New story. Yay. (Hear my enthusiasm). This was something I had lying around for a year or so...was pushed by a friend to finish it.
Here's the summary again for those of you reading on a phone, because I feel for you, I really do. Don't you just hate it when you have 10+ tabs of different stories saved to read for later, but you forget what the story is even about before you start? Yeah, that's me too.
Summary: Dame-Tsuna wasn't always dame. He once had the sky's charisma. He once was a king. But he lost all of that. And they've been waiting, waiting for so long for their king to return. And they won't let the Vongola take him from them.
And without further ado...
Disclaimer (Because apparently, it's something I must have even though everyone knows I don't own KHR): Katekyo Hitman Reborn belongs to Amano Akira.
Chapter 1
There was something about him.
There was something about Namimori as a whole.
And it frustrated Reborn that he didn't know what it was.
This boy was supposed to be an incompetent loser with no friend and unable to do anything right. And he was. Yet there was just something about him.
Reborn vowed to get to the bottom of this mystery. The mystery of one Sawada Tsunayoshi, for the sake of his own sanity.
.A.
When Reborn introduced himself to his new student, he didn't get the reaction of disbelief at the ridiculous statement that he had expected. Instead, the boy had altogether ignored him to plead to his mother.
"Mom! If-if you told me you wanted me to get better grades, I would try harder. Why did you have to hire a tutor? I just-Why can't you just leave me alone?" Tsunayoshi practically begged. Even the desperate tone was present.
Sawada Nana had put her hand on her hips. "This isn't about your grades, Tsu-kun," Nana chided. "It isn't healthy, the way you behave. What you need is interaction, and a tutor will get you that. Look!" The woman all but shoved the piece of paper Reborn had dropped into their mailbox earlier that morning in front of Tsunayoshi's face. "'Will turn your child into the leader of the next generation'!" she quoted excitedly.
Tsunayoshi flinched so visibly that even his mother faltered for a moment.
"Besides," she pressed on, "the tutor has arrived already and he's so cute!"
Tsunayoshi's gaze flickered over to Reborn and he flinched again in response to the smirk he received.
"It'll be a pleasure to teach you," Reborn drawled out, enjoying the gleam of fear that had appeared in the boy's eyes. "Nana-san," he announced, "I'll be taking Tsunayoshi-kun upstairs for his evaluation."
Tsunayoshi startled at being addressed. "Huh? Wha-But I don't-" Reborn knocked him out with a solid kick and started to drag the teen upstairs.
"Call me Maman, Reborn-kun!" he heard Nana call from behind him.
"Hai, Maman!" Reborn grinned almost ferally. It seemed this job wouldn't be so similar to Dino's like he thought it would.
He always did enjoy a challenge.
.A.
Tsuna jerked up as he woke. Pain, so much pain. Pain in his chest where he vaguely remembered physical contact, and pain in his head, throbbing as a heavy feeling of warning invaded his whole body. He groaned as he cradled his head in his hands. What happened? He moved to stand up from his position on the ground, but then froze. He had caught sight of a suit wearing baby watching him with beady black eyes and a smirk on his lips. The baby wore a fedora and-is that a chameleon?
Oh, right. This kid was the tutor his mother hired. "...I-Th-There's no point in tutoring me," Tsuna spoke up hesitantly. When was the last time he started a conversation? Tsuna wondered faintly. "It's not-not going to work," stammered Tsuna. He flinched when he noticed the baby examining him with calculating eyes. Judging eyes. It took all his will to not turn away from those eyes that he feared so much. Minutes passed as the two stared at each other. No, it just felt like minutes. Seconds passed. Tsuna couldn't stand it anymore. "Just leave me alone!" He blurted out as he turned on his heels and ran.
And ran.
And ran.
And ra-
"Tsuna?"
Tsuna stopped abruptly, the soles of his feet burning as he tried to keep himself from falling over. He jerked his head up to meet the face of Kaneda Osamu.
The flicker of concern Tsuna would later convince himself he didn't see turned into an ugly expression as he sneered. "What are you running from his time, Dame-Tsuna? A ferocious puppy?"
Shame caused heat to rise to Tsuna's face. "Sh-Sh-Shut up!" He stuttered as the overwhelming frustration made him snap. Osamu took a step back, eyes widening in surprise. Face burning, Tsuna turned and continued running, missing the sigh Osamu released under his breath as he ran a hand through his hair.
.A.
Reborn watched from above as his new student ran away from the other teenager. Kanade Osamu had gelled up dark hair and brown eyes, typical Asian coloring, and was Tsunayoshi's classmate. Reborn frowned when the boy kept a lingering gaze on Tsunayoshi's back. The gaze didn't hold any sort of malice, unusual for a bully-victim relationship.
Reborn had to admit though that Tsunayoshi ran faster than expected. Had he not left to follow the brunet when he did, Reborn might have lost him at the block corner.
"What do you think, Leon?" Reborn spoke aloud to his animal companion, "Not quite what we thought." He grinned. "That only makes it more fun though. Let's head back and wait for this Dame-Tsuna to return."
.A.
Tsuna returned home hours later.
"Tsu-kun!" Nana exclaimed in a chiding tone when said boy entered the house through the front door long after the sun went down. "Haven't I told you not to stay outside so late? What if you catch a cold? At least wear a jacket!" Nana ushered her son into the kitchen. She filled the kettle with water and set it on the stove. "This isn't healthy, Tsu-kun, and it's dangerous outside at night. What if you get kidnapped?" She chattered on mindlessly about unimportant things to fill the silence as she waited for the water to boil. When it finally did, she rushed to make a cup of tea. "Warm yourself up, Tsu-kun, and then go to sleep. You have school tomorrow."
Tsuna nodded mutely as he watched his mother wash and dry her hands and then leave the kitchen. He stared into his cup of tea, thoughts still in turmoil. He was sure that weird baby would be waiting for him in his room, and he didn't want to face him.
Nor did he want to sleep on the couch.
With a heavy sigh, Tsuna gulped down the rest of his tea, ignoring how the hot liquid burnt his throat. He set his now empty cup down in the sink and bid his mother good night, heading for the stairs. Tsuna stood in front of of his path to hell, craning his head up to stare at what he believed to be potential death. Hesitantly, Tsuna climbed the first step. Dread grew in his stomach. And it continued growing with each step he took. He arrived at the top of the set of stairs, and mechanically walked to the first door on the right, stopping in front of his room. He felt like hurling. Tsuna could already imagine it all in his head. He'd enter the room, and then the genius infant would force him to take diagnostic test after diagnostic test until the kid was satisfied with him. When Tsuna didn't live up to the kid's expectation, the kid would pass word to whatever contacts he had that Sawada Tsunayoshi was a shit of a student, and he'd be blacklisted from any colleges in the future. Tsuna took a deep breath and opened his room door to see the baby in a suit sitting in Tsuna's desk chair, legs crossed, fingers interlaced, as he smirked right at the brown haired teen.
"You sure took your time, Tsunayoshi," the baby - Reborn, Tsuna remembered his name was - commented in a nonchalant way. Tsuna fought the urge to flinch at his full first name. Reborn seemed to sense how uncomfortable Tsuna was, because he smirked, sending shivers down Tsuna's spine. "I expected Maman to be more worried about you being kidnapped so late at night."
Tsuna shifted his weight on his feet. "N-Namimori is a safe neighborhood," he replied awkwardly. He fidgeted in place.
Reborn seemed amused with his body movement. "Why don't you sit? This is your room, after all."
Because you've taken over my room! Tsuna wanted to scream and express his frustration at the situation. And it was true. Tsuna could feel a powerful presence spreading through the room and the source of it was Reborn. Tsuna wanted to run away (again), but something, Tsuna wasn't sure what, something told Tsuna he would regret that decision. So Tsuna sat. He occupied the edge of his bed, too self aware in front of this stranger to act more relaxed. And how could Tsuna relax? Reborn hasn't taken his eyes off of Tsuna once since he entered the room, and it really bothered the teen how Reborn was still examining him like he expected something out of Tsuna. Tsuna hated to disappoint - he really didn't - but there wasn't anything in him worth searching for.
"Is...Is there anything you want?" Tsuna finally spoke up, unable to stand the silence.
And that bastard of a genius kid tutor just grinned, because he was just waiting for that question. Yet he stayed silent. Tsuna waited for a response. "I want you to accept me." "What can you tell me about school?" "How about a glass of milk?" "This is my room now." "I said I just wanted room and board, but your mother is too gullible so I thought I'd take advantage. Give me your money." Tsuna expected at least one of those and more.
"What do you know of the mafia?"
Tsuna stared blankly as the fedora wearing infant pet his chameleon.
What?
Because that was not what Tsuna expected.
And done.
Regarding Kaneda Osamu...There's a kid in Tsuna's class called Osamu in canon. I found him on the KHR wiki. He's a real person, a real fictional person.
It feels short to me even though I know many people write their chapters around this length as well. Maybe it's just because I'm used to reading 5k+ long chapters...I need a life.
Anyways, thanks for reading my story, let me know what you guys think. Any guesses on what my intentions are? [Inset evil laughter] (Wondering where the heck I'll be going with this on the inside).
Most importantly though, I am an irresponsible procrastinating idiot. I warn anyone who reads this now that there will be no schedule for updates. I am a slow bucket turtle, and I will eventually manage to get my ideas out on paper (metaphorically, because this is online). Apologies.
Again, sorry in advanced, because I can't predict how my mind works.
Reviews would be helpful. Thanks again!