Author's Note: In case you guys didn't know, the reason Reborn doesn't like Mukuro is because of the fact that Mukuro exemplifies Reborn's self-loathing. The Mist element is known for being trapped in their own bodies—even more so for Mukuro since he's imprisoned in Vendicare—and that's what the Arcobaleno experienced for decades. Remember, Reborn is being vulnerable since Mukuro's release is like the curse being lifted all over again.

Also, Metue,pointed out something that isn't quite correct. You said that the summary doesn't fit the story—it does for the first Arc but after that, it kind of trails off into something entirely different and there's only what? 132 characters to use? Apparently, I am also inept at writing stories that revolve mainly around one story (that's not me guilt tripping you. That's me criticizing my inability to follow the plot I've set) and even more so, I suck at writing summaries.

And Hell Changer, what I mean by AU is that after the Future Arc, it branches off into its own sort of timeline. Shimon obviously doesn't play a roll and the Arcobaleno Arc (fucking rip off-arc, by the way) is addressed in a different way.

So for those of you that don't know, this is Post-Future, Pre-Shimon and it is four years after Reborn arrived at the Sawada Household which would make Tsuna seventeen.

Updated 11/27/13

"Speak, Arcobaleno. Why have you called conference with us?" Jager stated menacingly. Verde refused to flinch back under what he would have become.

"I've come to place an inquiry on the pending release of Rokudo Mukuro." Verde said clearly, pushing up his glasses. His appearance, while neat, wasn't formal and that may have added to the hostility he was being shown. 'Well,' He thought. 'Shall I add to it?'

"We do not negotiate. We do not release prisoners. We have told the Vongola this before and we have no intentions of turning Rokudo Mukuro over to his custody." Jager sneered. "If that is all, then you are dismissed."

"Actually," Verde pressed. "I've come in the hopes that you'd reconsider. You see, I've come into some information recently and… as unsavory as it is, it has given me a new perspective on reality. More specifically… Vendice's rule over the Mafia." He could feel the malicious intent spike around him. A razor smile spread over his lips. "Surely you didn't think we wouldn't find out after the curse was broken, did you?" He asked as he looked up at them through his glasses that gleamed with an ominous light. "About just what the Vendice were?" There was a dangerous shift in the air. Verde threw his head back and laughed. It was more of an insane cackle, really, but he couldn't bring himself to care. "Unless you want that information publicized and your control over the lesser ranks of the Mafia, I advise you follow through with Mukuro's release."

"You dare threaten us, Arcobaleno?!" Another deep, raspy voice demanded from the stands. "Master Jager, I say we kill him where he stands! That information is classified! Who is your informant?!"

Verde laughed again. The desperation they were showing was clear. "Kill me and the information will be publicized anyways!" He stated, his words ringing across the court. "You did not think I would come here without insurance, did you? Information like this is too sensitive to keep to myself! I'm only part of the information line and my death will assure that this information becomes public knowledge throughout the Mafia. And then what? What will happen to the Trinisette?" Verde sneered at Jager. "I need not tell you that this kind of leak will end in disaster… of course, by then, me and my information source will be long gone as I am certain you will not allow us to live." He scoffed. "Such a pity really. That kind of chaos is something I might find entertaining."

There was silence as Verde's words sank in and he was right. The Vendice ruled with an iron fist—to know that they were once what was referred to as The Strongest Seven in their respective eras would create chaos. The Mafia would riot and fight against them. It would be an all out war and while Vendice was more than capable of taking each and every one of them down, it would be a slaughterhouse through and through.

"We shall… consider the proposition once more." Jager said after a moment of hesitation.

"See to it that you do." Verde said before he bowed at the waist. "Good evening."

And then he left.

Italy had become like a second home to Tsuna. After seeing it through the memories that were engraved in the Rings and again when Reborn started their overseas traveling, Tsuna could honestly say that the warm, European country had grown on him. He wouldn't mind settling down here one day after his business with the Vongola was done and the darkness surrounding the Mafia was eradicated. The moment he stepped on the plane, the young Sky Guardian wanted nothing more than to do a happy dance all the way to the limo—any weariness from the flight forgotten. Even though the flight was only eight hours, it was obvious everyone felt worn after the flight.

But, like Tsuna, any weariness they felt was immediately washed away by the sound of jumbled Italian murmurs and earthy tones that met their range of view. Hayato wanted to roll his eyes at his Sky's over-zealous behavior but couldn't help but smile at the truly happy lift to Tsuna's lips. "Good evening, Decimo," Their driver greeted. He was an average appearing man with black hair, a fuzzy mustache and the common black-suit-and-tie appearance.

"Good evening, Druitt," Tsuna greeted with a warm smile.

Once they were all ushered into the back of a long car, the man's voice rang over the intercom. "Where to, Decimo?"

"Main Headquarters, please." Tsuna replied, leaning back in his seat.

"Hmph. I would have thought the special treatment would be too much for you to handle." Levi spoke for the first time since they got off the plane.

"It was… but I quickly got used to it." Tsuna reached for the glass of wine Xanxus handed him. It was at least a hour's drive to Vongola Manor so they figured they could indulge themselves. While they pulled out of airport security, Tsuna reached for his emergency phone just as it rang. Tsuna smiled a bit at the phone number before he got serious. "Verde," Tsuna greeted.

"They either think I'm bluffing or that my information sources are thin. Someone just tried to kill me." Verde stated drolly.

"…" Tsuna's expression became impassive. "You know, I hear the beds in the guest suites are rather exquisite. I wouldn't know because I don't sleep when I'm in Italy but you might enjoy them."

"I am not going under protective detail."

"Tough shit."

"And if I protest?"

"I'll send in a retrieval team to come and get you."

"I'm not beyond killing them."

"And if it's one of the Arcobaleno?"

"…" There was silence on the other end. "Don't expect to win the next round, Vongola." And then Verde hung up. Tsuna smirked in triumph before ending the call on his end. Reborn snorted.

"For all of his mental capacity, he sure is an idiot." Reborn commented.

"You and Verde have never gotten along." Viper commented casually.

"That's because he's into smearing his brains in other peoples' faces. I'm more reserved."

"You realize that that is the biggest load of bullcrap I've ever heard, right?"

"Shut up, Dame-Tsuna."

"Shutting up."

"So? What happened?" Takeshi asked.

Tsuna inclined his head carefully. "Vendice has become bold. They've attacked Verde in his labs." Tsuna looked up at Haru. "Haru, could you—?"

"—escort him to the main estate? It would be my pleasure." Haru smirked—the expression contrasted with her innocent eyes in a way none-too-nice. "Meanwhile, you should probably show Vendice that you aren't bluffing."

"Hm." Tsuna drummed his fingers against his cheek thoughtfully. "Perhaps." He mused. "We shall see what comes our way, no?"

The hallways were buzzing with energy as usual and the two Skies were greeted with various greetings all ranging from "Welcome back" to curt nods—each one Tsuna returned with a warm smile or a nod of his own. Xanxus simply grunted in acknowledgement, much to Tsuna's displeasure.

When they arrived at the main office, Tsuna knocked twice before stepping in. "I thought I sensed a familiar presence." Timoteo greeted. "Tsunayoshi, Reborn, welcome back."

"Timoteo," Reborn greeted, inclining his head. Tsuna's expression softened as he took his spot next to the Ninth Don.

"I heard you had quite the ordeal."

Tsuna's eyes turned serene. "You don't know the half of it."

"Then do tell us." Coyote said, leaning on his intertwined fingers. "Kyoya, here, was just informing us about your whereabouts."

Not having to be told twice, Tsuna and Xanxus quickly launched into explanation. After skimming over the part where he had gotten into an argument regarding Mukuro's release with Reborn, he explained how he knew what to say and how to get the message through—even though he was winging it for most of it. Then he explained that he had found one of the buildings and almost got his neck snapped by an unconscious Xanxus—who pointedly told him that he should have known better to try and wake a sleeping assassin.

When he was finished, Hibari—who had just arrived only twenty minutes prior—smirked, quite obviously pleased at how well his Sky had done. "Wao… you've sharpened your claws again, Tsunayoshi."

"Meow," Tsuna purred teasingly. "Before we get into this whole debriefing, I ask that my Guardians remain on the investigation."

"Granted." Timoteo didn't even have to think about the request. It had been a precaution that was a part of the protocol that they usually followed but he could tell that this would not be up for debate—besides, they had something more important to worry about. "Next question?" The Ninth inquired.

"Thanks for reminding me… why wasn't I informed about Sarada Mochizuki's appearance on Japanese soil? She's a high risk assassin and an enemy of the Vongola that I ordered tabs to be kept on." Like an annoyance that didn't know how to separate his family and the Family.

"You mean the informants never sent you the information?" Nougat asked. "How unusual…"

"Did you go through my usual line of communication?" Tsuna asked. "There's a reason I have that line set up."

"It was too risky. Iemitsu said that your line of information had a leak—"

Snap.

Cracks appeared in the table where Tsuna's fingers dug into the wood. "He did what?" His voice was deceptively calm. "Need I remind you who it is that's delivering the information to me personally? I fail to see how Verde is a leak." Iemitsu had become a thorn in Tsuna's side as of late. Even though Timoteo insisted that Iemitsu hadn't changed, Tsuna knew the truth. The alteration had been slight, almost unnoticeable to those that were constantly in his presence but Tsuna never had that (so-called) luxury. He noticed how haughty Iemitsu had gotten and it was beginning to irritate him.

"Don Gesso's right hand is invol—" Coyote was cut off, just as Nougat had been.

Apparently Iemitsu wasn't the only one who needed to learn their place.

"Shoichi Irie is not an enemy of the Vongola!" Tsuna snapped. "I have some choice words for that bastard. I want him here, now."

"Tsuna," Reborn said coolly. "Iemitsu has every right to be untrusting towards both Verde and Irie."

"But not towards those I pick personally." Tsuna said in a deceptively calm tone. "Verde is not an enemy. He is sworn under the Omertà and Byakuran was converted after his defeat by my hand ten years in the future. You know that as well as I do. God, I swear! The moment the coronation is done and over with, I'm going to kick his ass out of the Mafia for good." Tsuna took a shuddering breath. "Never mind that. Hibari, just inform me of what you've found before I decide to kill him instead of firing him." Everyone knew Tsuna would never do that kind of thing. It was illogical, impossible even, but they were said nonetheless.

"Tsunayoshi," Timoteo said warningly, reminding Xanxus of when he went into 'dad-mode' with him when he and Enrico fought. Tsuna's amber eyes flashed up at him but Timoteo remained firm. "Iemitsu deserves respect."

"No, you deserve respect. The only thing Iemitsu deserves is my foot up his—"

"Tsunayoshi!" Reborn growled, his voice raising only a bit but enough to make Tsuna flinch.

"Forgive me. I spoke out of term." Tsuna said, averting his eyes but not sounding the least bit sincere in his words. Why was it he became so impulsive when it came to his father?

Xanxus felt his Guardians shift behind him but paid them no mind. Instead, he was looking at Tsunayoshi's Guardians and the various reactions—indifference, calm calculation, concern and mutual anger. It was all there. Xanxus knew that Iemitsu had done something to cause a rift between him and his son but he didn't think it would be this bad. It was clear that Tsuna wanted nothing more than to deck his father in the face with a flame-infused fist.

None of the Varia spoke—it wasn't their place. This was clearly a familial issue at this point and they weren't at that level yet. Hibari, obviously not wanting to remain on this subject, slid a dossier over to Tsuna. "That's all of the information I picked up. Aliases, various signatures she has used for each of her aliases, enemies that have put out hits on her and past involvement in ongoing cases involving the Alliance."

"She's good at not leaving a paper trail." Tsuna commented, putting the file on the overhead-projector for everyone's view. "Hm? What's this?" Tsuna flipped open the last page and his eyebrows shot up. "Hibari Kyoya, have I ever told you that I love you undeniably?"

"No but when you say things like that it makes me feel good." Hibari smirked.

"Seejah Petrovsky and Sarah Raisen are freelance assassins that have been on my list of wary for quite some time. Both of them were reported as Volkov's escorts when he was still a rookie—according to Bianchi's case file—and both names are recorded as Felicia's aliases."

"Before I gave him that scar on the side of his face," Bianchi emphasized as she slipped into a seat at the table. "Both of them were names on my list but I couldn't complete the hit because the Don I was working for was assassinated after he transferred the final funds."

"Strangled from behind with a wire," Tsuna nodded. "And that's Sara Raisen's Modus Operandi. Damn, she's good."

"What were they escorting Volkov to?" Ryohei asked.

"A company gathering for—oh…"

"For who?" Xanxus asked.

"Us, apparently." Tsuna drummed his fingers against the dossier. "After Massimo was named Heir and then again when Federico was named heir."

"That's rather telling." Timoteo commented, the grief from his sons' deaths etching into the lines on his face but not showing beyond that. Tsuna felt his heart clench as a reminder not to be so blunt about things.

It was good to know that, despite his occupation, he was still capable of human emotion.

"Indeed," Mukuro commented ominously. "Unfortunately it seems that we are at a standstill until another lead comes to light." Tsuna felt Reborn's displeasure spike and he shot him a warning glare. "Oya?" Mukuro hummed, eyeing the two of them with wary as he had noticed the sudden change in atmosphere. "Have the two of you fought?"

"No." Reborn said at the same time Tsuna said, "Yes." They both glared at one another.

"That doesn't sound good." Hibari mused, for once not attacking Mukuro on sight. Tsuna wondered about that but decided to dwell on it later… best not to ignore the killer in the room—Reborn, that is, not… everyone else.

"Why can't you just drop it already?" Tsuna demanded, standing up abruptly. "You know as well as everyone else that once I've made up my mind on something, there's no stopping until it's done."

"Because you have a freaking death wish." Reborn snarled. "Honestly, Tsuna. Blackmailing Vendice? What kind of information do you have over them that would make the impenetrable Vendicare go belly up for the sake of your Mist?"

"Hm?" Mukuro shifted. "You're blackmailing Vendice?"

"It's not blackmail if I intend pay them back. I'd rather not be indebted to them if it's all the same and you don't even know my game-play!" Tsuna hissed. "Who are you to say it will fail?"

"You're too reckless, Idiot-Tsuna." Reborn said, his eyes shaded by his fedora. "I don't know how you managed to get Verde in on this scheme but know this. If you get Verde killed because of this harebrained scheme of yours, you will be treated as an enemy to the Arcobaleno."

Tsuna was panting with the aftermath of his intense spar with Hibari. He had won, as he usually did when he was fighting based on emotion instead of just a friendly spar, but Hibari hadn't left to sulk. Instead, he lay beside him as he tried to catch his breath. "You know," Hibari said, rolling onto his stomach. "The infant is the reason you're alive."

"What do you mean?" Tsuna asked, his anger dimming a bit to be replaced by curiosity.

"I mean that he used his pacifier to heal the damage done." Hibari elaborated. "He was completely spent afterwards. That predator had used his flame to recharge him, I think."

"Who? Xanxus?" Tsuna asked, blinking at Hibari as he, too, rolled onto his stomach. "When was this?"

"When you were being transported by chopper to Moscow." Hibari replied.

Tsuna frowned, unsure of what he was feeling at the moment. He knew later that he would seek out Reborn and question him but right now, he just felt… numb… and he wasn't so sure that was a good thing anymore.

It had taken him a while to store up the courage to confront Reborn. When he finally stopped pacing in front of the entrance, he had made his way down the staircase that led to Reborn's secluded suite in the mansion. It was hidden and only accessible through a secret passage hidden behind an elegant painting of a raven's silhouette against the setting sun. Inside was decorated with dark wood and masculine shades of cream-orange for the upper half of the walls—the lower half being framed with panels of the dark wood. About half-way up, where the panels ended, there was an embroidery with a filigree design. The furniture was all turn-of-the-century antique, complete with a record player and all.

Tsuna didn't stop to admire the décor, amazing as it may have been. He walked into the bedroom which was a bit darker. Instead of a cream-orange, it was a dark violet. The bed was a four-poster bed with black curtains and matching bedspread. There were silver twists and designs on the hem of the comforter and pillows but Tsuna ignored them for the sake of seeking out Reborn who he could sense was on the balcony.

"Hey," Tsuna said, walking out onto the balcony where Reborn was sprawled out on a chaise lounge. "Hibari told me how you used the pacifier to heal me." Tsuna began, fighting the urge to fidget. Reborn said nothing so Tsuna took a step closer. "I don't understand why you hate him so much… is it because his situation is similar? Because you and he both know what it's like to be trapped within your own bodies?"

Yellow eyes opened and Tsuna flinched. "I thought we were finished with this conversation." He said coldly. Tsuna flinched as though he had been slapped.

"My decision is final… but the conversation is far from over, Reborn."

Reborn ticked under his breath and Tsuna frowned. "You should make up your mind." He turned to gaze disinterestedly at the half moon as though looking at Tsuna… hurt him. "Just leave."

Tsuna reared back as though he had been shot, hurt lacing through his veins in the very familiar feeling of rejection. Why was Reborn pushing him away now when Tsuna wanted nothing more than to please him? Was it because he wanted… something more?

Mind racing and hands trembling, Tsuna moved forward again, deliberately slow and calm though he was feeling anything but. "No."

Anger flashed in yellow orbs for the barest of moments before it vanished. "I loathe repeating myself, Dame-Tsuna." The words had a harsher bite than before.

"I don't care." Feeling defiant, Tsuna moved forward again as though he was stalking his prey and in a way he was. Reborn was his and he was pushing him away.

Something else flared under his eyes and, in the next moment, Tsuna found himself being forced against the stucco wall. He cried out at the pain when it scraped against his back but the sound was muffled by Reborn who was brutally assaulting his mouth. Another pained whimper passed from his lips when they were ground between Reborn's teeth but the hitman refused to ease up, as though Tsuna deserved to be punished for putting him through this anguish.

Reborn pulled back on Tsuna's hair, forcing his throat to bare before nipping sharply leaving angry signatures on his throat. If Tsuna wouldn't submit, he would force him to submit. Tsuna's grip tightened on his hair before roughly initiating another kiss. Tsuna made a sound that was a cross between a scream and a gasp and Reborn's control strained even further as they slid into the bedroom where Reborn forced Tsuna's hands above his head and ground their hips together violently, forcing friction to meet between their legs.

Frantically, they scrambled to get out of their clothes, to explore foreign limbs and map out spots that elicited certain desired reactions and soon enough, the two of them were on the bed, hot and too aroused to think straight.

Or maybe it was one sided… Reborn didn't know anymore. He was tired of forcing himself to ignore his own desires and Tsuna was here… alone… in his quarters… and free for the taking.

There was a pained mewl from underneath him and Reborn eased up a bit on the friction. Reborn pulled back a bit more and was suddenly aware of how breathless Tsuna was. His eyes were glazed and glowing eerily with lust. His lips were swollen and slightly parted. His cheeks flared with color and all Reborn could see was pure arousal in that gaze… but it vanished in a flash, replaced by a moment of panic and fear.

It made him see red all over again.

As though sensing Reborn wasn't about to give up, Tsuna decided to switch it up a bit. Tsuna wrapped his legs around Reborn's waist and flipped their positions. "Oh no, hitman, if we're going to do this… we're doing it my way." Tsuna purred, his eyes glowing in the silvery moonlight that filled the room.

Reborn paused, at a loss. "What are you pla—ah—" Reborn bit down on his lip to keep the groan from tearing from his throat when Tsuna's fingers danced over his aching hard-on through his slacks before pulling down the zipper and hem until his cock sprang free of its restraints. A shudder tore painfully through his lean body when Tsunayoshi ran his tongue, curiously, over the length and then his teeth—gently (almost as if they weren't touching it at all) but provocatively—over the moistened member before he slipped the throbbing appendage into his mouth.

Oh God, that tongue of his was doing things to his body that should have never been done. Tsuna continued to suck and prod at Reborn, lathering in the taste and texture. How was it possible for someone to taste so addicting? The sound of Reborn's restraints snapping should have been audible when Tsuna's glazed eyes flickered up to him.

A shuddering groan fell past Reborn's lips and a jolt ran through Tsuna—an electrical current of pleasure—and he no longer felt the spark of dominating determination. But… if he was going to submit to Reborn, he was going to see just how much anger could affect passion. It took a bit to get used to since Reborn was… well, to put it bluntly, quite large but once he had, he could take him whole. Tsuna couldn't stifle the moan that tore from his throat when Reborn's fingers twisted in his hair and with a strangle gasp that sounded like his name, slurred beyond comprehension, Tsuna felt hot, salty liquid fill his mouth and, for a moment, was at a loss.

The liquid was thick and had the same fiery taste that Reborn's mouth did. He swallowed it though, with little difficulty. He could feel Reborn's arousal thickening again and a moment later, there was a bruising grip on his hips. It should have scared him, he knew, but it didn't—the way Reborn held him.

"Wai—Reborn! Th-that's… nngh…" The smaller boy moaned as Reborn's fingers spread him, prepared him for what was to come. Tsuna clung to him, holding onto the hitman and rolling his hips back against the head of Reborn's cock. Immediately, his body attempted to reject the intrusion—still unused to the sensation even though it was no longer foreign—and Reborn's restraint was further strained beyond his limits. He wanted nothing more than to lose himself in Tsunayoshi's heat.

Reborn wanted to watch him as he came. He had forgotten what it felt like to give pleasure as well as receive it. It was so intense—it almost made his lust violent, animalistic. Both of them were slicked with sweat and for once, Reborn couldn't focus solely on the sound of Tsuna's ragged breathing or the pain that Tsuna's nails were giving him. His senses were expanded to their full capability and if he just jerked his hips upright at the same time he pulled Tsuna down…

The sound of his control snapping was as audible as the sound of a cracking whip when he forced Tsuna down and snapped his hips up to meet Tsuna's… and immediately Reborn was overwhelmed with the feeling of Tsuna's body contracting, trembling, shivering… he was aware of Tsuna's blunt teeth biting down on his shoulder, of the brunette's nails digging into his flesh and the painful ecstasy that overwhelmed Tsuna's expression.

Reborn groaned with each vigorous roll of Tsuna's hips, each twitch, shudder and spasm that causes their bodies to react in ways that should be considered illegal. Reborn lifts Tsuna up off of his cock and forces him back down, reaching deep inside of him and slamming into his prostate which causes blotches of white noise to burn away at Tsuna's consciousness. Their minds went blank, dimming into nothing at each yearning sound—harder and more and yes, yes, yes!— and every searing movement.

Reborn felt Tsuna's release when his body clenched down around the engorged member still buried inside of his core and milked it dry. Tsuna whimpered with release, left a shuddering, searing mess of what was supposed to be a Mafia Don. The last of their urgency was being torn away from them—numbing the part of Reborn that longed for this kind of companionship and replacing it with satiation and in the aftermath of pleasure, he wondered…

Why the fuck hadn't he done this sooner?

"You know," Tsuna said suddenly, drawing Reborn out of his thoughts. "If you wanted to start a relationship, all you had to do was ask." He mused. Reborn stiffened before relaxing.

"Up until a year ago, I didn't know you liked both genders." Reborn pointed out. "And by the time I did realize it, you had just had that not-quite breakup with Kyoko. I wasn't going to push my luck."

"I'm over her, Reborn. She's nothing to me anymore." Well… maybe not quite nothing because of how long they had been together but close enough. She wasn't of any competition. "You might have some competition though." He added, a small smile flicking over his lips.

Reborn snorted, "Xanxus."

"How'd you guess?"

"I don't know. Maybe it has something to do with the way his eyes linger too long for my taste." Reborn gave a positively evil grin. "I'll enjoy knocking him down a few pegs. That boy has always been to cocky for my liking."

"Seduction of the Don, Vongola style." Tsuna snorted. "It's a good thing I'm used to our sparring sessions otherwise I'd be limping for the rest of my life."

"Damn straight you would be." Reborn said, leaning down to kiss Tsuna one last time before they both slipped into a deep and satiated slumber.

Tsuzukeru.

Thanks for reading~!