AN: OMAIGOSH. I'm soo sorry for the late update! My laptop screen got broken and I've just gotten it back somewhen this week. Thank you for the reviews, alert and favorites! Anyway, here is Chapter Four.

Warning: Mature contents, yaoi, language, OOC-ness of the characters for the sake of the story.

Disclaimer: I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn and I apologize if there is any similarity with another fanfic's plot.

Chapter 4; That man, Prideful

Tsuna woke up from his sleep, startled. Something was gnawing at his brains and his nerves were racing. He had this feeling for days already but no matter what he did, it wouldn't go away. He was familiar with the way his intuition seemed to always interfere into his senses but never did he feel something this strong.

His light brown eyes turned golden and a growl left him. It must be that demon. He rarely saw Reborn at home since that night when he let the demon had a taste of his soul. He should've listened to himself. There was no way that a demon would feel gratitude and obliged to pay him back. It was only an empty hope on his part, an assurance that the demon would do all his dirty works.

Running a shaky hand down his face, his eyes turned brown again, emotions swimming in it, fear and dread being the most obvious. He knew the demon was bad news. He never felt right trudging on dangerous waters. He had been warning himself but there was that part of him that kept whispering to him that this was the only way. That one part whose existence he only knew of few years back.

It is really not my fault.

So it was not his either. If that part of him said it wasn't his fault then it couldn't be his either. They were one and the same. He was his negative emotions, his yin. It was true that he talked to himself sometimes, regarding himself in third person. But of all people, he should know that there was nothing special about him. Nothing out of the usual.

He forced himself to get out of bed and buried down all those unease he was feeling. He still had to go to school and hope that Gokudera would finally appear.

It had been a few days since the event at the Gokudera household and never once did Reborn bring him to see the silver-haired teen. Of course, he had demanded the demon to tell him where he hid the silver-haired teen but he never got an answer. If he could, he would have tailed the demon to wherever he was gone to in the morning. He had no doubt the demon was going to wherever Gokudera was. But then, there was the fact that Reborn would be able to tell that he was following him. That and he didn't want to ruin his false status as Dame-Tsuna by escaping schools and when he was not even sick or bullied.

Wherever the delinquent was, the demon did not want him to be there. But he knew the teen was alive since he had made sure to make it clear to the demon that he did not want to see Gokudera's head served to him on a silver platter any time soon. His lips curled up into a wry smile at visioning the demon doing just that. Felines usually showed their gratitude by placing down a dead bird or a dead rat in front of their master. If the fedora-wearing demon was anything like a cat… He shook his head off that thought. Demon didn't show gratitude. They were creatures from hell for a reason after all.

But something had been bothering him. Did the demon tell the boy something he shouldn't have? Did the demon ruin his plans and tell Gokudera that he was the demon and not him?

He curled his fists and gritted his teeth as angered filled him. His eyes a shade in between brown and gold. That demon must be planning something. But he would make the demon learn not to defy him. Even though he was scared of the creature, there was no way that he would allow himself to die before he saw those people experience what he had experienced. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. And death to those who ruin his plans.

"Dame-Tsuna, pack your stuff."

Tsuna looked questioningly at the demon staring at him. He could feel the burning stare boring through his manga even before he lowered it down. The intense gaze was not something he didn't receive from the demon on a daily basis. Turning so that he was now lying flat on his stomach on the couch, he asked, "Why?"

The demon visibly disapproved of the domineering attitude of the brunet. From his looks alone it was obvious that the question did not sit well with him. He threw a bright orange duffel bag to the brunet. "We're going to have a little visit to Italy. You better be quick. Our flight is departing in a three hours."

Tsuna felt his blood ran cold at the mention of the country he was born in. His expression felt tense and it took almost all of his willpower to not show the weak emotions in his eyes. Holding onto his self-control, he feigned confusion, "Italy? What's in Italy?"

He cursed himself when he saw the demon's lips turning up into a smirk. He was sure that his act was flawless and apparently the demon could see right through him. If he was not so sure before, now he was sure that Reborn knew something about him that he had not bothered telling the creature. He let his eyes narrowed naturally, visibly displeased at this. "Are you researching me behind my back, Reborn?"

Reborn carelessly stride towards the brunet, making the teen instinctively sat up. His every step seemed to scream danger and Tsuna could feel his facade slowly slipping. There was something about this Reborn that he had never seen before. This Reborn looked more energized and more, he dare say, terrifying. Was this the result of that night when he let the demon taste him? He rarely saw the demon after that night, thus he didn't realize the changes in the way the demon carried himself. Unconsciously, he pressed himself at the edge of the couch, his mind warily noted when the demon suddenly stopped few steps away from him.

From the satisfied glint in Reborn's dark eyes, he knew he heard his heart thumping loudly against his chest. He didn't dare to blink, he didn't dare to take his eyes off the demon even for the slightest second. He involuntarily took several deep breaths, compelling himself to clear his mind off the fog. He needed to think, he shouldn't let his fear took over him. But something prevented him to do so. Something inside him was thankful that he still could act the way he did before when he was kidnapped.

One second his mind processed Reborn's thoughtful expression but before he could even think, the man voiced out, "That is not something a person would normally ask a demon, Dame-Tsuna." He could feel the demon's breath on his ear more than the next words that he had uttered. "But yes, I was curious. But can you really blame me for that?"

Still not wanting to show a sign of weakness, Tsuna made a move to swipe his hand onto the demon's handsome face. He was determined to not let the demon be the one to control him. He was the Master, not him! He ordered the demon and not the other way around. He had a feeling that Reborn was a man of his words and he would do as he was ordered despite not liking it but still, to be played around like this was something that he would never want to experience ever again.

But before his hand could even hit the demon, the demon was already behind him, a hand threateningly positioned under his chin. He was hyper aware of the demon's lips on his pulse, making him seethe. "I haven't given you any permission to have a taste of my soul."

"I'm sure you know how the process of taking souls actually takes place." Tsuna was red now. He rather thought that it was in anger. "Dame-Tsuna, don't change the topic so abruptly." He grabbed the brunet's chin and tilted his face so that they were now eyes to eyes. "You never told me you're the candidate for Vongola Decimo."

The brunet's eyes widened and he immediately pushed away the demon's hand. Attempting a condescending smile, his lips twitched, "Are you getting stupid now, demon?" He saw Reborn's glare intensified. But before Reborn could do anything to him, something passed through them, successfully breaking off the fight that was brewing between them. Tsuna was more than surprised to see the accelerating projectile, his mind trying to figure out the person who could had thrown it. His eyes trailed to the direction where the projectile flew. A frown made its way to his face. No human had enough strength to make a chopstick penetrate the wall. "Demon," Tsuna muttered. He turned to Reborn who looked less shaken than he was, but he looked startled nonetheless. "Your friend?" Tsuna threw a question at Reborn with heavy sarcasm.

Reborn ran a hand through his hair, his expression frustrated. It was only then that Tsuna realized Reborn was not wearing his fedora. It was not the first time Tsuna saw his naturally spikey hair and his curly sideburns but Tsuna couldn't help but stare at the demon and thought how less intimidating he looked. He only stopped staring when he had to dodge an orange duffel bag being thrown at him. He knew that that was the bag Reborn threw at him earlier. The bag fell with a heavy thump and Tsuna couldn't hold back the questioning look on his face.

"If I wait until your lovers' spat ends, we might just miss that flight," a smooth voice stated, slightly muffled. Tsuna looked around, trying to find the source of the voice and finding none. He had heard that voice before.

Reborn grabbed a vase and threw it in the direction of Tsuna's room. A crash was heard followed by a soft 'Itai'. Forgetting about his wariness, he ran towards his room. Who he saw in there was someone he had been expecting to see since the day he escaped his chamber. "Fon?"

Fon was a demon with long braided hair. Unlike Reborn's dark underground-ish style, the other man wore a bright red chinese chángshān. He had a gentle looking smile but Tsuna knew how cunning the older man could be. Seeing the Chinese looking man crouching on the floor with his hands covering the bump where the vase hit, he knew that that was indeed the demon who practically introduced him to their existence. He walked forward just as the man stood up.

"Fon," he repeated again.

This time, the demon actually turned. "Tsunayo-"

Reborn came just in time to see the small brunet slapped the red-clad demon. He knew that the brunet hurt himself more than he did Fon. The expression the brunet adorned was not like anything that Reborn had ever seen. The betrayed look in his eyes would have guilt tripped any creature with a heart. But not Fon, and certainly not him.

Not looking at Fon, Tsuna bent down and slammed close the dresser Fon must be in the process of tidying up after getting the needed ones earlier. "I would really appreciate it if you don't go through my belongings," Tsuna muttered through gritted teeth.

To Tsuna's annoyance, Fon still had the gut to smile. "I take it you don't want to see me yet?"

"Out."

"You don't need to tell me twice."

"You too, Reborn."

Fon calmly took a sip of his tea, but from the twitch on his eyebrow, it was obvious that he heard of the ruckus going on in the brunet's room. "What is he doing in there?"

Reborn, who was staring down at Fon since they sat together at the dining table with their respective drink in front of them, glanced at his contractor's room. The well-crafted door kept banging on its hinges and there were sounds of glasses breaking. He shrugged, "It's his way of calming himself." He leisurely tapped his fingers onto the table top. "You're going to tell me why you're here."

"Always getting straight to the point, that's so you." Fon blew on his tea but it was more due to habit rather than because of the temperature of the drink. "I saw you kept going in and out from Kyoya's apartment building. I hope you didn't do anything to him."

Reborn was disgusted at Fon's implication. "As arrogant as Hibari is for a human, he's not really up to my taste. If you know where I've been, I'm sure you know what Alaude and I have been discussing about."

Fon frowned. "I do, actually. And I don't approve of how you're finding out things. Why don't you wait until Tsuna tells you?"

"The way you do things are too…human. You know I don't follow human ways."

"You need to remember that we are in their turf now, Reborn. You have to at least respect that. And Tsuna… I've been watching him."

"You're stalking him, how can that not be worse than what I'm doing?"

There was no deterring Fon's calm but Reborn was skilled in pushing people's button. "Tsunayoshi is not what he seems. He's not normal."

"Anyone who's crazy enough to contact us can't be normal." Reborn could read the tenseness on his old companion. "I'm not stupid, Fon. You purposefully led Tsuna to me."

"I don't know what you're planning in Italy but Tsuna was born there. Bringing the rightful heir to an infamous mafia organization, you will only gain attention." Fon blinked, processing what he was saying. Then his eyes narrowed, a frown on his gentle features, "Is that what you aim for? Attention?" At the smirk he got in return, he gave a wry smile. "Tsuna wouldn't like that, Reborn."

"Dame-Tsuna wouldn't like anything that I do but," he pulled on his sideburns, his face filled with sadistic delight, "It's not like he can do anything about it."

Fon was going to argue against him when his enhanced hearing caught a stumbling motion behind Tsuna's door. Reborn took note of the concern flashing in the other's eyes. "Did he hurt himself?"

The edge of Reborn's lips tilted downwards a bit. There was something weird about Fon's reaction to Tsuna's actions. Even though Fon's smile looked kind, he knew that it was an act to lure in his prey. But for him to let Tsuna went to him instead of taking actions himself, it was just so not like him. "You don't need to worry," he knew he was spatting those words in his own way and he knew Fon noticed the displeased tone too, "He's just collecting himself up. You'll see him acting as if nothing happened soon."

As if on cue, Tsuna's door opened and the brunet emerged from it with a big smile on his face. Despite looking as if nothing had happened, there was some kind of hardness in his expression that showed he was still pissed off. From the years being around the brunet, Reborn knew just what the brunet was going to do.

He saw how the brunet's hand kept inching to the pocket in his hoodie. When the brunet hand snatched out to grab his espresso that was on the table, he immediately lifted it away from the brunet's reach. Tsuna pouted. Reborn would be surprised if Tsuna didn't do anything after that so he was a bit prepared when the brunet suddenly grabbed his chin and kissed him. Taking advantage of his obvious shock (another emotion that he had learnt feeling after being with the brunet. He wondered if he could unlearn this emotion), his contractor forced his tongue into his cavern. Reborn's eyes twitched when the rich taste of maple syrup fell on his taste buds. He was going to push the brunet and taught him a lesson when he saw the brunet's eyes were not directed at him. Tsuna was looking intently at Fon, as if challenging him to break the apart.

This was the first time Reborn felt used. He never allowed anyone to use him and he wouldn't start allowing now. He sneaked a glance at Fon. He could not help but raise an eyebrow when he saw the man smiling with an obviously pained look in his eyes. Just what was the two's relationship? Fon never explained what had transpired between them but then again, they were not in that good of a relationship that they would start sharing experiences and memories between themselves.

Never mind that. He was more intent to show the brunet who had the upper hand here. The brunet had parted their lips for a bit to take in some air. He might have pulled back and threw Reborn a victorious smirk but Reborn would not have any of that. He grabbed the brunet by the back of his head and made him kiss him again. This time though, the brunet was looking at him, surprise evident in his eyes. Amused, he did not waste any more time. He pulled in his breath in a sucking motion. Tsuna's face contorted in pain for a bit and he counted the seconds until the brunet realized what was happening. At the fifth, he was suddenly pushed back.

If he was wearing his fedora, he would have pulled it down if only to hide the satisfied look he had. The look on Tsuna's face was just priceless.

"You-" Tsuna started, no doubt to start ranting about what Reborn had just done.

"If you serve food on a silver platter in front of a starving man, of course he wouldn't leave the plate alone, Baka-Tsuna."

That seemed to anger the brunet more. Tsuna hand blindly gripped the small teaspoon and drew back his hand as if he was going to stab Reborn with the utensil.

A chuckle escaped Reborn. There was no way that would hurt no matter how much force Tsuna put in.

They were interrupted again, however, by Fon, who made a scene by pushing his chair loudly backwards. The screeching was obviously done purposefully to break the two's attention from each other. The chinese demon had his left arm hidden his right sleeve while his right hand formed a fist to cover the cough that left his lips.

"I'm sorry for…interjecting. But if we don't hurry up, we might not make the one hour trip to the airport. Not at this hour."

Among his group of demons, Fon had always been the one who was best at lying. He could make up stories as if it was the truth. No one bothered to question him until it was too late. If Reborn was known for his sadistic tendencies and his unforgiving nature, then Fon was the most known among them for his cunningness.

He always lied as easily as how human breathed in air.

But anyone who heard him then and there might just question if that fact was true. Because right then, he sounded like a kid telling his first lie.

AN: I know, I know. It's short. It sounds more like a filler chapter but I have to get this out of only to tell the readers out there that I'm still alive and I have not given up on this story. And I'm really really sorry that it took this long for me to update! OTL

I apologize if the characters are a bit...out of it. I have only read KHR manga until the arc where they fight with the Vindice. I have been rereading Kuroshitsuji lately and catching up on Naruto as well as spazzing over Kuroko no Basuke so...yeah.

Anyway, I really do hope that you will leave a review! I'm working on the next chapter already at the moment so if all is good, it might be up soon.