Title: Baseball and Sushi

Summary: A new candidate for the Vongola Famiglia appears! Reborn, how are you going to get him to join?

A/N: Thanks for reading! As always, please leave a comment if you have anything to say on the story. :)

Baseball and Sushi

The insistent ringing of his alarm clock hammered away at his head, forcing him to wake. Tsuna yawned loudly as he stretched his sore body. The delicious smell of breakfast was wafting into his bedroom from below. His stomach growled and nudged him out of bed. On autopilot mode, Tsuna successfully maneuvered the staircase and avoided bumping into the glass door that separated the kitchen from the living room. He flopped down into a chair and a cup of hot coffee was shoved into his hands. It smelt really good and helped to energise him. He sipped it and sighed with deep gratitude.

"Thanks for the coffee, it was really good! Mo-"

"Really? That's great! I was worried that you wouldn't enjoy the coffee brew from Italy, Sawada-san."

An unexpected voice replied good-naturedly. The caffeine and shock kicked in, startling Tsuna wide awake and he saw Gokudera Hayato sitting at the table across him. He was dressed in some of his father's old clothes and he had tied his hair up into a ponytail.

"GAAHH!!! WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!?"

Tsuna jumped up from the chair and held out a hand as if to ward him off. His other hand was preoccupied with holding the cup of coffee. Gokudera was going to reply but Nana had already answered,

"Gokudera-kun and you both returned last night sopping wet. It was already too late to catch a bus or a taxi, so he might as well stay over for the night."

"Oh, yeah...now I remember."

Tsuna softly spoke as he looked over to Gokudera who was devouring his breakfast hungrily. How was he going to explain to Mom that they would be seeing a lot of Gokudera for quite some time to come? He still couldn't believe that he had somehow managed to convert an assassin to his side after the eventful last night. He sighed with resignation, he would just deal with all this at a more opportune time, like say, after breakfast.

"So, Sawada-san, are you really the candidate for the Vongola Boss position?"

Gokudera whispered once Nana had turned her back to clean the dishes. At the sudden question, Tsuna fumbled with the spoon, accidentally spilling some milk. It was the first time that someone, other than Reborn, had actually asked him about his so-called true identity. He stammered,

"W-well, actually, I'm not really sure. It was all very sudden. Reborn had appeared suddenly and informed me about my position. Although, it's already been a couple of months, it's still very new and frightening to me..."

Tsuna fiddled with the spoon for a moment, thinking carefully about his feelings and decisions. Coming to a decision with a clarity of mind, he concluded,

"Even if I'm the 10th Vongola Don, I will not change myself."

"...I see." Gokudera accepted his answer and leant backwards into his chair. Though Sawada Tsunayoshi was far what he had expected from a future Boss candidate, there was something about the calm, firm finality of his words that told him that Sawada Tsunayoshi was not to be easily trifled with. Gokudera relaxed; it seemed that he had found a good boss.

"It will be my honour to serve you, Sawada-san."

"...Thank you, Gokudera-san." Tsuna gave a small smile to his first ally.

After a quick breakfast, Gokudera had departed from the house with a polite thank-you and a promise to visit again. Nana had left earlier in order to buy groceries and had reminded Tsuna to clean up the dishes once everyone including Reborn, had eaten. Tsuna watched Gokudera go in the direction of the town with mixed feelings. It was still too early to feel that he could trust this man, the dangerous Smoking Bomb as Reborn had called him. However, Tsuna remembered that small glimpse of Gokudera's face the previous night. It was not a killer's face.

"Ano, Reborn, Gokudera seemed sad, didn't he?"

Tsuna questioned as Reborn wandered into the kitchen with an empty cup in hand. He went straight for the coffee machine and made himself some espresso. He sipped the hot drink to taste and when he found that it was satisfactory, Reborn gulped it down despite the almost boiling temperature of the beverage.

"Hmm...who knows? I must thank Gokudera for his excellent coffee the next time I see him."

Tsuna let his head fall forward onto the table with a loud thunk. He should have known by now, that Reborn wouldn't give him a straight answer. He turned his head and looked at the wall of local news that hid his tutor. Reborn was still drinking the espresso. It was just like Reborn to have his coffee strong, black and without sugar. Tsuna was compelled to ask,

"Isn't drinking coffee like that bad for your body, especially since you're so young?"

"It's espresso, not coffee."

"What?"

The newspapers rustled and Reborn gave him an eloquent my-god-are-you-retarded look with one eyebrow raised. Tsuna suddenly felt like a high school student. Reborn tapped his cup and repeated,

"This drink is called E-S-P-R-E-S-S-O, espresso. It's not just any coffee."

"Oh. Is that so?"

"Yes. It's imperative that you should know about these little things that make up the italian culture. If you want to become the Don Vongola Decimo, you will have to convince others, especially within the mafia that you have Italian blood. Otherwise, it's buona notte for you, Japanese Salaryman..."

In a sharp flick of his wrist, Reborn had thrown a chopstick at Tsuna. The slender tool flew perilously close to Tsuna's wide eyes as it passed by his head at high speed. It embedded itself in the wall behind him with a loud crack.

"Just. Like. That."

Reborn lowered his hand. Tsuna swallowed down the lump in his throat and honestly asked in curiousity,

"S-so then, what are the different types of coffee?"

Reborn smiled at this attempt to learn and replied,

"The next time we go out to the city, I'll show you. By the way, please inform Nana-san that I'll be out for the whole day."

"Where are you going?"

"Oh, I'm just going to see a baseball game and have a taste of the local delicacies."

"I see...Take care, Reborn."

Tsuna advised, despite its redundancy in the face of Reborn's masterly skills. Reborn smirked and tipped his fedora toward Tsuna in acknowledgement. Just as he left the kitchen, Reborn added,

"The espresso won't affect my body like it would for an ordinary child."

Then the young assassin in a child's body was gone. Tsuna gazed at the kitchen door for a few moments in puzzlement at Reborn's last words, before directing his gaze to the wall behind him.

The chopstick had been thrown with such force and speed that it had sunk a few centimeters into the plaster before the plastic shattered under the huge stress. Fine hairline cracks spidered outwards from the small stump in the wall. On a closer look to better assess the damage Reborn had caused, Tsuna had to smile wryly in admiration. Reborn truly had excellent aim; the chopstick had pinned a spider to the wall.

"AND ONCE AGAIN, THE TOKYO SWALLOWS HAVE STRUCK A HOMERUN!!!"

The commentator's exuberant announcement sent the spectators into a frenzy and the lone batter jogged down the length of the diamond, energetically waving to the cheering audience. The opposing team, Hanshin Tigers slumped in dejection even as their loyal fans valiantly supported them.

Reborn folded his arms as he leant back in his box-seat. Obtaining a ticket to front-row seats had not been too difficult; he had filched it off a careless fan's open pocket earlier. Though the view was great, it was really noisy and hot under the afternoon sun. Reborn muttered a curse and loosened his tie in an attempt to cool off.

"The Tokyo Swallows are pretty amazing, aren't they?" A male voice lightly commented. Reborn considered the words carefully and replied,

"The batter seemed a bit shaky the last few rounds. I think it was only luck he managed to hit a homerun."

"Hmm, you're quite right! You've got some sharp eyes there, kid."

Reborn looked out from the corner of his left eye. It was a tall, atheletic man with a friendly disposition. He was handsome in the guy-next-door way.

Apparently, Reborn seemed to have passed the stranger's secret test. In the next moment, he found himself engaged in an enlightening discussion on the players' strengths and weaknesses. He was mildly startled by the ease the stranger had lulled him into nearly dropping his guard. Reborn hid his glee on finding a potential family member. Suddenly, there was new excitement around him. Tensing, Reborn saw in a glance that a stray baseball was flying in their direction. He would have ducked the next moment if not for an outstretched arm in front of him.

"My, my, that was dangerous! Are you alright, little guy?"

The stranger queried as he hefted the captive baseball in his right hand. A player on the field yelled out to him, waving his gloved hand in the air. The young man smiled and stood up, rearing back to ready his throw. Then he threw. His arm whipped forward faster than normal people could see and the baseball zoomed with unerring accuracy towards the outstretched gloved hand. Reborn watched with great interest as the baseball hit the player's hand hard, knocking his arm backward. The ball ricocheted skywards and the hapless player had to scramble for the ball.

"Whoops. I threw too hard again!"

The young man apologetically said as he rubbed his right arm with a wince. Reborn hid a gleeful smile and asked,

"Did you hurt your right arm?"

"Ah? Oh, this is a really old injury I got when I was still playing baseball in middle school. Every now and then, if I strain it too much, it'll hurt a lot. You're pretty sharp, little guy!"

The young man sat down again as he carefully stretched his right arm. He scrunched his face as if he was trying to recall something.

"Oh, I haven't introduced myself yet! I'm Yamamoto Takeshi, nice to meet you!"

Yamamoto offered a hand and Reborn shook it firmly.

"Ciaossu. I'm Reborn."

"Oh wow, so you decided to come alone? You're pretty gutsy."

Yamamoto said as he strolled beside Reborn. Interested by his new find, Reborn had decided to tag Yamamoto Takeshi to learn more about him. This was so he could make a well-informed judgement as to whether Yamamoto would be suitable as part of Tsuna's famiglia. The issue of Yamamoto's nationality would not be held against him, considering the exceptional circumstances.

"It's of no big issue. I am capable of taking care of myself."

Reborn replied as he observed Yamamoto's movements. Yamamoto moved with an easy, careless grace. His awareness of his surroundings were also top-notch as he easily side-stepped other people in the crowd as Yamamoto carried out a conversation with Reborn.

"You live in Namimori? Hmm, that's quite lucky!"

Yamamoto was pleasantly surprised by this fact. He informed Reborn that he also lived in Namimori, not too far from where Reborn stayed with Tsunayoshi and Nana.

"Pops and I own a sushi restaurant called, "Takesushi". You've heard of it?"

Reborn slowly nodded. He was a bit surprised by the coincidence. He had been planning to visit Takesushi on Nana's recommendation after the baseball game. Yamamoto grinned.

"Great! Say what, I'll treat you to some sushi once we get to Takesushi. You must be feeling hungry by now."

"I am feeling hungry. Thank you very much for your invitation."

Reborn politely thanked him. However, he didn't inform him that a lady carrying a styrofoam cup of hot tea, while chatting on her handphone, was going to crash into Yamamoto from behind. Normal people would have been unable to avoid the collision but not Yamamoto. As if he could predict the lady behind, Yamamoto took a step to the right, letting the other person from the front, walk past him and into the lady behind. The resulting chaos were hilarious and Reborn was impressed.

Consider Yamamoto's Mafia Entry Exam as a Pass with flying colours!

Takesushi was more like a sushi bar than a restaurant. Pushing the long noren curtains aside, Reborn took in the traditional Japanese decor of the sushi bar. They were early for there were no other customers. Yamamoto brushed past him and cheerfully greeted the solitary chef cleaning and sharpening his knives behind the bar. Reborn's eyes widened as he recognised the man from several years before when he was still in the body of a baby.

"Tadaima, Pops!"

"Okaeri, Takeshi! Who's your new friend?"

Like his son, Yamamoto Tsuyoshi was tall and friendly. However, he was more jagged around the edges with age and experience. Reborn introduced himself, saving Takeshi the trouble,

"Yamamoto-san, I am Reborn. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Hmm...? Reborn eh?"

Tsuyoshi smiled and for a brief moment, a gleam of the ruthless swordmaster was in his eye. Reborn tilted his head a fraction of an inch in acknowledgement of the last Shigure Souen Master. Then Tsuyoshi instructed Takeshi to change into his work uniform and get behind the bar fast.

"Yes, yes, I know!"

Takeshi laughed and slapped Reborn on his shoulder before he went into the back to change. As soon as Takeshi was gone, Tsuyoshi laid down his knife on the chopping board and questioned Reborn.

"Aahh, if you're asking me to help you with some mission, I have to respectfully decline, Acrobaleno."

Reborn shook his head.

"No, that's not what I've come here for, Yamamoto-san. I wasn't actually expecting to meet the last Shigure Souen master in ths place."

"Oh, is that so?"

"Your son shows great promise. I believe that he would be a suitable guardian for my charge, Sawada Tsunayoshi, son of Sawada Iemitsu."

"..."

Tsuyoshi was silent as Reborn steadily looked at him in expectation. He picked up the knife again and hefted it in his open palm, expertly feeling and balancing the weight of steel.

"I was expecting this to happen for some time. As a father, I do not want Takeshi to be involved in this mess but he will soon have to face his true path."

"I'm sorry."

Reborn offered a contrite apology.

"No. You shouldn't be. But let me warn you, Takeshi will be hard to convince. He's had a hard time both physically and psychologically when he injured his arm."

"...I see. Thanks for warning me in advance."

Tsuyoshi simply smiled sadly.

fin

espresso - very concentrated coffee that is made by forcing steam through the ground coffee and collecting the seeped hot coffee. It was invented in Italy.

Decimo - italian for tenth

Buona Notte- Good Night

noren- If you've ever been to a Japanese restaurant, noren are the curtains that hang in front of the entrance. They are usually decorated with the logo of the restaurant or its name in calligraphy.

Tadaima - I'm home!

Okaeri- Welcome back!

Side notes

In the Mafia, it is true that the members must have Italian blood. Some gangs require that both parents be Italian while others only require the father to be Italian. The more traditional mafia will only accept those who come from an Italian family that has been established for a fairly long time.

Hanshin Tigers are a baseball team from Osaka while Tokyo Yakult Swallows is a team from Tokyo. I removed the Yakult part because I thought the name didn't sound so great with it.