Disclaimer: I do not own any KHR characters…

Sorry for the wait, and thanks for all the updates me!

Here's the next chapter!

Chapter 25

"I can't seem to reach him, Reborn."

Tsuna huffed in worry as he placed the phone down once more. He had been trying to get through to Fong for the past eight hours but not even Viper seemed to know where the storm arcobaleno had disappeared to.

Across the room, Reborn tilted his fedora down to hide a frown. Hadn't he made it clear to the martial artist to stay by a phone?

"He's probably been called on a mission by the Nono, Tsuna. Don't worry so much."

Tsuna frowned. "So soon? And I'm sure Viper-nii would have found that out if he did leave for a mission."

Reborn cursed silently at his student's sharp observation before looking up. "Fong can look after himself, Tsuna." He stated firmly. "Right now, you've got more important things to do than looking for him."

Tsuna paused before sighing. Reborn was right, as always. With a nod, he pondered his next move.

How to explain to a nine-year-old the responsibility of being a Guardian and the burden that came with accepting the position?

"Just do what you always do, Tsuna. That's more than enough."

Tsuna glanced up, startled eyes widening before breaking into a warm smile. "Thanks, Reborn."

With a wave, the teen left his room and headed downstairs. He found the youngest Bovino in the kitchen, munching on an apple. I-Pin had had to stay at school for a few extra hours to take care of a project.

"Lambo," Tsuna called out. "Let's go pick up I-Pin."

The nine-year-old nodded eagerly, jumping to his feet and hurrying off to grab a jacket. Behind him, Tsuna shook his head ruefully. His two charges really were close.

As the two walked slowly down the street, Tsuna's nervousness came back, hammering a thundering rhythm in his chest.

On one hand, he really didn't want to pull Lambo into a world of blood and death, not to mention the child was still just that – a child. And in Tsuna's mind, children were supposed to go to school and have fun, their biggest worry being whether or not they had finished their homework and not whether someone would be coming to assassinate them or their Family.

But on the other hand, the brunette couldn't think of anyone better suited for the position of Lightning Guardian. Lambo, though still only nine, was dependable at the worst of times and unwaveringly loyal to those he cared about. His ability as a makeshift lightning rod was an added bonus. Though the boy tended to be loud and quick-tempered every so often, Tsuna knew that, without a doubt, the Bovino would be an excellent addition to the Family.

And it wasn't as if Tsuna wouldn't be there to protect him. In fact, Tsuna had already decided that nothing and no one would ever harm anyone in his Family, whether they were Guardian or not. Besides, in the end, it was up to Lambo whether he accepted it or not, and Tsuna would not push the Bovino into anything he didn't want to.

With that decided, Tsuna turned once again to the boy walking beside him.

Only to find sea green eyes peering back up at him, unveiled curiosity flickering in them.

Tsuna quickly smiled and launched into the well-thought-over conversation he had been preparing before he lost his resolve again.

"Lambo, what do you want to do when you grow up?"

The nine-year-old blinked before shrugging a bit. "Dunno yet. I'll probably be called back by Papà to serve the Bovino Family."

Tsuna blinked at the sudden turn in the conversation. "Papà?"

Lambo nodded. "The boss of the Bovino Family is my father."

Tsuna almost lashed out with his flames right then and there, and he would have too if he didn't remember the many houses on either side of them.

So Lambo's own father had been the one to send the child away to a foreign country and all alone too. No wonder the boy he had first met had been so bitter angry.

"Of course," Tsuna glanced down as Lambo continued, shoulders slumped and eyes downcast. "I'll probably be ordered to do all the menial work. That's what Papà had me doing before I left."

Glancing up and catching the barely concealed anger in Tsuna's eyes, Lambo hastily forged on, believing that the teen that had become an older brother to him was angry that he sounded so ungrateful.

"I'm not complaining though. I'm the weakest Bovino after all so it's only natural that I do that sort of work."

A tense silence fell between them as Lambo lowered his head again, trying to force back the tears that were now stinging his eyes.

The brunette stared woodenly ahead, trying to calm down. Finally, emotions now more settled, he spoke, voice more or less neutral.

"But you don't want to, right?"

Lambo's fists clenched in his pockets. "I don't mind." He mumbled, fighting valiantly to keep the strain out of his voice. He stopped walking when he realized that his caretaker was no longer beside him.

"You do mind."

The quiet statement almost made the nine-year-old burst into tears but he had too much control for that now. Though it was getting more difficult as Tsuna continued.

"You mind very much and don't want to go back at all."

Lambo shrank, wanting to hide or run away from this person who could read him like an open book. He waited for the usual lecture that everyone gave him when they realized how much he hated being apart of a Family that didn't even want him there. He quickly blurted out well-recited words, not wanting to make one of the few people in his life that he loved hate him.

"I know I'm selfish for being ungrateful and I'm sorry! Lambo is really really sorry!"

A silent sob wracked his body as he struggled to keep his emotions in.

"So don't go."

The boy stilled, frozen to the ground as the brunette's quiet, gentle voice brushed his ears. He slowly looked up as the teen dropped down in front of him, only to catch sight of a warm smile that had no right to be directed at him.

"W-what?"

Tsuna gazed straight into watery emerald, trying to convey all the love he had for the younger boy.

"Just don't go, Lambo." Tsuna stated gently, stifling the desire to go shoot the head Bovino as confused shock appeared on the nine-year-old's face. "Join my Family instead, either as my Lightning Guardian or another Family member, your choice. It doesn't matter to me because Lambo is my little brother, no matter what position he holds."

Lambo stared, not even noticing as the tears he had been holding back finally spilled over. Finally, he croaked out, "You want me in your Family? Even though I'm selfish and weak and ungrateful and–"

The Bovino had to break off as he was suddenly pulled into a crushing hug.

"You're not weak, Lambo, and I've never thought that you were ungrateful." Tsuna whispered, clutching the boy's shaking frame tightly to his own. "As for selfish; well, isn't that what children are supposed to be? You can be as selfish as you want to be in my Family and I won't mind one bit. I'll still love you. I promise."

That was it. With a giant, heartbreaking cry, Lambo collapsed against the brunette, shuddering sobs that were long overdue tearing from his throat.

The two stayed like that for a long time, Lambo latching onto the older teen like a lifeline. And perhaps that was exactly what Tsuna was to the youngest Bovino, who had always been pushed aside in favor of others.

When Lambo's cries finally subsided, Tsuna's shirt was soaked but the brunette didn't mind. He'd suffer through this any day than seeing the devastating broken look Lambo had worn earlier.

"Lightning Guardian?"

Lambo's voice was hoarse from his breakdown but his gaze was steady as he wiped away the remaining tears. "You really want me to be the Lightning Guardian?"

Tsuna smiled again. "Only if you want to, Lambo." He slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out the Lightning Guardian's ring. "Even if you don't, you'll always have a place in my Family."

Lambo stared for a moment before his hand shot out to grab the ring from his caretaker. A light flush was slowly starting to creep up onto his face as he realized he had cried his heart out in public.

"Are you kidding?" Lambo scoffed as best as he could, hastily slipping on the ring. "It's obvious that I, the great Lambo-sama, become the Lightning Guardian and command a whole lot of people." The effect was ruined when the young Bovino hiccupped and sniffed. Tsuna chuckled quietly before offering a hand to the boy, grinning when a smaller hand slipped into it.

"Okay then."

They walked in silence for several minutes, Lambo looking away determinedly as he got his bearings again while Tsuna pretended not to notice.

"Tsuna-nii?"

Tsuna glanced down, gaze questioning.

"I love you too, Tsuna-nii."

And the warm feeling that flooded the brunette made him break out into a contented smile.

Yes, unwaveringly loyal and dependable, not only taking the Lightning, but also the damage of the Family, like a Lightning Rod.

Tsuna's House

Tsuna and Lambo had finally made it to school, I-Pin already waiting at the front gate. The young martial artist glanced worriedly at the obvious tearstains on Lambo's face but grinned delightedly when she caught sight of the glittering ring on Lambo's finger.

As the three got home, Tsuna frowned. He felt something almost foreign inside his house but there was no way Reborn would have let anyone dangerous in.

Unlocking the door and proceeding to move into the living room, the brunette would have dropped everything if he had been holding anything. Beside him, he felt I-Pin still.

For there, sitting calmly on a sofa and sipping a cup of tea, sat the storm arcobaleno, Fong.

Short, but sweet!

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