January 11, 2018 A/N: It took me so long to fully finish with this story progress. You may read back the first chapter to see the changes that I made and added or else you'll be confused like, totally confused.

Maan, rereading this story (around May 2017) and what I have done made me disappointed because I knew the story was bad but not that bad that I have to start from the start. And I did rewrite this (around May 2017 and look at the calendar today it's already 2018 when I finally finished making satisfying chapters!) and what I wrote made me feel better because I've been itching to add Lambo's father on the story line ever since this fic started but I couldn't properly introduce him due to what I did (On the original story he appeared at chapter 5, I already rewrote it multiple times but saw how lacking it was, that was the point when I couldn't write it properly or even satisfying to me that I decided to start revision at chapter 1 and friends encouraging me to do so because we were all united to say that the previous version of this story was lacking and I couldn't feel an ounce of liveliness from it (Imagine being an author and you could barely think that the crap you wrote is yours when it felt like it was unfeeling, dead, emotion-less, so utterly lacking in everything you knew you could do better, a total fail on making this reach towards your own mind like a soul sucker, and barely had your unique stamps aka signature that make you different among other authors out there. I did and this fic was totally not-me written on it that it had to be rewritten))

I'm replacing the published chapters on AO3 with the new version too.

Plots were revised, scenes were replaced and changed, researching anime and manga was still ongoing but slow progress, and story flows were changed. This story is supposed to follow the anime than the manga. However, here it is leaning on the latter with sprinkles of the former then blended with my own recipe.

I also could say my writing style still didn't change drastically so no worries there.

PS. My date note is late from the actual date I republished but, details. Actually, I decided not to publish chapter unless I'm far ahead plot-wise and word count. So you can see despite the date note, the date I actually published was weeks even months later.

Overall Note: All of my fics will be updated slowly. I repeat this story (or all of my stories) is slow update. Right now pressure to update my stories is unwelcome and will be ignored except for critics and other comments (outright flames would be ignored) and intrusive and will only affect me to do the opposite.

Warning: Unbetaed.

Thank you for the readers who had already read the previous published chapter. There was confusion because readers thought I updated when it was actually, because I deleted the chapters. Hopefully, this update is satisfying and the notes will quench your annoyance of me doing that (it also grabbed more readers so there was that too) Hopefully, you'll like the revised better.

For new readers, hopefully, this story will sate your taste.

Disclaimer: I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.

Chapter Two

"Die! Reborn!"

Tsuna didn't mean it. However, those same lines wouldn't be Lambo's if he didn't say it. Lambo disliked Reborn and Lambo was a child that would cuss but there wasn't any bite to his words, usually, even if towards the person who kept ignoring him. It was probably because of his upbringing in the mafia that Lambo had to act tough and strong so he could get any attention.

"Gyahahaha!" He laughed obnoxiously. It sound rather forceful, so fake to his ears but they didn't need to know that.

When he pulled the trigger and no bullet barrelled towards Reborn, he inwardly sighed with relief. For a moment, Tsuna thought he forgot to empty the gun. He knew that the possibility of hitting Reborn with a measly bullet from child Lambo's body was 99.98% improbable but that 0.02%, that 0.02% remaining was there and Tsuna… He didn't want to pull it, not towards his family. However, he still did it despite his quivering fingers.

For Lambo...

It was what he thought but he also knew it was only a justification of his action because the truth was that, Tsuna was selfish and afraid at the possibility of failing.

He shouldn't use Lambo as his reasons but there was the fact that if he failed, it would jeopardize everyone's future. Tsuna didn't want to be the reason for it even if the act of manipulating people and events didn't sit well on his moral.

He detested the phrase for the greater good because it resulted on him being manipulated at the impressionable age to be the Vongola Decimo but as a Mafia boss, he knew very well that his opinion didn't matter on few rare cases especially when it comes to ensuring the survival of his family.

Tsuna was really a selfish person.

Upon seeing that his attempt to gun the hitman failed, Tsuna immediately adapted a disbelieving shocked expression seconds later, though his thoughts were still all over the place.

Keep acting, Tsuna!

He yelled in his mind as a wake-up call when his thoughts continued rattling things he shouldn't think right now.

Then Lambo had a confused expression and said in a loud wondering voice. "Ara, ara~ it must be because Lambo was playing with the gun yesterday that Lambo forgot to load a new set."

It was a lie but well, he need to keep up his act. And they didn't know to know that.

Seconds later after his Lambo-like act and entrance, there was the planned snap and he lost his balance on the trunk then slowly fell with a thud and a squeak. Lambo's body felt heavy from the sudden gravity and he could feel wind sweeping against his uncombed curly hair.

During his fall, he willed his body to harden before completely landing on the rough surface. It was an obvious act for people who knew what to look for and he wanted Reborn to see.

Tsuna wanted to show that despite this body's almost fragile state - because children were fragile, their bones still tender and so easy to break - this body unconsciously use Lightning Flames to harden. Lessening the impact resulting into the physical physiology to withstand pain even more than an adult.

Lambo's potential was hidden but Tsuna knew Reborn. Reborn was a hitman at first and the man was very observant so he would see the raw potential that Lambo had even at the young age and would eventually harness then later on perfect. Reborn might, would definitely, ignore Lambo's childish antiques but Reborn would never ignore and let loose of a potential when he see one.

Tsuna get up with teary eyes and slightly shaking body.

...Though, Lambo's body still needed more training.

He braced his body, continuing despite the pain that would stop any child from getting up much less walk and as he turned at the front door of the Sawada Household. Tsuna saw the familiar door, the familiar lawn, and even the familiar tree beside his house.

There used to be more laughter inside, I-pin, Lambo, and Fuuta's laughter used to be heard even from the outside. Now, there weren't sound of laughter. The only sound was the booming on Tsunayoshi's room.

Tsuna took a moment, taking this sight and tucked on his mind to later visit when free before shoving those same thoughts aside even if it still peeked on the his surface thoughts. Then Lambo was sneaking past the door, moving steadily on the hallway and up the staircase, he knew very well.

It had been a very long time when he last step on this familiar household but being here right now, his memories came back at the forefront of his mind. He knew which part of the stairs squeak when stepped on. He knew which part would be slippery too. And he moved as memories surfaced on his mind. It had been a long time when he last successfully sneaked on his own home, the last time was when he had been bullied by his school peers and he didn't want his mother to know. The next time he tried, it was because he was afraid to see Reborn on his own room preparing another new set of tutoring which failed because Reborn still noticed him.

And now the third.

With one last step, he came face to face with the familiar door. Tilting his head upward, he saw the wooden plate with awful handwriting that says "Tsu-kun room" and a doddle of a fish.

Tsuna ignored the plate and focused more on the doorknob; his small hand up on air, his posture stiff, and his eyes sting.

The brunet used to sleep in this room. He used to laugh with his family inside on their younger days.

There was a clog on his throat and he fought the instinct to cough.

Get a hold of yourself, Tsuna and open the door already!

Tsuna knew instinctively that his internal monologue was right because if he took more than enough time to open this door, Reborn would notice the discrepancy and he didn't want the hitman's sharp eyes on him. Yet his emotions were about to overdrive his rational thoughts and in turn he felt like there was a sob trapped on his throat.

He took a deep shuddering breath then Lambo pushed the door with obvious force. It was loud but it succeeded on dislodging his mind from memory lane. He opened his mouth, script flowing with success, as if the words he uttered were the truth itself and the exaggerated action he did were not an act.

"It's been a while, Reborn!"

The room felt and looked achingly familiar that it was almost painful but he remained grinning. He continued with his greeting with slightly quivering tone and fingers that shook.

Get a hold of yourself or you'll be caught, Tsuna!

"It's me, Lambo!"

He knew what would be Reborn's action next, he knew because he studied his own memories very well. After all, how could someone act if they didn't study their scripts?

His throat felt dry and he fought the instinct to cough or even gulp to wet his parched throat.

He knew from the beginning that once he arrived in Namimori there would be brand new happiness and loneliness... and guilt that would eat at him. He was prepared to face it but actually feeling it was different matter altogether.

"Stop ignoring me, damn it!"

Script followed, his mouth saying the words with correct childish intonation and tone. His body moving in a well-practiced action that bespoke of familiarity, reminding him of days he used to look into the mirror and practice his acting skills. And using that skill despite awkward tendons and easily tired body in his everyday life with marked improvement that the practiced actions became second nature.

"Ara, ara~" Tsuna glided on his feet, moving left and right, hips swaying as if following a step of a tune and rhythm only a child knew.

Lambo was still being ignored.

Tsuna show his annoyance with a glare before changing his mood with happy curiosity as he rummage under his expanding afro using his small hands. A creation of Lambo's late mother that he stole and eradicated from the Bovino's database and inventory, a space-saving patch of hair-like texture cloth hidden under his mass of curly hair.

Lambo's small hands looked for the familiar texture of the Ten Year Bazooka so he could boast it to them and pique a certain hitman's interest. Meanwhile he explained that it was Bovino's famiglia's greatest invention and when his pudgy hands managed to locate it, he pulled it and showed it with childish yell of, "Tada!" His hands moving in front of him as if introducing a product, which it technically was, before he spoke of the well-rehearsed script about its usage.

Lambo certainly had Reborn's interest on the Bazooka then he stuffed it back to its location.

Reborn keep ignoring him and even if it gave a pang on his chest to be ignored by the person who always demanded attention from him, who forced him things he didn't want to do, who had given him courage to stand on his two feet, Tsuna still felt happy to see Reborn. He crushed the depressing thought that bloomed in his mind because it was no time to be depressed over things.

Follow the script.

"Hey! Don't ignore me!"

Lambo stared balefully at the hitman before him, frustration obviously leaking on his posture and hands itching to get hold of anything. The afro-kid reached upward on his hair then pulled a weapon, a knife. Then Tsuna charged forward, knowing he would be rebounded.

Tsuna attacked Reborn and when he was flung to the wall with the knife embedded on his afro, with few bloods trickling from where it hit, he continued acting. It was slightly a good thing that the pain on his forehead managed to dim the memories on his mind temporarily. It made it easy to ignore it after that.

Upon throwing a grenade on Reborn's direction, just as he expected, Reborn flung it back towards him and as he was thrown outside the window Tsuna suddenly felt like he was soaring the sky with the wind caressing his skin.

He really loved flying up the sky with the use of his Sky Flames. It felt like his flames was singing when he was on the sky.

The grenade soon exploded, stopping him from his musing and he fell on the ground, the same place he had fallen into a while ago. Barely managing on using his flames to harden his body before he completely fell. It was not enough to stop the impact but he didn't get the full brunt effect so it was relieving.

Still he cried out with pain because it definitely hurt and he was at his limit today.

Lambo got up with crying pain, snot unconsciously leaking on his nose before he sniffled so it went back inside his nose then he rubbed on his butt in a way to ease the pain. When Tsuna think that he was presentable in a Lambo-like way, which was dirty looking, he jumped from the footstool he procured and pressed the doorbell.

When the door opened for the second time, and the familiar form of his mother stood there, he knew he shouldn't sneak in but he couldn't help but really look at his mother.

He bit the inside of his cheek hard, before he clutched on her pants. Just like he thought Lambo would do. It felt warm to be this close to his mother that he held tighter.

Lambo buried his head on her pants and clung to her like a koala, while willing his frustrated tears to stop because of her very familiar warmth and pain from falling in his eyes… No - suddenly he felt sad and lonely. His mother was so warm, so really warm.

Tsuna wanted to hug her so tight, say a lot of thank you, to tell her that she didn't need to worry about her son, that he loves her so much and tell her to continue smiling. Tsuna's mindset was of an adult, yet it didn't change the fact that he misses his mother, the one who brought him to this world.

Lambo's mouth open, heart on his mouth, ready to say the syllables on his lips.

"Kaa-"

That's when he heard the familiar shriek. And he immediately shut his mouth; a resounding sound of gritted teeth was heard on his ears, squashing the words he wanted to say to the woman before him as he was hit by the sudden thought that in this world, he wasn't... Tsunayoshi Sawada but Lambo, a... stranger.

However, being in a body of a child who craves human touch, he couldn't rid of the jealousy he could feel for the other him that he immediately and violently squashed when it appeared. He shouldn't be jealous! Tsuna had already lived this life yet his heart still squeezed.

When the younger, naïve and innocent Tsunayoshi Sawada was tasked to calm him down, he reluctantly let go of his hold on his mother's pants as he followed his script half-heartedly.

Tsuna watched the other him, looking nervous as if he didn't want to be here in the riverbank, the brunet's hair glowed orange because of the sunlight, and not knowing what to do with a crying child yet still trying to comfort Lambo. Tsuna could see the barely there self confidence in the teenager and it made him wonder if his younger self had more confidence on himself, maybe… things could be prevented.

That was...

Tsuna shook his head, not wanting to go deeper on such dangerous and bold thoughts. He belatedly realized that he was in the company of his younger insecure self that his mask slipped when the brunette spoke his name with an uncomfortable tilt. Tsuna restarted his act after that realization then he weaved the tale of why Lambo was here and how he first met Reborn, the World Greatest Hitman.

There were lies scattered on the story itself that Tsuna didn't pick up. Lambo noted with relief, for a minute worried that Tsunayoshi's hyper intuition was strong already but luck was on his side when it was still in the passive-to-active phrase.

On the inside, Tsuna was and would be berating himself for letting his guard down like that.

As Tsuna sat on the dining table, Tsunayoshi across him and looking nervous. Reborn on his left side eating his pasta without any care in the world. The tension skyrocketed as he continued acting fearful, and with Tsunayoshi acting nervous and a buffer between Lambo and Reborn.

When Nana left, he immediately acted. Gone were his frightened expression and replaced by a stubborn one then he attacked.

"Die, Reborn!"

Lambo yelled, Reborn dodged and retaliated by hitting his head with a fork as expected, he… cried loudly and obnoxiously with pain.

Then suddenly for them, he pulled the ten-year bazooka inside Lambo's afro, his heart continued beating against his chest and his fingers shaking because of pain from today's... activity.

When the pink smoke covered him, he braced himself while planning to continue his act where he let off.

As the pink cloud dispersed, what he first saw was the familiar Vongola Mansion in Italy and there was no one around. He sighed with relief at that.

With no one around to see him, he walked around in a relaxed manner knowing that there was no CCTV or hidden camera around this area on the mansion. While memories played on his mind of the time he had in this mansion. Tsuna smiled when he noticed where he was heading was towards the familiar door of the dining room where his family gathered for meals.

He… missed those times.

Then his eyes widened miniscule when he saw in his peripheral vision that Reborn was leaning on the wall next to the door and he fixed his mask back into place though all he did was remain smiling but his eyes must be shining with curious delight like a real child. Hopefully, Reborn wasn't there that long to see the expression on his eyes.

Tsuna sniffed the air. A Lambo-like action when he was looking for food and when there was no smell of food his expression failed then turned his head, planning to walk around and look for food.

That's when he accidentally looked in Reborn's direction and Lambo's expression filled with shock, fear then with anger before he pulled a grenade from his afro. Intending to finish what Lambo started in his present timeline.

"Die, Reborn!"

Tsuna spoke that overused line with perfect imitation.

Lambo's attack was met the same as earlier, the grenade was flung back and with wide eyes he shrieked when it exploded right on his face, resulting on scratches. Then he cried loudly before running away with tears and snot while yelling about bad meanie Reborn just like child Lambo did and at the exact timing, pink smoke covered him.

Next second he was back in his present with Nana Sawada standing, and he leapt towards her, clutching her pants then bawled loudly. He acted base on his physical urge to be close to her. When they get back to the dining table and Nana scolded Tsunayoshi for making Lambo and Reborn fight he could only think that it happened just like in his memories.

He was glad that he survived his first day. It was oddly comforting that he managed to keep acting. But at the same time, he could also feel the nerves and frightening feeling that he would sooner make an irreversible mistake that could potentially ruin everything.

He hoped that when tomorrow comes acting around his family would be easier. As Tsuna stared around the guest room lent to him, see the room bathed with darkness, and left to his own thoughts, he really felt like crying because it was hard to act around them.

He idly wondered if acting would be easier or harder.

Just like the same in his previous life, he did all he could remember based on his memories and the result were accurately the same. Lambo was regarded as the annoying child who always played with I-pin, clung to Nana like a leech, and Reborn's rebounding toy when the child attacks. That's why he was regarded as Tsunayoshi's annoying bratty brother by everyone except for Nana, I-pin, Bianchi, Haru, and Reborn.

Nana loved him like her child. He wasn't exactly Tsunayoshi's replacement but he filled the hole in Nana's heart were she wanted to spoil her own. It was painful to be around her, knowing she was there and that he wanted to tell her so much but he couldn't. Not when he had Lambo's position to be filled until then he wouldn't let himself be greedy.

I-pin still dubbed him as the broccoli monster and same on his time, I-pin's pinzu time bomb reactivated even ten years down the line. Tsuna still adored her even more so now because she looked so tiny, so adorable but he couldn't show that as himself. As Lambo, Tsuna would show that I-pin was important even if it meant getting on I-pin's nerve and being more selfish around her.

Bianchi, she didn't really care about him but Lambo and Bianchi did have that strange connection: of an assassin to her target that was.

As he heard from the others. Bianchi would try to kill Lambo's teenage self when she saw him, mistaking Lambo from her deceased ex-boyfriend. Tsuna should feel bad when there were times he would need to let loose a wild beast named Bianchi on teenager Lambo's heels but on few times, he couldn't stop feeling humorous on those situation. Imagine the chaos when Lambo grew into a good-looking teenager with Bianchi still mistaking him of Romeo even ten years down the line.

That's actually Reborn's influence working on Tsuna even on his afterlife.

Haru, Tsuna adored her as family and accepted her quirks but when it was he who was receiving it. He couldn't help but inwardly grumble because he didn't wish to die via breast suffocation or embrace suffocation. Though, Tsuna could guess that Lambo would love Haru's attention. That's why he would beam at her, imagining all the while how Lambo would be happy of her sisterly adoration.

Or run on Tsunayoshi's direction for distraction if her embrace got tighter. It was also amusing to see Tsunayoshi getting uncomfortable every time Haru proclaim her crush on the brunet.

Regarding Reborn, Lambo's relationship with Reborn was nonexistent, or in this case a little tad similar with Bianchi only vice versa. However, he was a brat on Reborn's eyes, a minor annoyance that would be ignored, and a potential Guardian for his student. It was a fact that Reborn would only see Lambo if the child matured and that was years to go.

Lambo would have to deal with Reborn's rebounded or ignored attack for years. There was a little part of him that thinks that retaliating against Lambo was Reborn's way of helping the afro-kid. That wasn't very surprising actually. Reborn tend to be more... spartan when motivated.

Tsuna shuddered.

He was almost sorry that when Lambo returned he would deal with a spartan hitman but it also made him happy. Imagining a future of the real Lambo interacting with his family was good for his heart and gave him motivation to keep up the tedious act.

He could see everyone growing mature on the imagined future. Except for Reborn because Tsuna could only imagine him being the same, unchanging, trapped in time.

Seeing him acting the same. It was... He was still trying to get used to it. It would take a lot of time. Time Tsuna didn't, couldn't, wouldn't want to have knowing it would drive him into dark thoughts, knowing he would be robbing more from his treasured family of precious memories and time Lambo should have spent with everyone.

Reborn's presence… it was counterproductive unlike his mother's. Reborn made him think of what if's during his life as Tsunayoshi Sawada. Made him think of his shortcoming not as a Mafia Boss during his tenure but as a person with the undying will to protect his family on which he had failed.

Reborn was his trigger to downward spiral of thoughts. An unhealthy side effect of his loss from a young age.

Tsuna was really happy to be with his family but sometimes he wished that this would stop. That he should pass on already and to finally have a long talk with his deceased tutor that must be causing chaos on the afterlife. That he would get to watch over the family he left behind on his original life.

However, right now he had a role to fill.

Tsuna buried his thoughts under his mind, and made his body relax, to finally get a proper sleep that had been eluding for few nights already. Hoping that maybe tomorrow Lambo would return.

It wasn't the awaited day. But a day of fated meeting and realizing the change it would led them to.

A future full of loss and heartache and sacrifices.

A/N: Kindly leave a review *insert smiley*