best of wives and best of women

a Katekyo Hitman Reborn fanfiction

Genderbend Sawada Tsunayoshi


Disclaimer: I do not own KHR


Warnings: grammar errors, typos


Chapter 2


Reborn observes the exchange between Shamal and Sawada Tsuguna.

Shamal put Tsuguna at ease first by using his charms and telling her funny anecdotes. Sure enough, she start to open up.

Shamal asked her harmless questions in the beginning. Tsuguna answered all those questions easily. What is distressing though, is that she always relate her answers to Iemitsu by the end of it.

"I let the tea boil for one and half minutes, just like the way my husband likes it."

"Oh, my favourite colour is orange. It's my husband's favourite as well."

"You've been to Korea? My husband went there for work a few months ago."

"My husband likes to drink. What do you recommend, Doctor?"

"My husband…"

Listening to her make Reborn want to shoot something. Iemitsu made sure that he is the center of her world, even if he's not physically present. He can tell that Shamal is trying not to let his killing intent leak. They don't want to scare off their hostess. The last thing they need is for Tsuguna to fear them. That will only make things even harder for everyone involved.

Reborn had thought that he will dealing be with a truant child with Sealed Flames. He never imagined that he will be confronted by this instead.

Tsuguna sits there, talking with Shamal. Her voice is cheerful but eyes empty. The shade of the lipstick she's using is not at all suitable for her. The colour is meant for someone older. The blue dress she's wearing is too big for her. Tsuguna is painfully small, no doubt the result of Sealed Flames. Was she malnourished too? It could be another unfortunate side effect of Sealing. Shamal will be the one to ascertain that. Reborn can tell that she put pads on her chest to pass herself off as a grown up. He wonder if the neighbours notice at all. Reborn really, really wanted to believe that Nana is one of those people who are older than they look. But Tsuguna, no matter how much she dressed up, is obviously an adolescent.

And then most pressing question of all...

Where is the real Nana?

"By the way, Sawada-san…," Shamal look at the clock. "School hours ended already. Shouldn't your daughter be home right now? Unless she has extracurricular activities? Or maybe she's with her friends? Your daughter's name is Tsuguna, right?"

Tsuguna's expression turn blank. She gaze at Shamal with glazed eyes for a moment before her face lit up. "There is no one under that name living in this house," She says with a smile. "My husband and I have no children."

Reborn and Shamal exchanged a look. They turn to Tsuguna again, who has a cheerful smile plastered on her face. She tilt her head at them in bemused manner.

"I thought…"

"There is no Tsuguna here."

Tsuguna said it without any sort of change in her expression but her tone is that of finality.

Reborn clenched his fist. 'Goddamnit, Iemitsu. What have you done to her?'

He even went as far to condition Tsuguna to deny her own existence. He forced her to wear clothes most likely belonged to her mother. He even banned her from going to school, judging from the records he perused once he arrived. Iemitsu go great length to ensure Tsuguna immerse fully into the role of one Sawada Nana. A homemaker, a grown woman, Iemitsu's wife.

It appears Tsuguna had adopted Nana's personality. Iemitsu described his wife as cheerful, attentive, trusting and her obliviousness just added the charm. Either Tsuguna is a talented actress or she had no choice but to adapt to her new role quickly.

Reborn think of what might have happened to the real Nana. Under what kind of circumstances that drove Iemitsu to do this to his own child. The possibilities he come up with sickens him.

Reborn really, really don't want to do this but they had to ask.

"Iemitsu told us that the two of you are trying to have kids now," says Reborn. Iemitsu never keep his mouth shut. Not when it comes to his darling wife.

That smile stiffens. "My husband did?"

"He did not tell you?"

"N-No, he-he did…," Tsuguna stutters. "I-I'm still thi-thinking about…" She cringed. "...it."

Could it be that they have found an opening?

Shamal give her a sympathetic look. "Kids can be handful. Not everyone want to be a parent. If you're not ready, you should tell him the truth," Shamal kindly said.

"I'm thinking about it," Tsuguna repeat. "I will talk to my husband about it when he return."

Oh, there will be no next time. Reborn will make sure of it.

Seeing Tsuguna agitated, Shamal drop the subject. Tsuguna asked them if they want to stay for dinner. The two men said yes.

Shamal go to the hallway and pretend to make a call. But his eyes never leave Tsuguna's form. Reborn head upstairs to investigate. The floorplan of the house show four bedroom on the second floor. A master bedroom and three smaller bedrooms.

The master bedroom is easy to find. This is where Iemitsu would sleep. With his 'wife'. Reborn closes the door or else he will shoot everything in this room. The room at the end of the hallway catches his eye. The door is sealed with wax. Sun Flame easily melt it.

Reborn is greeted with a room full of dust. It looks like it's been months since anyone last step afoot here. Judging from the stuffed animals and childish decor, it was Tsuguna's bedroom. Before Iemitsu- Before.

Reborn almost dismiss it as a civilian girl bedroom if he didn't notice the altar next to the desk. And there it was, between the tablet and incense stick- A photograph.

Sawada Nana

So, Sawada Nana is definitely dead. Iemitsu most likely was unable to cope. So he forced his daughter to impersonate her dead mother.

Reborn go through Tsuguna's desk. The calendar has been marked. Seven X's on the last week of each month. She is keeping count of Iemitsu's visit. There are other marked dates; tests, homework deadlines, tax payments. So not only Tsuguna is dealing with school, she also has to juggle with housework all by herself. A feat worthy of praise. The calendar dated back to July last year. No more marks after that. It is shortly before summer vacation. This must be around the time Tsuguna fully embraced her 'Nana' role, for she no longer attend school after that.

Someone must have noticed. The school must have at least notify the government so they can send a truant officer to investigate. Iemitsu most likely had a hand in it. He must have done something similar to the neighbours.

Reborn went to work. He disabled the hidden cameras on the second floor. To his relief, there are no cameras in the bathroom. Small mercies.

Their first priority is to get Tsuguna out of this hellhole. Bring her to a safehouse that is not affiliated with CEDEF. Notify the Ninth of what Iemitsu had done.

The other two bedrooms come up empty.

Which leaves the master bedroom.

Reborn grit his teeth. As much as he didn't want to enter that room for the second time, it must be done. Better him than Tsuguna.

The bedroom is ordinary, for the most part. Reborn found Iemitsu's secret weapon compartment but that's it. He had hoped to find Nana's death certificate or clues of any kind. He come up empty. Iemitsu most likely throw away reminders of the real Nana's death so his delusion won't be challenged.

'Including his own child's existence,' Reborn sneered. Did he come to believe his own lies? Or Nana's death made him snapped? How did they come to this point?

Tsuguna call out from downstairs. Dinner is ready. Please come to the kitchen.

Reborn shut the door behind him.


Really now, her husband should have told her beforehand that his coworkers will be visiting. Nana knows how busy he is. But surely he is not too busy to tell her over the phone that two coworkers of his will drop by? Her husband doesn't like sudden visits. He should have given her a warning. Her guests assumed someone named Tsuguna live her. The name make her uncomfortable for unknown reasons. What is her husband not telling her? No, no. She must not get suspicious. Her husband is loyal to her. These people must have heard wrong.

Dr. Shamal is funny. Mr. Reborn is quiet but unfailingly polite. He own a lizard named Leon. Nana had to admit it was nice to have company over. She can't remember the last time she cook for more than two people. Her husband never invite someone over.

No, wait. He did. Once upon a time. A long time ago.

That's not the problem here.

Her husband had told these people about their… Nana hesitate to use the term 'marital problem'. Private life. Yes, those are the words she is looking for. Her husband had discussed their private life to his coworkers. People whom Nana never met. Her husband rarely talk about work and the people he met abroad. And now he had told the world that they are trying? That's not true! She still need to think about it! It's not fair for her husband to go ahead and announce it to the world while Nana has yet to say yes!

But… Maybe she should? Her husband looked like he wanted to have kids. He would be so happy if she say yes. Her husband promised her that he will stay in Japan for three years. It's like a dream come true.

But he want children in exchange.

Nana doesn't mind children. Babies are adorable. Her neighbors looked so happy with their children. No doubt that her life will be even happier with kids. But… Nana is satisfied with her current life. Nana and Iemitsu, just the two of them. There is no need to change that.

Children is a lot of responsibilities. Responsibilities she couldn't afford to leave behind. What will happen after three years? Anything can happen in three years. Her husband will leave her again and won't return for the next three weeks. But this time she will be left with a child or children. His kid. Hers and Iemitsu's kid. A wife's duty is to bear her husband's children. Nana understand that but…

Her husband will be angry if she told him no. He won't want to hear her not wanting children. Nana doesn't hate children. It's just… She's just…

Not ready?

Scared?

It's not that. It's something else. Nana is not sure what. Her instinct tell her to not… Something deep, deep inside her is warning her to not have children with her husband.

Her husband won't like that. He is scary when angered. What should Nana tell him? Will he listen to her?

Nana jumped in surprise when the kettle whistles. Oh, the water is ready. She must quickly serve the gentlemen tea. They have praised her cooking during dinner earlier. Nana is careful not to preen. Her husband knows everything, despite not being present. He has a way of finding out. Dr. Shamal and Mr. Reborn are waiting for her in the living room. She had prepared cookies to accompany the tea. It's not much but it will suffice. She hope her guests will be understanding.

She is in the middle of pouring tea when her stomach twist painfully. Nana almost drop the teapot. She quickly put it on the counter before rushing to the toilet. She feel sick. Her guests noticed and asked her what's wrong but Nana ignore them. Something is not right. She can feel it. Food poisoning? A cold?

Nana slam the door close. She didn't mean to. It's rude to their guests. It's just her stomach feels like it's being stabbed. Something is definitely not right. Nana take off her underwear.

There is a dark stain on her underwear.

Tsuguna screams.


I want to give my deepest apologise to my readers who got triggered by the previous chapter.

Thank you for reading

Please leave a review

NO FLAME