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Tears of the future, Trials of the past.

Chapter.10.

Dinner that night at the Sawada household had been slightly awkward as everyone had eaten silence; the two guardians hadn't really know what to say, Nana had been watching their three new guests, some would said guardedly, while Tsuna just accepted the quiet. Reborn had observed all this; making mental notes of every little detail he could.

After the food was eaten, Gokudera and Lambo were taken to the two separate guestrooms, where Tsuna made the beds up for them and got things they would need ready for them - like he had done it hundreds of times before. Reborn would guess that he had. Before Tsunayoshi left them for the evening and led him back to his own bedroom.

Reborn hopped out of his students arms a moment after the teen had shut the door behind him, and turned to look at the towering figure "You've got questions" Tsuna nodded.

"…so have you" Tsunayoshi added as he made his way to his bed, where he collapsed onto the mattresses, he sat comfortable with his legs out straight on his back against the wall as he watched his tutor.

Said teacher nodded as well "But I think I'd like to hear the truth, before I give you anymore information then you already know"

Reborn huffed, but understood "I was actually sent to Japan by the Ninth of the Vongola." he paused "judging from your reaction earlier, I would say that you have knowledge of the mafia" despite he knew that for a fact, his tone was questioning.

Tsunayoshi nodded to the unasked "I work…I work around the local gangs and yakuza,…I'm familiar with…it, I guess…" he sighed disgustedly "you could say, I'm kind of like the police for the lawless; if I don't like what someone's doing with their…organisation, I'll tell them"

An amused glint flashed in Reborn's eyes "And then what?"

Tsuna's brow crinkled "…well…the first time,…wasn't pretty" his tone was tired and their was hints of distress, which both surprised Reborn and yet, it didn't "though it's gotten easy with…the alliances I've built"

Reborn decided not to push something too far too soon and continued from where he had left off "You see, you have been chosen as the Tenth generation as mafia boss for the Vongola, by the Tenth himself"

Tsuna paled "I- I know,…you mentioned earlier, but…-but is there no one else?, maybe someone older, someone more suited?"

Reborn shook his head gravely "No one." who could possible be the sky of the Vongola.

Tsuna looked irritated "But - but I'm not - I'm not qualified for something like that, I'm just…" his eyes became dull for a moment, which made Reborn realise that this boy had more issues then he let onto "I'm just a kid, I'm not capable of- of leading a mafia family, not to mention that said family would be one, if not the biggest"

Reborn grunted, he didn't know if he wouldn't have preferred for his student just to be clueless; he didn't like this argument, if you could even call it that. He didn't like being on the wrong end and the other's words to be for damn logical "Look, Tsuna" he said, after deciding to level with the kid "you're the only one able to take up after the Ninth. The other candidates are dead, and the only other breathing person, besides yourself, would be someone who lead Vongola to ruin"

"Your in essence, the wildcard"

Tsunayoshi stilled, and after a second, muttered "The underdog" in agreement, before he snapped out of it "but- but teenagers, that aren't even out of school, don't just become inline for something like this. I'm not even Italian!"

Reborn was impressed with that deduction; Iemitsu had said something about his family being clueless, which Reborn thought was completely stupid, if not dangerous. But since Tsuna was doing so well, he decided he could probably do better "Are you sure?" he smirked.

"No, I'm Japanese -" words died in his throat, while chocolate eyes widened, and Reborn could actually see his student's realisation "you…he…"

"…I'm going to kill him" Tsuna growled. Reborn's smirk grew "please tell me, that I'm somehow misreading the signs and your face - please tell me that my idiot, wayward, but most importantly, Italian father, isn't related to the mafia and didn't just sell me up the river"

Reborn's fedora covered his large eyes as he started to reply in his childish voice "The half of your Italian blood is powerful Vongola blood, which is first recorded as being owned by Giotto, Ieyasu Sawada, or the founder - Primo of the Vongola"

Tsunayoshi growled, this just couldn't be happening to him "I-I haven't even seen dad in at least three or four years, I…- are you sure you couldn't just leave to the ruin guy?, I mean it's not like I could do any better, despite who my father is I -"

"Because you've most likely work with, around or under some very power or dangerous people, I'm going to guess you know of the importance of the mafia, and just what would happen if there would be no certain leader for Vongola when the Ninth can no longer rule"

Tsuna paled, not just at Reborn's serious and straight face but also as he understood what his tutor was getting at "I -"

"It would cause untold chaos and death. There would be Mafioso trying to steal the position for themselves, which could and if that were to happen, would cause a war" Reborn said evenly "because of that - because of what that could bring, we are forced to put the majority above the personal needs of the candidate"

Reborn probably shouldn't be treating a child like an adult, he realised, but Tsuna was too mature for his own good. If his student had been a normal fourteen year-old, he probably would have used a different approach, because he really was backing Tsunayoshi into a corner - and that's how people get scared, but Tsuna wasn't most people.

The brunet grimaced, before he brought his palm up to his forehead and bought them together "I…understand that…" he had seen it once before and it wasn't pleasant, but him? A mafia boss?.

"…you understand, huh?" a rueful smile forced its way onto Reborn's features, as he half wished his student would just get angry with him, instead of this calm angst, the kid had every right and it would sure make him feel a lot better.

Tsuna brought his face back up "Yes, well…I guess I've been around the block a few times." he sighed through his nose "but this whole mafia thing? Yeah that's pretty knew"

"Does that mean you accepting you position?" Reborn asked.

Tsunayoshi froze and there was a long pause filled with nothing but silence "I…honestly don't want to be the Tenth" he said, and he thought, that for a moment, Reborn looked disappointed "but…I-I just don't have much of a choice, do I?" he smiled sadly. Even if he denied the position, he doubted very much that they'd just let him go.

"…your being awfully calm about this" Reborn stated. He hadn't seen much of a reaction to anything he had said from Tsuna and it worried him a bit; was Tsunayoshi just accepting and clear thinking?, or was he numb?. Reborn was honestly unsure.

"I guess it's just my body's natural response to things…like this" Tsuna shrugged; that really was the least of his worries right now "I deal with a lot of…aging situations on the streets, not to mention - well, I think you understand"

Reborn raised an eyebrow at the unfinished sentence, but didn't question it and instead focused on the backup Tsuna had decided to use "So you work with a lot of gangs then?"

"Yeah" Tsuna said, before he raised both hands to either side of his face before brushing aside his bangs so that his ears were visible, and that his earrings were on show "these are most of the gangs who have my,…loyalty, I guess?."

"I usually work as an intermediate, informant or I can patrol. Though I do do a lot of other work, those are the main jobs I can think of." Reborn, though he had noticed the jewellery earlier on, took the time to really look at the emblems.

"Reborn" said tutor's attention snapped back into place as he locked eyes with his student "I…will want to speak to…er the Ninth and my father about this"

"Of course" Reborn nodded, he really didn't have a problem with that, Tsuna had every right to talk this out with the people who have his fate at their finger tips, and besides, he knew that there were things that Tsunayoshi just wouldn't say to him.

"Thank you, I suppose" Tsuna said unsurely; he didn't want this at all, but Reborn was being honest, as far as he could tell, and discussing this with him and for that, even if he was being forced into something, meant a lot to him.

"Is…." Tsunayoshi paused "is there anything else I need to know?"

Reborn smirked "Isn't that what I should be asking?" he shook his head as he saw Tsuna's disgruntled look "is there anything you want to ask?"

Tsunayoshi thought for a moment "You…you said something about being a hit-man?"

"Yes, I suppose we never really did get the chance for a proper introduction, did we?" the tutor smirked "I'm Reborn, under contract for the Vongola as a hit-man, now sent as your tutor"

"Nice to meet you"

Tsuna raised an eyebrow, before they both crinkled "So…you've been doing this for awhile then?"

Reborn stilled at that; he hadn't thought it would come up until, maybe later "What makes you ask that?" he answered with a question of his own as his expression became lax. He didn't mean it to be, but this was always a sensitive subject for him.

"Er…well, it's just, out of everyone they could send, they chose you. So I just guessed that you must be close to the Ninth…or at least in his favour" Tsuna reasoned "you seem the kind of person who hides behind a mask, and…isn't as open as they pretend to be, so when you got so worked up over my safety because of Gokudera and Lambo…I know that I must be important"

"But for an assassin, someone who kills for a living, to make a good relationship with the Ninth…I just guessed that that would take time - it would take time for anyone to trust the next generation of their organisation in the hands of a killer - more time then you should have had…"

"Though…I guess you not making sense, makes sense; it isn't just your fast relationship-making is, it's the fact that your trained, from what I can see, and…that you can talk at all"

Reborn stood silently and was in honestly just a little stunned; he had just been completely pegged by a fourteen year-old he had only known for five hours and it not only unnerved him, but excited him as well; what kind of Vongola would this boy shape?, what kind changes would he make?, and what would he become when he was older…

Reborn suddenly didn't mind his job as much as he had, because although it had been an honour to be trusted with such a thing, he didn't think he, someone known as a sadist, would be the best choice. Though he hadn't refused as he also understood that part of the reason he was chosen was to safeguard Tsunayoshi -

Reborn shook those thoughts away; he just couldn't think of that now "Your…going to be a very interesting student…"

A shiver ran down Tsuna's spine, and he suddenly thought that maybe he should have just kept his question to himself, because he really didn't like that glint in his tutor's eyes…

A/N-

...do any of you actually remember me?. *Sigh* I wouldn't blame you if you didn't; it's been a very long time since I've updated this story and I never actually meant to have such a big pause between chapters...it just happened...

But, good news is I'm alive!.

No, being serious here, I really am sorry for that, but I will try to be better for now on.

Okay, so getting down to business - heres the deal, I've decided (studiedly, thick-headedly) that I would update/proofread all my stories before I go away. Yep, all 33, starting from the bottom and working up.

Now, I'm going away for a week for my birthday (for any of the stalkers out there, yes; I' am a Leo), I'll be gone between 13th and I'll get back either the 17th or 18th. But I probably won't be back for another few days, so at least a week and a half before I make any kind of update, probably.

So that's the deal...your sweet for you, huh?. ...Wait, hold up. Isn't it my birthday?, how come I'm doing all the work? *Sigh* I do it to myself...

Just joking, no seriously, just enjoy this story and I'll be happy for the work I'm going to be putting into all these updates...oh dear God, you guys are gonna be the end of me yet.

P.S. I've got two things to add. One - is that I finally got around to proofreading all the previous chapters. And two - since I'm in such a rush to upload all these chapters I've got in my Docs, I haven't had time to proofread thischapter, but I will get to it as soon as I can when I get back, promise.

I Apologise if there are any mistakes in my spelling/ grammar, or if you find anything I have written offensive.

Thank you to everyone who added 'Heavy Shoulders' to their favorites/ alerts or who took the time to review, you also have my gratitude for reading this chapter.

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