Sawada Tsunayoshi had been nine years old when he met the kind lady who'd passed the curse to him. Her mesmerizing blue eyes bore into his brown ones, softening at his curiosity. He didn't know why, but he sensed the lady was overwhelmed with some sense of sadness. He frowned, wondering if she was pitying him because of the bandaged bruise on his cheek. The nine year old didn't really want stranger's pity. But the lady had some kind of warmth in her presence, and she didn't seem so foreign. There was something about her that Tsuna felt he could trust her.
He had dumbly accepted the orange marble-looking item without much thought. Tsuna could see the frown marring her face despite the kind, gentle smile portrayed in front of him. His brown eyes glanced at the orange marble; it wasn't a marble, but a pacifier. His eyebrow raised for a moment, wondering why the lady would give him such a childish thing. He glanced back to the lady, about to ask, only to stop when he saw her saddened expression. She began to seem years beyond her young-looking age that he couldn't help but offer an innocent question instead.
"Onee-san, are you okay?"
Tsuna could've sworn those same, ocean blue eyes turned glassy for a moment, but no tears fell from her eyes. The woman's expression brightened slightly as she wrapped her arms around the confused child.
"I'm sorry for what's to come ahead of you, Tsunayoshi-kun," she whispered softly. Tsuna could only hug her back, unsure of what to say. She pulled back, and said, with a less saddening smile, "Always keep it with to you, promise me?"
Tsuna had been ten years old when he met another person with the same pacifier, only a different color. His orange one had shined brightly in his pocket when the infant in front of him appeared. He began to panic, unable to hide the object. The infant in front of him wore a suit, looking as though he were a business man. On the rim of his hat was a small, green chameleon. The fellow pacifier-holder showed no ill intent toward him, and oddly, he knew he could trust him.
The infant said he was sent by Aria-san, causing him to listen in curiosity.
He was also ten years old when he learned about the mafia, and the purpose of the pacifier. And that was when he understood Aria-san's sadness and he felt some sort of heavy wight upon his tiny shoulders. His world felt dark, and he felt like he learned something he was never suppose to dwindle in. A sudden paranoia washed over him, wondering if there were people watching him from every angle. The infant with the yellow pacifier—Reborn—had told him he had sky flames ( whatever that was, he explained it to him but the concept seemed crazy ) and that was why he was chosen as the next holder.
The brunet frowned as he tried to process the information. It really made no sense to him, and the fear of getting killed was really scaring him at that point, but the infant—who happened to be a hitman himself, one of the reasons he was the Strongest Seven—reassured him that his father had people protecting him, his brother, and his mother from any assassins. He could hear Ienari's voice and heavy, pounding steps as his twin ran to him. The boy turned his head around, glancing at his brother, who carried a childish grin on his face. Reborn tipped his fedora and bid the young boy a farewell. Tsuna had wanted to ask another question, only for the infant already gone and a massive, pounding headache claiming him.
He staggered to his knees, Ienari freaking out, his voice loud as he frantically asked multiple questions and unknowingly adding onto his brother's headache until he passed out.
Tsuna was eleven years old when he met Kawahira, the man who gave a fuller explanation to Reborn's. The child didn't fully trust the man, however, causing him to chuckle and mention something about "Vongola's infamous intuition" and ruffle his hair much to his dislike. The word Vongola managed to stay in his mind for the years to come; for some reason, he felt that was important.
"Why was I chosen?" Tsuna decided to ask, fiddling with the pacifier in his small hands. "Reborn said it had to do with my sky flames, but I don't have any."
"Yes, it has to do with your sky flames. It is rare to find people possessing sky flames, especially flames as pure as yours, Tsunayoshi-kun. You've yet to unlock your potential," Kawahira mused lightly, and something about his smile seemed sickeningly sweet that Tsuna wanted to vomit or just get away from him. "I wonder if you know the situation you're in. Because you haven't used your flames yet, you've yet to experience the effects."
"What effects?" Tsuna asked, tensing. His brown eyes flickered with a sunset hue, narrowing dangerously at the man. Kawahira's smile grew wider.
"Don't worry, you'll see," he said, before frowning, "I do hope that you enjoy your life before then."
"What do you mean?" Tsuna asked warily.
"The Sky Arcobaleno are cursed with a shorter lifespan, to put it simply," Kawahira murmured. He wasn't going to keep the child in the dark forever, he would have to learn sooner or later.
There was something about the tone in the man's voice. Solemn, and somewhat pitiful. Just like Aria-san. Tsuna allowed the barrier between him and the man to drop a bit. The man didn't seem as emotionless as he thought. No, he didn't like the pity, but to think that the man did seem to somewhat care about him made him seem less of a bad person. Then, the words sunk in. He was slowly dying. In a normal scenario, he'd be freaking out and think the man was just going crazy and sprouting nonsense, but he was eerily calm about it. He didn't exactly accept it, but then it made sense, even more, why Aria seemed so pitiful when they first met. The man took the boy's hand, playing tiny chains in it.
"You can hide the glow with this. Sooner or later, the other Arcobaleno will look for you, to know you, but seeing as you live a civilian's life, it would be best to keep it more hidden," he said.
As Tsuna accepted the small chains and began wrapping the orange pacifier, he couldn't help but ask, "If the Strongest Seven received these, why did I receive it, then?"
Kawahira did not respond, and instead said, "It's getting late. Your family will begin to worry. Don't worry, you still have a lot of time ahead of you."
Tsuna was twelve when he understood what Kawahira meant by effects. He was physically weaker, and while his brother was becoming a little muscular helping out clubs, he was skinny. It then became the one way everyone was able to differentiate the two Sawadas, the both of them nearly identical with the exceptions of their slight difference in eye color, and Ienari being taller and now a bit muscular, and Tsuna being shorter and skinnier.
"Tsuna, the soccer club wants my help today, so I'm gonna be late today."
Tsuna nodded, and watched his brother turn to some of his fellow classmates. He was lucky Ienari was busy today. He felt strangely sick, and he really didn't want his overreacting brother to start worrying again. He began to tread home slowly, knowing the younger of the two would be home pretty late, and he could take his time. He would feel the pacifier in his pocket rattle gently, a constant reminder of his even slower death.
When Tsuna was thirteen, that's when Reborn re-entered his life with an all too innocent word, "Ciaossu."
Ienari stared eye to eye at the infant before him, and bursted into laughter. There was no way this was the tutor his mom called. It was all a scam, if he was the tutor. He only got kicked by the said infant in response. Tsuna winced, glancing at Reborn with a small nod. He turned to his twin, asking, "Are you alright?"
"My face hurts more than my stomach," Ienari groaned, before getting pulled up by Reborn. He didn't like this person from the get-go. Their mother giggled, murmuring among the lines of "them getting along just fine."
"I'll be going ahead, Ienari," Tsuna said, causing the younger Sawada to immediately run after him to school. How he managed to pass by without a sound, Ienari would never know. His brother was always more passive and quiet with his movement and actions.
"You don't seem surprised at all, Tsuna," Ienari remarked. Tsuna'd always been the one to sink things in more quickly, something, again, Ienari would never really understand how.
Tsuna hummed lightly in response, shrugging. "I guess."
"You're not surprised the tutor is a baby," Ienari deadpanned. "Don't you think that's weird?"
"I'm a hitman," came Reborn's voice, sitting atop of Tsuna's head. Ienari frowned. How did he get there?
"Really?" he asked boredly. "I'm an assassin then."
"You're a dame, dame-Nari," the arcobaleno said back.
"I don't want to hear that from a baby!" he snapped. Tsuna chuckled lightly, amused by the banter. Ienari whined, "Why're you laughing, Tsuna!?"
The sky arcobaleno shrugged, and continued to laugh. Ienari sighed deeply, before cracking a smile. Reborn hopped off of Tsuna's head and walked alongside the two Sawadas. Ienari tried to gauge whether this scam was the real deal not. It was definitely not a robot, he knew. Reborn's deep black eyes stared back at him, smirking.
"What a cute baby!" came the excited voice of Sasagawa Kyoko. "Is he your little brother?"
"N-no," Ienari stammered, blushing. The Nami-chuu idol smiled sweetly at the arcobaleno.
"I'm a hitman," Reborn said automatically, causing Kyoko to squeal lightly and kneel down to him.
"He's not our brother, but he's staying with us," Tsuna responded. Ienari cranked his head to him with a frown, really, Tsuna? The shorter twin shrugged, it was the best I could come up with, make a better one next time. Not that they could read minds, but they could read each other's expressions. Kyoko stood up, smiling widely.
"See you at school, Sawada-kun, Tsuna-kun," she said, waving and walking ahead. She'd spoken to Tsuna before, and to differentiate the two, she began to call him by his name. Ienari slightly wished he was in his brother's shoes. He was hardly able to have a conversation with her, while Tsuna would just speak to her without a problem. Once the girl was out of sight, he shot a look at Reborn.
"Are you gonna tell everyone you're a hitman?"
"You like her, don't you?" Reborn said, ignoring his comment. "Go talk to her, then."
"What're you talking about?! She's the school idol, I can't, it's impossible," he said. There was no way he could, especially with Mochida-senpai always with her. Besides, he really didn't want to hear that from a baby either, Tsuna already saying that to him everyday. He glanced at his brother for help, who had an "I told you so" look on his face.
He really wanted to punch his brother, the little sneaky betrayer. The older Sawada was grinning, adding on to Ienari's annoyance. He sighed, defeated. The chameleon on Reborn's fedora changed into a gun, and he said, "Die."
It all happened in an instant, really. He could see his twin's shocked face, and the ever so annoying smirk on Reborn's face. Hmm, if I knew I was dying, maybe I would've taken the chance to talk to her.
When Sawada Tsunayoshi, the young arcobaleno, was thirteen, that was when his mundane life turned around as his twin sprouted up, screaming and suddenly running with a sky flame on his forehead. His shock died down as he tried to process what the hell had just happened. Ienari wasn't immortal. He shot a look at Reborn, wanting answers. Any form of playful mischief on his face was gone as he turned to his sky.
"Does Ienari know?" Tsuna hadn't expect that, but he had a feeling he'd get answers later. He shook his head.
"Please don't tell him," he pleaded softly. "I don't want him to know."
A frown marred Reborn's face. There was no hesitation from him, but the deadly silence was overwhelming. Tilting his fedora, he responded, "If that's what you wish."
When he and Reborn reached the school, Ienari was nowhere in sight. Tsuna rose an eyebrow. He heard a few students either shocked or laughing, mentioning his brother's name. Kyoko locked eyes with him and quickly walked over. She looked distressed, the complete opposite of when he'd seen her just moments ago. Reborn was gone, probably nearby and listening.
"Tsuna-kun, Mochida-senpai challenged your brother to a kendo match because of me," she said uncertainly. She explained the situation, causing him to grimace. That was really, really embarrassing. While the challenge wasn't really a big deal, Ienari was good in other sports but kendo.
"I'm sure he'll be fine," he said. The girl didn't look very convinced, but had a small smile on her face.
Honestly, entering the classroom with students exclaiming how dame-Tsuna really influenced his brother was both disturbing, annoying, and even a bit embarrassing for himself too. He tried to ignore the comments as he sat in his seat, the familiar object around his neck rattling ever so slightly from the movement. He sighed softly and placed his head on the desk.
"Kyoko, you know he's trying to 'pay Sawada back' for what he did, right?" Hana asked, somewhat amused. Tsuna brought his head back up, somewhat curious. She noticed the action, and said, "Your brother's not the type to do that, so why did he?"
Kyoko glanced at him worriedly. Wisely, he decided to say, "It's a long story, but basically he wasn't really himself today."
"Sawada's good at sports, so I'm sure he'll hold up somehow," Hana murmured. As soon as she said that, Ienari entered the classroom, keeping his head down as fellow classmates began laughing at him.
Lunch break, he was tugged by Ienari to the roof, where it was quiet, and explained the same scenario with a huge blush on his face. Tsuna didn't pity his brother, but he did feel a little bad that it happened to him. He'd probably feel more humiliated than his brother if it was him. Of course he already heard the story from Kyoko, Ienari's clothes were "missing" and he pretty much confessed to the girl ( that, Kyoko didn't mention ) and everyone saw it and Mochida, angered, challenged him to a kendo match which would begin in a few minutes.
"What do I do, Tsuna?" Ienari asked, nearly pleading.
"First, calm down. You're not backing down the challenge, are you?" Ienari shook his head. "Then just face the challenge, somehow win it, and that's it."
"But that's easier said than done!"
"You asked me," Tsuna said, shrugging.
"You have to learn to solve your own problems, dame-Nari," of course Reborn would appear. The Sawada twins glanced warily at the hitman. He got Ienari in the whole mess in the first place, after all.
Tsuna only stayed up to when he noticed Reborn shoot his brother again, but didn't manage to stay for the kendo match, as he instead, silently retreated to the classroom. There were no students within the room, causing him to sigh in relief. With that, his shoulders fell as he slumped against the wall, the chained pacifier clutched in his hands as he fought the urge to pass out.
It had been happening more often, the bouts of pain. His body was burning inside, palms becoming sweaty. He was tempted to let out a cry, but he didn't want to alert any students walking down the halls. Instead, he hugged his knees tightly and stayed in the same position for what seemed like ages until lunch break was over.
I don't have much to say, but this is probably gonna be a short fic. I don't have much plans for this, so it isn't going to be long.
This is mostly in Tsuna's view, so he's not necessarily going to be around to see the guardians come together. He'll have the general idea, though.