Disclaimer: I don't own Katekyo Hitman REBORN!

Warning: Bullying, violence, depression.

" Talk "

" Tsuna's writing/'talking' "

' Thought '

2. Through the paper

Reborn knew Sawada Tsunayoshi through the paper. The paper that Iemitsu gave to him, filled with information about the boy that made him scowl.

His new student was weak like Dino had been before. He was clumsy enough to trip on thin air; his posture curved with his head down, always with a tight grip on his bag, ready to flee; his slim figure left him as an easy target to people to mess with.

In other words Sawada Tsunayoshi was weak.

And above everything else he was a civilian.

A kid unaware of the Underworld living a normal life. No threats, no blood, no death. He didn't know how hard the life in this cage called Mafia was. He didn't know how it felt to be chained down with no freedom. He didn't need to always be on guard because everyone was after his life, lurking on the shadows waiting for a chance to bring him down.

He knew nothing about it, but Reborn needed to teach him. The hitman needed to guide him through the darkness and not let he be consumed by it. He needed to shape him into a great boss that would not give in to the madness that power brought.

It was going to be a tough job, but Reborn wasn't the Greatest Hitman for nothing, he would complete this job with perfection.

But for that he needed to know the boy and his limits. So of course he would get to Japan a day before to observe his student-to-be.

And he wasn't surprised when Tsunayoshi was weak-looking exactly as the photo on the file.

A 14 years old kid with brown eyes that told the world everything like an open book; his brown hair so spiked that some would say that it defied gravity made his frame look even frailer, especially with his bone-arms with no muscle.

Huh. He would need to work on this.

Reborn continued to follow Tsuna, but something was off. Tsunayoshi was exactly as Iemitsu's report said: clumsy, bad at sport and academics, unable to hurt a fly, shy; and yet there was something more, an important information that not even the head of CEDEF knew.

He scowled, Iemitsu should do a better job on gathering info about his own son. The man didn't even seemed worried about the bullying that the kid suffered and he always talked about his son with so much care that anyone would've thought that he would go crazy if he knew about it. Not that Reborn could complain, he wasn't part of the family so he shouldn't meddle.

He stared with impassive eyes as Tsunayoshi was beaten on his way. Three seniors stopped him and dragged him to a corner, smiles showing too much teeth.

It was then, seeing the boy being hurt and not moving an inch, eyes shut closed and lips pressed in a thin line, that Reborn understood what was bothering him.

The silence.

Not once the young Sawada talked. Not even a word. Nothing. He didn't even open his mouth, the only time he did it was when he was eating. He stayed in silence trough everything. Be it his tripping that left him with light scraps or the beating from the bullies and the mocking from everyone else.

Tsunayoshi was beyond quiet. Reborn didn't hear his voice and it was already past half a day, no normal kid would be able to stay silent for so much time.

Frowning, the hitman, picked the files once again. Nothing said that the brunette was mute, but for him not utter a word or even growl, then he should have vocal problems.

It was just after he searched for his student's medical files from Namimori Hospital that Reborn understood better the kid's situation.

Now he knew that he wasn't just going to teach a civilian about the Mafia and its ways, but he was going to pick up the pieces from a shattered soul and give him back his voice.

Tsuna stayed still for some seconds more after the bullies went away proud of their action and way less stressed. How good was to them to have a walking sand-bag like Dame-Tsuna.

The middle-schooler stared the sky with teary eyes, pain washing his entire body. He sat up slowly and picked up his bag, each movement careful to not put pressure on his bruises.

Hanging his head low, he went back to his home and when he got in the kicthen he knocked at the wall to let his mother know that he just got back. The matriarch looked at him and gapped (even after years of seeing her baby boy come back bruised she couldn't help but feel surprised), she run to him and started to ask if he was okay.

"I'm fine." He wrote with a small smile on his face. Since he lost his voice, Nana started to notice smallest things about him, not letting anything slide, it didn't matter if was because he tripped or because he was beaten, she would worry over him. "I'm sorry, could you treat my wounds?"

The woman smiled tenderly.

"Of course, Tsu-kun! I'll get the first-aid and while I'm at it, don't forget to eat, okay?", she said with her happy tone but the worry on her eyes never left.

Tsuna nodded and sat down. Instead of eating he played with his notepad and wondered.

'Are my feeling on the paper or in me?'

Hello!

This chapter came unexpectedly quickly, I guess...

I think that after Tsuna lost his voice Nana started to be less of an airhead and more attentive towards his problems and needs. Also, I bet that she never told Iemitsu about those things, so he never knew that his son stopped talking, and the CEDEF agent's that look out for Tsuna and Nana never noticed it or cared, soo... he doesn't know a thing about Tsu-kun.

This fanfiction probably is going to have a slight Iemitsu-bashing, but I think he is going to get his shit together in the future... maybe...

Thanks for those that commented! I really appreciate it!