NOTES

1. WARNING: implications of violence and sexual activity involving an underaged person

2. This chapter requires you to finish Renato Sinclair's Track and Renato Sinclair's Dirty Secret.

3. Please read the note at the end of the story

4. The previous chapters in Tsunayoshi's Arc (from Tsunayoshi's Two Cents on First Times and Tsunayoshi's Massage with a Drink) were edited; especially on Reborn's dialogue. He just felt too generic for a while there - too assholish like the typical dominant gay male archetype in fanfics and a Gary Stu. So I tweaked his words a bit; to add a human side to him. Honestly, I know his character became what it is because I'm saving a huge chunk of his personality for the epilogue. But, this proves to be destructive.

5. I also edited the last chapter so that it became less cryptic. You'd find that the interactions between Tsuna and Reborn changed in Tsunayoshi's Massage with a Drink.

TSUNAYOSHI'S FIRST COLLAR

The were many times Reborn surprised Shoichi Irie; one of them being that time he found the man in the middle of the Atlantics – wearing a three piece suit and carrying a boy with him; the other being that time Irie caught the wind of Vongola's sudden antagonism against their best hitman. Yet, there was no surprise bigger than the time Irie find the man sitting in front of the airport's ice cream parlor with a young boy; the latter wearing a very colorful attire and eating sundae no less.

If Irie didn't know any better, he would have thought the boy and the hitman were two strangers happened to share a table by accident. But Irie knew better; he saw the boy with Reborn back when Irie was ordered to prepare a speedboat in the middle of the Atlantics a couple of months ago. Even then, Irie still expected to pick Reborn on his own from the airport that day – without the extra baggage of a boy.

"How about you buy cheaper sport car instead and invest on better kitchen?" The boy, Tsunayoshi, mumbled to Reborn, "I wouldn't mind cooking everyday if we have better kitchen".

"You wouldn't?" Reborn asked – interested.

Irie couldn't believe it. Here he was, worrying if their casual attitude and low cover in public place would lead to their early capture by Vongola; yet, Reborn, along with this boy, ended up conversing about furniture instead. "S-sir, I think we should go to your new house right away. I don't think lingering at the airport would be safe for your cover," Irie informed as he glanced around for camera.

Reborn didn't tear down his eyes from the young boy. "Planning to be the good housewife, aren't you?" Reborn teased, making the boy in front of him flushing and pouting. It was then that Irie felt something wrong. Maybe it was the way these two acted as though Irie was never there in the first place; or maybe it was the word 'housewife'.

"Whatever," Tsunayoshi grunted, "I think we should get to Nanimori now and settle down".

Irie coughed, "It's Namimori".

"Right, Nanimori".

"Namimori".

"Yeah," the boy smiled, "lead the way, Shoichi-san".

Shoichi paid no mind to the strange implication of that boy's presence beside his boss. As he took the two newcomers to their new house in Namimori and gave them a short tour to the sleepy neighborhood; Shoichi concluded that Tsunayoshi was a mere accessory – something that will stay put in the background. That thought stayed with him for a while as he maintained a new routine with Reborn; paying extra attention to any happenings in Namimori, adding more surveillance around Reborn's new house, reporting any suspicious activities; all in all watching their back from Vongola – or so Irie thought this whole extra security was for. It wasn't until they caught a suspicious stranger named Birds and kept him in Reborn's basement did Irie became more cautious of Tsunayoshi.

"Clean the mess in the basement," Reborn ordered as he washed the blood off of his hands with the water faucet in the garage, "Make sure he stays alive until we bring Kozato Makoto here".

Irie didn't know why Reborn insisted to wait on finishing Birds. They had drilled the bespectacled old man on how he got there in the first place; but the man changed his answers every time. Anyhow, Irie didn't question Reborn's decision; questioning Reborn was never part of his job. After all, he didn't dare to question Reborn when that man seemed like he was up for a kill anytime. Reborn was ruthless when tortured Birds for information. So he nodded.

Reborn left the garage silently. Irie gathered the bloody scalpels Reborn used for his torture and washed each of them carefully. Once done, he made his way to the main house to inform Reborn of his finished work. What he found instead was the sight of Reborn and the boy kissing in the living room.

"You look scary," Irie heard Tsunayoshi saying as the hitman let him go.

Irie was almost worried for Tsunayoshi; Reborn was not acting very sane right then. But Reborn was not leaving the boy's side. Instead, he hooked his arms around the boy. "Then fix me with your healing kisses, Mrs. Sinclair," Irie heard Reborn saying to the boy as the latter eyed Reborn warily.

In the end, Tsunayoshi relented and circled his two arms around Reborn's neck. "What did you do?" Irie heard Tsunayoshi questioning, "Your eyes are... umf!" Next he knew, he saw the two couple tumbling to the floor as they shared a passionate kiss.

Irie half-ran out of the house without caring to tell Reborn of his leave. On his way back to his rent, he started seeing Tsunayoshi in a different light. The idea of Reborn leaning to that clueless boy didn't sit well with him; in fact, the idea of someone intelligent being around someone so incapable never sit well with Irie. It was then that he decided he would do anything to keep Reborn in his usual path; the path of adventure and danger.

And what better way to keep Reborn in that path beside getting him more involved with his ex-lovers?

"I don't understand," Tsunayoshi mumbled in a way that picture him as the clueless boy he truly was. In full honesty though, the boy really didn't understand why Irie had to sit him down and inform him that Reborn needed to leave for the sake of catching that woman; Bianchi.

She is less of a priority compared to our issue with Xanxus or my Father, Tsuna thought as he played with his fingers. Irie, however, saw Tsunayoshi as another boy who was too ignorant and self-absorbed. So the older man scratch his head exasperatedly, "Look, Tsunayoshi. He has his own private stuff he has to deal with. Give him some space to deal with that. Haven't you been bothering him long enough?"

To this, Tsunayoshi pouted. He knew Reborn wouldn't leave unless Tsunayoshi allowed him to do so. Yet, Irie's words hit the nail on the head.

You see, Tsunayoshi was a teenager with many worries; one of the most obvious being wondering how his family was doing; the other being what to cook for dinner. But some of the worries he tried to push away from his mind was about what Reborn does in his spare time. Tsunayoshi noticed some things; the trail of blood droplets in the garage leading to the basement; the way the man would ooze bloodlust at the strangest times; the way Reborn and Irie would whisper silently before Tsunayoshi appeared in the room. Tsunayoshi knew he wasn't supposed to probe around this issue. It was a part of their deal after all; Tsunayoshi shouldn't meddle with Reborn's business in return for Reborn's constant company and protection. As a result, Reborn wouldn't leave the town unless Tsunayoshi allowed him.

Tsunayoshi wondered if what he asked of Reborn - that is, his company - was the one holding Reborn back. There was always this sense of inadequacy when Tsuna was with Reborn. Reborn seemed to be the type meant to do something more. The fact that Tsunayoshi demanded him to come home at the same time for dinner seemed... to be a ridiculous demand to such a man.

"Maybe, once you gave him some time off, then you can can focus on school instead? Mr. Mochida is planning to make you clean the gym on your own afterschool because of your negligence," Irie sighed, "And maybe make friends with people of your own age – you don't seem to be doing well in that department".

Tsunayoshi scowled at his lap. Reborn walked into the dining room just to see Tsunayoshi leaving. "You can go out of town," the boy mumbled as he passed by Reborn. The boy went to his bedroom and locked himself there until the evening; in which he finally stepped out of the room to brush his teeth.

Unfortunately, it was when the boy was in the bathroom that the hitman finally caught up to him and latched his long arms around Tsuna's torso to keep the boy from escaping. The glint in the older's eyes were those of a playful beast; not tame, but willing to play nice. "What did you tell Irie this morning?"

Tsunayoshi glanced away, "What is necessary".

"Really now? Then why are you avoiding me?"

Tsuna huffed and tried pulling away from the man. When his effort failed, Tsunayoshi whined, "I did not!"

Reborn snickered, albeit doing it so handsomely. He seemed to be entertained by finding out the source of the other's silent treatment. "Did too".

Tsuna flushed yet again, even more annoyed that Reborn treated his feelings like a joke, "Did not!"

"No need to be angry just because of something that will take place because you yourself make it happen, Princess," Reborn added, "You know chasing Bianchi is necessary for everyone's safety. No need to snub your husband".

Tsuna glanced away. Reborn lifted the smaller's body until Tsuna was seated on the vanity; making Tsuna yelp in surprise. "Do you want me coaxing you for the slightest mistake like your father and his guardians?" Reborn continued as he stood between Tsuna's opened legs, obviously talking about how The Vongola treated Tsuna back then, "you're asking too much out of me, Princess. Always demanding the world when angered; used to be offered the world for it too".

Tsuna threw his two hands wildly at Reborn. "I'm not that spoiled. I'm just...," he couldn't find a better word.

Reborn actually laughed playfully and for once Tsuna saw him truly laughing instead of mocking. Then he became very feral; "You don't expect me to treat you like your Father's fucking guardians, boy," Reborn warned lowly, "Never compare me to them".

Reborn had always been salty about the pettiest things; being ignored, being compared to The Vongola, not having anyone to cook breakfast, having no more coffee beans. "Now can you say to my face that you're letting me go," Reborn glued his forehead to Tsuna's, "Without having that kind of look on your face? The way you're looking currently, Princess, tells me you're out to get me one day".

Tsunayoshi took a deep breath and return Reborn's stare. The man had a point; Tsunayoshi was the one permitting the man to go this morning; he should've own it. "I'm allowing you to go to Bianchi," Tsunayoshi mumbled with a small voice as he let his fingers roam to Reborn's shirt, "But..., in return...," Tsunayoshi's eyes lowered to the vanity. Fron the side of his vision, he caught an innocent looking razor blade, "Teach me how to shave".

There was a long pause in which Reborn watched Tsunayoshi seriously before that expression turned to humor. "Fine," the man chuckled, "I guess my leave costed me a shaving session".

Tsuna was ready to retort back; something about feeling afraid of having to fend for himself and having fear of being alone; but he stopped once he noticed Irie standing by the bathroom door. The bespectacled man froze, probably out of witnessing another intimate moment accidentally.

Let me have him for now, Tsuna found himself thinking. Without further ado, he took the razor blade. "Teach me how to use this," he told Reborn hurriedly; silently feeling guilty when he saw Irie leaving. Reborn didn't seem to bother with the latter; but he seemed pleased when he landed his hand on top of Tsuna's.

That night, Tsuna actually joined Reborn on his nightly-shave routine. Then they played chase to Reborn's bedroom; where they shared dirty stories under the pillows and woke up naked in the morning. The tradition was to jab each other in the morning-after so they could decided whose return it was to make after-sex coffee. They did just that. Irie caught the two sipping coffee silently in the kitchen, with Tsuna sitting on Reborn's lap.

In the middle of this, Tsuna actually forgot to tell Reborn of his fear on being left behind. Instead, he let himself be swept away by their momentuous quality time together. Tsuna ended up sharing a knowing look with Reborn; in which they wordlessly asked the other what was going on; are they too comfortable with this current pace? Is this game of house a make-believe or are they really into each other?

It was what kept Tsuna going; despite knowing that someone was out for his life; despite missing his family; despite being isolated and bullied in school; despite Shoichi Irie's judging glances; despite knowing that this could all just be Reborn keeping his part of their plan. In Tsuna's part; he was just being a teen. He was, after all, a boy in love.

Tsunayoshi finds it hard to fend for himself. He tried; making things brighter at home, smiling on his way to school; but it never worked as well as it was before. It was even worse that Tsuna felt eyes watching lately. He didn't see anyone suspicious; but his intuition kept warning him of something – someone. There were two or three of them out there.

And sometimes, Tsunayoshi would catch a weird drift from the basement every time he's on his way to close the garage door. He would land his eyes on the small droplets of blood on the stair well leading to the basement; and one time, Tsunayoshi was surprised by the appearance of a yellow bird flying from inside the basement. Something bad happened down there; something Reborn was capable of, Tsunayoshi reminded himself, wasn't that one time Reborn took Mr. Kozato and Shoichi along with him down there?

He proceeded to lock the whole house and went to his room. The next one hour was spent to watch his phone; expecting the call that never came in the two weeks of Reborn's absence. "You know what, Natsu?" Tsunayoshi addressed the lion-cat hybrid Gina gave him, "I have too many worries for myself. I'm going to bother Reborn with a video call". With a couple of quick taps on the phone and a determined scowl, Tsunayoshi called Reborn. He had a ten-page worth of complains prepared in his mind as he waited for the call to reach. Once he saw Reborn's handsome face, however, all the nagging he had in mind went away in the matter of seconds.

"Hey," Reborn's voice greeted. Tsunayoshi reckoned the man was sitting in a well-lit room; probably a hotel room. Based on the lighting though; it was obvious Reborn was staying in a place where it was day; meanwhile Tsunayoshi was preparing to go to bed.

What are you up to? Why haven't you call in since you left two weeks ago? Yet all that went down the drain as Tsunayoshi smiled shyly, "Hey".

"Ransacking my wardrobe again, I see," Reborn teased. Tsunayoshi flushed further at the fact that he was wearing Reborn's shirt without the man's permission again; "It's comfortable".

There was a long pause in which they simply stared at the other from the phone's screen. "So, how's school?" Reborn asked finally.

I stopped a guy from jumping off of the school's rooftop, "I've made a friend," though he avoids me, "I think".

"A friend?"

"Yeah," Tsunayoshi shrugged, "No one suspicious. Just another guy from another class".

"I'm just warning you to always be on your guard, Princess," Reborn replied, "We never know whose eyes is around".

"I know," Tsunayoshi mumbled. He knew of Reborn's consciousness of the possibility of Xanxus' or The Vongola's spies around.

They spent the next moment silently watching each other, before Reborn loosened his tie. "So, what's the occasion for the call? It takes you two weeks to finally dial".

Tsunayoshi rolled his eyes. And how long does it take you ever? He pouted, and I missed you anyway. "Nothing; I just need someone to complain to," Tsunayoshi answered. The night went on as Tsunayoshi conversed with the man he longed for. He even called Reborn for the second time the next night. The video call became something he looked forward to every night.

"I have a secret to tell you," Reborn told Tsuna in the middle of one of their calls, "I hid a treasure somewhere in the house".

Tsuna wondered if it was something in the basement. Thankfully, it wasn't. "It's something I bought that reminded me of you," Reborn hinted. Th next day was spent treasure hunting around the house, only for Tsunayoshi to find said treasure under his own bed. He opened with Reborn on their next video call session; in which Tsunayoshi found the box to contain a pink dildo and a bottle of strawberry lubricant. He glared at the man accusingly, "Pervert".

Reborn snickered in his usual masculine way; short, silent, and breathy. "Well," Reborn said, "It's the thought that counts". Tsunayoshi protested at the lewd sense of humor; but he went with the flow with more coaxing. Next he knew, his pants were on the floor; and he had his legs bent on the knees and opened widely to the screen of his phone. He had his fingers coated with the lube and led them between his legs.

"You're doing very good. You can do it at your own pace; It's a delicate organ after all. Take it slow," Reborn coaxed as he basked on the sight of the boy's contorted face, "The lubricant tastes sweet, don't you know?"

Tsunayoshi ignored the question to push a finger inside; "A-ah!" Tsuna cringed, "It's weird".

"I know. You're doing great, Princess".

Reborn kept on guiding him through the third finger, in which Tsuna ended up panting and sporting a hard on already; his shame muffled behind excitement and lust. The scissoring was even weirder. "Lubricate the dildo," Reborn's eyes followed the movements of Tsuna's hands when the boy grabbed the dildo, "Make sure to lubricate thoroughly, Princess".

Tsuna squirted the lube to the toy. He had to be so deep in his own lust that he had the bravery to gaze right into Reborn's eyes while he pumped the dildo in his fist. Reborn's curious eyes twinkled, "Are you trying to send a message through your action, Sweetheart?"

"... maybe," Tsuna half-whispered. He didn't wait for orders to direct the dildo right at his entrance. When he pushed the toy inside, Tsuna's whole visage scrunched up. "O-ouch!" The boy croaked; body leaning to the right while he pushed the toy further inside slowly. If only he paid attention, he'd caught how Reborn's jaw grew slack at his vulnerable form.

"Lovely," Reborn praised. Tsuna licked his lips and pressed the button on the dildo. He felt his insides being twisted in the slowest and most torturous way. "Is it good, Princess?" Reborn asked lowly once Tsunayoshi had started making long gasps, "Does it caress your sweet spot the way you like it?"

The younger simply opened his heavy eyelids and licked his lips. Once he answered, he did so with a high-pitched voice, "Yeah".

Reborn smiled satisfyingly. He kept on singing praises to the boy as they moved on to different settings of the toy. The dildo had five settings; the higher the setting, the harder the vibration became. By the third setting, Tsunayoshi was already panting heavily and his hand pumped at his own shaft in languid was at the fifth setting that Tsuna finally squeaked in surprise and dropped his whole weight to the mattress. The sudden increase in stimulation was enough to send his nervous system to fire.

"Hnggggmmmmm," Tsuna moaned, "Reborn, I can't -!"; his legs thrown wide open; head turning left and right; fist pumping his shaft with more enthusiasm; he climaxed violently. His mouth opened wide and his shoulders grew tense as he let out a breathy gasp; resulting to the dildo plopping down and vibrating wildly to the mattress.

Tsunayoshi didn't remember what happened after. All he knew, he woke up without his pants and the dildo lying innocently on his bed. His phone was on the nighstand - obviously out of battery. Despite having to clean the mess he made last night, the brunette went with his morning routine with a smile. That is, until he noticed he could no longer reach Reborn through his phone.

Tsunayoshi realized, that last call he made to Reborn would be the last time he'd hear from Reborn in a while.

One wouldn't notice the shadow behind the young Vongolan's bright mask unless they sneak into his room at night and caught his lifeless form watching his phone with such darkness in his eyes. Tsunayoshi was a child shaped by the rough treatment of childhood to always show his flawless childish demeanor; you would need to squint to catch his darkest moments. In fact, when Irie approached the boy weeks later, clueless to the boy's evil plan of chucking the dildo he used to Irie's face, the bespectacled man missed the glare hiding behind the boy's brown eyes.

"He has his own problems, Tsunayoshi. Give him some slack; you can't expect him to report to you every time," Irie explained behind gritted teeth as he carefully watched for their surrounding to make sure no one caught them speaking together at school. They were careful about Irie's connection to Tsunayoshi's cover-up dad after all. "Anyhow, I'm warning you of this suspicious person. This person has bugged my room and put surveillance around your house. Watch out for him; I think he's one of Reborn's old associates. His name is Wakanari Nike," Irie voiced quickly, "Are you listening?"

Of course, what Irie saw as an answer was Tsunayoshi's usual demeanor; the clueless fifteen years old who would gaze blankly at you while he processed the words in his young mind. He would smile and replied his understanding of the reminder – in a way that made you wonder if he truly understood. The boy turned around and left wordlessly; and that behavior didn't make a further pitstop in Irie's mind. And thus, Irie missed how Tsunayoshi gave an ugly scowl once he turned his back on Irie. It was the sight of a true Vongolan; the early sign of trouble in R-27.

Irie' ignorance caused Tsunayoshi to put a lot of thought into getting back at both reborn and Irie. In fact, the boy was half-way into executing his chuck-a-dildo-to-Irie's-face when he found something better in the form of one Wakanari Nike. The latter showed up playing savior to Tsunayoshi's demise; and no one else had ever been there for Tsunayoshi in the last month that Tsunayoshi had no thoughts of ignoring the older male's helping hand. Instead, Tsunayoshi found himself being lured to the scent of danger wafting from Wakanari's form. It might be the way the man's eyes fogged by shadows when he laid his eyes on Tsunayoshi or the way his handkerchief smelled like musk.

All in all, Wakanari reminded Tsunayoshi of Reborn.

"T-thank you!" Tsuna said to the supposedly school's janitor and mechanic. He took a whiff from the man's handkerchief; he smelled like Reborn.

It was then that the young Vongolan grew curious and cunning. Reborn wouldn't be happy of course, considering that he had prohibited Tsunayoshi to talk to his associates unless given permission to. But Reborn was the one who broke his promise to keep Tsuna company first.

So Tsunayoshi looked up to Wakanari's steely gaze.

"Oh, sorry. I'm Sawada Tsunayoshi from 9-C."

What Tsunayoshi didn't expect was for Wakanari Nike to be so lethal. He could sense it once the man entered their home in R-27. The man would act like a gentleman; but the glint in his eyes told Tsunayoshi differently.

That man is deadly.

Yet, Wakanari Nike had earned a special spot in Tsunayoshi's heart for being there in the short amount of time Tsunayoshi needed company the most. Tsunayoshi couldn't help but welcome the man into his abode even though it was the day Reborn supposedly return. The moment Tsunayoshi saw him holding Tsunayoshi's and Reborn's wedding certificate, though; the boy quickly returned to his earlier opinion.

He's deadly. He's a monster.

"Look, Tsuna, calm down. This isn't what it looked like," Wakanari exclaimed, "I can explain..."

Or so he said; Tsuna no longer cared at that point. He bolted and activated all protections Reborn had planted around the house in case his pursuers came to get him; not even bothering the fact that it was Reborn's associate he was directing these resistance to. But of course, Wakanari Nike was Reborn's associate; he avoided each and every one of the barriers put around the house single-handedly. The man successfully tackled Tsuna to the floor. Tsuna remembered feeling so betrayed and stupid when the shirt he hugged two nights ago was the one Wakanari used to muffle him. It was strange that it no longer smelled like Reborn; it smelled sharp and tangy instead.

After that, everything happened in a daze. Tsunayoshi remembered Reborn appeared; then he argued with Wakanari. At one point, Tsunayoshi cried in Reborn's hold - he was sure - before Tsunayoshi heard a gunshot. Then, all he saw was black.

The next time Tsunayoshi opened his eyes; he was lying on the floor and Reborn was crouching next to him. He was looking down at Tsunayoshi with contemplation. The gun he had in his hand was intimidating. "Reborn?" Tsunayoshi whispered weakly. He couldn't move a muscle somehow.

"Haven't I told you to never approach my associates?"

"I-I... Tsuna's s-sorry, Reborn".

Reborn's only answer was a click of the tongue. "And what did you do all that for? This?" He showed the shirt Wakanari muffled Tsunayoshi with and crudely throw it next to Tsunayoshi, "What do you think will happen now? Because I've killed him".

"... Y-you killed him?" Wakanari Nike? The guy who had saved Tsuna from his bullies?

Reborn shrugged casually, "That's what I do, and he knew that would happen if he ever messed with me, Princess. Maybe if you haven't invited him, this wouldn't have happened".

Something in Reborn's lack of regret made Tsunayoshi believed the man was trying to taunt him by making up a lie. "You're lying," Tsunayoshi whispered weakly; tears started running behind his eyelids.

"I'm not," Reborn led the barrel of his gun to direct Tsunayoshi's head to the bloody sight of Wakanari, "See?"

Tsuna trembled by the sight of pooling blood under Wakanari's seemingly lifeless body. The regret rained on him; never before Tsunayoshi felt so young and stupid. Tears rushed to his eyes as he struggled to get a better look at Wakanari; his muscles refused to move somehow.

Reborn stood and approached Wakanari body. "And now we have to deal with his body," the hitman sighed, "Where should we hide it? In the backyard? In the basement?"

"N-no!" Tsunayoshi made it on all fours, "L-let me see him! We c-could take him to the hospital!" The room felt hot all of the sudden; and Tsuna's head was hurting.

"What are you saying? I'm a doctor, boy; I know a dead body when I see it".

Tsunayoshi could see Wakanari clearly now, despite having to force his weak muscles to move and fighting the sudden headache. "N-No! Don't touch him! H-he could still be alive!" The frustration he felt was like that time he witnessed Bermuda almost killing someone. The difference was, Tsuna stopped someone from getting killed that time. This time – Tsuna turned to see Wakanari's bloody form – he failed.

Reborn smiled at Wakanari's body, "Hmmm, I wonder if I should bury him tonight".

"NO! DONT TOUCH HIM!"

Reborn grunted from surprise after a blast of hot wind went toward him; sweeping the whole objects in the room an inch away from their previous spot. The hitman glimpsed at the boy he left behind for a short minute, only to find him engulfed in golden flame while struggling to keep himself on two legs. Despite the heat coming from his body though; it was obvious the boy was crying.

"I-I'LL TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL MYSELF!" The boy sputtered; eyes glazed and body swaying left and right as though drunk, "I-I'LL DRIVE HIM THERE".

Reborn eyed the boy carefully, "Boy, you're not being yoursel –"

Tsunayoshi groaned in pain, all the while tripping over nothing to the floor again. "I-I'll drive him there!" The boy insisted with slurred speech. The room's temperature spiked; causing the area closest to the boy to create steam.

"Boy, calm down," Reborn said slowly as though talking to a scared animal. He slowly backed down and dragged Colonello with him. "You are threatening not only your life, but others' now".

But that seemed to have the other effect on Tsunayoshi, "DON'T TOUCH HIM!" The boy's flame flared stronger; sweeping the whole furniture in the room away and sending Reborn to the wall. The room's temperature rose to the point of inflicting smoke.

"Shit!" Reborn grunted as he stood with a limp. The force that had struck didn't leave him unscathed even though he was no stranger to the show of power. He had witnessed Giotto using the same power and the boy destroying half of Vindice facility in seconds. This time however, the boy's power was less explosive; more compressed. "Whatever crap Colonello gave you must be messing with your flame," Reborn muttered grimly. He watched as the boy tried to get back to his two feet in vain. Reborn prepared his gun and ignored the fact that smoke had appeared from his suit.

He took brave steps to the boy and pointed his gun at the brown head. Tsunayoshi looked up with hazy eyes. "Control yourself," Reborn warned coolly, "Hoo, what's with the sullen face? Looking at you now, it seems like you're keeping some sort of a grudge against me". True enough, Tsunayoshi's expression has changed from fear, disappointment, and anger in mere seconds.

"I'm serious, Princess; you're adding more trouble than necessary. Don't ever think I would hold myself back from pulling the trigger if only to make things easier, Princess," the hitman murmured, "I won't miss; I never do".

Unexpectedly, the boy's power lashed yet again; sending Reborn half-way across the room; in which he readily rolled on the floor and returned to his shooting form. Tsunayoshi was dashing to him; probably trying to make a point. Yet, Reborn's skill was that beyond a boy who had recently learned to wield his power. The hitman fired to Tsunayoshi's way while the boy was in mid-run; only five feet away.

The clock stopped ticking then; in which Tsunayoshi's brown eyes widened at the sight of the man he dreamed about everyday; shooting at him. There was disbelief, betrayal, and fear swimming in those eyes; yet they didn't mask the crippling adoration under.

Time resumed to reveal an unconscious Tsunayoshi hurtling to Reborn's arms. Fresh tears streamed down his cheeks and wetting Reborn's half burnt suit. No fire was visible to indicate what had just taken place; what's left were the smell of smoke and the mess that the incident caused.

"I told you I won't miss," Reborn murmured as he touched the boy's left ear that was grazed slightly by the bullet. His hand then stopped on the boy's temple; finding it to be scorching.

"Wakanari," the boy whispered worriedly in his sleep. Reborn rolled his eyes, "He's not dead; I lied". He turned to the bleeding sight of Colonello, "It's all your fault, motherfucker".

No one answered.

"That's a scary face you're pulling, dear".

Tsunayoshi jumped before he stepped into the porch facing the backyard. Luce and Skull, two of Reborn's associates, were sitting there with a butler on their side. Luce was sipping on a cup of tea when she greeted Tsuna. "Hello," Tsuna greeted back good-naturedly; any signs of negativity gone- though, he admitted, anyone of Reborn's pal was making him nervous yet curious.

"Sit with us," Luce offered. Before Tsunayoshi accepted, Gamma, the butler, had prepared him a cup of tea. "Thank you," Tsunayoshi mentioned once seated. It was slightly awkward, he admitted, for having the woman and the goth here while Reborn was not around. All Tsuna knew, Reborn had gotten his way to get someone to watch Tsunayoshi while he went out. It seemed like the experience with Wakanari taught Reborn not to leave Tsunayoshi completely alone.

"You seem troubled," Luce sipped her tea elegantly. Something about her was just... ethereal; "Something in your mind, dearest?"

"Ummm," The days that followed the time Reborn shot Wakanari was a myriad of events to Tsunayoshi; most of it he had no memory of thanks to the fever caused by the drugs given to him. But he did know he was angry at Reborn. The man had taunted him about Wakanari's faked-death and forgot to apologize for his prolonged absence after all.

It was more surprising that none of Reborn's associates, supposedly also Wakanari's associates, seemed to be upset at Reborn for Wakanari. Instead, they treated it like a joke. "It's nothing at all," Tsunayoshi answered nicely.

The woman rubbed her pregnant belly. "I can see through your mask, child. It's impractical to hide it," she said it very casually that Tsunayoshi almost couldn't believe what he was hearing. He froze; before his whole cheerful demeanor fell apart. What appeared then was a very grim youth; a face that was so out-of-nowhere that you'd think Tsunayoshi was never there in the first place.

"Are you jealous, perhaps?" The woman continued, "Reborn left to meet up with Verde and that young man after all".

Ah, that guy. Lambo.

"He's not that much of a bother," Tsuna murmured.

Skull whistled in humor. "Oh yeah?" Luce sipped her tea, "He's interested in Reborn though and he's the reputable heir of the Bovino family".

"I've never heard of the Bovinos," Tsunayoshi replied, "And I'm sure I know all the famiglias that really matter". The Bovino heir was the least important player in this story. Reborn's only interested on having Verde's drugs. He had been yapping non-stop about how the drugs molded Tsuna's power in a much controllable way and how they could use the drugs to get Tsuna to control his flame.

"Bold," Skull commented shortly. "I know," Luce added, giggling; "My, my; I was only suggesting and you've shown such a face. I've only known you for less than a week, but you've shown me contradicting sides already, Tsunayoshi," She put her hand on her lips, "I promise I won't tell Reborn. So tell me what's wrong".

Tsunayoshi glanced between the two adults warily. Tsunayoshi couldn't be fooled. These two were of Reborn's class. The air around them was thick of something troubling; their eyes glinted in the same way as Reborn's. And Tsuna, despite curious of these mysterious fellows; was oblivious on how to pursue his curiosity.

"He ain't buying it," Skull put one leg over the other.

Luce winked, "Then how about this? We've known Reborn for a long time. We might be able to tell a thing or two".

The offer was too appealing to deny; and these two were too good on making their selves appear harmless. Tsunayoshi looked down and slipped into his vulnerable persona. "I'm mad at him," he sulked softly, "He kept rambling about unnecessary stuff". The hitman had been planning about training Tsuna's flame-wielding to defeat Xanxus. Tsunayoshi also noticed how all this made Reborn saw him in a different light. Now that he thought about it; that time he woke up from the Vindice raid, Reborn had also treated him differently – caring even. He wondered if the fact that he had used his flame for the first time back then affected Reborn's treatment toward him.

A scowl instantly formed on Tsunayoshi's face. Getting super powers and confronting Xanxus were never the plan; not on Tsunayoshi's side anyways. The plan had been to evade Xanxus and lay low until the conflict at Vongola was over. That was it; period.

Besides, Tsunayoshi didn't want Reborn to like him for his powers. Tsunayoshi wanted Reborn to like him as he is. "I don't care about those unnecessary stuff. I just want him to stay around," Tsunayoshi added finally.

"Ooh, interesting," Luce hummed, "What unnecessary stuff?"

Tsunayoshi wasn't sure if he should expose his power to Luce and Skull. He and Reborn were trying to keep it a secret after all.

"Does it involve being tied up while having sex?" Skull added before snickered. Luce giggled along while Tsunayoshi felt confused; what does sex have to do with anything?

"He ties me up all the time," Tsunayoshi retorted innocently; making the two Arcobalenos froze.

"... and you don't mind?" Skull probed. Tsunayoshi tilted his head as he remembered his first time on that boat.

"It was scary the first time," the boy admitted, "But the sex is good". The two Arcobalenos eyed him intensely; almost as though they were ready to swallow him whole.

"Hmm, really?" Skull's voice lowered a notch, "What did he do exactly on your first time, hmm?" There was something interesting in the idea of hearing a young man's first time; especially when said young man was Reborn's boy. The way that boy bowed his head shyly and flushed was irresistible. No wonder even Colonello, the most patient out of The Arcoabelnos, couldn't hold himself back from approaching the boy. He was too defenseless.

Tsunayoshi thought Reborn's associates missed his earlier points; but relented to the question. "He was crazy," Tsunayoshi answered honestly; half sulking; until he remembered the way Reborn's eyes glinted dangerously nearing the end of their thirst, "And he looked so scary like...," the boy frowned, "like he was going to hit me or something".

"You mean he never hit you?"

"No," Tsunayoshi gaped at Skull, "W-was he supposed to?"

Luce froze for a couple of second before she broke into a fit of laughter. "Wow, that Reborn! Holding back for once!" Skull joined in her laughter soon after, muttering an, 'I know, right?' every now and then. Tsunayoshi glanced between the two in confusion.

"Does Reborn want to hit me?" Now that he thought about it, someone like Reborn, who obviously harmed someone in the basement and shot someone he knew, would probably gain pleasure from hitting someone. In fact, Tsunayoshi started to believe that Reborn wanting to beat him up might be possible.

"No, no, honey. You got me wrong," Luce uttered in between giggles, "Oh my, this is good. Gamma could you add milk and honey to my tea? Thank you," she told her ever-loyal butler who stood only a distance away behind her. Meanwhile, Skull had stopped laughing to stare at Tsunayoshi. His smile was predatory; much like Reborn's.

"He has potentials," Skull voiced suddenly.

"Oh yes, he does," Luce agreed as she relished on her milk tea. She landed her cup on the table and let her gloved hand roam on Tsunayoshi's face. "Tell me, Tsunayoshi, do you like Reborn?"

"I don't know," The boy avoided the question. The way he glanced away shyly was the typical picture of innocence, "...maybe. Is it wrong?"

Both Skull and Luce were leaning forward now; one hand propping their face as they examined his reaction with interest. Tsunayoshi noticed, someone was sliding their foot against Tsuna's leg; just like Reborn used to. It was Skull.

"It can be wrong in many ways," Luce answered as she let her thumb brushed over Tsuna's lips, "You see, Tsunayoshi, us and Reborn went way back. We're one of his... flock, one might say. For certain, I'm telling you, we adore the people who are powerful enough to gain our interest, but could bend low enough to please us. You get me, sweetheart?"

The prior Tsunayoshi could understand; it makes sense for someone as strong as Reborn to be interested on someone as powerful. The thought of raising to power and standing on equal footing as Reborn was appealing, but very much intimidating. Yet, the later; bend low enough to please; sounded even more intimidating to Tsunayoshi. He frowned visibly at the two grownups.

"But that doesn't make sense," he half-whispered at Luce, "How could I... I don't... Becoming weaker is..."

"Don't make fun of submission, Tsunayoshi," Luce reminded. Her hand and Skull's foot finally released him. "The art of submission is as important as the art of power".

"But, lowering yourself? I don't get it".

"Just take this analogy. A pup might be the one with the collar, but he's the one leading the leash, get it?" Luce winked yet again, "Submission is just another way to gain influence, Tsunayoshi. Once used correctly, you'll know your way to power".

Tsunayoshi stared at the woman as though she had grown another head. Was she asking Tsunayoshi to allow Reborn to beat him up or something? Skull stretched himself and stood from his seat. "I'm going for a smoke," he said before pecking Luce's cheek. He left the balcony; not forgetting to slide his finger across the length of Tsunayoshi's arm as he passed by. Tsunayoshi shuddered.

"Well, how about an offer?" Luce voiced.

"Huh?" Tsunayoshi turned his head to the white-clad woman once again.

"I'll teach you the art of power. After all, you have a very strong potential for power over here," her finger landed on Tsunayoshi's heart. From the way she gazed at Tsunayoshi, something told Tsunayoshi that she knew about Tsuna's flame. "I know power like the back of my hand, Tsunayoshi. Trust me," her smile was honey, "The art of submission, however, is something you have to discover yourself. Besides, Reborn would be angered if I ever took over his right on the area."

"Why would Reborn be -?"

Luce giggled, "Oh, he would! He would think he has all the privilege in the world to teach you how good submission could be. For him to finally take that step, though, require you to fully give in."

Tsunayoshi found the conversation getting odd. He shook his head and made his way inside the house. Before he did that, Luce made a quick hold on Tsunayoshi's arm. "I'll make it easy for you," the woman in white said in her calming voice, "You don't have to say it. You just have to kiss me on the cheek and I'll make sure you'll gain your power, Tsunayoshi". She smiled then, "You and I; we're both the same. I have hopes on you".

Tsunayoshi went to the kitchen with troubled thoughts. Yamamoto greeted him with a concerned gaze. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Tsunayoshi smiled, "So how's the stove? Can you fix it?"

Yamamoto sighed and glanced at the stove. "No. I can't find out what your dad has done to it," the tall teen tapped the stove top, "What made him do that anyway?"

Tsunayoshi cringed comically. Eversince Reborn found a way for Tsuna to properly use his flame, the man rigged the stove so that Tsuna could only use it if he activated his flame. It was one of the things that made Tsuna angrier at Reborn – so much, that he frontally presented himself in front of Skull ad Luce without permission days ago. He and Reborn were very tense nowadays; all because the fiasco with Wakanari, Reborn's absence, and this whole disagreement about Tsuna's power.

"He's just weird, I guess," Tsunayoshi answered Yamamoto, "Sorry for asking you to fix it while he's gone. I don't know how to". And ever since the effect of Verde's drug had waned down along with Tsuna's fever, the boy couldn't use his flame at will anymore.

"It's okay, I get it. My old man is like that too".

"He is?" Tsunayoshi perked.

"Yeah..., I guess that's what happen when you have a Father and a son in one house; we keep on challenging one another, you know?" Yamamoto crouched in front of the stove to observe it, "He hid my console once, did something to my bike couple of times, and did a bunch of other petty stuff."

"Why did he do that?" Tsunayoshi's brows met in confusion. Yamamoto pursed his lips.

"I guess, he wanted to prove a point," The tall teen stood and stretched, "Maah, but I guess he also wanted me to man up and stop being a child, you know? A lot of times I skipped my responsibilities to play baseball. I think he was trying to teach me a lesson and give me soft push to move on. Once I proved I know what I'm doing, he stopped".

"... but," Yamamoto turned the shorter teen. "I never thought someone could be that mean to you. I mean, I couldn't imagine why someone would dare. I m-mean, I know I wouldn't," The former athlete said shyly as he stepped closer to Tsunayoshi. However, Tsunayoshi didn't seem to return the gesture. The brunette was looking back at him, but he seemed as though he had something in mind. Yamamoto wondered if he could open Tsunayoshi's head and see what was inside. This boy always felt out of reach somehow.

What Yamamoto didn't know was that his words affected Tsunayoshi beyond what was intended. "He'll stop when I've proven myself, huh?" Tsunayoshi murmured. Reborn might want Tsunayoshi to make proper use of his own power and the hitman wouldn't stop with his petty challenges until Tsunayoshi did so. Tsunayoshi clearly had no interest in it; but he might gain Reborn's interest with it. Maybe then, Reborn will stay at home more often.

"Tsuna?" Yamamoto called out when Tsunayoshi left the kitchen. The boy went to the balcony and pecked Luce's cheek. He left with equal silence, leaving Luce sitting peacefully with a cup of tea in hand.

"Madam," Gamma uttered from his position behind the woman in white, "Mr. Reborn won't be pleased".

"Oh, it's fine, Gamma! It's his fault for lending his boy to me without provision," she waved a gloved hand, "Besides, I couldn't resist. That boy reeks of raw potential". She put down her cup and smiled wistfully, "Very possessive of his relations too – typical of a Vongola".

She continued on enjoying her tea time until she tilted her head to the butler, "How long is it until show time, Gamma?"

The butler checked his pocket watch, "I believe in an hour, Madam".

"I see," she reached one hand so that her butler could hold it, "Can you feel my excitement, Gamma? I hope everything will go according to plan".

"I'm sure everything will, My Lady," Gamma answered obediently. Luce closed her eyes and smiled. Once the one hour countdown strikes to zero, Luce's water broke – sending the whole house in a frenzy. A helicopter was involved; and Tsunayoshi remembered holding the baby hours later while Reborn came to him from the other side of the nursery.

By the end of the night, Luce didn't only made her way to a prolonged stay at Reborn's home, but she made sure she won in every ways possible; the bet with Verde, Reborn's goals, and Tsunayoshi's favor.

TBC

Hello! I don't know if you noticed, but this chapter is actually only half of the planned chapter for this post. So, this chapter was planned to cover Tsuna's side of the story from Renato Sinclair's Track, Renato Sinclair's Dirty Secret, and Renato Sinclair's Masterpiece. But, I was afraid that the chapter will be so long. I am very conflicted; should I continue on posting the whole length in this post or should I make this chapter into two parts? But I really want to keep this story into 13 chapters (1 prologue, 5 Renato Sinclair's Arc chapters, 1 interlude, 5 Tsunayoshi's Arc chapters, and 1 epilogue). Or does this not matter at all? Damn, I'm being fussy.

For the moment, I won't note the discoveries made in this chapter until I've finalized how I want to post the full length. The full chapter is still being written. So, to this point, what do you think of this chapter? Tsunayoshi's side of the previous chapters is very strange huh? I left a lot of blanks in this story (considering that you've read the full happening in the previous arc). Is it confusing though? Or do you guys feel like it explained a lot of stuff?

Anyhow, I'm happy to update. Would love to hear more from you guys. Thank you for the reviews and PM's you guys sent me in the middle of my absence from this story. It makes me feel better (in the middle of my crazed life that is).

All the love in the world.