WHY DOES IT TAKE SO LONG FOR ME TO WRITE ONE CHAPTER I'M SO SORRY GUYS QAQ

But you'll forgive me won't you? :3 XD

I'm sorry it took so long and but it makes you feel any better this story should be done by next week, I can't believe it ended up with 5 chappies O_o This chap has 2,595 words not including A/N

Hope you enjoy! :D


Tsuna made his way home, unsure of how to feel. On one hand, he already expected this to happen... so why does it hurt? He thought that it wouldn't hurt as much since he already expected it to happen, but the pain was still excruciating. He honestly didn't think it would happen so soon, he thought he had a year at the very least. But he supposed he had improved a lot, hadn't he? His grades had improved a lot (although he was still slightly below average), he isn't as clumsy as he used to be (although he still tends to trip on thin air when he gets nervous) and his reputation has increased slightly so he wasn't being bullied anymore.

He couldn't help but think back and remember the days when he was still a no-good, civilian student, back before Reborn came crashing into his life, guns blazing and chaos following him closely behind. He remember being so miserable, and he hadn't even realized it. He went on with his life with no purpose, just trying to survive to see another day. Pain, humiliation and misery were such constant companions that he hadn't realized how terrible his life was, it became 'normal' for him. Looking back, he didn't know how he managed to survive for so long. Because if you asked him now, he wouldn't know how to survive the constant humiliation, insults, pain inflicted on by the bullied and the sheer loneliness.

But, he couldn't help but think, he wouldn't mind going back to being Dame-Tsuna if it meant he could spend more time with Reborn. Because it would definitely be worth it.

Tsuna couldn't help but frown. Verde said that Reborn would most likely go AWOL, and he does that often after a job. A small part of him thought that he really shouldn't trust Verde since he doesn't really have a good record in... anybody's book, to be honest. Tsuna may be forgiving, but that doesn't mean he can just forget about the time Verde sent a bunch of invisible assassins after him.

... But still, they were on pretty good terms now, right? Not quite friends yet, but not enemies either. In any case, Verde was smart and didn't care about anything that didn't involve his research, Reborn being an exception considering their rivalry. So there was no reason for him to lie, rivalry or not, Tsuna couldn't see anything that he could possibly gain from it. So there was no reason for him to lie.

(Reborn had a long way to go before he can fully beat the naivety out of the brunet)

Tsuna sighed.

Reborn was leaving.

What was he supposed to do now?

Just thinking about it made him feel lost.

He silently made his way home, might as well get this over with. Upon arriving at the gate of their house, he sighed once again, trying to free himself from any negative thoughts. If this was going to be the last time he was going to spend time with Reborn then the least he could do was make it a happy memory.

Well, it's not like the hitman was going to leave immediately. He would probably going to stay for a couple more days, weeks if he was lucky. But there was no way to be sure of when exactly Reborn was going to leave, it could be today and it could be next month. But Verde had said it would be sometime soon. He sighed again, better make the last moments memorable then.

"A Mafia Boss shouldn't sigh, Dame-Tsuna."

Ever since he met Reborn, he managed to develop a restraint over his embarrassing and admittedly overly dramatic reactions but that didn't mean he managed to hold himself back from flinching. He whipped his head around to see his tutor, sitting on the wall of some family's gate. He never really got over that habit even if he did outgrow his infant body and Tsuna sometimes found himself giggling at how silly the hitman can be. But now was not the time to ponder on such small details.

"A-ah, Reborn. I-I haven't seen you all day." he said, inwardly cursing how he stuttered. He thought he had outgrown that already. "Did... did you go somewhere?"

"Not really. Just around." the man shrugged. "The question here is where have you been?"

"H-Huh? W-well, I just came back from school."

"Classes ended over an hour ago, Dame-Tsuna. If you're gonna lie to me then at the very least make it a bit more believable. Not that you can ever trick me." the hitman's eyes narrowed suspiciously and Tsuna found himself sweating a bit.

"W-well, I just didn't feel like going home, so I took a walk..." he was trying really hard not to look at him in the eye.

"Alone? Where are your guardians?"

"Onii-san and Yamamoto have training, Gokudera needed to restock on his stash of dynamite and Chrome got invited by Kyoko to go shopping." he mumbled.

"And you thought it was safe to go around without protection? I thought I taught you better than that, a Mafia Boss shouldn't act so recklessly. What if you got kidnapped or attacked?"

"I-it's not like it happens that often! So it's not a big deal if I have some alone time every once in a while, and in case that does happen, I can take care of myself." sadness reflected in his eyes for a moment, but they were gone in almost an instant. That doesn't mean Reborn missed it though. "... You should be well aware of that."

"... That's not really true is it?" Reborn said making the teen finally look up to him in confusion. "Even though almost three years have passed, you're still Dame-Tsuna."

Reborn sighed. "Really, despite all my efforts you still haven't changed that much from when we first met. You're still a slow, spineless brat who has no dreams."

"Wh-what's that supposed to mean?!" Tsuna asked, forgetting about his earlier predicament in favor of being embarrassed and flustered. Those insults were uncalled for! He has improved a lot since the first year of middle school. Well, sure he still can't really manage to stand up for himself, especially against bullies, despite having the strength to do so. He just didn't want to unnecessarily hurt anyone! Didn't Reborn say that kindness was a necessary trait to become the boss of Vongola? And well, yeah he sort of partly inherited his mother's airheadedness, he can be quickwitted if he really wanted to be! ... Sometimes. And- okay, he didn't really have much plans for the future. What middleschooler thinks so far ahead? And even so, so what if he's different from most people? So what if the idea of power, money or fame doesn't appeal to him? Does that really mean that he was a child with no hopes and dreams? Maybe, but then so what?

Tsuna was starting to get depressed from just thinking about it. He really was pathetic, wasn't he? But that doesn't mean he was going to give Reborn the satisfaction of knowing that he may be right. Although knowing Reborn, he most likely already knew and didn't need to be told. But still.

"It means what it means. Are you so slow that I have to explain the simplest of things to you, Dame-Tsuna?"

Tsuna couldn't help but twitch at that completely unnecessary statement. "What's with you? You're being more offensive than usual today!"

"I've just been thinking." Reborn shrugged.

"That can't be good." Tsuna muttered. But of course, being the world's greatest hitman, Reborn heard that little comment and promptly shot at his student, missing the boy's ear by only two millimeters but succeeding in making the teen jump in surprise.

"What was that, Dame-Tsuna?"

"Hiieee! N-nothing!"

Do you ever just pause and wonder just why you fell in love with someone? Maybe Reborn hit Tsuna so many times in the head that the teen got severe brain damage, that would explain a lot.

Reborn sighed. "You haven't changed that much, at this rate you still wouldn't be ready to inherit the Vongola by the time you're 18. You're hopeless, Dame-Tsuna."

"That's not true!" he cried out, but was completely ignored.

"Well, looks like I'm gonna be staying around for a long time."

Tsuna froze at this, wondering if he heard right. Reborn pretended not to notice this and continued.

"You're completely hopeless without me, huh?" The hitman wanted to cringe at his own words, his words felt like it would be something Lambo would say. He had to resist the urge to puke in his mouth. But it had to be done, he'll tell Tsuna the truth someday, but now was not the time.

"H-How long do you think will it take before my training's complete?" Tsuna asked hesitantly.

Reborn paused, pretending to think for a moment. "Not sure, although the Ninth said that you'll definitely be inheriting the Vongola at 18. I doubt it would be enough time. So I guess I'll be sticking around even after you've become boss."

The hitman glanced at his student, not failing to see the obvious delight in the teen's eyes even as he tries to hide it. Reborn couldn't help but smirk. "It looks like I'll be in your care for a lot longer than expected."

Tsuna wasn't able to hold back a bright grin. "I look forward to it."

Only a handful of people in the world would've noticed how the hitman slightly twitched at the adorable sight, it was nice. Especially compared to the gloomy looks his student had been sporting only a few minutes ago. He could kiss the teen right then and there but he had to restrain himself and instead snorted.

"As you should, I'll be sure to double your training." he smirked as the teen shrieked.

"N-No! I didn't mean that!" he yelled frantically as the hitman started to walk away. "Reborn! My training is hellish enough as it is!"

Reborn raised an eyebrow at his statement. "Then what, pray tell, did you mean exactly?"

Tsuna froze, not expecting this, and started blushing furiously. I look forward to spending more time with you, I don't care about the mafia or what training I have to go through. As long as you don't leave me alone, I'm happy.

He can't possibly tell him that!

"A-ah! W-well, it's just that- you know..." the brunet knew he was going to get hit later on for being such a terrible liar. But the embarrassment from his thoughts and the giddiness from the good news that Reborn was staying screwed his thought process and now he couldn't think straight.

Reborn, on the other hand, was enjoying the view.

His student was just so adorable. It made him want to pounce at the brunet, not caring of their current location.

Instead, he just walked away with his student stuttering out gibberish while scrambling to catch up to him.

It would be so easy to confess everything right then and there. To tell Tsuna what he really felt and that he knew the brunet felt the same way. That would definitely be pure and utter bliss.

But not just yet, Tsuna, despite having greatly matured from being the scrawny middle schooler when Reborn first met him, was still young and inexperienced. For all Reborn knew, what the teen had was only a small crush, kind of like the one he had with Kyoko. The brunet could simply be mistaking admiration for affection, which is a likely possibility since the teen didn't really have that many experiences. What Reborn felt for the teen, he knew was the real deal. And in case it wasn't reciprocated, he didn't want to pressure his student into anything.

So he'll wait, he'll give Tsuna more time to think about his feelings. And then, when the time comes, he'll find out the truth. If what his student was feeling really was only puppy love, then he'll let the Vongola heir go without making a move on his feelings. Tsuna was kind, caring and talented, not to mention adorable, it shouldn't be too hard to find someone better than a monster to take good care of him.

But if Tsuna's feelings were real, then Reborn would claim him as his and never let go.

He could wait, for Tsuna's sake.

He's prepared to do a lot for that boy's happiness.

In the meantime, he supposed he could drop a few hints here and there. The brunet was incredibly dense for someone with the Vongola's famed Hyper Intuition, so it shouldn't be a problem

"But seriously though, where have you been, Reborn? I was actually a bit worried about you." Tsuna pouted.

"It's a hundred years too early for you to be worrying about me, worry about yourself." he snorted. "Don't go anywhere without your guardians."

"I can take care of myself!"

"I know, Dame-Tsuna." he smiled at him, his eyes widened. A smile! Not a bloodthirsty or sadistic smirk, but a truly warm and genuine smile! Tsuna couldn't help but blush at this.

"But you're too trusting, and although it can be charming it's still a dangerous trait to have."

Ch-charming?

"I-I'm not that trusting..."

"Since when did your stutter return? I thought I beat that out of you a long time ago."

"I-it's nothing! I'm just... tired, I guess?"

Still a horrible liar. Reborn couldn't help but sigh, then they settled into a comfortable silence.

"Hey... Reborn?"

"What?"

"... well..."

"Spit it out, Dame-Tsuna."

"You... you won't leave, right? At least without saying goodbye?"

Reborn glanced at his student, seeing the hesitation and sadness in those warm brown eyes made his heart melt a little and he resisted the urge to grab the teen's hand and just hold onto it to prove that he wasn't going anywhere. Instead, he reached a hand out and patted his spiky, unruly hair that was surprisingly so soft to the touch.

"I'm not going anywhere, like I could leave behind a useless student like you."

"I'm not useless!"

"You could become the strongest man in the world and you'll still be Dame-Tsuna in my eyes, Dame-Tsuna." he smirked.

"... Does that mean you'll never leave?" Tsuna asked, looking at his tutor hopefully, his eyes lit up when the man nodded with a soft smile.

"You're stuck with me until the day you get strong enough to be able to kick me out by force, got that?"

"That'll never happen you know." he chuckled.

"Then you have your answer." the hitman retracted his hand. "Come on, let's go home."

"Yeah." he smiled, the brightest smile Reborn has seen in a while.

Yeah, he could definitely wait. What they had right now wasn't so bad, after all.

Verde sipped his tea. He was currently taking a break from his research after a certain acquaintance stopped by, said acquaintance had threatened to maim, disembowel and strangle him before finally ending his misery with a bullet to the skull for trying to get close to what he claimed was his. Thankfully though, Verde managed to calm the dev- gentleman down and they were now having tea in the middle of his semi-destroyed laboratory. Well, at least he was alive.

After a brief summary, he was updated on what happened- that the man heard of their conversation, the confrontation with the Vongola heir, and the man's plan of action.

"I see..." Verde sighed. "The age of consent in Japan is 13, but acts of fornication are forbidden until he reaches the age 18. That is, unless you don't mind asking permission from his parents, but I imagine you would like to avoid that."

"Yes, I would. That mind of yours is useful at times, but it can get really annoying." Reborn scowled.

Verde smirked. "I can see right through you. It's a shame though, the age of consent in Italy is 14, although since you're his tutor then that would mean he'd have to be 16, which he is so if you were only in Italy right now then there wouldn't be an issue.

"Tsk." the hitman glared at the scientist who couldn't help but laugh at his expense.

"I don't see what's the issue here though, we're mafia. We do illegal stuff all the time, so why bother with the details now?"

"Shut up, hitman or not, I'm a gentleman, unlike you."

Verde snorted. "Well, whatever. You're the one who'll have to suffer through the long wait anyway."

Reborn sighed, he really loved that brat way too much.

If Tsuna were to become his, then the hitman would make the teen his in every way possible. But in his current state, Tsuna probably isn't ready for anything like that. So it's better to wait it out.


Hope you liked it! I just HAD to squeeze in that last scene XD Researched it too ;)

I have a question for you guys, would you prefer Daddy!Reborn or Dark!TenthGen. Tell me what you think, because I have an idea for another story but I'm not really sure :/

Anyway, Please Review !!

RnR !

RnR !