Title : Famiglia
Genre : Family, Friendship, Adventure
Rate : T
Chapter 29:
Reborn was a famous hitman, the world's greatest hitman. He was dangerous and mostly those who had worked in the mafia long enough had heard about his reputation. He had been a free-hitman who received missions from different families before he settled down under Timoteo, the Nono's famiglia. Now he mostly did the missions Nono entrusted him with and some missions from his acquaintances, if he felt like it.
All in all, Reborn had always considered himself as a professional who had no unnecessary emotion during the mission. There were some he considered close enough as a-sort-of-comrades due to some circumstances but nonetheless counted as close. There were also Nono who he had pledged his loyalty to and his famiglia who he had been working together with for more than ten years.
Sometimes when he was in a break from missions, he would find some interesting things to do to kill times. This time was also one of those times.
He had just come back from a long mission Nono gave him and he was giving Nono the report about the missions when he realized the stress and tiredness which were showing off from the principal. When he asked about it, Nono told him that there was another violation from the students and this time, it was worse than the last time.
Reborn had taken a look at the report about the violation and he was surprised to find familiar names on it. Sawada Tsunayoshi. Even if he had only met the boy a few times in the past and never really have a decent talk but the boy had left him quite an impression with just few times of meeting. He had been away for three years and the boy had gotten himself in another trouble? He seemed like he had not changed at all for Reborn.
He had read the content on the report and found some odd parts in it. Apparently, one of Tsunayoshi's classmates, Atanashi Fuyo, had bordered some sort of hatred toward him and he asked helps from some primary six students to bring the boy to the school's back deserted yard where no one was usually there. According to the words from one of his friends, they were the ones who did the beatings while the upperclassmen were only watching at the side.
Hibari Kyoya who was punished by his homeroom teacher to the backyard found out about their deed. He was furious and ended up beaten all of them, including the upperclassmen. One of them had managed to escape from the scene with heavy injuries and stumbled upon Gokudera Hayato, then he managed to reach the school building. The students who found his injured state quickly informed the teachers. There were three students from primary two who got curious and ran there to take a look. From what they said, the scene looked terrifying, the senpais were all beaten, there were bloods and they said that Hibari Kyoya, Gokudera Hayato, Yamamoto Ugetsu, Ryohei and Rokudo Mukuro were attacking each other. They stated that they did not see them as only simply arguing, they were seriously attacking each other.
And when they were too engrossed with the unconscious bodies, suddenly the five Vongola boys stopped and when the three of them looked up, Sawada Tsunayoshi was standing at their centre and held back their weapons and fists. (How to, was not mentioned in the report) After that, all of them stopped and Tsunayoshi fainted.
The teachers and even the principal himself had questioned the five Vongola kids but none of them provided any information that was not in the report. They were tight-mouthed about the reason they fought. The five of them were given a one week detention from the principal, the future penalty for Hibari Kyoya would be delayed until his detention was finished.
And for the ones who had violated the rules and beaten Tsunayoshi, their punishments were relayed until they were out from the hospital. From the hospital, they said that their injuries were really fatal and were as bad as Tsunayoshi himself, even worse. They had been unconscious until now.
As for the victim, Tsunayoshi, he had some broken ribs and bruises but it was not life-threatening. The hospital predicted that he would need one week to recover and he had shown no sign of waking up on Monday.
Reborn had volunteered to send a greeting to the boy like he once did some years ago and here he was at the hospital, visiting the brunette. The brunette had grown a bit since the last time he met him but still small for a 9 years old and those fluffy brown hairs seemed to be wilder, those brown eyes though was still the exact same as what Reborn remembered it to be.
-Back to the present-
-Vongola Hospital-
"I am the world's greatest hitman, Reborn.", Reborn smirked.
Tsuna blinked once, then a wide smile came upon his face. He nodded happily, "I remember! You are Reborn, right?"
"That's what I have just told you, Dame-Tsuna.", Reborn smacked Tsuna's head once before he jumped back to the desk.
Tsuna winced and rubbed the spot where Reborn just smacked him, "Ah, you still like to hit me.", he mumbled.
"What is that, dame-Tsuna?", Reborn narrowed his eyes.
Tsuna quickly shook his head and looked at the long-time-no-see figure in curiosity, "Where have you been, Reborn? I have never seen you these last few years, have I?", Tsuna furrowed his eyebrows as he tried to remember the last time he had seen Reborn.
"I am a busy man, dame-Tsuna.", Reborn sat down on the desk, crossing his legs and arms. Leon had jumped down from his fedora onto the brunette's chest, licking his chin.
Tsuna giggled and picked the chameleon up in front of his face, "And you must be… Etto- Urr, Reborn?", Tsuna smiled nervously at Reborn.
Reborn frowned, the brunette's memory was that bad huh? "Leon.", he answered shortly.
"Ah! Leon!", Tsuna smiled at the chameleon and patted its head, "Hello, Leon. Nice to see you.", Leon licked Tsuna's hand as a respond.
Reborn just sat there, watching Tsuna lying there and patting his partner gently. Leon seemed to still like his touch just like it was years ago.
"Reborn?", Tsuna turned to look at the only companion he had there. He continued when he saw Reborn looking at him, "What are you doing here?"
"I came by Principal Timoteo's request to send you these-", Reborn gestured at the fruit basket behind him, "and he said he was sincerely sorry for what had happened on yourself, it was part of the school's fault for not paying good attention to what happened around the school. He promised that he would give you the just you should have gotten from this.", Reborn stated professionally. He never moved his gaze away from the boy, he wanted to observe how he reacted. He also had some questions he wanted to ask the boy, he was just waiting for the right time.
Tsuna was surprised, he lowered Leon back onto his chest and stared at the white ceiling above him. He had that thoughtful and sad look as he stared up at the ceiling in silence. Reborn himself let the boy had his own time for a while, he only watched the boy in silent.
"I-It's…"
Reborn was surprised when the brunette suddenly spoke up, the voice was so quiet as if it was not meant for anyone but the boy himself.
"I-It's not Principal's fault.", Tsuna said louder this time. He bit his lip and tears were starting to well up on his brown caramel eyes, "I-It's not anyone's fault.", he said again.
He sobbed once, "N-No one is at fault. I-It's me…"', he sobbed again. He raised his bandaged right arm on his eyes and sobbed again, "B-Because I'm weak…", he started to remember the words Hibari told him that day. "I can't protect myself. *sob I let them hit me…", he rubbed his eyes furiously in frustration. "Because I'm weak, t-the others must protect me! I'm the one at fault! Ugh…", he continued rubbing his eyes, willing for his tears to stop flowing down but it just kept pouring out from his eyes.
"Because of me…! *cough *cough", Tsuna took a deep shaky breath and coughed again. "I-I…"
The memory of Hibari and Gokudera attacking each other came back again, together with how Yamamoto, Ryohei and Mukuro ended up joining them. Tsuna panted and shut his mouth tight to hold in his breath. Another sob escaped from his mouth, "They fought each other because of me! I-I *sob W-We are family- I-I *sob *sob I don't want them hurting each other like that! I-It's my fault…", he cried out in bitterness and frustration just like how he did the first time he woke up there. But this time, there was someone beside him to listen to his cry.
"R-Reborn~!", Tsuna cried out his name helplessly. "W-What c-can I do? H-How, I-I… I-I don't know what to do, Reborn! H-Help… H-Help me… P-Please *sob Please tell me!", he knew it was weird for him to suddenly cry in front of someone who should have been considered as foreigner but he needed to let it out. He had been keeping it in by himself for two days and it was starting to eat him up from inside, he needed to cry it out, he needed to talk to someone.
And Tsuna did not know why but he felt like he could trust Reborn, even if they had only met each other for only few times before but he had this feeling that he could trust Reborn. Reborn also gave him this feeling of someone really strong and reliable, very reliable.
"Tsunayoshi.", Reborn called sternly.
Tsuna kept sobbing, sometimes choking at his own breaths, his injuries had started hurting him again. His breaths were getting harsher, he fisted his shirt tightly with one hand and the other one fisting the blanket 'C-Can't breath-e', Tsuna greedily breathed in air to cease the pain in his chest.
"Tsunayoshi.", Reborn called again, It's bad, he is getting a panic. He jumped from his spot onto the brunette's chest. "Calm down, Tsunayoshi. Tsunayoshi.", he called sternly.
Tsuna could not hear Reborn's voice, he needed air! He needed air! He kept greedily took in deep breaths and wriggled around, he was getting suffocated! He was scared! H-Help!
"Tsunayoshi! Listen to me. Breath slowly, calm down. Breath slowly.", Reborn shouted sternly while he put both his hands on the trembling chest and activated his sun-flames. He knew it would not do much help except Tsuna himself could calm down, but he was trying to cease the pain in his chest. He had seen from Tsuna's health report just now that he had some broken ribs and chest injuries.
"Breath slowly. Breath slowly.", Reborn repeated in patience.
Tsuna started to feel all-warm on his chest, the pain had lessened much and it had become easier for him to breath. "Breath slowly, Tsunayoshi.", he could start hearing Reborn's voice telling him to breath slowly. He listened to his order and breathed slowly, he kept on breathing slowly for some time before he felt his whole body relaxed. He could breath normally now.
"Reborn…", Tsuna whispered weakly, he leaned on his arm to sit up.
Reborn deactivated his flames by then and jumped to the side while the boy sat himself, leaning on the bed-board behind him.
"Are you feeling better?", Reborn asked sternly.
Tsuna nodded weakly and patted his chest, t-that was scary. He looked down at Reborn at his left, "Thank you, Reborn.", he whispered softly.
Reborn lowered his fedora, "So I take it that you are alright now?"
Tsuna nodded and mumbled a "Yes" The word had just left his mouth and he already got a kick on his head by no other than Reborn himself. Tsuna immediately clutched his head and wailed to the culprit, "Reborn~! What was that for?!" he couldn't believe Reborn kicked him right after he had the dangerous panic.
"For pulling off something as stupid as that in front of me.", Reborn glared at the boy.
Tsuna was surprised, he then realized what Reborn meant by that, he looked at Reborn apologetically "Sorry.", he whispered softly.
Both of them were looking at each other in silent, Tsuna was starting to feel all nervous and embarrassed for what he had just done before the panic, "U-Urr, R-Reborn… J-J-Just now, urr. Sorry, I-I was crying and panic, w-wh-what I said just now-"
CLICK
"If you want to talk to me, you better stop stuttering in my presence, Dame-Tsuna. I hate people who can't even speak properly.", Reborn threatened while pointing his gun at Tsuna.
Tsuna gulped, "S-S-Sorr-HIEE", he pulled back when he saw Reborn's glare.
He took a deep breath before he scrunched his eyes shut and spoke up hastily, "I just meant to say I'm sorry!", he trembled.
DOR
Tsuna jolted in surprise, holding his head protectively with both hands. He did not feel anything coming so he peered open his eyes and looked at the confetti coming out from the gun onto the bed. He blinked in confusion.
Reborn lowered down the gun and looked up at Tsuna seriously, "There are times when only sorry is not going to get you anywhere, Tsunayoshi."
Tsuna stopped trembling and put his hands down on his lap, his brown eyes focusing solely at Reborn. Reborn was secretly satisfied that the boy was listening to him intently, it meant he was taking him seriously despite his body-size, usually most ignorant persons would not take him seriously, read the most ignorant meaning those fools who did not know him.
"Then what should I do, Reborn?", Tsuna asked softly but those eyes were showing resolution which made Reborn felt more entranced toward the boy. "I-I… I don't know what to do… I-It was true that I am weak so I can't do anything about it. I don't know what I should do when I meet them, I caused them these much problems.", Tsuna frowned. "What if… what if they are still angry at me? What if they are really annoyed with someone like… me?", his lips trembled a bit. "I-I don't know what to do."
Reborn looked at him coolly, "Answer me honestly, Tsuna.", Tsuna nodded to him and Reborn continued, "Do you really not know what you should do? Isn't the answer obvious? You are only too scared to take that step."
"Uh?", Tsuna was confused.
"The answer has always been in your mind, Tsuna. Think of it.", Reborn stated.
Tsuna stared at Reborn long enough, he thought and thought… did he really know it in his mind?
Seeing Tsuna's clueless face, Reborn decided to give him another push. "What is it that you want to do, Tsuna? Not what you think you should, but what you wanted to do."
Tsuna repeated Reborn's words in his mind, what I want to do…
Reborn smiled under his fedora when he saw recognition dawned on the brunette's face. Of course, it should not be too hard for him to realize it because it was showing in his words and actions he just did in front of me and when his family was fighting two days ago. The boy was injured badly at that time that he should have not been able to do anything, even staying conscious would have been counted as tough for a kid like him and yet he still pushed himself to stop the fight between his family, it should be clear for him.
Tsuna started to remember what kind of feeling he carried when his parents died in front of his eyes, the feeling he carried around the sport competition three years ago, the feeling he carried when he knew about Vongola and mafia three years ago. Until now, it was still there in the deepest part of his heart. He had overlooked it these past years because he was too happy and satisfied with the way he lived at the present, he had always been wishing for things to stay the same and got too comfortable that he had forgot what he had ever wanted to be.
And now that this had happened, did not it just mean one thing for him? Reborn was right, the answer was right there in front of him. It was up to him to take it or leave it.
"I want to be strong.", Tsuna whispered softly to himself with a small sincere smile on his face. "When I was small, I thought to myself that I wanted to be someone as strong as Papa. I wanted to be soo~ strong so I could protect him and my family.", he whispered.
"You are right, Reborn.", Tsuna now said firmer. "These happened because I'm weak so all I need to do is to be strong, strong enough so my family doesn't need to be hurt because of me. Yeah… I know it, what I should do… and what I want to do."
Reborn was taken off guard when he saw a swirl of orange in those brown eyes but it was gone in the next second so he thought that it must have been the sun light coming from the window there.
Tsuna felt his eyes welled up with tears again, "I-I forget it… I-I'm too happy living with them and I-I forget it… I-I relied on them too much, I-I'm too satisfied with the ways thing are s-so… I don't want anything to change. I-I forget… what I wanted to do long ago.", he wiped his teary eyes with his arms.
Without Tsuna realizing, Reborn changed Leon into a big green hammer and jumped up to land a hit on the brunette's head. Tsuna shrieked like he usual did while Reborn only looked at him smugly from his side.
"Dame-Tsuna, the first thing you need to do to be strong is to not let out your tears way too easily. Do you think a crybaby like you can be strong this way?", Reborn asked.
Tsuna blinked then wiped his remaining tears in one quick rub and slurped in his snots, he bit his lips, puffed his red cheeks and stared at Reborn expectantly. Reborn nodded approvingly though he was secretly enjoying the funny look Tsuna showed him right now and the way he did as he told to, "Crying is not a sign of weakness, it is acceptable but it is useless if you only do that. If you have the time to cry then think of what you are going to do next, show your resolution through your actions, Tsuna."
Reborn was still secretly satisfied when he saw Tsuna nodded and how those big innocent brown eyes shone in determination. He had known from the first time he laid his eyes on the brunette that the boy was not someone who was suitable to live in this harsh-and-cruel mafia world, that the boy was someone with too much kindness and innocence to be involved into this dangerous mafia world.
And maybe because the world Reborn had been living in was too dark that he felt like he was attracted to the brunette the first time he met him, to the kindness the brunette had in him. Reborn also had a gut feeling that the brunette would grow up into a wonderful man who could bring a change in this mafia world to be better and Reborn knew a fact that his gut feeling was never wrong.
Until now, Reborn had always considered himself as a professional who had no unnecessary emotion during the mission. When he was in a break from a mission, he would find some interesting things to do to kill times. At first, he had approached Sawada Tsunayoshi because the brunette interested him and was entertaining enough to lighten Reborn's mood but now… Reborn found himself more fascinated to the boy more than he should.
Reborn pulled down his fedora to hide his small smile, "Make sure your dame-brain does not fail you in remembering my words today, Dame-Tsuna.", he stated coolly and he got the expected wail from the brunette.
"Reborn~! I will not forget that easily.", Tsuna pouted (though the truth of that sentence was doubtful) but then he remembered his manner and smiled timidly as he bowed down a bit, "Thank you, Reborn, for helping me."
Reborn hummed and smacked the brunette again out of his own fascination, earning another wail from the brunette. Tsuna looked up and saw no sign of the baby-companion around his bed, he quickly looked around the room in panic and saw the baby was walking to the door. Looking at that back from the bed made Tsuna realize again that Reborn was really small and… did he grow up at all during these three years?, Tsuna wondered. But there was one thing more important to Tsuna right now.
"Where are you going, Reborn?", Tsuna asked hesitantly.
"I'm a busy man, dame-Tsuna. I don't have idle time to spare with you all day.", came Reborn's cold answer.
Tsuna pouted, he was honestly hoping that he would stay for a while but if Reborn said he was busy then he did not want to trouble him. "T-Then… Will we see each other again?", he asked hopefully.
Reborn halted his steps in front of the door for some secs, "Too bad, dame-Tsuna.", Tsuna's shoulders slumped down. "My gut tells me that I'm going to meet you again in the future.", he continued before he jumped up to open the door then left the room.
Tsuna stared at the closed door in silence, he was a bit disappointed when he heard Reborn saying 'Too bad' but he was caught off guard when he listened to the rest of the sentences. He chuckled delightedly, "Too bad? But I'm too happy for that, Reborn."
He looked at the door once again then laying down on his bed, he tugged the blanket to his chest and put his hands on it.
The morning soft winds blew gently into the room through the window, he was all alone again in the hospital room, staring at the same white ceiling. But this time he felt so much better, he went to sleep with a serene smile on his face.
-Vongola Mansion-
In the meeting room, the five Vongola kids were sitting in a row in silence. Lampo was sitting lazily at the right corner of the table far from the kids, near where Knuckle was sitting. Daemon was leaning on the wall beside the big casement, looking outside.
Not too long later, the door to the meeting room opened. Giotto, G, Asari came in together with Alaude who had just arrived. Adam stepped in behind them and closed the door, standing beside the door with hands behind his back dutifully.
Giotto took a seat in front of the boys with G and Asari beside him, Alaude took a seat in front of his cousin. Giotto took a look at the boys' condition; the five boys' hands were positioned on their laps and they were all looking down on their laps. From the most left, Hayato averted his gaze to the right and he was scowling, his face also looked pale and there were some dark bags under his eyes indicating his lack of sleep. Beside him, Takeshi was frowning and there was no sign of his usual cheerfulness. Ryohei was tight-lipped and just like Takeshi, they both were un-spirited. Mukuro did not have his playful or smug look on him, he looked irritated. Then the most right was Kyoya, he was the only one crossing his hands in front of his chest but he was also looking sideway downward and was scowling.
Giotto knew one thing from that gesture coming from the very-much-prideful boys that they knew they were in fault. Giotto cleared his throat, "I have heard most of the details from Adam. Now boys, do you have anything you want to say for yourself?"
The boys were silent and none of them shifted even a bit but it was okay, Giotto was patient. Yes, he was patient. When he saw Takeshi sneaked a glance to him, he immediately spoke up, "Takeshi. I see you have something to say, don't you?", he looked directly at the boy when he talked.
Takeshi sneaked another glance at Giotto then back to his lap, he furrowed his eyebrows as if to think but then he looked back up to Giotto hesitantly, "Uncle Giotto, h-have you gone to see Tsuna?"
Giotto was honestly surprised at Takeshi's question, he noticed that all boys' gaze were on him now as if they were waiting for Giotto's answer. He had heard all from Adam before coming to the meeting room and seemed like Adam was right about them wanting to know Tsuna's condition. If the situation was any different, Giotto would have smiled at how much they cared for each other but no. He wanted to have a serious talk with them this time.
Giotto shook his head, "No. I immediately came back here so I can have this talk with the five of you.", he said calmly. He noticed Takeshi was downhearted by his answers, so did the other boys, no matter how some of them hid it. "I also want to see him as much as you do but we need to have this talk done first.", Giotto added.
"What is it that you want to talk to us about, Uncle?", Takeshi voiced his question hesitantly.
"Why did you guys attack each other.", Giotto stated firmly.
"W-We don't, Uncle! I-It's just a misunderstanding!", Takeshi said desperately.
"Takeshi.", the said boy flinched when he heard his father's stern voice. "We can't get this talk done if any of you hide things or even lying.", Asari said sternly, a tone he never used to his son.
Takeshi was hurt with the tone his father was using, his father had never used such tone at him. He frowned and looked back at his laps in defeat, "I-I don't know.", he mumbled.
"Yamamoto is right to the extreme, Uncle! I, Yamamoto and Mukuro were only trying to stop Hayato and Hibari! We were not attacking each other!", Ryohei shouted in desperation.
"You did not attack each other at all, Ryohei?", Knuckle asked seriously.
Ryohei frowned and looked down in guilty, "W-Well, t-they did not want to listen and stop s-so… I-I tried to stop them with my punches.", he said slowly.
"I understand what the three of you were doing.", Giotto stated before he looked at Hayato then to Hibari. "So, Kyoya?", the said boy glanced when his name being called.
"Mind to tell Uncle what you did after you found… Tsunayoshi there?", Giotto asked, he hesitated a bit when he thought about how it would look like to find his son being beaten so badly right in front of his own eyes, he did not even dare to think about what he would do.
"I beat all of those herbivores to death.", Hibari answered flatly.
Giotto nodded at the honest answer and turned to Hayato, "So Hayato… You were the second to find out, weren't you?"
Hayato scowled deeper and nodded, still averting his gaze away.
Giotto nodded and looked at Takeshi and Ryohei, "Takeshi, Ryohei. You were the next one?", the two boys nodded. He then turned to Mukuro, "Mukuro, you are the one after them?", the said boy nodded.
He was trying to get the boys to speak slowly, "So when did you start the fight?"
All of them were silent again…
"Hayato." "Takeshi.", both G and Asari called the children sternly.
Hayato did not respond but Takeshi flinched a bit, he looked down more and answered quietly, "When I and Ryohei arrived there, Hayato and Hibari were already fighting. Ryohei ran to them to stop them w-while I took a good look around, t-then I saw Tsuna. H-H…", Takeshi took a deep breath. "He was injured a-and there was blood-", Giotto and G noticed the way Hayato flinched at that.
"I was thinking about what had happened to him t-then Tsuna grabbed my hand and pleaded to me… to stop Hayato and Hibari.", Takeshi clenched his fists tightly while Hayato stilled at that and if one was to look carefully, there was also a small reaction coming from Hibari. "S-So I tried to stop the two of them with Ryohei b-but no use… T-Then Mukuro came and tried too b-but no use, s-s-so… We- We…", Takeshi did not say anything anymore.
Giotto frowned, he had heard from Adam about what the boys told him but he did not know about the part of Takeshi's reaction and such, seemed like they did not tell Adam the complete details.
"Alright, I have understood, Takeshi.", he could see how the boy was greatly affected by this. "So Hayato, Kyoya. Mind to tell me why you two started the fight? I thought Kyoya, you were beating the ones who had injured Tsuna then how come it became a fight between you two?", Giotto asked firmly.
"He attacked me first.", Kyoya stated shortly.
Hayato gritted his teeth and immediately stood up on his seat, glaring at Kyoya, finally speaking for the first time there, or better term shouted, "But it's your fault! I had told you to stop but you didn't want to!"
Kyoya growled and stood up on his seat too, glaring at Hayato. "I was only stating the truth. That annoying herbivore needed it."
Hayato clenched his fists, started feeling angry again. "You bastard! I told you that you could say it another time, another place! Tsuna was too weak at that time to receive your cruel words!"
Takeshi had stood up and tried to hold the boy back.
"Hayato, your language.", G scolded sternly. Hayato flinched and stayed at his place but still glaring at Kyoya.
"I did not do anything wrong nor did I say anything wrong.", Kyoya stated, narrowing his eyes.
"You-!", Gokudera growled and tried to leap forward to reach the other boy.
"Stop it, you two.", Giotto stated sternly. "Hayato/Kyoya.", at the same time, both G and Alaude also called the boys sternly to stop them. The two boys glared at each other for the last before turning away, Hibari sat down again.
Giotto sighed, he started to understand what triggered their fight, it was quite the usual reason yet happened differently, "So Kyoya, what did you say that made Hayato that angry?"
"I only told Tsunayoshi that he was weak, that he must stop being so herbivorous and become a carnivore to protect himself.", Kyoya answered flatly.
"You can't expect Tsuna to suddenly be as strong as you, bastard!", Hayato shouted loudly at Kyoya.
"Hayato, watch your language.", G reminded sternly again but he was outrightly ignored by the boys.
Kyoya glared back at Hayato and hissed, "I already told you, herbivore. I DID NOT imply for him to be as strong as me, just strong enough to protect himself is good enough."
Hayato hissed too, "Like I told you too! The way you said it had hurt Tsuna!"
"There's nothing wrong with the way I said it."
"Yes, there was, you idiot!"
"You're too unreasonable, herbivore. I did nothing wrong."
"You-!"
"Hayato, your temper.", G reminded.
Hayato snapped at his uncle, "Uncle! You weren't there to hear what he said! The way he said it was too cruel! He even said that Tsuna annoyed him-"
"He did annoy me.", Kyoya stated while Hayato continued shouting, "and that if Tsuna continued being so weak, or herbivore or whatever his weird-animal-words were, he would stop caring about him! He said that he hated Tsuna!"
Takeshi and Ryohei looked at Hayato in surprise before looking at Kyoya who looked impassive.
"Kufufufu, don't you think you're overreacting too much just because of that, Hayato?", Mukuro peered. He was not that surprised if Kyoya said something like people annoyed him or he hated someone, it was completely what he always did, wasn't it?
Hayato gritted, "Yes! But you did not see the way he looked at Tsuna or the way Tsuna looked at him! Y-You… ", he looked down, clenching his fists. "A-All of you just… does not and will not understand!"
There was a short silence after the outbursts between the two boys, now the adults and the other three boys had understood exactly what triggered the fight between Hayato and Kyoya. Giotto frowned to no one, it was anger and confusion. Both of them were too caught up in their emotions that they lost their cool and became impatient.
"Hayato, I unders-", G started.
"No!", Hayato cut him off. "You won't understand, Uncle! None of you understand how I felt at that time!", he yelled loudly. His body and clenched fists were shaking, he stubbornly kept his head down so no one could see his face and the tears on his eyes. "None of you were there to see it! None of you understand how I feel at all!", how terrified he was when he looked at the bloods and Hibari's furious look and voice, how terrified and helpless he felt when he saw Tsuna sitting on one of the trunk with bloods and bruises all around.
He had sworn he would protect that brunette with all his life! Y-Yet, he failed him! He did not do anything to help Tsuna at that time, it was Hibari who saved him! But- But then he just stood there, watching as Hibari lifted that fragile form up and vented his anger out to that barely conscious form. He was too stunned to move from his spot and he just watched how Tsuna trembled with Hibari's every words, those look… oh, those heart-broken look.
Hayato bit his lip tightly, making a little blood pour out from the spot. Actually, the one he was angry with the most was not Hibari, not those bullies but it was himself. He was angry at himself for not doing anything! He was angry at himself for… for punching Hibari. He was angry at himself for… for fighting with Hibari and soon fought with the other three. He was so frustrated to himself and yet… yet his little pride was not allowing himself to admit it.
The room was once again engulfed in silence after that, G watched as some droplets of tears fell quietly down from his nephew's hidden face. G sighed and spoke softly but still-firmly, "You are still at fault for throwing out a punch first though. No matter how angry you were, if you threw a punch first then you would be at fault. You can't solve everything with violence, Hayato, especially when it's between family."
Hayato did not give any respond, head still bowed down ninety degrees and body trembling a bit. He bit his lip tightly to make sure no voice came out, he knew he would look really pitiful crying like that in front of all of them. But he also knew what his uncle said was true. He felt sorry for starting this fight but he was not going to apologize to Hibari if he did not admit his fault too.
Giotto sighed, now he had had a complete grasp of what had happened that day. Hibari was enraged when he first found Tsuna there, it was understandable because none of them except maybe Chrome and especially Mukuro had ever seen something akin to that. He vented out his anger on those students and then at Tsuna, he was not completely at fault with that, it just showed how much he was shaken with the whole situation though he would not have admitted that, he was a very prideful boy.
And then Gokudera's protectiveness against Tsuna, he was also too shaken when he found out about it and saw what was happening. He was too confused of what he should be doing and so relented to his anger and just took it out by punching Kyoya which soon started their fight.
None of them were at fault this time.
"Alright, I have understood what happened that day.", Giotto stated firmly and looked at the five boys. "But I hope this will not be happening again in the future, do you hear me?", the boys except Hayato who had sat down and turned his back to them to wipe his tears, nodded.
"We are a family, there are times when we argue and even fight. Some people said the more we argue and fight with each other, the closer and deeper the bond will be. I'm not going to say it is not true but there is a definite difference between fighting to argue and attacking each other with hostile intentions.", Giotto stated firmly, now the attentions of the five boys were all on him.
"What happened has happened, so I'm not going to dwell in it too much. But the important thing is what comes after that and it is decided by no one but you yourself.", Giotto took a good look at the boys. "Tell me, boys. Will you repeat this again? Or are you going to act calmer and not doing things too rashly without thinking of the consequences?"
The boys shook their head while Takeshi said for the others about not going to repeat this again.
Giotto nodded, "And last, what do you think of each other?" he asked firmly.
The boys were silent and exchanging looks with each other. Takeshi was the first to smile timidly and said, "Family." Ryohei was the second to answer, he grinned a bit while rubbing his neck and said a bit loudly, "Family to the extreme!"
Now only the three others were left, Takeshi nudged Hayato who was unresponsive. "Well, Hayato? Mukuro? Kyoya? I'm waiting for your answers here.", Giotto said expectantly.
"Hey, Hayato.", Takeshi nudged Hayato again and got a 'Shut up, idiot Yamamoto', from Hayato.
The three boys still refused to answer anything but Giotto was patient, "Well… We're not going anywhere before I heard your answers.", he said nonchalantly.
The three boys were still keeping their mouth shut while Takeshi kept on urging Hayato to answer and Ryohei urging both Mukuro and Kyoya to answer.
Kyoya glared at Ryohei who kept on being noisy, "Keep your voice down, you loud-herbivore."
"Then answer Uncle Giotto's question to the extreme!", Ryohei replied.
Kyoya glared then looked at Giotto who was looking back at him, then to Alaude who was also looking at him. He humph-ed and looked away, crossing his hands, "Fine. We are family.", he stated shortly.
After him, Hayato also gave up. He looked away to hide the tint of blush on his pale cheeks, "Yea, we are family.", he mumbled loud enough for them to hear.
Giotto nodded then turned to the last one, "Well… Mukuro?"
Ryohei and Takeshi turned to Mukuro, Ryohei started urging him to answer. Mukuro frowned, feeling irritated with the way Ryohei shouting beside him, "Family.", he answered unwillingly.
Giotto knew that the boy was only answering so Ryohei would stop bothering him, the boy had always been the most distant one out of all. He was close with the other children and yet he was far, he was only opened up to his sister, Chrome, even he still hid things from his own sister to not make her worry. But it was enough for Giotto now. He knew the boy had had a traumatized past and it would take time for him to completely settle in but he believed that that day would come for sure.
"Okay then, now that the talk is done, I will give you twenty five minutes to get ready. Those who haven't had your bath, go take one and those who haven't had your breakfast, go have one. After you are done, go to the front door to meet me.", Giotto stated.
The boys all looked up at him confusedly, Giotto raised his eyebrow and looked back at them expectantly, "Well? If you are not there in twenty five minutes, I'm going to leave for the hospital without you guys."
The boys were still looking at Giotto in confusion, as if not understanding what he meant by that.
"You have wasted one minute gaping there.", G commented, smiling smugly. "I see that none of you want to go to see Tsuna, huh?"
The boys glanced at G once before back to Giotto, Takeshi was the one who voiced the question they all had, "U-Urr, Uncle Giotto, you mean… We can go with you to see Tsuna?", he asked hesitantly but there was this excitement glowing in his brown eyes.
Giotto only smiled and looked at him expectantly, "Why not?"
"B-But- Adam-san-", Takeshi glanced at Adam who was still standing at his spot near the door, the other boys also did the same.
Giotto smiled, "Don't worry for Adam, all of you have fulfilled his condition to see Tsuna too, haven't you? Right, Adam?", he looked at the loyal head-butler he had.
Adam nodded, the condition he made was that the five of them told the complete truth of what happened and they had fulfilled it so he had no reason to restrict them from going to hospital anymore.
The boys were still unmoving from their spots and G being the right-hand man he was, kept a good track on the time, "Another twenty three minutes before we are leaving, Giotto.", he told his best friend.
The five boys immediately jerked up and most jumped down from their seats and flew to the door as quick as wind, Kyoya was only walking hurriedly out from the door. Adam bowed down at Giotto, "I'm going to check on them so they are not trying to skip anything.", and went out of the room.
Giotto looked at the only kid remaining there who was sitting nonchalantly. "You don't want to go with us to see Tsuna, Mukuro?", he was silently feared that the boy would say no because it was always in his mind to make sure none of the children were being left out and he wanted Mukuro to interact more with the other children.
Mukuro's playful smile was back on his face again, "Kufufufu… I'm ready to go anytime, Uncle.", he had had his bath and breakfast already that morning.
Giotto smiled, he was glad that the boy was coming with him. He was sure Tsuna would be happy too to see all five of them presented there, Chrome and Lambo were still in the school studying so he would bring them there another time.
"Nufufufufu… I'm curious about something, Primo. May I?", Daemon suddenly spoke.
"Yes, Daemon, what is it?", Giotto asked.
"Nufufufu… If I see from what they had said that even Takeshi, Ryohei and Mukuro could not stop Kyoya and Hayato, it meant that they were too engrossed in their fight and supposed to be unstoppable. So how did all of you stop?", Daemon looked at Mukuro. "The school did not report on any destruction on the school property and none of you had any injuries from the fight, meant that you had not gone too far into the fighting. So did the teachers come to stop you?"
Mukuro kept his playful smile on his face, "No, it wasn't the teachers. Kufufufu, it was Tsunayoshi who stopped us."
"Tsuna did?", Giotto asked in surprise, the other guardians were also surprised to hear it.
"Tsunayoshi suddenly ran to us and pleaded us to stop, kufufufu… All of us snapped back into our sense and then stopped. That's it."
Giotto and the others ooh-ed and believed in what Mukuro told him but Daemon had sensed something fishy right there. 'Nufufu, I'm going to see whether there is more into it.', Daemon thought to himself.
Mukuro's eyes flashed with alert at the said man secretly, he did not want his uncle to find out about the odd things about Tsunayoshi. He had even moved out of his place the very first day before they came back home to make a deal with the other four boys to keep what they saw that day to themselves, not even Chrome and Lambo were told about it. He told them to not tell anyone even Giotto and the other uncles or their own father, it was only between the five of them and Tsunayoshi.
Of course they were not happy with that at first and asked him why they should do that, that they should have told at least Giotto to see what those orange eyes meant.
{'I don't want Uncle Daemon to hear about Tsunayoshi's eyes.', Mukuro said.}
{'Why?', Hibari asked. 'You seem to really dislike Uncle Daemon, don't you Mukuro?', Yamamoto said. 'What's extremely wrong with telling Uncle Daemon about this? Does it mean it is okay to tell the others Uncle as long as we don't tell Uncle Daemon?', Ryohei said.}
{'If the others even one of them heard about this, then sooner or later he would have caught a wind about this so we must not tell the other uncles also not even to your father.', Mukuro said, he did not even add his signature laugh, meaning he was really serious and the other four boys noticed it.}
{'Why should we listen to you, Mukuro?', Hayato asked.}
{'If you really do care about Tsunayoshi's safety then I would advise you to listen to my words.', Mukuro said, making Hayato and the others silent down, they did not know why Mukuro was so alerted with his own uncle. 'And I will also not be telling Chrome about this. This will be just between the five of us and Tsunayoshi.' And that was the last push they needed, if Mukuro was that determined to the point of not even telling his own sister who he treated preciously more than his own life was, then it meant he was dead serious about Tsuna's safety. So the five of them made a deal to keep this only to themselves.}
Mukuro clenched his fists secretly, he was not going to let Daemon lay a hand on the others. He was not protecting anyone, he just hated Daemon and so he would not let him get a chance to do as he pleased.
-To be continued-
As always thank you for reading, everyone. And for some questions, this story is an AU so it probably would not follow the main story in anime(probably), and because Namimori is a mafia school in this story so I made their standard to be higher than usual.
By the way, Tsuna's ages when he met Giotto was five but if you count the year, he should be six that year. (I have written it once when Tsuna was talking to Enma) And about Mukuro, he had a... 'past' and so did the others kids. It will be told in the future story.
As usual, thanks everyone for reading and reviewing. :)
