Target Two:

Chains That Bind

Over the years Setsuna had seen many abnormal things.

From people with with their faces bashed in to people riddled with gaping holes and gashes. To shock her would be a fairly difficult thing to accomplish. But, as she stood there at the bottom of the staircase she found herself faced with something she had absolutely never seen before.

Tethered to the back of the toddler in the kitchen was a man. Well, the ghost of a man to be more specific. One, whom, by the looks of it, was identical to the child.

Same fedora. Same curled sideburns. Even down to the suit. Everything about the two were indistinguishable aside from the age difference.

Despite the floating spirit, what also garnered her attention was the chain that connected the two.

The manacle looked as if it were made out of pure billowing shadow. But the more she stared at it the sturdier it appeared. As if no matter how hard someone struck the links they would never shatter or give way. Yet at the same time it seemed so very fragile.

"W-who is this?" Setsuna finally managed to ask, her voice barely above a whisper.

Tsuna rolled his eyes, oblivious to his sister's distress. "The Home Tutor Mom signed me up for apparently," he turned his eyes on Nana, who was currently biting her thumb thoughtfully. "I told you it was a scam."

Nana glanced from Reborn to her two children. In the letter Iemitsu had sent her not even the week before he mentioned the Tutor may be a tad unconventional, but to let him teach Tsuna regardless.

Trust me, Nana. The words that he had sealed the letter with flashed across her mind. Iemitsu had never let her down or lied to her before. Plus, she always respected her husband's wishes - no matter how outlandish.

"Setsuna, I take it," Reborn nodded to the the blonde, before sending a sideways glance at her brother. "And you must be Tsuna."

"Sorry," Tsuna lifted his hands apologetically. "But I doubt there's anything I can learn from you..."

Faster than any of their eyes could follow, Reborn sent a swift kick into Tsuna's side - causing him to double over in pain. Startled by the sudden turn of events, Setsuna rushed to her brother's side, finding him completely unconscious.

"What do you think you're doing?" Setsuna demanded, amber orbs glaring into obsidian.

"I'm here to whip Dame-Tsuna into shape," the Hitman replied simply, utterly unfazed by her outburst. Without so much as another glance at her, Reborn gripped Tsuna's loosely hanging tie and tugged him towards the stairs.

Setsuna lurched forward to stop him, but a hand at her shoulder kept her planted. "Reborn was sent by your father," Nana explained, despite the obvious skepticism in her voice. "We should trust him."

Setsuna sighed in defeat. The blonde didn't have nearly as much blind faith in her father, but if it were true then Iemitsu must have had his reasons for sending the strange toddler. Regardless of why Reborn was here however didn't change much to Setsuna. Reborn was still an entity she had never crossed before.

Even just from the short exchange she had with him, she could tell he had the mannerisms of an adult. Which of course seemed odd considering he couldn't be more than a few years old. Either he had a screw loose or an exceptionally well developed brain. Though neither of those would explain why he had an older replica of himself attached to his back.

The more she thought about it the more insane it got. Whatever he was though, Setsuna wasn't about to let Reborn do what he wanted with her family.

Sorry, I can't just mindlessly follow you, Oto-san... Setsuna apologized internally as she straightened up. Sure, she wanted to respect her father's wishes, but the man hardly ever did what was best for their small family. Even if he wanted to help - sending whatever Reborn was to be a Home Tutor definitely wasn't going to.

"Why don't you help me with dinner?" Nana asked suddenly, pulling Setsuna from her thoughts. Despite how much the blonde wanted to go upstairs to see what Reborn was doing to her brother, she was thankful for the distraction.

The two made quick work of the meal however, both so absorbed in their own minds that they barely said a word to the other the entire time.

Setting down the final plate, Setsuna let out a shaky laugh. The menial work had in fact gotten her to calm down a little, but without someone to aim her frustrations at the anger had slowly shifted into anxiety.

Reborn had already proved himself to be physically capable of taking someone out, which meant Setsuna couldn't really do much about it if he felt so inclined to act up.

The lack of control over the situation only frustrated her more.

So, when Reborn finally bounded down the stairs, Setsuna was ready to explosively vent on the toddler.

"Ciaossu!" Reborn greeted the two women as he took a spot at the table. Nana quickly served him up, while her daughter stole the seat directly across from him. "Thank you, Mama. Setsuna."

Then a stifling hush fell over the room as Reborn innocently munched on his serving, and Setsuna glared daggers at him. Though the glares were more from her focusing directly on the toddler himself over the ghost behind him. After about a minute or so of this silent exchange Reborn quirked two dark brows.

"Is there something you'd like to say?" he asked, but it was obvious that the plate in front of him concerned the toddler more than the blonde. That quickly changed however.

"What are you?" the words gushed out of Setsuna's mouth before she could stop them. Reborn narrowed his eyes, and hastily finished the bite he was on.

"I'm a Hitman."

"I see," she mumbled thoughtfully. "Though I wonder... You're obviously not a baby. Not an adult either. Are you even human?"

Reborn stiffened, definitely not having thought he'd have to explain himself to this specific Sawada twin. Hell, if Tsuna went down this line of inquiry Reborn likely wouldn't have answered him either. Considering he was expecting Setsuna to be as oblivious as Nana, this was quite... surprising.

Thankfully, Reborn was well versed in dealing with surprises.

"I'm a Hitman," he repeated simply, subsequently cutting off the conversation with another bite of his dinner. Setsuna mulled this over, and Reborn could almost see the cogs turning in her head.

"Well, Reborn," Setsuna grit her teeth slightly at his name. "I don't trust you."

"At least one of you has some instincts," Reborn commented dryly.

Setsuna opened her mouth to offer up a retort, only to close it a second later. She expected Reborn to vehemently deny any accusations she sent his way - not skirt around and even openly admit to them.

"So you admit you're untrustworthy?"

At that Reborn smirked, which looked quite offset with the rest of his soft features. "I admit that you're correct to doubt your surroundings."

Before Setsuna could dignify that with a response the sound of footsteps caught her attention.

"I'm going out for a bit," Tsuna called from the hallway.

"What about dinner?" Nana demanded back.

"I'll just get something while I'm out," Tsuna sighed, obviously somewhat distraught. "And about that Tutor... You sent him away, right?" Tsuna finally rounded the corner, and noticed the toddler in question currently perched at the dinner table. "What're you still doing here?!"

"Reborn will be staying here until your grades go up," Nana enlightened him on the arrangement. "As long as we provide room and board his services are free. So considerate of him, don't you think, Tsu-kun?"

"Yeah, considerate," Tsuna muttered. "Well, I'm going out now."

Tsuna honestly needed some time to himself. Today was just not his day. First he messed up the basketball game and embarrassed himself in front of the class. Then he had to witness the girl of his dreams flirt with another guy. Not to mention he got yelled at, lectured and even beaten by a toddler that insisted on absolutely ludicrous things.

Some fresh air would do him some good - though his hopes of solitude were instantly dashed.

"I'll go with," Reborn hopped up from his seat. This would be the perfect opportunity to learn more about his student. Plus, the sooner he found an opening to use the Dying Will Bullet the better. Tsuna likely wouldn't believe anything about the Mafia until he experienced it first hand anyway.

Noticing the scheming look on Reborn's face, Setsuna pushed away from the table as well. "I'm going too."

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"You've got to be kidding me," Tsuna grumbled as he tried fruitlessly to walk ahead of the two. "I can't believe you guys are actually following me. Don't either of you have something better to do?"

Setsuna pursed her lips. "Not that I can think of."

Tsuna slouched his shoulders in defeat. "Shouldn't you be going to grade school anyway?" he asked with a pointed look at Reborn.

"Assassins don't go to grade school."

"Of course," Tsuna drawled sarcastically. Despite herself Setsuna was actually somewhat proud of her brother. From the looks of it, he wasn't taking this sitting down either. Sure, he was being walked over regardless but at least he wasn't completely quiet about it.

An awkward silence soon filled the air around them, yet none of them seemed too willing to break it. Tsuna was too absorbed in his own thoughts to care, while Reborn only wore an amused smile and Setsuna ran surveillance over the toddler's actions.

Which is probably why Setsuna didn't notice a ghost had been tailing them until she felt one tugging on her skirt.

"Help... Me..." came their ethereal plea. Setsuna bristled, bright amber orbs wide as she turned to face the spirit. This time the ghost was a little girl. A heavily battered little girl, with a thick sheet of crimson soaking through her tattered dress. Bruises also littered her tiny frame. Most of her exposed skin was either a deep purple or green.

Setsuna furrowed her brows, her eyes stinging as she tried to imagine just what had caused the girl to get so injured. The blonde quickly shook her head to clear her thoughts before they got too wild.

It wasn't her responsibility to help every spirit she came across - just because it was a young girl shouldn't change anything. Though somehow it did.

"Please..." the girl began to cry this time. Setsuna could tangibly feel the girl's emotions burn through her. The girl was devastated, confused and beyond that terrified.

Setsuna heaved a sigh. "You guys go on ahead. I'll catch up later."

The two boys swiveled to face her. Though the second Tsuna's eyes met his sister's he could tell she was off in her own world again. Unreachable as always. "Are you sure?" he asked hesitantly, the fight over her presence from before completely gone.

Setsuna let out a strangled noise halfway between a confirmation and a denial. Honestly, she didn't want to leave her brother alone with Reborn, but she couldn't just leave this girl by herself...

"We can wait," Reborn supplied, curious as to why she had halted so suddenly.

Setsuna grimaced. With the guys here she wouldn't be able to talk to the girl to figure out what was wrong. Even if Tsuna knew she had conversations with herself, she didn't feel too inclined to show Reborn. Biting her lip, she decided Hitman be damned, she was going to help the little girl.

With one last fleeting glance at the boys, Setsuna led the girl so they were just out of earshot from the others.

"So what do you need?" she asked, her voice hushed regardless of the distance.

"Flowers..." the girl pointed a bloodied finger towards a pole across the street. At the base was an elaborate display. There was a plethora of toys, and different flowers. Though Setsuna's eyes were drawn more to the centerpiece - a framed picture of a brightly smiling little girl. One that, underneath the grime and bruises, was identical to the ghost beside her.

"I don't see what you mean..." Setsuna noted delicately, amber eyes searching for something that would warrant her help. Surely, this girl wasn't bothering her just for the sake of bothering her.

"Vase..."

Finally, Setsuna spotted what the girl was talking about. Near the edge of the memorial was a knocked over vase of trampled flowers. Anger lashed out at Setsuna as she noticed the footprints. Someone had stomped over part of the display - repeatedly.

"Mama... Put... Those... There..."

Setsuna's heart constricted once more as the girl's emotions washed over her. The feeling of sadness was so vastly overwhelming. Tear pricked at her eyes, and it took all of her self control not to be completely consumed by the vicious onslaught.

"I'll fix it," the blonde eventually struggled out.

Despite the gore that was smeared over her face, a grin graced the girl's features. "Thank... You..."

Setsuna gave a grunt before solemnly crossing the street. Sometimes the worst part about dealing with ghosts was being forced to face the disgusting reality of humanity. The fact that there was a memorial on the street meant one thing - that the girl had been a victim of a hit and run. Not only that but some asshole thought it cool to desecrate something the girl's mother had poured her shattered heart into.

It filled Setsuna with absolute rage, but more than anything it left her ragged. If this was what the world had been degraded to, what did she have to look forward to?

Crouching down, Setsuna collected the flowers, finding them still somehow miraculously alive. Relieved at the realization she quickly placed them back in the vase.

"If I can get some water these might last a little while," Setsuna stated thoughtfully, more to herself than to the ghost. The blonde ran a scan over the general area and noticed a gate unlocked and hanging open. A slow smile formed on her lips.

"Hey, Setsu-chan, what are you doing?!" Tsuna demanded as his sister slipped through the open gate. "You can't just go into people's yards!"

The blonde put a finger to her lips, lifting the vase in her other hand as if that had any significance.

"Why does she always do this?" Tsuna gave an exasperated sigh.

Reborn quirked an eyebrow at his student. Did his sister have a hobby for fixing broken memorials? Though from the look on Tsuna's face it seemed as if he was referring to a more general action.

"Go help her, Dame-Tsuna," Reborn commanded after a moment, kicking the brunette towards the other side of the street. By the time Tsuna gathered himself up Setsuna was back with the now water filled vase.

"Come to help, Tsuna-nii?" Setsuna wondered, sounding oddly please at her brother's appearance.

"Uh - yeah - what do you need help with?" Tsuna looked away sheepishly, having just noticed what his sister had been doing. Aside from the flowers there were quite a few other things out of place. So Tsuna got to work straightening everything out while she arranged the flowers so the trampled ones wouldn't be visible.

When they were finally done the memorial looked as good as new.

"Is this okay?" Setsuna asked the ghost after a second, not caring that her brother was within earshot. The little girl nodded before a bright light washed over her, as if shining outward.

"Thank you!" the spirit exclaimed as her injuries phased away. A sad smile crossed Setsuna's face as the girl returned to a normal form once again. There was no reason such an innocent soul should have been taken away.

The blonde finally let a tear escape as the the ghost disappeared in a blinding flash of white.

"Are you okay, Setsu-chan?" Tsuna asked, suddenly worried about his sister. The brunette had rarely ever seen his twin cry. Even when people at school ignored her or called her names she took it in stride. Secretly, he was always jealous of that innate strength she seemed to have. But, to see her vulnerable made his chest constrict tightly with concern.

"I'm alright, Nii-chan," Setsuna wiped the moisture from her face. "Thank you for pitching in."

Tsuna grinned lightly. "Yeah."

"Kyaaaa!" the voice of a girl squealed, pulling both of their attention away from the memorial. "How cute!" Before Setsuna could even figure out where the voice was coming from Tsuna grabbed her hand and pulled her to a hiding spot behind the wall.

"What's goi -"

Tsuna shushed his sister. "That was Kyoko-chan."

"Sasagawa?" Setsuna wondered, knowing of their school idol despite not having a class with her.

"Yes, now be quiet."

The blonde chuckled as realization dawned on her. "You like her, don't you?"

"O-of course not," Tsuna tried to keep his voice down. "She's the school idol. There's no way she would go out with someone like me."

"You never know until you try."

Says the girl with no friends. Tsuna bit back the insult, though Setsuna noticed the very obvious skepticism in his eyes.

"I agree with Setsuna," Reborn squeaked, sending Tsuna several feet in the air. The Hitman had materialized out of seemingly nowhere, but was still exceptionally difficult to miss.

Despite the time she had to get used to the soul chained to the back of the toddler Setsuna still wasn't. The ghost just floated listlessly behind him, eyes closed in a never ending slumber. The blonde constantly felt herself checking to make sure the eyes hadn't opened. If they ever did she would probably have a heart attack.

"There's no way I'm going to confess to Kyoko-chan," Tsuna insisted defiantly. "I'm not even in her league."

"Your loser complex is amazing," Reborn noted with a shake of his head. "Anyway, it's about time." Then the toddler brandished a handgun, pointed directly at Tsuna.

"Even if you're joking that's not funny!" Tsuna sputtered, waving his hands emphatically.

"Die," Reborn replied simply as he pulled the trigger.

Blood splattered out as the bullet lodged itself in the brunette's forehead.

"Tsuna!" Setsuna screeched as he flopped lifelessly onto the ground. A sudden cocktail of grief and fury sloshed angrily in the blonde's stomach. "You just killed my brother."

Reborn gave her an amused smirk, as if he had just realized she was there.

"I knew I shouldn't have let you anywhere near my family," she hissed as she dove towards the Hitman. Reborn however had faster reflexes than she anticipated and dodged. But, as he did Setsuna's hand grazed the shadowy chain that connected the spirit to his back.

Underneath her fingertips the links were unexpectedly solid, and they instantly filled her with a sinister energy. Terrified, surprised and still grief stricken she let it go without thinking.

A vicious shiver ran the length of Reborn's tiny spine. It felt as if someone had grasped his very soul. The feeling was unnerving to say the least, and over his many years on this planet he had never experienced anything quite like it. An icy sweat broke out across his olive skin. For some reason he felt so very cold all of a sudden.

"What did you just do to me?" Reborn demanded, his eyes hidden beneath the cusp of his fedora. When Setsuna wasn't forthcoming he lifted his gun on her. Even if it was full of Dying Will Bullets the threat was still there. The blonde's eyes only burned brighter at the challenge, though they were clouded with a plethora of other emotions.

"Looks like I found your weak spot," Setsuna retorted stiffly, her jaw tight with frustration.

With a sleight of hand, Reborn replaced the Dying Will Bullets and cocked his gun.

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Thanks for reading!