Chapter VIII: Amor est vitae essentia (Vongola Estate / Venice, Italy / Present Day)


Tsuna had managed, in the end, to snag a few bites to eat that morning and catch Bianchi with enough time to give her the assignment to meet Lancia and show him around, before he and his Family left the house to start their fun for the day. Catching up with Bianchi was easy enough; he just had to find Reborn in the enormous Family dining room. Wherever he was, she was likely to be nearby or possibly wrapped around him.

Wandering a bit, he had to admit that it was still all a bit weird to him how people nodded to him in respect, some even bowing slightly. Of course, then there were those who clearly would have happily supported Xanxus' claim more than his, and those gave him slightly dark looks or insolent stares. When he was still the boy who'd fought that battle, he would have flinched from them, maybe even been afraid. Now he simply stared back at them, letting his eyes go cold and analytical as he evaluated them. Eventually he would categorize them as something to care about, or not, and dismiss them from his mind coolly, storing the information for later.

Being Tsuna, of course, he had no idea how that shifted the aura of the room as he passed through it. He was just happier that there was more room in which to walk. He'd almost reached the point that the next person who bumped into him rudely was going to hear about it in a way that involved his fist and fire. He simply told himself repeatedly that they were a small faction now, and he could always kill them off later.

It did throw his mood off, however, and he was almost irritated by the time he found his target, spotting Bianchi towards the back. Luckily for his mood, Reborn actually wasn't there with her. He wasn't sure he could have held his tongue in that situation. Making his way over to her, he evicted the guy next to her with a look and gesture of his head. He could hit on her any time he wanted. Tsuna had business to conduct.

"My, Tsuna, you keep growing up more and more every day," Bianchi purred, smiling at him and turning to face him fully as he sat. "You're turning into a proper Boss right before my eyes."

If there was one thing that kept Bianchi in Tsuna's good graces in spite of her Reborn fetish, it was her absent-minded fondness for him and her pride in him as one of his teachers that slipped out every now and then. Between her words and Reborn's absence, Tsuna perked up a bit and grinned at her sheepishly while reaching for the juice. No matter how much he'd grown, it always thrilled him when she acknowledged his growth.

"Does that mean you'll give up the wild freelance assaassin world and come to work for me full time?" He asked, leaning close and flirting slightly. It was always fun to practice his flirting with her, because while she had less than no interest in him in that way, she was always willing to help him adjust his technique. "A woman like you can only make a man stronger."

Her laugh filled the air around them and she flipped her hair back playfully, batting her eyelashes at him. "Oh, Tsuna, you do know how to woo a girl. But could you really handle a woman like me?"

"I'm still a little fuzzy on what to do with a woman in general, much less a woman like you," he admitted, grinning. "I don't suppose my innocence attracts you?"

"Boss!" Hayato groaned from across the table, looking a little green even with the fake glasses Bianchi was wearing. "That's just wrong in so many ways. I draw the line at even pretend sex with my sister."

They all laughed then, and Tsuna relaxed as he started his breakfast. The mental wall that allowed him to ignore the irritating things around him went up around them and he was able to focus on his friends for the moment. As such, he'd missed the nervous looks around them as he'd lured Bianchi and she'd responded so cheerfully. The idea of the Poison Scorpion in Vongola was both appealing and terrifying to many of them, obviously.

"Bianchi," Tsuna started; his mouth half-full as he chewed. "Would you be willing to take on an assignment for me today and tomorrow? It's nothing strenuous but it'd be a huge help for me. I have a lot to cram in while I'm here, and today I've got to take the kids around. I promised."

"An assignment?" Bianchi turned to him, curious now. "What can I do to help, Tsuna?" She'd mostly just come to stay near Reborn, he knew, but if he could make good use of her and possibly help her in his own way, he was going to.

"Lancia-san is flying in at noon today. He's finally agreed to come and speak with Grandfather," Tsuna missed the various looks around them when he referred to the Ninth as his grandfather, "about possibly lending us his strength in the future; either here or in Japan. It would really help to have someone he knows meet him and spend the day with him. He'll need to get settled in here and some company for lunch and possibly dinner." Tsuna looked at her with pleading eyes. "I really want him to feel like part of the Family, and welcome here. Help me?"

Bianchi chuckled a bit. "Ah, yes, that one isn't as vulnerable to some of your charms as your other protectors are." She leaned in conspiratorially. "I think he might actually be the only completely heterosexual man you know anywhere near your age."

"Don't say that! We're all holding firm to the idea that Ryohei doesn't like me that way." Tsuna shivered a bit at the thought. "I can't handle that kind of energy. I just can't. I'm only one man!"

"Turf-head is far more into Chrome and that Hana girl than anything we've got going, boss." Hayato grinned at him, munching his toast cheerfully.

"Good. Someone has to make good little mafia babies." Tsuna turned back to Bianchi with wide eyes of pleading. "Please take care of Lancia-san for me? He's been really lonely."

"Spend my day with a man who's both attractive and polite?" Bianchi smiled at him and nodded. "I can do that for you, Tsuna. You'll be funding it, of course?"

Tsuna sighed and rummaged out his wallet, handing over one of the two credit cards Reborn had arranged for him. "Get whatever you two need, but try not to break me. I still have to buy school uniforms when I get back. Mine are getting too short again."

"You're such a darling, Tsuna," Bianchi took it and hugged him, still smiling.

He hugged her back, his arms tight around her. It hurt, watching her. She gave up so much of herself to stay near Reborn, had been obsessed with him off and on since she was in pre-school. He knew that nothing would come of it in the end, even if she didn't. So it hurt to watch her try and try, and never get anywhere. This meeting was his way of trying to find a different form of happiness for her.

He'd noticed how often Lancia-san asked about Bianchi when he called or emailed. It was always casual, as if dropped in without a second thought. Tsuna was aware enough, however, to realize that the other man probably spent hours trying to figure out how to work her into the conversations. So he would do this much, interfere this much, and hope that somehow the other picked up the lead and ran with it. They both deserved some happiness.

They deserved the same happiness that Bianchi wanted but would never have with Reborn. After all, Reborn belonged to Tsuna. The sooner everyone realized that, the better off things would be. He'd lost Reborn once, and he never would again.

Pleased with the outcome of their discussion, he kissed her cheek and released her, nodding to Hayato. "Let's go find the little terrors and take them to see the city."


*Title translates to "Love is the essence of life".