Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyou Hitman Reborn, Akira Amano does.
**May contain spoilers**
The Rain's Tears
The skies of Italy were covered by dark clouds that release a shower of tears onto the land. A pale hand pressed against the glass, which had turned into ice from the pelts of droplets that attacked it. Cold rushed through the warm hand and cooled the body attached to it. The only sound that could be heard was the unmistakable nostalgic pitter-patter of droplets.
A loud creak broke the rhythmic music and amber eyes looked into the partially reflective glass window to see who the visitor was. A man with cow-licked silver hair stood at the door. His gruff voice further disturbed the rain's melody. "Yo, Sawada—I mean…" he stopped, remembering he's at work. "Excuse me, Boss. I heard from Gokudera that you wanted to see me."
The hand slowly slid away from the glass. "Yes," the mafia boss turned around, "I'm sorry that I cut your visit short. How's everyone doing in Japan?"
"They're all doing great, but they all miss you a lot, especially my sister. The first thing she said to me when I saw her was 'hello', the second thing she said was 'is Tsu-kun with you?'" The man laughed, "Kyoko's all grown up now."
"Kyoko…" a soft smile formed as Tsuna remembered her. His face finally looked at peace after all the stress he had accumulated as the boss to the Vongola Family. Middle school days of his once strange and joyful life came back to his mind and he saw the smiling face of an orange-haired angel.
The silver-haired man's face also softened after seeing his Boss's calm face. But it quickly changed when he finally remembered what he came back to Italy for, "Sawa—Boss! Was there something you needed me for?"
"You don't need to call me 'Boss', it's not like Reborn's going to pop in and shoot you if you call me 'Sawada'." The infant tutor that had trained Tsuna hadn't been seen since his coronation ceremony as Vongola X, which was years ago. Once every so often, Tsuna would receive a letter or postcard from Reborn or Bianchi from places all over the world. But it was only on rare occasions and secretly. "Ryohei, I need your Vongola ring."
"Sure, Sawada," he pulled the shining metal off his finger. "But what for?" Ryohei walked over to Tsuna and put the ring in his Boss's outstretched hand.
"My intuition told me that I need to destroy them," he answered as he put the ring in his jacket pocket.
"D-Destroy? Aren't these rings priceless heirlooms of the Vongola Family?" the boxer boomed. Thunder echoed him in the distance.
"They are."
Ryohei still couldn't get over his bewilderment, "Then why?"
"Ryohei, I'll be leaving the country for a few days next week. Normally, I would give Gokudera this job, but he's too busy as it is and I don't want to overload him otherwise he'll get sick like last time."
"What do you need me to do?"
"…I need you to watch over Lambo. I heard that he was getting bullied at school again."
"You got it, Sawa—Boss! Not only will I watch the kid, I'll turn him into an extreme boxing champ!" Ryohei exclaimed.
Tsuna smiled, "That's good. I anticipate his first tournament. I'll see you later, alright?"
Ryohei nodded, "I'll start on his training right now." He made a half-sprint for the door. "Later then, Sawada—Boss!" The oak slammed shut and once again the rain resumed its tune. Tsuna stayed where he stood until another roll of thunder called him to his seat.
The leather let out a small squeak and Tsuna let himself lean back in the chair. The lights flickered out and lightning brightened the room through the window behind him. He closed his eyes, letting the darkness settle in and soothe him.
"Tsuna-nii!" a small boy with hazel hair wearing a long striped scarf rushes up to Tsuna, hugging his leg out of breath.
"Fuuta!" he exclaims, unable to hide his shock at seeing the boy here. "Is something wrong?"
The boy shakes his head enthusiastically then smiles brightly up at Tsuna, who can't help but smile back. "Then what is it?"
"I-pin, Lambo, and I need one more person to play with us. Can you play with us, Tsuna-nii?"
"Sure thing, Fuuta," Tsuna gently pulls the child off his leg and takes his hand. "So, what game are you guys playing?"
"Cops and Robbers," Fuuta laughed, "I-pin, Lambo, and I are the cops and Tsuna-nii is going to be the robber!"
"M-Me? The robber?"
"Yup! Good luck, Tsuna-nii!"
Dong! Dong! Dong! Dong!
Tsuna opened his eyes to darkness. He looked around his office groggily before laying his eyes on the grandfather clock on his left. Lightning flashed again, revealing the clock's face. He got out of his chair and walked to the antique to get a better look at the time. As he stood directly in front of the grandfather clock, there was another flash of lightning, which revealed the silhouette of a person taller than Tsuna.
"Don't turn around, Tsunayoshi-kun…" a voice as eerie as darkness whispered in the boss's ear.
"Mukuro? No, you're not really here. Where are you right now?" Tsuna asked, "And how are you talking to me?"
"Kufufu," he chuckled, "I'm actually in the midst of a battle with Glo Xinia."
"Glo…Xinia?" Tsuna furrowed his eyebrows as he tried to recall a face to match the name, but can't.
"He's a member of the Millefiore Family's White Spell," Mukuro explained, reading his boss's mind, "and it appears that he holds a Mare Ring…like Byakuran."
Thunder.
Tsuna turned around, searching for his Mist Guardian, but he was no where in sight.
Cold dark pitch veiled Tsuna's vision as well as the smell of wet leather mixed with blood. "Now, now, Tsunayoshi-kun, didn't I tell you not to turn around?" his voice was low, barely a whisper and almost droned out by the sound of rain.
"You said you're in a battle right now, correct? Do you need back-up?"
"Always worrying about everyone no matter who or where they are," Mukuro murmured. His breath was ragged. "That's what's…going to get…you killed one day…Tsuna…yoshi-kun…"
The rain filled in for the silence that was absent from this conversation.
"Mukuro, if it's too much of a burden for you to be here, you don't need to be. Just talking with Chrome will be enough for me. Don't waste your energy for something like this that your subordinate could handle."
"Kufufu…I'm sorry, Tsunayoshi-kun…you'll have to pardon me this one time…" he stopped to catch his breath. Long, heavy, wet strings fell onto Tsuna's shoulder and cold leather fingers took Tsuna's warm hand and smoothed out the fist. "Tsunayoshi-kun…here is my Vongola ring…" A small circular ice-cold band was set on the mafia boss's hand.
"How did you know that this is what I would be asking for?"
A light scoff reached Tsuna's ear. "Silly Tsunayoshi-kun…do you believe Kyouya's intelligence network is better than mine?" The damp strings slowly slid off Tsuna's shoulder and the black that blocked his view slowly moved away. "I am the Mist, the one that 'creates something from nothing and nothing from something'…don't forget that…Tsunayoshi-kun…"
Tsuna turned around again and this time, he saw Chrome standing where Mukuro should have been. "Chrome…" he breathes.
"Mukuro-sama…is…busy right now," she said meekly. "He said to tell you that if you ask for him. And he said not to worry so much, or you'd die before he got his second chance at revenge."
Rain drops filled in the emptiness, pouring drops into the atmosphere, making it heavy.
"I have some errands to run, so, please excuse me, Boss," she gave a small bow before walking out through the oak, which groaned as she left the room.
Tsuna looked down at the ring in his hand. It was partially-covered with red stickiness and was cold and wet. He closed his fingers around the ring in his palm and cupped the fist with his other hand. Tsuna pressed the area between his eyebrows with the thumbs of his hands. "Please, Mukuro…don't die…otherwise, Chrome and Ken and Chikusa…they'll…"
Thunder interrupted him and he solemnly tucked the Mist Vongola ring in his jacket pocket. Tsuna walked back to his desk, feeling a bit weak in the knees as he remembered what Mukuro had said. 'He holds a Mare Ring…like Byakuran'…
He swallowed only half the discomfort lodged in his throat before he slammed his palms on the desk. "Darn it…" Tsuna set himself down in his seat. His head drooped over the table, supported by his arms with palms planted over his eyes to stop the tears that were starting to form with the concern for his subordinate. The process worked and he finally allowed himself to recline in his seat after he was sure his tears were vaulted again.
Knock. Knock.
"Tenth, I'm coming in," Gokudera announced as he opened the oak by brass knobs. "Is something wrong?" he asked immediately. His worry escaped through his voice, which only grew louder, "Did something happen? Do you feel unwell?"
Tsuna shot Gokudera a pained glance before regaining his recent and more stoic face; he shook his head. "It's nothing, Gokudera. Did something come up or do I have more work?"
"Actually, there's a bit of morbid news," Gokudera smiled weakly at his boss. He only paused for a second so that the thunder could yell. "Yamamoto's father is…dead…"
Tsuna's eyes widened, "Yamamoto's father?" He stood up, "How? How did it happen?"
"He…he was murdered by some hitmen. I have a team investigating right now, but Yamamoto's a little…well, you know."
Tsuna stomach knotted and flashes of Yamamoto's past suicide attempt slid by in his mind. "Where is Yamamoto right now?"
"His room," Gokudera answered. "He locked the door and won't let anyone in. I heard that he just came back from Japan to get a few things before he leaves, but—"
"Please excuse me, Gokudera," Tsuna interrupted, walking hurriedly out of his office. The Storm Guardian stood where he was, looking after his friend's disappearing figure with anxiety.
As Tsuna reached the end of the hallway, he made an abrupt right turn followed by another. He halts in step right before he sees a maid trying at the handle with one hand while the other was balancing a tray of food.
"Please, Mr. Yamamoto, I'm only here to bring you food. Please let me—" she stopped, realizing that Tsuna is now behind her. After taking the silver platter in two hands, she made a small bowing gesture. "Boss."
Tsuna took the tray from the maid quickly and smoothly.
"B-But, Boss!"
"You're dismissed for today, please feel free to relax," Tsuna said as he balanced the tray of food in one hand and knocked on the door with the other. "Yamamoto, it's me," he yelled, "Let me in."
The maid and Tsuna stood in silence, Tsuna waited patiently while the maid trembled in the anticipation. After a few more seconds of waiting, Tsuna knocked on the door again. "Yamamoto…"
They stood frozen in the quiet hallway until Tsuna heard a thump in the room. The mafia boss turned his head so he could see the maid and gave her a smile, "Please take the rest of the day off."
"Y-Yes, sir," she bowed before scurrying down the hallway.
"I'm alone now, Yamamoto. Open the door."
A crack finally appeared between the door and the frame, revealing darkness. Tsuna took a deep, calming breath before proceeding into the dark room. After taking only a few steps, the door closed shut behind him. In the pitch black, Tsuna can barely make out Yamamoto's hunched figure over the side of the bed.
Tsuna took a step forward and Yamamoto spoke. "Don't…" his voice was hoarse and dry.
The young boss remained where his friend had stopped him.
"I know why you came here…It's to make sure I didn't kill myself, right? Like that time on the roof all those years ago. Looking back at that time, I really should've died. It's not like I'm ungrateful that you stopped me, but…right now…it's just too…painful…"
"Yama—"
"The kid, no Reborn…he's not a kid anymore is he?" he gave a small laugh, "Reborn told me that one day, this kind of thing was bound to happen. He said that anyone I knew—my friends, my family—they were all likely to get hurt one day because I joined the mafia, because I became a hitman." There was a short silence followed by a partly insane laugh, "I can't believe I thought that the mafia thing was a game when I was younger…Man, I wish it was like that again…those days of blissful ignorance."
Tsuna braved a step forward and Yamamoto drew his sword before even one second had passed. In the darkness, the metal blade was the only thing that shined. He stopped again, watching his friend's movements.
"This sword and his shop…they're probably the only objects Dad loved. I was wondering if I should sell the shop to get money for his funeral and if I should put the sword next to his picture. Or…if I should just take my own life with this blade."
"Ya—"
"You don't understand how painful it is," Yamamoto whispered, "losing both your parents…My dreams were meant to be shattered from the start; my life was meant to be a wreck."
Tsuna started walking towards Yamamoto despite the intimidating sword's glare that cut the darkness. Reflexively, Yamamoto pointed his sword towards Tsuna. If Tsuna had made another step, his neck would've been stabbed.
"Don't get too close, Tsuna," Yamamoto choked. Tsuna grabbed the blade with his bare hands, causing blood to stream down his palm, and stepped forward, pressing the blade at the junction between his neck and head. Yamamoto turned at the jerking movement. Unlike Tsuna, he could see in the dark as if it were a lighted room faintly painted over with gray. "T-Tsuna—"
"If you really mean to kill yourself, kill me before you do the act because I don't want to see my friend die while I stand around uselessly and stupidly."
Yamamoto averted Tsuna's strong amber eyes that burned with his resolve and started to pull his sword away. "I…"
Tsuna tightened his grip on the sharp blade and pressed it again at the junction, this time harder than the first. "Well? What are you going to do? Are you going to kill yourself?"
"Ye…"
"I can't hear you," Tsuna's voice boomed in the dark.
"Y—No!" Yamamoto yelled as he lowered his sword. The room was quiet with the exception of a light sniffle. "I…how could you even think that I'd be okay with being the cause of your death?"
Tsuna set the silver tray at the edge of the bed and wrapped his arms around Yamamoto, holding his Rain Guardian's head against his shoulder. The swordsman's sniffling stopped as shock settled in. He opened his mouth to say something, but Tsuna beat him to it.
"That's exactly what your father would say, isn't it?" he asked softly. As the words entered Yamamoto's ears, Tsuna loosened his grip a bit. "You're right, I don't know how it feels to lose your parents or how great that blissful ignorance that you had really was, but here's one thing I do know: you're someone who is not only important to me, but to our friends as well."
Yamamoto's shoulders relaxed and the shock on his face evaporated. He pushed Tsuna away and wiped his tears with the sleeve of his suit. "You're right, Tsuna. I'm being too depressing. Dad would be scolding me right now if he were here. Thanks, Tsuna…I've probably wasted a load of time here just moping, I should start getting packed." He left the bed and walked to his closet, taking out a suitcase, which he then set on the bed next to the tray of food. "Tsuna, if it's not too much trouble, can I borrow some money for Dad's funeral?"
"Of course, what are friends for?" Tsuna smiled. It was half-forced and he hoped that Yamamoto couldn't see in the dark.
"It's getting late…You should probably get back to your office and get some work done. Who knows when Reborn's going to come in, right?"
"Yeah, you're right." Tsuna walked towards the door and grabbed the handle. He twisted the knob, but stopped after that. "One more thing, Yamamoto…"
"What is it, Tsuna?"
"Promise me, that no matter what happens, you won't kill yourself over it and instead, you'll go on strong."
"Of course! I can't just keep making you guys worry about me every time I get down in the dumps, can I?"
A small, painful smile beset Tsuna's face. "That's good." He opened the door and the light from the hallway invaded the dark room. "See you tomorrow."
"I don't like how you're handling things, Sawada," Hibari spoke as Tsuna came out of Yamamoto's room. "It's not like you."
"Even I can be cool when I want to be, Hibari," Tsuna replied, not at all surprised by Hibari's presence right outside of the swordsman's room. He started down the hall back towards his office; Hibari trailed behind him. "Is there something you need to say, Hibari?"
"The car's ready," the Cloud Guardian answered.
Tsuna stopped. He let out a small sigh, "So you really weren't joking when you said that you'd follow me."
"I don't joke, Sawada."
End Chapter Two
It took a while to make this one, but that's okay! [Grammar was edited]
Let's all hope that the author continues to write!
Happy holidays! X3
Reviews gladly appreciated! 3
**Ooh! Who do you guys want to see that's outside the family/Guardian circle? Like, Dino, Squalo, Bel, Fran, Xanxas, Lussuria, Levi, etc.
