been more worried than he thought. That discomfited him.

He covers up his discomfort with a smile, as he often did, unable to think of any other action to do.

"Hey, Tsuna!" His father's voice was cheerful, not forcefully cheerful, but Tsuna nevertheless knew that he was being extra cheerful to cover up his and Reborn's discussion, in the very least. "So how was your day?"

"Even now, you're still showing such sympathy for the enemy. How naive can you get, Sawada Tsunayoshi? There's no need to worry...I should say. That baby managed to escape. From the start he planned to reserve enough energy to escape. He's a shrewd one, that Arcobaleno."

"Gola Moska," said a harsh voice cutting through another's soft, lilting tones. "When the contest battles are over, eliminate Mammon."

"My, my," the soft voice mocked. "You really are on the dark side of the Mafia, aren't you Xanxus? Even I would feel awed at this terrifying scheme you've thought up. But I've no intention of poking my nose into your business. Because I am not such a nice human being. One thing though..."

"The other candidate for the successor, though smaller and weaker than you, is not really someone you should trifle with. For your own good."

What did that mean?

"You bastard!" growled a voice of the loyal. "How dare you show your face here?" Sticks of dynamite at the ready...

"Wait!" He said. He didn't want his friend to attack...his other friend? Not enemy? Enemy?

"It's good to be so vigilant. But I have no intention of colluding with the Mafia, either." said the soft tone again, continuing to walk forward.

He stiffens as two mismatched eyes stare directly at him, feeling them pierce through him like blades.

"The only reason I have become your Mist Guardian is to set myself in a better position to possess your body Sawada Tsunayoshi." spoke the soft voice, holding up the completed Mist Ring for him to see.

He's lying...it's not just about that.

"I-In any case," he stutters, not able to look away from those eyes, that face. "T-Thank you."

That face looks at him, just at him, smile still in place, before collapsing.

But that person had...he had...Mukuro had worked...so hard in a battle that had been about Mafia, things he hated. Why had he worked so hard? Why?

"You're welcome, Tsunayoshi. If it really means that much to you. Kufufufu..." Mukuro laughs. Tsuna whips his head around and sucks in a breath as the first thing he sees are those mismatched eyes, that face.

And all of a sudden, he wondered. He wondered just why he caught the thoughts of Mukuro, those memories. Why could he see Mukuro there in that dark, cold place when no one else could? It made sense that someone like Ken or Chikusa, or even Lancia could, because they had been possessed, at one time or another, by Mukuro. And because of that, there was a connection left between each of them.

But Tsuna had never been possessed by Mukuro; it was the thing which Mukuro wanted, had said that he wanted anyway, but it had never happened. So why...?

Mukuro tilts his head slightly, looking at Tsuna intently. He takes a step forward and Tsuna, shivering, felt glued in place by that piercing stare; he couldn't have moved even if he had wanted to. But he didn't. Want to, that is.

"You're still showing such sympathy for your enemies, Tsunayoshi?" tutted Mukuro, trident weapon held loosely in his right hand as he walked forward. "What did I tell you? You can never show any mercy for your enemies, for they will also never show you any mercy."

"You aren't my enemy a-anymore," stuttered Tsuna. The presence of Mukuro was making him shake, especially as he got closer. "You've been helping me."

Again that tilt of the head. "Yes, I have haven't I?" said Mukuro, smiling. "Of course I have; I have to make sure you stay in top condition for when I can take control of you."

He didn't know if it was his Hyper Intuition kicking in or what, but he knew that that didn't ring true whatsoever. Why was Mukuro lying?

Finally the Mist Guardian was standing directly in front of Tsuna, and Tsuna, unable to take the close proximity of Mukuro, closes his eyes, unable to stop his shaking.

"Stop lying to me," said Tsuna, almost pleadingly. "Stop. You're lying, and I want to know why damnit!"

He flinches as he hears Mukuro's trident weapon clatter to the ground, but shudders violently as Mukuro's gloved hand touches his cheek, which felt as though it was on fire, as if he were engulfed in Dying Will Flame.

"I don't understand." he says desperately. "None of this makes sense to me."

"Poor Tsunayoshi," crooned Mukuro. "So confused and lost. I wondered if you would understand, but you haven't." He caresses Tsuna's cheek. "I told you before; I set myself up to become your Mist Guardian so I could possess your body. ...So I could have you. You."

Tsuna's eyes pop open and he stares at Mukuro's smiling face.

"But will you remember this when you wake up?" Mukuro wonders aloud.

"What-"

Mukuro grabs his face and kisses him harshly.

Oh god.

Tsuna whimpers and clings to Mukuro's arms.

So this then...this was the reason. He thought he had understood. But in reality he had understood nothing.

He wakes up with a start, blinking rapidly at the rays of sunlight filtering in through the window. He looks down and grimaces at the protrusion poking through his pants; well, he must have had a nice dream. Too bad he couldn't remember what it was. But it was embarrassing to wake up like this, when Reborn slept not a foot away.

He gets out of bed carefully, grabbing his school clothes and heading to the bathroom, taking a quick shower. He frowns, soaping up his head. It felt like he was missing something important, but he had no idea what. He had finished all his homework last night, done his chores, did his training with Reborn (which Reborn was insistent upon; even though things had been peaceful, relatively so anyway, for awhile now "that doesn't mean that I'm going to let you off the hook. Stupid Tsuna.")

So...what then?

Gokudera and Yamamoto met up with him just a few steps outside of his house. And while he was grateful that he had such great friends-because he hadn't ever had any friends, really before them-he was also a little frustrated at having to make conversation along the way, while his mind was still trying to figure that thing out, that little nagging feeling in the back of his mind. For all the Hyper Intuition he had, he apparently couldn't sense, figure out, or realize what it was that he had forgotten. It was frustrating.

He mentally sighs and tries to put it out of his mind, concentrating on conversing with his friends. All too soon they make it to school and the monotony of it all begins. He sighs in defeat at his low score in math, tripped and falls a lot, hits himself in the head with a volleyball in gym (as usual.) All in all the same stuff he was used to dealing with daily.

Well, except...

After gym they headed back to class, and once everyone was seated, the teacher turns to look at them all.

"Silence! Now," the teacher says. "I have just received word that we will be getting a new student today. A little later than most of our new students come, to be sure, but nevertheless I expect you all to treat this person with respect; they are coming to us, not only from an elite school, but at a younger age as well. They also, I have heard, had an accident months ago. If I catch anyone being unkind, I'll send you straight to the disciplinary committee, understand?"

Everyone in the room gulps and nods; that showed just how it was. When things were serious, people didn't look to the principal, they looked to the disciplinary committee. Hibari in particular. Hibari was by far scarier and more effective when it came to keeping the rules than the principal. Or anyone else for that matter.

The door to the classroom opens and everyone seemed to lean forward all at once, trying to get the first glimpse of the new student. A glimpse of black; black outfit, black shoes, black hair...

Tsuna holds back a gasp at great difficulty, but near him, Gokudera had no such inclination and his gasp was audible even in the midst of the excited chatter of the people in class.

"What the hell-" gasped Gokudera.

"Hello." A bow. "My name is Dokuro Chrome."

She looks at Tsuna and smiles.

TBC...