I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.

Sky Siblings: Marshmallow Challenge

Red and blue sneakers slapping against the tiles of the supermarket floor, Tsuna kept his hands in the pockets of his favourite orange and white hoodie as he followed after Byakuran. The boss of the Millefiore Family had a determined expression on his face that made him wary enough to keep a suitable distance between the two of them.

"Sawada-san, why are we here?"

Tsuna shifted his gaze to Yuni, who walked beside him with an expression that was just as wary as his. The child fiddled with the strings on her light green shirt, brow furrowed slightly. "That's the question I should be asking you. Aren't you able to read thoughts?"

"Well, yes, but I prefer not to. It's quite the invasion of privacy and I don't like to make a habit of it. Plus, I don't think I want to know what's going through Byakuran-san's mind right now."

"I don't blame you." Tsuna stretched his arms over his head with a soft sigh. "I should have stayed home today. I have a mountain of paperwork to do. Reborn's gonna shoot me if I don't get at least half of it done by the end of the day."

Yuni giggled. "That's Uncle Reborn for you. But you're always working so hard. This is a nice change of pace, isn't it?"

"Depends on what exactly Byakuran dragged us out here for," replied Tsuna. "One second I'm making a snack and the next Byakuran is phoning, ordering me to get ready to go grocery shopping."

Yuni giggled. "At least you received a phone call. He just showed up on the doorstep. Gamma wasn't too happy."

"Oh, he ought to be around here somewhere, right?" Tsuna glanced over his shoulder and peered down the aisle, though he knew it was foolish to expect Yuni's blonde right-hand man to be in plain sight.

She nodded. "He's probably near, but he's very good at keeping watch from the shadows."

Tsuna smiled. "I expect Hayato's around here somewhere as well. He's still not entirely comfortable with me being around Byakuran alone."

Yuni grinned. "He's not comfortable with you being alone in general."

"Good point."

"I found them!"

The two jumped in surprise at Byakuran's exclamation. The white-haired man held up three bags of marshmallows in victory. "Now we can get started!"

Tsuna opened and closed his mouth. When he couldn't think of anything to say, he jabbed Yuni's shoulder. "You ask," he said lowly. "I…I'm scared."

Yuni shot him a look of amusement before locking her gaze on Byakuran. "Um…get started on what, Byakuran-san?"

"We're going to play a game," he answered cheerfully.

Intrigue flashed in the girl's bright blue eyes. "What kind of game?"

"The Marshmallow Challenge! We have to see who can fit the most marshmallows in their mouth as possible."

Yuni and Tsuna were at a loss for words for a moment. It was the Vongola Decimo who found his voice first. "Where exactly did you get that idea?"

"Lambo-kun e-mailed it to me," replied Byakuran, holding the plastic bags of marshmallows to his chest. "He thought I might find it interesting."

"That's it," grumbled Tsuna. "I'm taking away his Internet privileges."

Yuni giggled. "You must admit, this will be much more amusing than paperwork."

"Reborn's still gonna shoot me if I don't get it done."

Byakuran pouted. "Aw, don't be like that, Tsunayoshi-kun. It's been forever since us Tri-ni-set Sky Siblings had a get-together!"

Thank you, Lambo, for giving us that group name, thought Tsuna with a mix of amusement and exasperation. Ever since the Lightning Guardian had declared them as such, that was all Byakuran referred them as. Yuni was rather pleased with the group name and Tsuna suspected she and Byakuran were in the midst of making matching shirts.

"I'm sure this will be very interesting, Sawada-san," urged Yuni.

Tsuna pursed his lips. "I doubt interesting is the proper word, but…alright. But you," he levelled a finger at the young girl, "have to persuade Reborn not to thrash me if I don't manage to some work done today."

"You got it," said Yuni happily.

"That's the spirit," said Byakuran with a wide smile. "Let's go pay for these. Uh…actually, can one of you pay for these?"

Tsuna put his hands on his hips. "What, you suddenly go broke?"

"I forgot my wallet in my rush to get you guys."

Yuni shook her head. "Oh, Byakuran-san."

"Fine, I'll pay for them," sighed Tsuna. "Though I don't know why I'm encouraging this."

With a hop in his step, Byakuran went to the nearest checkout counter. Tsuna handed over a bill and batted away the man's hand indigently when he tried to snag the change. Smiling fondly, Yuni accepted the grocery bag filled with marshmallows and the three casually-dressed Mafia bosses stepped out into the afternoon sunlight.

"So…we can't go back to my place," said Tsuna.

Byakuran smirked. "Because Reborn-kun might be there?"

"Actually, I'm pretty sure he is there."

"There's a nice park not too far from here," suggested Yuni. "And it's a nice day."

"Sounds good to me," replied Byakuran merrily.

The trio ventured across the parking lot, across the street and towards a grassy park that had a winding path perfect for jogging, biking and strolling. Locating a wooden picnic table, they sat down and Byakuran promptly opened a bag of marshmallows.

"Why did you get the jumbo-sized ones?" complained Tsuna.

"To make this more fun," answered Byakuran.

"What exactly do we have to do?" asked Yuni.

"Keep putting marshmallows in your mouth until you can't anymore," said Byakuran simply. "Be sure to keep track, because the one who can fit the most in their mouth wins. And if you spit them out, you automatically lose."

He plucked a marshmallow from the open package and popped it in his mouth. Yuni copied his action and with a shake of his head Tsuna followed suit. They continued in a circle, adding marshmallows to their mouths with every turn.

Yuni reached out to retrieve another marshmallow but her hand paused when she caught sight of the bulging mouths of her friends. Unable to help herself, she burst into laughter, spraying chunks of spit-covered marshmallows everywhere.

Tsuna shrieked in disgust when a soggy marshmallow splattered onto his forehead. He leaned over the side of the picnic table and coughed out his mouthful of the snack food. Byakuran held up his hands in triumph and happily swallowed his favourite food.

"I win!"

"That's not fair," rasped Tsuna, wiping the saliva off of his chin with his hand. "Yuni spit on me."

"I didn't mean to," said the girl, managing to compose herself. "You guys looked ridiculous."

"Rematch," demanded Tsuna, popping another marshmallow in his mouth and starting a new game.

Byakuran smiled widely as he took his turn. "I knew you'd enjoy this."

When Tsuna popped the twentieth marshmallow in his mouth, his cheeks felt like they were about to burst. Yuni had a hand clamped over her mouth to keep her marshmallows in and Byakuran was trying in vain to hold back a smile.

Yuni reached for her next marshmallow. She parted her lips and tried to stuff the snack food in, but her mouth was small as is and was unable to hold any more. She spit out the white, soggy mass of food and got out, "I'm out at twenty marshmallows."

Throwing a challenging stare at Tsuna, Byakuran popped another marshmallow into his mouth. Tsuna managed to hold his own for a few more rounds before his gag reflex kicked in and he spewed everything out in the grass.

"This is so gross," he rasped. He glared at Byakuran, who managed to swallow his marshmallow load once more with a victorious smirk. "You, you're cheating somehow."

The man pouted. "You're so mean, Tsunayoshi-kun. I would never cheat."

"You already had an advantage over us, with your marshmallow obsession," accused Tsuna.

"You really do eat a lot of that stuff," agreed Yuni.

"I resent your remarks," sniffed Byakuran. "You're merely sore losers."

Tsuna opened up the second bag of marshmallows and shook it wildly, so that the small soft projectiles pelted the eldest Sky Sibling in the face. "I choose to resent your resentments and attack you with your brethren."

"You are wasting perfectly good marshmallows!" complained Byakuran. The white-haired man reached over and the two engaged in a tug of war over the marshmallow bag.

Grinning, Yuni snagged the last bag, stood up and swung it down over Byakuran's head with a cry of, "Marshmallow Strike Attack!"

Upon contact the bag exploded, sending the snack food in all directions. Startled, Byakuran tipped off the bench and fell to the grass. Yuni and Tsuna burst into laughter, with Byakuran joining in quickly after. Their joyful sounds filled the peaceful atmosphere, causing a few afternoon walkers to stare at the trio with varying expressions.

Tsuna hunched over, holding his stomach as tears of mirth spilled down his cheeks. It was moments like these that he realized how happy he was that Byakuran became his friend instead of remaining his enemy in present-time. The man was cheerful and amusing and never failed to entertain.

Though he remembered saying he could never forgive Byakuran for all he had done, he realized that he in fact did forgive him. The present Byakuran had changed, with no desire to rule worlds and cause destruction and mayhem. He was travelling a new path in life, one that bounded the three together in a firm friendship.

Tsuna felt his stomach bubble with warmth as he glanced at the Millefiore Boss, who was curled up in the grass, laughing hysterically. He had forgiven Mukuro, he had forgiven Xanxus, and he sure as heck could forgive Byakuran. Everything bad deed his future self did was undone, Yuni was alive and Byakuran was a changed man.

They were Sky Siblings. And nothing would break that bond.

…

Gamma leaned against the trunk of a tree, staring at the hysterical trio a few yards away. A shuffling sound caught his attention and he glanced to the side. "Gokudera."

"Gamma," the Storm Guardian returned. He glanced at his beloved boss and said, "That was…interesting."

"I suppose that's the word for it," said Gamma dryly. But he felt a slight smile pull at his lips at the sight of his Princess enjoying herself. Despite his reservations towards the Millefiore Boss, Yuni was very fond of him, and so Gamma tried to be as respectful of that as best he could. "Think they're going to stop anytime soon?"

"They better. Reborn-san is not going to be happy if he finds out Juudaime isn't doing his work."

Gamma peered over the younger man's shoulder and smirked. "Too late."

The fedora-wearing hitman (with Leon perched atop as always) walked purposefully across the park and towards his ex-student. Tsuna caught sight of him and dove over the picnic table, taking cover behind Byakuran (who only laughed harder at this new development).

"Yuni!" he wailed. "Save me from mean old Uncle Reborn!"