A/N:

Tsuna might be quite bipolar in this story. Either ways, this is an OOC warning.

Anyway, go on.

Chapter Sixteen

Tsuna stared at Reborn. His intuition is telling him to listen thoroughly. Carefully, he moved the cup of espresso an inch towards his housemate. Reborn looked at him. Tsuna gathered all his wits and gave a small smile of reassurance. The hitman smirked back.

"I'm going to tell you something, and I want you to take me seriously." Reborn started off.

Tsuna nodded.

"I know you know how the mafia works."

"Yes. They can be good, they can be bad."

Reborn nodded. "As you said I work with the Vongola family. I am friends with Nono, the Ninth boss of Vongola. He's the 'father' of your Dad. Your Dad, Iemitsu Sawada, was a CEDEF boss. And as his son, you are appointed to become the next Vongola boss."

Tsuna stared at him with brows almost knitted.

"I came here as a request from Nono. He wants me to check up on his grandson and also train him to be a fitting Vongola boss. Now. A mafia boss needs family members. It is usually composed of six people. They are called guardians."

Tsuna nodded.

"Okay. As a boss, you are entitled to be the sky." The hitman emphasized as he gave a gentle jab on Tsuna's chest with a finger. "All you need is a storm, rain, sun, lightning, cloud and mist. If you gather them, you already have a family."

Tsuna nodded. "I have a question."

"What?"

"Isn't Xanxus-nii the one who's going to be the Decimo? He's Nono's son right?"

Reborn sighed. "It's complicated. And how did you know him? He's not the sociable type."

"Varia helped me to get here." Tsuna answered. "Yes, they were rowdy. But Xanxus-nii will always take care of his subordinates."

"You don't know him, Tsuna."

Tsuna nodded. "Yes. But that doesn't mean I can't look at them as humans too."

"Fine."

"Ne Reborn."

"Hn?"

"It means you're my tutor now, right?"

"Yeah. Why'd you ask?"

Tsuna shook his head, eyes twinkling. "Can I hug you?"

"No." Reborn answered as he took the cup.

"Can I?"

"What for?"

"I just want a hug."

"Go hug Lambo or Fuuta."

"But I want a hug from you."

"No."

Tsuna stood up. Reborn became alert. He can't read the brunet's thought so he's readying himself for the next move. He might walk out or say that he won't eat anymore.

But Tsuna thought of the opposite.

He launched himself to Reborn. Reborn caught him. Tsuna hugged him by the neck and buried his face by the crook of the hitman's neck. Reborn felt some water dropped on his suit. He rubbed his housemate's back in thoughts of comforting him.

"Thank you, Reborn." Tsuna expressed. "Thank you."

"No worries, Tsuna." He replied.

Tsuna let him go and gave a small smile. Reborn smirked before flicking the brunet's forehead. The latter just hummed in response before parting away from him. He was going to sit when he stumbled and his hand went for the table. Reborn immediately took his arm to steady him.

Tsuna blinked rapidly before shaking his head. His sight is getting blurry. He can feel sleepiness taking over him. He sat on his seat, propped his arms on the table and put his head there. Soon enough, he was already snoring away.

Reborn shook his head before looking out the window. He only briefed the child about the lighter part. He hasn't told him about things that may shock him more.

Tsuna yawned as he jogged. Reborn is right behind him. He looked at the sky and estimated the time before sighing. The day is still young. And Reborn has everything planned out for him today.

He was sleeping when the hitman woke him up. He told him to get dressed and get down by five minutes. Tsuna wasn't the choosy dresser type. He just threw on some shirt, a jogging pants, his socks and shoes and went down. When they went out, Reborn told him to run, and he did without any complain.

He looked back to Reborn before he rounded a corner. Almost smiling, he went past Ryohei and Takeshi who were talking. He sensed that they stopped running in shock. Turning to another corner, he waved at Hayato who was surprisingly awake and chilling on his terrace. Going straight ahead, Tsuna waved at Hibari who was walking in his uniform, obviously going to school. Then on the way to the hospital, Tsuna waved two hands on Mukuro and Chrome's way who were doing morning walks.

Reborn stared at the brunet as they pass by every spot his friends were in. They went another round around Namimori and went inside various streets, passing by the same people. He can't help feeling amazed. Tsuna is almost halfway out of breath, but he's still keeping up in making faces on his friends' ways.

Panting, Tsuna stopped in front of their house, put his hands on his hips and raised his head to look at the sky. He was sweating, panting and tired, but he had fun. He had a great time making his friends smile and laugh at his goofiness. He looked at Reborn and gave a thumbs up. Reborn nodded.

"Tsuna-nii!" A high-pitched voice shouted.

"Lambo!" Tsuna cried back and caught the flying green cow. "Aw. I missed you too!"

"Breakfast?" Lambo asked.

"After I shower, yeah? I'm sticky and sweaty and gross and smelly and-"

"Tsuna-nii!" Lambo whined.

"Fine fine." Tsuna said, almost laughing. "Ish... I missed Lambo. Can I hug you more?"

"Yes!"

"Yehey!"

Reborn watched as the two hugged each other and talk. He doesn't get it. Yesterday, Tsuna asked the same thing. He asked him for a hug. Bianchi too and Fuuta. And now, Lambo. Is there something wrong?

The hitman was by the table, drinking his coffee when the doorbell rang. He didn't bother standing up, knowing Bianchi or Fuuta will open the door. A cheerful 'good morning' and a grumble of 'Idiot baseball freak' were heard. He noticed that Tsuna has this shine in his eyes as he ate. Knowing what he was going to do, Reborn stood up and went out of the dining room.

"Good morning Reborn!" Takeshi greeted.

"I need to talk to you." Reborn directly said. "What is wrong with Tsuna? He's craving for hugs."

Takeshi's smile slipped off a little. "Ah. Tomorrow is his parents' death anniversary."

The room became silent. Reborn tipped his hat in shame of being unaware of the event.

"He usually asks hugs from older people, be it a person he knows or not. Those who want to hug him are welcome too. It will last till tomorrow. In the evening, he'll buy gifts and go to the cemetery alone. He usually spends three hours there." Takeshi elaborated.

"How come you know?" Hayato asked.

Takeshi gave a shy laugh as a faint blush tints his cheeks. "I followed him once."

The room was still silent.

"Or twice. I was really curious about him. And I wanted to know him so I kept an eye on him." Takeshi added.

"So he goes to school and every old people around the town hugs him?" Hayato asked.

Takeshi nodded. "Yes."

"Am I interrupting something?" A small voice asked.

"No, Tsuna." Bianchi, who was wearing goggles already, replied as she neared the brunet. "Finished eating?"

Tsuna nodded. "I did. It was good. Let's make something again for tomorrow."

"Sure."

Tsuna looked at the two. "Let's go?"

"Wait, Tsuna." Takeshi stopped.

"Yup?"

Takeshi hugged Tsuna. The latter closed his eyes and hugged the baseball player tightly. They heard Takeshi whispered him things that Tsuna nodded at in response. When they parted, Ipin hugged Tsuna. Tsuna patted the girl's back before they parted.

Tsuna took his bag and looked at Reborn. The latter turned his back and went back to the dining room. Perplexed at the sudden behavior, Tsuna followed Reborn. The others just stayed on their spots and decided to wait.

"Ne Reborn? You're mad?" Tsuna asked.

Reborn didn't say anything.

Tsuna thought for a moment with eyes closed. After a small deliberation, he went over to Reborn and hugged him. He rocked side to side and hummed as he tightened his hold around his guardian. Reborn loosely wrapped his arms around Tsuna to return the hug.

"I hope you're not mad." Tsuna stated in a hopeful tone. "If you want to know something, just ask Reborn. I won't keep any secrets from you."

"Why do you trust me a lot, Tsuna?"

Tsuna raised his head to look at him. "Because you're my tutor now. My second parent. And I don't keep secrets from my parent. It's not good to keep secrets from you."

"Hmm... If you really don't keep secrets, who is your crush?"

"I don't like anyone at the moment. But Kyoko-chan is nice to me."

Reborn shook his head. Tsuna let him go and walked towards the door. He waved at Reborn before he went out.

On the way to school, some old people hugged Tsuna. They greeted him casually and asked him things. They even complimented the brunet with his now straight talking. Hayato watched people come and go, while Takeshi smiled at the people when Tsuna introduce the two.

Hayato noticed that Tsuna didn't care what others thought whenever he receives hugs from his fellow town people. For once, he can sympathize with him. He is really fortunate that he has Shamal till he grew up, while his Juudaime grew up for four years without anyone with him. He even experienced a lot of suffering. And earning hugs from different people is already a blessing for him.

"Juudaime." Hayato called as they stopped in front of their room.

"Yes Hayato?" Tsuna asked.

Hayato hugged him. "I'm here if you need anything, Juudaime."

Tsuna looked at Takeshi before he hugged back. "Likewise, Hayato. Don't shy away from me okay?"

"Yes." Hayato answered.

"Group hug!" Takeshi shouted and jumped on them.

"Takeshi!"

"Get off you baseball freak!"

Their day went on. Even Ryohei hugged him when he discovered that it was the 'hug day' for Tsuna. He also received some from Kyoko and Hana. Also from Haru who was thrilled by the unofficial event.

Tsuna was staring at the sky when the door opened. He glanced at the person before staring at the heavens again.

"Omnivore. Class." Hibari stated.

"Study hall." Tsuna answered.

"Hn."

Tsuna looked at him from the corner of his eyes. "Hibari-sempai?"

Hibari stared at him.

"Can I call you Kyouya?"

"Can I have a hug, Kyouya? I need one right now."

Kyouya stared at him. Tsuna got up, dusted his clothes before walking towards him. Kyouya didn't do anything. He just stood there as Tsuna wrapped his arms around the prefect's torso. He felt his shirt getting wet. Awkwardly, he put a hand on the omnivore's back and patted him there.

Tsuna cried his heart out. The reason why he went to the rooftop is because he wanted to cry. He remembers his parents and their last moments with him. The way they smile and laugh. The way his Mom call him 'Tsu-kun' and how his father call him 'Tuna-fish'. He badly wants to see them and hug them. He misses them a lot and knowing tomorrow is their death anniversary, he just wants to tear up and cry all day.

"I hate weak, Omnivore." Kyouya uttered.

"I'm sorry." Tsuna whispered.

"This is only once."

"Yes."

After that event, Tsuna went home with them. Although he was responding on the right places, the four noticed how Tsuna slowly closes off. They silently told this to Reborn while Kyouya just leaned on the wall. He was on high alert as he waited for them to finish.

Reborn assured them that Tsuna is just sad. Before they went home, Kyouya told the hitman what happened in the rooftop. Although there wasn't any trace of worry, Reborn knows that Kyouya was astonished with Tsuna's moves.

'You're worrying us, Tsuna.' Reborn grumbled inwardly.

"Juudaime." Hayato called.

Tsuna's head alerted him. He took a breathe. Other than the alert, he can tell that there's hostility from the others. He knows he worries them alot with his actions. Oh how he wish he can smile to assure them that he's okay.

He always hated being called depressed. It was normal for him to be silent and bow his head to escape everything. He lived that way. And he can't change that in an instant. Even Reborn patiently waited for him to talk. No one can expect someone to change by overnight.

"Is there something wrong? You've been closed off since yesterday." Hayato asked, obviously pissed off.

Tsuna flinched. 'I'm not being closed off, Hayato.'

"He's right, Sawada. You're extremely cold to us." Ryohei seconded.

"M-Maa. Tsuna doesn't mean to-"

"You're worrying us to the extreme, Sawada." Ryohei asserted.

"I'm sorry." Tsuna apologized.

"Juudaime-"

Tsuna didn't dare listen to Hayato. He took off with his bag and untouched lunch then ran towards the door. He didn't even apologized when he bumped to Kyouya. The latter stared at the running brunet.

Takeshi gave an impatient sigh as he packed his lunch and bag, and ran towards the door. He nodded at Kyouya who stared at him, demanding some explanation.

"Hayato and Ryohei-sempai told him that he's worrying them." Takeshi answered.

"It's true, Yamamoto. He is worrying us to the extreme." Ryohei justified.

Takeshi sighed. "Tsuna doesn't mean it. Just..."

"Go." Kyouya commanded.

Takeshi smiled in gratitude. "Thank you Sempai. I owe you this."

'He'll repay me with a fight.' Kyouya thought before turning his attention to the two. "For crowding, I'll bite you to death."

Takeshi hurriedly ran for the Sawada residence. It was the first place he thought when he asked himself where Tsuna will go. When he went in, he saw Tsuna sprawled on the floor, crying his heart out and sobbing quietly. It broke Takeshi's heart.

He closed the door behind him, dropped his bag on the floor and sat beside Tsuna. He patted the brunet's back. Reborn is out. Bianchi also with the kids to somewhere. It was a perfect timing for his friend to cry.

"I-I'm so-sorry..." Tsuna cried.

"No. It's our fault, Tsuna. My fault. I could've at least brief them about what you feel. I've known you the longest, so I know what you feel in occasions like this." Takeshi consoled.

"B-But I made you worry. A-and I-I think Reborn is angry too. And even Kyouya. A-And-"

"Okay. No more self-pitying. Sit up." Takeshi ordered.

Tsuna shook his head.

"Come on, Tsuna." Takeshi urged.

Tsuna slowly sat up. His eyes and nose are red from crying, tears stained his cheeks and he looks so devastated.

"Okay. Deep breaths." Takeshi said as he softly smiled. Tsuna did it. "Good. Now, why don't we visit Mukuro and Chrome? They'll be thrilled to see you."

"W-Won't they be m-mad too? That I-I worried them?"

"Mukuro? Mad? Nope. Not gonna happen. Chrome will worry but she won't be mad. Worrying about you is inevitable, Tsuna. You're our friend. So it's normal. No need to be afraid. Even you will worry about me or us from time to time."

Tsuna rationalized. "You're right."

"Now let's go? No more crying."

"You're becoming like Reborn, Takeshi." Tsuna pointed out.

Takeshi laughed merrily. "If you're the topic, of course he'll rub off his methods on me."

Tsuna nodded as his lips twitched. "Thanks Takeshi."

"Always, Tsuna." Takeshi said as he ruffled the brunet's unruly hair. "And you're progressing. You're learning to smile again."

Tsuna beamed at him. The two left the house and walked towards the hospital. Takeshi was telling him funny things that makes the both of them laugh and beam respectively. They were entering the hospital when they saw Bianchi and the kids.

Lambo's brows furrowed immediately when he saw the traces of tears on his nii-san's cheeks. The child has almost memorized the brunet. When it comes to Tsuna, he notices everything and anything. It's a rule he implemented to know what's happening.

"Fuuta-nii." Lambo called.

"Yes Lambo?"

"Can you rank me the possible people that might make Tsuna-nii cry today?"

Hearing the 'Tsuna' and 'cry' together, Fuuta nodded in response. Tsuna didn't get to protest when things suddenly floated around them. Fuuta was staring at the sky as he floats too. Tsuna wished for the sky to rain. Because when it rains, Fuuta's ranking is invalid.

"The ranks of people that will make Tsuna-nii cry today is Hayato Gokudera on first place." Fuuta said.

"That Baka." Both Bianchi and Lambo mumbled.

"Sasagawa Ryohei."

"Fuuta." Tsuna called.

"Nana Sawada-"

"Fuuta. Please stop."

Fuuta stopped. "Sorry, Tsuna-nii."

"No. It's okay." Tsuna assured. "I'm not mad."

"What did that baka tell you, Nii-san? I'll electrify him." Lambo asked, quite angry at the first two names.

"Maa Lambo. It's no one's fault. They got worried and they tried to tell it to Tsuna but they said the wrong stuffs and things." Takeshi tried to negotiate.

Lambo huffed. "I'm gonna tell this to Reborn. And those who make my Tsuna-nii cry must be electrified first before I forgive them."

"L-Lambo." Tsuna called.

"Nice one, Lambo!" Takeshi laughed.

"Takeshi!" Tsuna chastised.

"Tsuna-nii. Going, where?" Ipin asked with her broken Japanese.

"To our Mukuro-nii." Tsuna answered in Chinese. The others understood it a bit after hearing the name 'Mukuro'.

"Then we're going home. We just visited them." Bianchi said.

"Bianchi-san."

"What?"

"I'll be home late today. Will you take care of them?"

"It's what I promised." Bianchi answered with her eyes averted from him.

Tsuna's lips twitched making the kids and Takeshi beam. "Thank you."

"You express gratitude too much." Bianchi rebuked as she went past the brunet.

Tsuna and Takeshi waved at them before they entered the hospital premises. Chrome was sleeping when they came in. Mukuro looked at them and gave his signature smirk to the two.

"You've been here this morning, Yamamoto." Mukuro commented.

Takeshi gave a sheepish smile. "Sorry."

"When are you going to be discharged, Mukuro?" Tsuna asked as he sat on the stool.

"Maybe tomorrow." Mukuro answered. "Why'd you ask, Decimo? Can't wait till I possess your body?"

Tsuna's lips twitched. "No. I'm asking if will you accept the offer of being my mist?"

"Mist?" Takeshi questioned.

"Well, at what Reborn explained to me. The mist protects the family from the enemy through their illusions."

"Oh."

"I can't without Chrome."

"Hmmm..." Tsuna hummed in thought.

Takeshi smiled. "He's thinking."

"Thinking something weird again." Mukuro added.

"Hey! I don't think like that!" Tsuna pouted.

"Now what?" Mukuro teased.

"Half!" Tsuna said with excitement. "Because you're using your flame to give life to Chrome, it means she's also a part of you, so you and her are my mist!"

"Then what do you want me to be, Tsuna?" Takeshi asked.

"My rain." Tsuna answered. "Because you wash away the sadness of the family. Just like you did for me and you're doing for everyone. So keep that genuine smile, Takeshi. It's our lucky charm."

"It's related to the mafia right?" Takeshi asked.

"Yes. But you don't have to be part of it, Takeshi. Just be my rain and I'll be okay. Besides, I don't want to hurt anybody. Mafia is a cruel world. I can't bear putting any of your love ones to risk."

"You're too naive, Decimo." Mukuro piped.

"Naivety is what balances the cruelty in the world." Tsuna answered back.

Mukuro looked at Chrome and found himself agreeing.

"Takeshi?"

"Yes Tsuna?"

"Want to accompany me to the cemetery?"

"Can I?"

Tsuna nodded. "Yeah. I want you to see Mom and Dad. I want to take Reborn too, but I don't think he'll be home."

"What about the others?"

Tsuna winced.

"What happened?" Mukuro asked.

Takeshi told him the gist. Mukuro's expression became dark. Although the Decimo isn't someone he cannot respect for his weak appearance, he respects him for his strong will and influence. Besides, if it wasn't for him, he would be rotting in the Vindicare right now.

Tsuna shook his head. Mukuro saw this and sighed. Of course he will comply. Other than he's the savior, he's also the one in charge of him.

Vongola Decimo.

Who would've thought that he'll be the mist of a Vongola heir?

"Since you're going to be discharged tomorrow, why don't we go now?" Tsuna asked. A glint of mischief is on his eyes.

"Kufufufu. Who are you and what did you do to Tsunayoshi Sawada?" Mukuro asked, amused.

"Come on."

Takeshi chuckled. "Alright alright."