I.
For a while, there is a pristine-white haori hanging on the wall in Sawada Tsunayoshi's bedroom – a reminder of the promise he made when he was younger – and though he would still be bullied and ridiculed over the years, just the sight of the haori gave Tsuna the strength and determination to persevere; then, a few months after he turned fourteen, a gun-toting baby Hitman barges into Tsuna's life and declares the brunet to be the next Vongola Boss.
Tsuna refuses.
Of course, he refuses.
He who is the weakest and most pitiful person in all of Namimori, Dame-Tsuna, how could someone like him, be the heir of the most powerful Mafia Family in the world? Then his attention is drawn to the snow white- haori on his wall.
"You are strong like that, Tsunayoshi-kun."
"O-Okay…! I'll become the next H-Heir!"
II.
It is only when Reborn, Lambo, I-Pin, Bianchi, and Fuuta de la Stella all start living in the Sawada household that the haori is moved into the – relative – safety of Tsuna's bedroom closet. There had been too many close calls with grenades and gunshots and poison-cooking for the brunet to take any chances.
Then after a particularly close call - one involving fire, dogs, and a ballerina tutu - the haori is moved to the sanctuary that is Sawada Nana's room.
III.
There it stays for the next five years, safely hidden away in the darkness and forgotten.
IV.
It has been a four years since the conclusion of the Representative Battles and with the Vendicare's successful acquirement of the Tri-ni-set, there was no longer a need for the Arcobaleno Pacifiers or the Arcobaleno Curse.
With the curse finally broken – and their futures still ahead – most of the Arcobaleno decided to remain in Japan while their bodies caught up to their actual ages.
Colonnello and Lal Mirch finally became a couple and the former continued to mentor Sasagawa Ryohei while the latter took Chrome Dokuro under her wing. Skull continued to stay with the Shimon Family and became a close friend, confidant, and protector to the teens. Verde took on Spanner and Shoichi as 'students' – much to the ire of one Byakuran Gesso – and the three made leaps and bounds in the technology industry. Fon remained with his distant family – the Hibari clan – and could often be seen sparring with Hibari Kyoya and I-Pin. Both Yuni and Mammon returned to Italy citing that they couldn't leave their respective Families alone for so long, while Reborn continued to train and tutor the next Vongola Heir.
The Gesso Family – formerly known as the Millefiore in the Future-That-Would-Not-Come-To-Be – remained in Japan as Byakuran and his Wreaths tried to take back Shoichi and Spanner from the 'clutches' of Verde. The CEDEF and Cavallone returned to Italy to resume their duties and obligations in the Mafia. The Shimon Family decided to finish up their schooling at Namimori Middle and High Schools and forged a strong friendship, and subsequent rivalry, with the tenth generation Vongola members, who also remained in Japan to finish up their schooling.
Now, with their last year of high school behind them, it was finally time for Tsuna and his Guardians to begin their training in Italy.
V.
"Dame-Tsuna, do you have everything," Reborn asks, as the Hitman leans against the doorway to his student's bedroom.
"I would really appreciate it if you stopped calling me that, Reborn…" Tsuna said with a sigh, taping close the last of the moving boxes.
Reborn smirks and pushes off the doorframe. "If I did that, then who would be there to remind you of the past?"
"I would remember for one…," the brunet mumbles with a half-hearted frown. "But, to answer your question, yes, I have everything."
Reborn nods, surveying the room that had been a safe haven for him for the past six years. "Good, don't forget our flight leaves at seven o'clock tomorrow evening, wouldn't want you to oversleep, now would we?" The last part is uttered in a teasing tone.
Tsuna rolls his eyes and dodges the hit aimed at the back of his head. "Yes, yes, you've reminded me several times now, Reborn."
"Just making sure it sinks into that head of yours, Dame-Tsuna."
"Of course, Reborn," Tsuna acquiesces with a smile. "… Everyone should be arriving soon for dinner, right? Let's be good hosts and greet them at the door."
VI.
The dining room of the Sawada household was big enough to comfortably sit six people, but, definitely not twenty-nine – rowdy – people. To combat the issue of space, Nana decided to host an outdoor dinner party – in celebration of her son and his friend's acceptance into an Italian university – or that's what she was told.
"I'm so proud of you, Tsu-kun!" The petite woman engulfs her son in a warm hug. "Look at you, all grown up and ready to take on the world!"
Tsuna laughs lightly and wraps his arms around his mother. "I couldn't have done it without my friends or Reborn…"
"Oh! Speaking of 'friends', you'll never believe what I unearthed today! Wait here, Tsu-kun!" With that said, Nana hurriedly made her way back into the house.
"I hope it's an old stuffed animal you used to carry around, Dame-Tsuna…," Reborn says with a smirk – thoughts of blackmail running through his mind.
Tsuna huffs lightly and replies, "I'll have you know, Reborn, that the last time I had a stuffed animal was when I was four! And I'm pretty sure Mr. Rabbit-san is long gone by now."
"… 'Mr. Rabbit-san'…," Reborn repeats with a snort, "what a redundant name."
"In my defense, I was only four years old at the time I picked that name."
Before Reborn can respond, Nana steps back into the yard, hands behind her back. "Ta-da!" With a flourish an achingly familiar haori is brought in front of the woman. "Remember this, Tsu-kun? …Tsu-kun? What's wrong?"
VII.
For the next few minutes, Tsuna just stares at the ivory haori – utterly silent and with wide eyes.
"Tsunayoshi… what's wrong? What does that haori mean to you?" Reborn's voice cuts through the ambient chatter like a knife, and soon everyone is gazing at the frozen brunet.
"Tenth?! Are you alright?!" Gokudera Hayato yells, rushing to his friend's side.
"Is… Is he under some kind of illusion…?" Chrome suggests hesitantly, her single eye darting back and forth between the brunet and the haori.
"No," Rokudo Mukuro says with a shake of his head, "I don't sense any kind of illusion or Mist Flames emitting from that haori… although," he peers at the piece of cloth with an intrigued look, "there is some kind of energy surrounding it…"
Reborn glowers at the haori and turns to his student. "Where did you get that from, Tsunayoshi?"
Slowly, ever so slowly, Tsuna places his plate of food down and walks towards his mother. He gently takes the clean haori from her hands and looks down at it – a look of awe and horror etched onto his face. "… I forgot about him…," he mumbles dazedly.
"… 'Him'? Who are you referring to," Reborn asks impatiently.
The brunet is silent for a moment before he replies, "Utsunomiya Makoto… the first person to ever believe in me…"
"Hn… there's no one living in Namimori with that name, Omnivore," Hibari says with narrowed eyes.
"An alias then?" Gokudera suggests.
"Most likely," Reborn agrees, "If what Mukuro said is true, we should bring that haori over to Verde and have him run some tests on it to-"
"No." Tsuna's command is unyielding and powerful, softly he adds, "… it's just something from an old… friend… I've been meaning to return it, but, completely forgot until just now."
"Makoto-kun and his family should still be living at the old shrine, right Tsu-kun? You should return it tonight since you won't have any time tomorrow," Nana says with a bright smile. "Perhaps he'd like to join us for dinner? I'm sure you two haven't seen each other in years!"
Tsuna chuckles softly before folding the haori neatly. "… I'll be back, then."
"Be safe, Tsu-kun," Nana calls after her son, as he hurries out of the yard.
VII.
"… You guys didn't have to come with me…" Tsuna mutters, as he walks down the street with his Guardians and Reborn not too far behind.
"We want to extremely meet this 'Makoto' guy!" Sasagawa Ryohei has an excited grin on his face.
"Herbivores who are using fake names do not belong in Namimori."
Mukuro smirks – his eyes gleaming in the moonlight. "I'm just curious about the energy surrounding the haori… it's neither Mist Flames nor any other type of Flame that I know of."
"Well, whatever your reasons, we're here." The group peers up at the steps to the shrine before ascending. Once at the top of the stairs, Tsuna steps forward and makes his way towards the main shrine hall.
Gokudera looks around for a second before following the brunet. "This 'Utsunomiya Makoto'… is it possible that he was an independent Mafioso sent to spy and gather information on the Tenth when the Tenth was a child?"
"No, Makoto is not a part of the Mafia," Tsuna replies, conviction clear in his voice.
"And how would you know that, Dame-Tsuna? We didn't even know about this 'Makoto' until just a few minutes ago."
"Because I trust and believe in him." Tsuna pushes the door open with one hand and steps inside the shrine hall. Despite the old age and weather, the inside of the shrine was just as spotless and pristine at the day Tsuna first went there. A nostalgic smile crosses the brunet's face before he kneels before the altar. Ignoring the looks and stares from his friends, Tsuna bows his head, claps his hands together, and wishes.
A gust of frozen air suddenly whips through the building, rattling the rafters and banging the doors, chilling the group to the bone.
"… You are quite late, Tsunayoshi-kun," a slightly deeper version of a painfully familiar voice speaks from beyond the shrine doors.
The Vongola Guardians and Reborn whirl around, weapons drawn. They hadn't even heard the stranger approaching!
A ghost of a smile flits across Tsuna's lips before he stands, turns around, and utters a single word, "Makoto."
VIII.
Utsunomiya Makoto was taller now – standing roughly the same height as Mukuro – with a more defined jaw line and narrower eyes, but, he was still as pale as Tsuna remember with the same dark hair, freckles, and bright blue eyes. Like the last time the two met, the dark-haired teen was carrying a basket full of fruits and other offerings.
"It's okay, everyone, this is Utsunomiya Makoto." Tsuna's reassurance visibly relaxes the group – though not by much. "I'm sorry for being late, Makoto," Tsuna addresses the person in question.
"You're still wearing the same kimono and hakama," Tsuna points out, "… or is it a different one just in the same color?"
Makoto smiles that brilliant smile and says, "Blue looks good on me," with a small shrug.
Tsuna returns the smile. "Another offering to the Gods and Spirits," he asks, inclining his head towards the basket.
"Of course," Makoto moves forward and dips his head gracefully as he passes by the still wary Guardians and Reborn, "I must thank the Gods for our reunion – no matter how… delayed it was." A curved smile betrays Makoto's true feelings.
"Again, I apologize for my tardiness, Makoto. Life has just been so…"
"Full? Lively? Wonderful?" The blue-eyed teen supplies.
Tsuna quirks his mouth. "All of the above."
Makoto's laughter echoes through the shrine as he kneels before the altar. "That's great, Tsunayoshi-kun! I'm overjoyed you were able to find what you were looking for!"
"I have to thank you, for giving me the strength to wait and persevere," Tsuna says as he kneels beside Makoto.
A quick glance and smile to the brunet beside him. "You've always had that strength inside of you, Tsunayoshi-kun; you just needed someone to bring it out."
"And that person was you, Makoto."
Makoto ducks his head – a pleased smile on his lips – before placing his basket of offerings on the altar.
Silence settles between the two before Tsuna speaks up and says, "… I'm here to finally fulfill our promise: to return to you your haori."
The dark-haired teen turns and gratefully accepts the offered haori. "You have my deepest appreciation, Tsunayoshi-kun," Makoto places the cloth on his lap and bows deeply.
"Y-You don't have to bow before m-me, Makoto!" Tsuna waves his arms, a flustered expression on his face.
The other straightens and chuckles lightly. "You are one of the few people to have kept their promise to me, Tsunayoshi-kun; you don't know how much that means to me."
"Y-Yeah… but I should've come back earlier… right after I found the answer…"
Makoto shrugs. "You would have returned one day, Tsunayoshi-kun. It might have been in another year or another hundred years, but, I knew you would return – that's just the type of person you are."
"… How have you been, Makoto? It's been over ten years since we last met."
"I've been fine; my family keeps me busy with cleaning and maintaining the shrine grounds."
Reborn suddenly cuts into the conversation with a harsh comment of, "There is no family with the name of 'Utsunomiya' in Namimori or the surrounding towns. Who are you, 'Utsunomiya Makoto'?"
Two pairs of eyes focus on the Hitman: one pair filled with disapproval and objection and the other with mirth and amusement.
"Reborn…" Tsuna warns, but, is cut off by Makoto muffling his laughter on his kimono sleeve.
"Ah… pardon me, Reborn-san, I am but a simple shrine keeper; no more, no less."
"Somehow I highly doubt that's the case," Reborn drawls in response, causing Makoto to laugh once more.
After calming down, the blue-eyed teen turns back to the altar and claps his hands, mouthing a prayer just like he did all those years ago. "… You will be leaving Japan soon, are you not?"
Mukuro shifts on his feet. "Oya? How did you learn of that?"
Makoto turns his head with a grin. "Naturally, the whole town is abuzz with the news; we get some of those gossipers at the shrine."
"Since you answered his question, answer mine: who are you?" Reborn takes a single step forward.
"Reborn, enough." Though Tsuna's words are spoken calmly, there is something in his voice that causes Reborn to step back.
"… You've certainly grown into yourself, Tsunayoshi-kun," Makoto admits in a proud tone.
Tsuna glances at the dark-haired teen. "Thank you."
Makoto smiles and gracefully stands before offering a hand to the brunet. After pulling Tsuna to his feet, Makoto says, "You should be heading back now, it's getting late and you wouldn't want to miss your flight tomorrow evening."
"How do you know that?" Reborn's voice is smooth and chilling.
"I know a great many things, Reborn-san." Makoto's voice is just as smooth and chilling.
The Vongola Guardians tense at the atmosphere in the hall, things could get-
"Ah, before you go, Tsunayoshi-kun," Makoto turns suddenly towards the brunet, dissipating the growing tension in the room, "here, please accept this as a gift from me."
"… This is the haori I just returned to you, Makoto."
Makoto nods. "It is. You've kept your promise and returned my haori to me, and now I want to give it to you as a gift."
"If I may ask, why?" There is a puzzled look in Tsuna's eyes.
Makoto smiles brilliantly and places a gentle hand on the haori. "… I would like this to be a physical reminder that, if for some reason, you begin to doubt yourself, that if you begin to stop believing, that there are people who believe in you and in your strength. That you are strong in both heart and spirit; that… I have always believed and will always believe in you, Tsunayoshi – and I will continue to do so, no matter how much time passes."
"… Why do you believe in me so much…?" Tsuna's murmur is soft, just loud enough for the blue-eyed teen to catch it.
Makoto flashes another bright smile. "Because you will change the world, Tsunayoshi."
Tsuna slowly reaches out his hands to take a hold of the haori. "Then I accept your gift, Utsunomiya Makoto, Guardian Spirit of the Namimori Shrine."
Makoto throws his head back and laughs – such a free and exhilarating sound – one that reverberates throughout the shrine. "You… You Vongola with your Hyper Intuition…," he gasps through bouts of hilarity. "Just like Giotto, you know… the two of you are scarily similar! What gave me away?"
Tsuna grins and answers, "It wasn't that hard to figure it out, Makoto, I just used common sense."
"And your Hyper Intuition," Makoto adds.
The brunet shrugs carelessly, an amused look in his eyes. "That too."
Makoto chuckles and wipes away a few tears from his eyes before straightening. "… I wish you, your Guardians, your friends, family and Family luck for whatever may come in your respective futures. I will pray and wish for all of you to be healthy and safe." He bows deeply twice: once to the brunet standing before him and another towards the Vongola Guardians and Reborn.
Tsuna returns the bow with one of his own. "It has been an honor and a blessing to have met you, Makoto. I will not forget you, not again."
Makoto's reply of, "I believe you, Tsunayoshi,' is accompanied with a smile.
IX.
Makoto waves good-bye to Tsuna and his friends and watches them descend down the shrine steps. The Guardian Spirit remains at the top of the stairs, long after the group is out of his sight, just looking out over the town that had been built up around him.
A cool breeze eventually rustles his hair and he turns his head to look up at the night sky.
"… Sawada Tsunayoshi's story is just beginning… I wish him all the happiness in this world and the next…," Makoto murmurs into the wind before taking a step forward and disappearing in a flurry of air.
"I wish to see Makoto one more time."
In the previous chapter, I asked if you all wanted to see this serialized and I decided to do that and make this a two-shot. With this second chapter, Winter Spirit is completed though I will be writing a series for this plot line. It may or may not be under the same name – or a slight variation – but keep an eye out for the first chapter, it will be posted soon!
Thanks to everyone for reading and supporting this and my other stories!
