Sora: Chapter 9

Tsuna's mental eyes widened dramatically upon hearing that statement, but outside, he managed to keep a confused face. Reborn's gaze stared at him, determining if there were any facts to be determined from his charge's expression. Finding none, he instead asked him directly, "What did Lambo mean?"

"I don't know," Tsuna replied steadily. However, inside of him was anything but that. His insides churned in anticipation and hope, yet he felt helpless and broken. I must find the rest of my guardians, and quickly.

"Well, then, we'll have put this subject off until another time then," Reborn said, although his tone implied otherwise.

Tsuna suddenly stared at Reborn in a warning gaze. "Reborn, don't you dare look into it. It will come out eventually: my abilities, skills, and my dark history. Please don't pry. I must train harder, find the rest of my guardians quickly, and then everything can finally come to light."

Teacher and student, assassin and assassin looked at each other, battling for dominance in the silence between them. Reborn saw flashes of pain, hurt, hope, and memories of the past fly through his student's face. However, Tsuna refolded himself until he was sitting, bowed, pleading his teacher not to look.

"Fine," came the voice of Reborn. "My search about you will stop temporarily, and I will help you find the rest of your guardians. However, you must tell me everything when all of your guardians have gathered."

Tsuna sighed in happiness and relief. "Thank you Reborn!"

"You're not out of the hook yet. You need to train harder now," Reborn said in his young voice. "But not now. We need to slee—"

The incomplete sentence ended with Reborn's slight snore and his sleeping bubble. The young student looked at him before shaking his head in amusement.

"You're going to go through the Reborn challenge after school, Dame-Tsuna," Reborn remarked as he sat on an extremely exhausted Tsuna.

Tsuna staggered. "Today? Why today of all days?"

"Punishment."

"MORE punishment?" the boy asked incredulously; he couldn't believe what he was hearing. Then again, it was Reborn.

Reborn jumped onto the ledge and began walking beside his charge. "Yes. You need to learn."

"Learn wh—"

Suddenly, in front of Reborn was a girl also standing on the ledge.

"Hahi!" said the girl excitedly. "My name is Haru Miura! What is your name?"

Reborn tilted his fedora down in greeting. "Reborn."

In the meantime, Tsuna pulled out his phone, adding in her name to the database.

Name: Haru Muira

Occupation: Student at Midori Middle

"You are so cute!" Haru said happily, twirling on the ledge.

Tsuna watched in slight panic. "Careful! You may fall!"

However, his words of caution were ignored. She simply tilted over the edge. Tsuna reached out to break her fall, but it was unnecessary: Haru jumped up and landed on her feet.

"Reborn!" the girl said with stars in her eyes, "May I hug you?" Her arms outstretched to take the baby hitman into her arms.

However, she came face to face with a gun. "Don't touch me. I'm mafia."

Both Tsuna and Haru stood stock still with his words. Few seconds passed before a resounding slap shattered the quietness.

"What did you do that for?!" Tsuna scing, holding his offended cheek in his hands.

"What are you doing to him, training him to be mafia?" Haru screeched. "Babies are innocent!"

"It's not like I'm training him more than he's training me!" Tsuna yelled back.

"I don't believe you!" declared Haru. "I'm going to take this cute baby away from you!"

Tsuna laughed. "Go ahead if you think you can do it."

"Fight me!"

"...Fine."

It was that afternoon that Reborn arranged the fight.

Haru wore tight spandex gymnastics outfit. In her hands carried a ribbon wand. Tsuna simply stood there with nothing.

"I will defeat you!" Haru loudly declared as the two stood face-to-face on the bridge. Gokudera and Yamamoto watched along the sidelines.

The boy raised his eyebrow in silent challenge.

Haru, irritated at his lack of response, charged in anger. "Here I come!"

The girl unleashed her power and fury through whipping out her wand. Sensing something much more dangerous in the ribbon, Tsuna leaped back, narrowly missing the length. The ribbon sliced through several beams.

Tsuna's eyes widened. "That's...impressive," he finally stammered out.

Haru grinned darkly. "I'm trained to be a deadly gymnast," she said, twirling her wand around herself.

They circled each other slowly, waiting for the other to strike.

It was Haru who started. The ribbon struck again, but Tsuna had already seen the flaw of the weapon. As she extended out once more, Tsuna dodged past her defenses. Unfortunately, he did not expect her to wind her weapon back and slice him. Blood welled up in his back, and he gasped silently.

However, he was determined not to pass up his opportunity, and he threw her over the edge of the bridge.

"No!" Haru shrieked, writhing midair. She fell into the river with a splash. Her arms flailed above her head, and she came up gasping before she went down again.

Tsuna watched in horror as she went down.

"Go save her," Reborn squeaked. Tsuna wasted no time in obeying. He dove into the waters.

There he saw Haru, weakly wading the waters. He grabbed her arm before carrying her in bridal style.

He got back on land with her safely in his arms. Tsuna placed her on the dry ground.

"Haru, wake up!" Tsuna said, forcefully moving water away from her lungs. In time, Haru coughed and opened her eyes weakly.

"Haru, are you awake?"

Slowly, Haru smiled. "Tsuna-san!"

"Thank goodness!" Tsuna grinned back.

"I want to marry you and become mafia's wife!" Haru said eagerly.

Tsuna stopped short. "I have a girlfriend," he said hesitantly.

Haru smiled back. "But you're so cute!"

Tsuna could only facepalm.

First published: 4/20/2014

Reedited: 6/3/2014