Author's Notes: Whenever I talk about the sport baseball, I am referring to its magical equivalent, meaning that all the rules and such are inherently the same, except that students are allowed to use their magic/ flames when playing. I hope this makes sense considering that the students do attend a magic school after all.
Once again, 'italics' = Tsuna's thoughts
Disclaimer: All the lovely characters in Katekyo Hitman Reborn! belong to the amazing Akira Amano. I do not own or claim to own anything.
Chapter 2: The Coming of the Rain
As Tsuna walked to school the next day, his thoughts couldn't help but to drift back to what Reborn had explained to him that morning.
"Seeing as you haven't contracted with a Guardian before, I'm assuming that your knowledge about forming contracts is next to none." Reborn had said.
Tsuna nodded. "I did read a little about them though. Something about there being three ways to form a contract?"
"That is correct." Reborn affirmed. "There are a total of three ways to form a contract between a Summoner and a Guardian: through respect, friendship, or affection. The last one creates the strongest type of contract, but is the most uncommon because it requires the feelings to be reciprocated from both the Summoner and Guardian."
Tsuna looked confused. "The strongest type of contract?"
"In other words, forming a contract through affection creates the strongest type of bond between the Summoner and Guardian." Reborn explained. "The purpose of establishing a contract is so that the Summoner can synchronize his or her flames with their Guardian's flame so that they may draw out the full powers of the Guardian."
"So you're saying that the stronger the contract, the stronger the level of synchronization?"
"Yes, and it turn, the higher the synchronization level means the stronger the potential power that can be tapped out from both the Summoner and Guardian." Tsuna nodded in understanding as Reborn continued to lecture. "Each different method of establishing a contract requires a specific action to seal it—for contracts formed through respect, the Guardian vows a pledge of loyalty. For contracts sealed with friendship, it is a handshake."
"And what about the seal for contracts formed through affection?" Tsuna wondered.
Reborn smirked. "That's for you to find out, Tsuna."
Tsuna threw his tutor a cautious stare. "What do you mean it's for me to find out?"
"I mean that you'll find out when you find your own Guardians to contract."
Tsuna paused for a moment to contemplate his words. His eyes widened when he realized what Reborn meant. "You mean, you want me to seal all my contracts through affection?" Tsuna exclaimed with disbelief.
"Of course. I did say that it created the strongest bond, didn't I?" Reborn said expectantly. "And as my student, I expect nothing but the best from you."
"Right. Whatever you say, Reborn..." Tsuna replied uncertainly, mind spinning with possibilities.
"Tsuna." The brunet immediately looked up when he heard Reborn use his serious tone. "Even though you are now searching for your Guardians, I still want you to keep up the 'dame' act when you are in school."
Reborn frowned when his student sighed and seemed to deflate at his words. "I understand."
Reborn jumped up to sit on Tsuna's shoulder and stroked his student's cheek in a comforting manner. Tsuna looked up, startled, at the uncharacteristically gentle gesture. "I know you don't like having to act as Dame-Tsuna all the time." Reborn said softly. "I don't either. But you have to keep up this act for your own safety. You have to act like a weak, cowardly, no-good self because no one would suspect the Vongola Decimo of being someone like that. Keeping a low profile is one of the best ways of preventing enemies from targeting you."
Tsuna sighed. "I know, but..."
"Don't let the other students' words get to you, Tsuna." Reborn cut in sharply. "Who are they to judge what you are really worth? Isn't it enough that you have people who know you for who you really are?"
The brunet blinked at Reborn's words before breaking out into a wide, sunny smile. He crushed his tutor in a tight, sudden hug. "Thank you, Reborn."
Reborn lowered his fedora so that it covered his eyes. "Stupid Dame-Tsuna. Stop being such a sentimental idiot and get to school already. I won't forgive you if you're late."
"Hai!" Tsuna replied cheerfully as he bolted out the door. Reborn watched his student's retreating back with a small smile. He shook his head. He really was getting too attached for his own good...
Tsuna smiled when he recalled Reborn's parting words. However, he was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he failed to notice the crowd in the middle of the hallway and so he bumped into a student in front of him.
"Watch where you're going, Dame-Tsuna!" The other student promptly hissed.
"Hiee! I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Tsuna immediately ducked his head and cowered, an action befitting of the act he had to keep up.
Whatever the other student wanted to say in reply was drowned out by the squeals of the surrounding female classmates.
"Yamamoto-sama!"
"Takeshi-sama, what happened?"
'Yamamoto Takeshi, star of our school's baseball team, huh? Has a large female fanbase and many admirers amongst the male population as well. Rumors also say that he is skilled with the sword.' Tsuna mused to himself. 'If I recall correctly, he just came back from a month long baseball training camp...' Curious as to why his classmates were surrounding said baseball star, Tsuna discreetly made his way closer to the center of the crowd.
In the middle of the noisy crowd, Tsuna saw a smiling Yamamoto looking as chipper as he always did. However, a prominent sling was seen around his right arm.
"Hey, what happened, Yamamoto?" One of the closer classmates asked.
Yamamoto laughed and replied good-naturedly. "Haha, I kinda overdid it with practice at the last day of training camp yesterday. Looks like I'll be out for the entire baseball season."
"Why don't you go to the nurse, Yamamoto-kun?" Another classmate called out. "The nurse can probably use her healing Sun Flame magic to fix you up instantly!"
The baseball player ran his good hand through his hair and grinned sheepishly. "I did get it checked by the nurse, but she said that since it was a magic related accident, it's better for it to heal by itself or there might be side effects if it were healed with magic. Or something like that..." He trailed off laughing.
Inwardly, Tsuna frowned at this statement. He had been around Reborn long enough to become knowledgeable about the extents of Sun Flame magic. The only type of injury that Sun Flames are incapable of healing completely are serious life-threatening wounds—the supposed broken arm that Yamamoto claimed to have could be healed up instantly. So there was only one thing that can be concluded from Yamamoto's claim: 'He's lying.' Tsuna realized with a start. 'But why?'
"Aw man! But you're the star of the team, Yamamoto!" One of Yamamoto's jock friends exclaimed. "This season's not going to be the same without you!"
"Haha, I really am sorry about this." Yamamoto grinned. "But I'll still come around to cheer you guys on during games!" As the surrounding classmates broke out into lively cheers, Tsuna was left to his own thoughts.
Tsuna observed the taller teen more closely and frowned at his fake laughter and plastic smile. The slight tightening around Yamamoto's eyes also showed that he was holding on to suppressed emotions. Tsuna's intuition told him that there was something deeper, something more personal to Yamamoto's lie. 'And I'm going to get to the bottom of it.'
Tsuna made his way purposely down the deserted hallway. He reached the large double doors at the end of the hall and gave a single knock before strolling in. Tsuna tilted his head slightly to the left in order to dodge the knives that were suddenly thrown at him before raising his hand in greeting. "Xanxus-san, hi." He chirped with a sunny smile.
The raven-haired teen grunted in acknowledgement from the high-back chair he was lounging on. "So it's you, brat."
"Mou! Tsuna-chan!" Said brunet barely had time to brace himself before he was suffocated in a tight glomp. "Why didn't you tell us you were going to visit? That stupid prince almost hurt your precious face."
Tsuna gave a smile at the eccentric student who currently had him in a tight embrace. "It's alright, Lussuria-san. I wasn't hurt. And it's nice to see you as well."
"VOI! If the brat couldn't avoid a spell of that level that then he deserves to be hurt!" A silver-haired teen yelled in a deafening voice.
"Ushishi, the prince thought that you were one of those lowly peasants who was here to snoop around." The blond snickered as he lazily twirled a knife between his fingers.
Tsuna recognized the words as Belphegor's convoluted way of apologizing. "There's no harm done, Bel-san." He said cheerfully. Tsuna turned to address the silver-haired teen. "So there's no need to worry, Squalo-san."
Squalo crossed his arms and growled. "Who said I was worried about you, brat?" Tsuna merely grinned in response. He knew that underneath the intimidating, grouchy exteriors, the members of the Varia really did care for his well-being.
Tsuna felt a light pressure on his shoulder and turned to see that a cloaked infant had settled on his shoulder. "Well, you didn't come just to socialize did you, brat?"
"Hello to you too, Mammon-san." Tsuna greeted. "And you're right as usual. I actually came to update you all on a few things."
"Well, spit it out, brat." Xanxus rumbled from his personal throne. "We don't have all day."
"Hai, Xanxus-san." Tsuna replied obediently. He straightened out his shoulders and met Xanxus' crimson eyes with his own honey-brown ones. "First of all, Reborn has instructed me to find my own Guardians to contract."
"VOIII! About time!" Squalo exclaimed. Xanxus glared at his second-in-command and muttered a "shut up, trash", before gesturing impatiently for Tsuna to continue.
"Also," Tsuna's expression turned serious. "The Disdetta Family is starting to become a serious threat. They are targeting and eliminating high-ranking families at an alarming rate. The Varia is one of the branch families of the Vongola, so they might potentially target you all as well." His expression turned tense. "Please be careful, Xanxus-san."
"You think that we can't take care of ourselves, brat?" Xanxus glowered.
Tsuna chuckled. "I know you are all more than capable of looking after yourselves. But I just can't help but worry about any member of my Family." Xanxus had to look away at the obvious sincerity in Tsuna's eyes. As usual, the brat had the damn annoying ability of getting under his skin with his straightforward honesty.
"Ushishi, shouldn't you be worrying more about yourself?" Bel said, still twirling the knife between his finger. "After all, you're the one with the coveted position, Decimo~"
"Voi, the damn prince is right. I'll kill you myself if you get captured by the enemy."
"If you die on me, I'll charge you five times my current paycheck to clean up whatever mess you leave behind."
"Mou! Tsuna-chan! Your Lussuria-nee will protect you from the bad people, alright?"
Tsuna smiled warmly as each of the Varia members expressed their concern for him in their own ways. "Oi, brat." The brunet turned to see Xanxus leveling him glare. "I won't forgive you if you go and get yourself killed."
Tsuna nodded once and smiled gently. "Thank you everyone." And with one final bow, he walked out of the room.
"Dame-Tsuna, you made our team lose again!"
"Seriously, don't you even know how to activate your magic?"
"Since you made our team lose, stay here and clean up the field by yourself!" His classmates muttered angrily as they dumped the brooms on the field and walked off. Tsuna sighed. Once again, he had to make himself suppress his powers in order to keep up his facade. 'Yeah, well, if I had gone full out with my magic, I can beat you all with one hand tied behind my back,' Tsuna grumbled irritably to himself as he began to sweep the field with methodical strokes. Sometimes, it really sucked to have to act as Dame-Tsuna.
"Help is on the way!" A cheerful voice declared from behind him. Tsuna turned around and was surprised to see Yamamoto sauntering over to him, a broom clutched in his good hand.
'I didn't think that he would be the one to approach me first,' Tsuna thought. 'Well, might as well use this to my advantage.' "W-Why would you help someone like me?" He pretended to stammer out nervously.
"Haha, well everyone can use a bit of outside help sometimes, right?" Yamamoto answered lightheartedly.
"I-I suppose..." Tsuna smiled uncertainly. The flow of conversation faded out and both boys worked silently, sweeping away at their respective places. Out of the corner of his eye, Tsuna observed Yamamoto closely. He noted the almost imperceptible furrow of his brow and how his mouth was pressed firmly into a thin line; it was a far cry from his earlier cheerfulness. 'It looks like whatever that's bothering him is really eating him up from the inside. He probably approached me in the first place in order to get away from the other students for a bit.' "Are you okay?" Tsuna finally asked, breaking the silence.
Yamamoto looked up, confusion etched clearly in his face before he schooled his expression back into his usual carefree smile. "Well this broken arm of mine is pretty troublesome, but I can manage."
"I'm not talking about your arm, Yamamoto-san. I'm asking if you are okay." Yamamoto was shocked to see warm eyes staring sincerely at him.
Yamamoto averted his gaze. "Actually, I suddenly remember that I have something I need to do. Sorry, but I kinda have to go now." With a troubled expression on his face, Yamamoto dropped the broom and quickly walked off the field.
Tsuna sighed at Yamamoto's hasty retreat and watched him with a thoughtful expression. 'It seems that whatever is bothering Yamamoto-san is even more personal than I originally thought. Looks like it's time to call in some connections...'
Author's Notes: And Yamamoto Takeshi takes the stage! Once again, if any of you are confused about the explanation on contracts and such, I'll be glad to clarify. Please leave your thoughts and comments in a review! Much appreciated!
-Bird of Dreams