DENIAL

"Tsu-kun"

That tone, serious and strained, unfitting for her sweet voice, awakened a distant memory. When he was a child, his mother had picked him up early from the daycare and taken him to his favourite ice-cream parlour. He didn't know the occasion but didn't complain. Even though he was thankful, he couldn't help but be concerned of his mom's thoughtful expression, which not even a kiss could soften.

His grandma, Chieki, had died. She lived in Hong Kong, Tsuna couldn't remember the reason why, but she had come a few times over to visit him. He remembered her as the split image of his mom –gentle eyes, easy-going, loving and caring.

He had given his mother a tight hug. He supposed she thought he would get scared if she started crying, so she had given him a strained smile, holding him against her chest.

"Mom, is everything alright? Are you okay?"

Now he was older, and he clearly saw Nana's distress in her eyes, even though she tried to hide it. His father and Reborn were there, too, but their expressions were grave and serious. He felt a knot forming in his stomach.

"Sure, Tsu-kun" he whispered. Tsuna could hear the tears that she was holding back in her shaking voice. "Papa and Reborn-kun just wanted to talk to you"

"Why don't you take a seat, son" his father gestured the chair in front of him, but Tsuna remained standing, almost in defiance. Reborn smirked under his fedora.

"What is it? Is everything fine?" he asked, calmly but urgently.

Iemitsu looked at his wife, then at Reborn, from whom he received a nod.

"I'll just cut to the chase, Tsunayoshi. You are going to live in Italy starting next year"

It didn't sound too bad when he said it so simply. Tsuna briefly wondered if he would someday be able to become as detached from everything he loved as his father. For the first time, he wondered how Iemitsu managed to spend so much time away from his wife without feeling the need to be with her, to feel her warmth. Sometimes, Tsuna wondered if he actually loved her. Looking at his mom, it occurred to him she had the same doubts.

And now, her son was going away.

"I understand it must be sudden for you, but we wanted to tell you after everything was arranged" Iemitsu continued. "We'll..."

"I'm not going" Tsuna interrupted. Iemitsu sighed, as if he had been expecting that response.

"Tsunayoshi, you must see that…"

"I understand perfectly, but I have half a year to finish middle school, and I'll definitely attend Namimori High" he said firmly. "It's unnecessary to rush things! And what about my friends?"

"They'll go, too, son. It's been decided" Iemitsu was surprised to see Tsuna standing up for himself so vehemently. He had wanted him to grow a backbone, sure, but not against his own father.

"I'll talk to the Ninth and arrange things myself. I'm sorry for causing trouble, but this conversation is over"

Iemitsu looked at Reborn uneasily. The only reason of the hitman being there was help dealing with Tsuna in case he had a panic attack and refused to go out of fear. This outcome was not within his expectations.

"Go ahead, then, Dame-Tsuna, if you're so sure" Reborn shrugged, feigning indifference when, inside, he was actually proud. Tsuna nodded.

"Thank you"

Iemitsu was unsure how to proceed, but he left the kitchen anyways, Reborn on his shoulders. He felt as if he had been sort of manipulated by his son, but he realized that he had been a little imperative. He could only hope his son could see it was all for his own good.

Tsuna made sure they had gone upstairs before looking at Nana, who, more than stunned, was relieved.

"Tsu-kun, I'm so sorry for making the decision without asking you first" she smiled.

"Mom…"

Nana's eyes widened when Tsuna held her to his chest. Even though he was so thin and small, even though she had held him in her arms when he was nothing but a newborn... she felt protected. When he started stroking her hair, a knot formed in her throat. She hid her face in Tsuna's shoulders. Unlike all those years ago, she felt like she could release some of the tears that blurred her vision, because Tsuna would understand.

"Mom?"

"I-I'm sorry, Tsu-kun…" she whimpered. "I… I'm sorry for being so selfish…"

"No, no…" he hushed, holding his own tears back. She was the one who had raised him, the one who had always been there for him, the one who pushed him forward despite his mistakes and loved him despite his flaws. She had been caught in the middle of everything and never complained once, she took care of anyone who needed it, and she had to stand to be far away from the man she loved.

I want to be a boss like her, he thought, and he found that perhaps that was the most valuable lesson he had learned throughout his whole training.

"I want to be like you when I grow up" he told her. "I'll never abandon you"

Nana's crying slowly subsided. Mother and son stood in the empty room, holding each other, until the children came back.

"… that's how it is"

Tsuna wasn't scared of Timoteo. In fact, the man had taken a liking to him, which had surprised the rest of the Ninth's guardians, who still saw Tsuna as a helpless child. He was nowhere near a mentor or a father figure, but someone who understood what carrying the title of Vongola Boss was about.

"I understand" Timoteo said, not angry or even surprised in the slightest. "To be honest, I was expecting you to refuse"

"I'm sorry, it's just too soon" Tsuna sighed, relieved.

"It's a process, Tsunayoshi. You have to get used to being a boss in your own home so you can move here and relearn it all" Timoteo laughed, appeasing him. He paused over the line, thinking. "Still… it doesn't mean you can't come over to visit, right?"

Tsuna's eyes lit. The last time he had visited his "grandpa", he had been without his friends or family, and quite honestly, a vacation away from Reborn had brought him more peace than he had thought –even though the Ninth's guardians had mostly filled his role. He had had the chance to learn about the inner workings of the Vongola, but mostly, to talk to someone who understood his position best.

"Can my friends come?" Tsuna asked excitedly. He heard the Ninth laugh on the other side of the line.

"Well, everything is set up, so I don't see why not"

"... can my mother come?"

There was something in his tone that made the old man smile slightly, even though Tsuna couldn't see it.

"I would have to make some other arrangements... but I think there will be no problem"

He sensed the baby climbing up the tree before he appeared. Hibari knew he wasn't trying to hide his presence, which meant he had a message for him. He got from his desk, looking out the window to, effectively, find Reborn perched on a tree branch, camouflaged as a bird nest.

"Baby" he greeted. "I am guessing you are not here to spar with me"

"You are guessing right, Hibari" Reborn said. Hibari noticed Leon's tongue trying to reach one of the fake eggs attached to the baby's costume. "I'm here to deliver a message from Dame-Tsuna"

"Oh? Can't the herbivore deliver the message himself?"

"He figured you'd probably beat him up before you gave him the chance" Reborn shrugged, lying with a straight face. Hibari frowned, convincing himself that the reason he felt upset was Tsuna's herbivorous behaviour and not the fact that the other was that reluctant to approach him.

"The Ninth has invited all the Guardians to spend the summer holidays in Italy" Reborn continued, well aware of the other's reaction. "Tsuna has not commanded it upon the family, so it can't be said that it's an order, but you'll get the chance to fight some interesting people. I'd suggest you go"

"Well, I refuse" Hibari cut to the chase, already turning around to finish the paperwork waiting at his desk. Reborn smirked.

"Well, I suppose it makes things easier. You do have a tendency to cause mayhem" he commented, getting ready to leave. Hibari growled at him, his eyes narrowing.

"I discipline herbivores in order to preserve peace, baby. Don't put me on the same level as your useless pupil"

"What I mean is that Tsuna doesn't need to go on his dates all battered up a bruised by you" Reborn explained. "It'll be hard enough to find someone decent with him being... well, himself"

Hibari wasn't one to pry, so he didn't. Still, his curiosity had been piqued, against his will, by the baby's words. Was the herbivore looking for a new guardian, perhaps... by going on a date with them?

"Still, I suppose someone who is desperate enough will take him. All families are interested in marrying their daughters into Vongola, after all" Reborn smirked maliciously when he saw Hibari tense, pausing his writing. "Well, I have some business to attend to. I suppose I won't see you for a while, Hibari"

Reborn slid down the tree's trunk, disappearing into the thick foliage while leaving his costume behind.

Hibari didn't appreciate business being handled by intermediates. The foolish herbivore should have simply man up and talk to him directly –it's not like they had had any confrontations for the last few days, so he hadn't been in so foul a mood towards him or his friends. And did he expect Hibari to say yes just because he hadn't commanded it upon the family? Like Tsuna could ever order him to do something. The mere thought made him want to laugh out loud.

He almost felt pity for the poor female herbivore who would get stuck with the herbivore. He pictured her as ugly and spoiled by the mafia luxuries, and he pictured Tsuna tending to her every wish. Or he could be closer to Tsuna's type, like that herbivore Sasagawa. Tender, gentle, the ideal wife, with whom the herbivore would have ten children and age happily... what a disgusting image. Why was he even pondering on such an idiotic subject? He had better things to do.

Dear diary,

I'm very excited about the trip to Italy. I've never been on vacations with all my friends, so it's going to be really awesome! We are a large group people, because Mom and the kids are coming, too. I don't know how we are going to manage to hide the whole Mafia thing from her, but I'm sure grandpa will find a way.

I'm a little worried about Mukuro, though. He and Chrome agreed to go, but Ken and Chikusa didn't want to go back because of all the bad memories... I don't want Mukuro to feel bad, even though he's going on his own free will. I guess I'll just try my best to make him feel safe.

Reborn asked Hibari-san to come (without telling me!), but he said no. I suppose it's for the best... perhaps he won't be so angry at me if he doesn't see me for a while. Lately, I've been trying not to fight with him, and it's working fine... I just miss him a little, that's all.

Anyway, these holidays are going to be great, and I'm looking forward to them!

Thanks for listening,

Tsuna

From this chapter on, I'm going to work on Hibari's character development a little more. To be honest, I had only planned the story to last until this chapter, but that would have made Hibari's feelings change too quickly, so I planned this trip to Italy, which also helps Tsuna's character. I feel like I'm rushing it a little, but alas, I'll see as I go. I'll probably re-edit this once it's finished.

Anyways, thanks a lot for reading, for your comments and for your patience :)

-Nina.