A/N:

@bbbk007: Hahaha! You're cool. I'm so sorry for being unable to reply to your review yesterday. I had a trouble in class, and I really want to post a chapter so I typed quickly as I could. That, and I'm stressed with the story I came up with. I hope you forgive me. But really, you're awesome. Thank you for being not bored with this story. It means a lot. :)

Thank you for your reviews. Here's another chapters.

Anyway, go on.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Tsuna stared at the sky. He let out a breath as he held the ring tightly in his right hand. He doesn't want to sleep anymore. He had one nightmare, and that was enough for him to give up sleeping for the rest of the night. So to unwind, he went to the rooftop of the mansion and sat there to stargaze.

It's their last night tonight. Tomorrow, they'll leave the place, bid goodbye to those people they came close with and to those they had civil relationship. For some reason, he felt sad. He wanted to stay, but he can't. They can't. And he deduced that it's the reason why he had a nightmare.

But he's already dreaming about them for three consecutive nights. It's a miracle he hasn't woken up Reborn yet, except for the first night. He didn't want to disturb the hitman. Being there for him is already enough.

Tsuna immediately stood up when he felt a presence. Breathing hitched, he looked behind him to see no one. He calmed himself up before walking towards the door. Right at the moment he opened it, a scalpel embodied itself to the door. He grimaced.

"Thinking you can run, Tsunayoshi?" A vile tone said.

"What amazes me more is the fact that you went here alone, Doctor Geron." Tsuna replied before facing the doctor halfway.

Doctor Geron laughed. "Why? You can take me on your own now?"

"No. I don't need to. The moment you stepped in the Vongola territory, they have already been alerted."

"Oh. So you think someone will save you from me?"

"I have faith."

"Faith. You always have faith. And what good did it do to you? No-"

"I got away from you. I destroyed many of your base. And you're still failing on capturing me." Tsuna smirked. "Yeah. It did good things to me."

The doctor's eyes became a glare. "I hate your smartass."

Tsuna chuckled. "You've lived with it, why hate it now?"

"Maybe because you'll use it to destroy us."

Silence came between the two. Tsuna sighed before giving a glare to the other.

"So there's a good use to my destruction huh?" The doctor stilled at what Tsuna murmured. It made Tsuna smile. "I've been thinking what to do, and you just gave me an idea, Doctor. You truly are a life saver."

"Fuck you!" Geron yelled, taking out injections that filled the gaps of his fingers in both hands.

Tsuna's grasp tightened around the Vongola ring. "Have you ever seen Doctor Hikaru Ninomiya?"

The doctor's forehead wrinkled. "Is that your last words?"

"You can say that." Tsuna shrugged.

"I heard he's in Italy."

"Verde?"

"Verde? Who's that?"

"The doctor with green hair?"

"He's one of the Arcobaleno now."

"Oh." Tsuna said with a nod. "Thanks."

"Why are you-"

"You can be very careless sometimes, Tsuna." A baritone voice said. "I really admire your pursuers' bravery. To enter the Vongola without any plan, and try to take away the Vongola Decimo. Tsk." A man in black suit wearing a fedora emerged from the shadow of the other side of the threshold Tsuna was standing by. "Do they have death wishes?"

"Who knows." Tsuna shrugged as he looked at the man. "Maybe since their mission is to kill me, they won't mind being killed as well."

The man smirked evilly. "No worries. Killing can come later, let's do some fun first."

Geron gawked at the man in suit beside his target. He recognizes the man. He knows him well too. Just seeing his signature fedora with an orange band and a green lizard resting on it, no one will ever mistake the man from someone else. With clammy hands, he felt himself tremble in fear.

He dropped his weapons as he backed away. He won't win against the greatest hitman. Never. It was a mistake to underestimate his target's guardian. He thought he was just a piece of cake. He thought that the kid was just using the strongest mafia organization to stop them from chasing him. But he got it wrong. Estrano got it all wrong.

"Ne ne." He looked down to see a child in cow print clothe looking up to him. "You're one of them right Mister?"

"T-Them?"

The child giggled in an obnoxious way. "Lambo-sama doesn't wanna defy nii-san, but Lambo-sama doesn't like it when someone wants to take what he owns."

'Why is he talking like this?' Geron asked himself.

"So..." The innocence became an evil glint with a smirk of demise. "Bye bye, Mister."

His eyes widened when he heard a crackle of lightning in the sky. Then a lightning struck on his previous spot. If he didn't move away, he could've died by now. He kept on jumping backwards as the powerful strikes continued to hit his previous spots until it suddenly ceased. He looked around to see the child, but he was no where to be seen. He was going to sigh in relief when he felt rain started to pour. For some reason... He felt nervous in the change of weather.

He jerked his head towards his right when he heard a laugh from there. A raven haired teen with a sword tapping his right shoulder is standing there. He was smiling, but his eyes were murderous. Geron took a instinctive step back.

'What the heck is happening?! What's wrong with these kids?!'

The swordsman stepped forward, sword ready to swing. In a blink of an eye, the teen disappeared. Then he felt a pain disturbed his body. A kind of pain caused by a cut. He was brought down to his knees, panting. He was going to stand when he heard something sizzling. When he looked up, he saw... Dynamites.

"Double bomb."

The sticks went off. He barely escaped. He got burns. But his suffering didn't end there. He was hit by a steel in the stomach, then punched in the face. He tried to defend, but they kept on coming. It's as if two people are ganging up on him. It felt forever until he was let to laid. He felt so beaten up. So battered.

"Oya oya~ Tired already, doctor?" He opened his eyes, only to be greeted by heterochromatic eyes. Then the owner smirked evilly. "Have you been told to never mess with experiments?"

"E-experiments..." He repeated.

The man nodded. "Yes, sir. Experiments. Especially Tsunayoshi Sawada? The perfect experiment you've been searching? Kufufufu~ You were already warned but you payed no heed. And now, you're paying for the deed, right Chrome?"

"Yes, Mukuro-sama." A voice of a girl answered.

"Well then, enjoy your trip to hell, signore." The man said.

Then he was trapped in a black dimension.

Tsuna watched as Doctor Geron stared wide eyed in the sky. Curious, he looked up too, only to see clouds parting ways for the moon to shine again. Blinking, he shrugged.

"Juudaime? Are you okay?" Hayato asked as he inspected Tsuna for injuries.

Tsuna nodded with a smile. "I'm okay, Hayato."

"What were you thinking, Tsunayoshi? Being alone up here." Mukuro scolded lightly. Tsuna blushed.

"I-I couldn't sleep. So I-I went here to get some air." He replied. "I'm sorry for worrying you."

"It's okay, Tsuna." Takeshi assured. "Just don't do it again, okay?"

"I can't promise. But I'll try." Tsuna answered before picking up Lambo who was leaning on him. "Gomen Lambo. I troubled you too."

"Nii-san... Safe..." Lambo murmured in his sleep.

Tsuna chuckled. "Hai hai."

"Omnivore. Go to sleep. You're having bags under your eyes."

Tsuna touched the skin under his left eye. "I can't really sleep."

"Do you want to drink milk, Juudaime? I can go get it for you."

Tsuna shook his head with a smile. "No. No need, Hayato. I'm really okay. Let's just get inside? It's cold."

"I'll extremely take Lambo." Ryohei said as he took the child from Tsuna.

"Thank you, Onii-san."

"Extreme no worries, Sawada!"

The moment Tsuna went inside their room after saying goodbye to others, he let out a shaky breathe as his body shook badly. He slumped on the floor as tears pour down from his eyes. He closed them and clasped his hands tightly as he rested his forehead on them, trying to restrain his sobs.

He always has faith. Always. It never waver nor doubt. But it doesn't mean he has one for himself. While others are confident about themselves, he's full of fears and insecurities. They kept on piling up every single day. Never ending. Addition to it is his pursuers.

He gave out a small whimper of pain. A lump hurting his throat. Pain was never a foe. Pain is a friend. But they have a hate and love relationship. And it's not good. Cause he'll crave for it again... Crave for death again.

And all because of his nightmares.

Reborn tightened his fists. His student is hurting again. And he's confused on what right to do. He's not used to this. Nor has he experienced a kind of situation like this. So if he was standing in the shoes of a parent, a guardian. What will he do?

Tsuna froze when he felt arms wrapped around him, a hand guiding his head to lean on something. He didn't have to look up to see Reborn. Just judging from the suit, he knew it was his tutor who's hugging him.

So forgetting the word embarrassment, Tsuna curled himself into his tutor's embrace. Once again, he cried his heart out.

"It's okay Tsuna." Reborn whispered as he gave a soothing pat on the brunet's shoulder. "As long as I'm alive, no one will ever take you away from us. I swear it on your parents grave."

"Thank you."

"It's okay to cry, child. I'm here, okay. Always here."

"Hai."

"Mammon?" The lady turned her head towards his direction. "You're an arcobaleno, right?"

Mammon nodded reluctantly. "Yeah. Why'd you ask?"

"Do you know a doctor or scientist named Verde?"

"I do. What about him?"

Tsuna smiled. "Can you pass a message from me to him? I'll pay with chocolates."

"Mou... Fine."

Reborn watched as Tsuna and Mammon or he knew as Viper talk in a hushed voice. He doesn't know the flow, but he knows who's their topic. It was their fellow groupmate, the lightning arcobaleno Verde.

When he arrived last night to fetch the kid, he heard Tsuna and Doctor Geron talk about Hikaru Ninomiya that he suspected to be the man who kept Tsuna alive and Verde. Well, he doesn't need to know now what Tsuna is planning after asking the two's whereabouts. He knows Tsuna will tell him.

For now, he needs to make the brunet say the reason why he kept his nightmare to himself. Yes. He learned to trust, but he doesn't want to worry people. With his new weapon, his smiles, he can lie without effort. It hurts his ego, but Mukuro is right. Tsuna really uses his smile to lie like what he predicted.

"Reborn?" Tsuna called as he shakes the man from his thoughts.

"Hm?" Reborn answered.

"Soup? I'll make you one."

Reborn stared at him. "You'll make one?"

Tsuna nodded. "Miso soup though."

"I'll make the soup." The man said as he walked away.

"But I insist." Tsuna persists then turned to Mammon who were counting cash. "Bye Mammon! See you later!"

Mammon looked at the spot the two were. She knew Reborn. They always meet in the arcobaleno meeting. He deemed him very... Guarded, especially in his emotions. But now, he thinks his information is lacking. It was her first time to see the greatest hitman very protective about something. Especially Tsuna.

Tsuna stared at the ceiling. They're back in their house. Everyone is asleep aside from him who is relaxing on the couch and Reborn who went out to do something he doesn't know.

To be honest he's partly waiting and just stalling time until he falls asleep so he can have a dreamless sleep. He's waiting for Reborn so he'll know if the hitman is home safe. Stalling time cause he doesn't want to have a nightmare again. Sighing, he turned towards the the chair's backrest, hugged a pillow before closing his eyes. He muttered some prayer for a good sleep as his eyes slowly shut close out of drowsiness.

Reborn looked at the couch when he heard a silent whimper. He gazed at Tsuna's trembling form in the sofa, eyes softening at the sight. He knew something was up when his mind told him to hurry back after talking to Nono. And this is what it was.

Taking a deep breath, he removed his shoes before entering the house. He removed his coat, put his fedora down with the removed clothe on the center table before sitting on Tsuna's side. He stared at the brunet. He unconsciously reached out and combed his student's hair lightly. He grimaced when Tsuna let out a small whimper of pain. So he did the usual thing.

He slid in the cover, took the arm of the chair as a leverage for him to sit upright before wiping away the tears that flowed down Tsuna's cheeks. He knows cuddling is a way to remove the child's nightmare.

The moment he dropped his arm on Tsuna's waist, the kid turned to him, brows almost knitted and leaned on his chest. He was going to sit up when Tsuna gripped his shirt and murmured.

"Tou-san... Reborn tousan..."

Reborn stared at him before chuckling quietly. "And now you're my son, Tsuna?"

"Reborn..." Tsuna murmured before smiling a little.

"Yeah yeah." He answered before shutting his eyes. "Have a sweet dream, Tsuna."

Run! Run! Tsuna! Run!

Tsuna opened his eyes. He was panting, feeling frantic from his nightmare. He sat up from his bed. He tried to swallow the lump on his throat. He stood up and went to his bathroom. He stood in front of his sink where a mirror is and stared at his reflection.

"You're all alone again, Tsuna." He whispered to himself before going to the shower stool.

Dressed up, he went downstairs. He was going to the kitchen when he remembered something. Right. He doesn't need to eat. He already ate yesterday. Better get to school before he became late. But before going for the door, he stared at the kitchen. They used to have fun here. With Reborn and Bianchi while hearing the three kids chatter about something.

But now, it's gone.

He sighed. He took his bag from the couch, went for the shoe cabinet to wear his shoes before opening the door. Only to be greeted by a man in black suit, wearing a black fedora with orange band and a chameleon on his shoulder. His hand gripped the doorknob tightly, struggling to keep himself from hugging the man in front of him. Hugging his father-figure for eight months and counting.

"G-Good morning." He greeted then gulped. It's been months since he used his voice. And now, it's pretty raspy. "How may I help you, Mister?"

"Have you ate?" Reborn asked suddenly, surprising Tsuna.

Tsuna reluctantly shook his head. "N-No."

Reborn stared at him. "You like soup, right?"

"Uh..." Tsuna trailed off before opening the door wide enough. "Come in."

Although hesitant about his decision, Tsuna followed the hitman to his kitchen after closing the door. He can feel his hands sweating and shaking because of this encounter. He didn't expect this. He was told that they will forget him. So how? How did this happen?

He sat on the chair while he watched Reborn does his thing in the kitchen. He watched the hitman's face for any emotion. But he switched for his eyes. It was the only way to know his guardian's emotions despite his pokerface. And right now, he knows Reborn is pretty much surprised because he knows where the things are located in the house.

Tsuna patiently waited. Feigning a stare on the table, while keeping an eye on his companion. When Reborn laid the bowl of vegetable soup in front of him accompanied with a spoon, he sighed in relief. He murmured 'Itadakimasu' before taking the spoon in his hands and started digging in.

He bit his lower lip as tears prickled in the corner of his eyes. He took a big gulp of the soup to wash away the lump in his throat. But it didn't remove the feeling of crying, so he pushed the bowl towards the hitman who took it and put it in front of him again, full of soup.

"Why are you alone?" Reborn asked suddenly.

Tsuna stared at him before sipping some soup. "People come and go."

"Your parents?"

"Dead." He whispered.

Silence came in between.

"Any friends?"

Tsuna gulped. "I had many."

'Had...' Reborn thought. "What happened?"

The brunet smiled. "Things happened."

That concluded their conversation. Tsuna took his bowl and washed it. He returned to the dining room, slung his bag on his right shoulder then faced Reborn who was watching him carefully. He gulped again, tears prickling his eyes. If he could stop it awhile ago, now he can't. So he did the most obvious thing, he covered his eyes as he hiccuped.

Tsuna tried to calm his emotion down. He'll get a beat up from the hitman in front of him if he kept on showing his emotion. It's not good for a man, especially a future boss, to cry in front of a stranger.

"Can I ask you something?" Tsuna asked.

"You're already asking." Reborn deadpanned.

"Smartass." He mumbled making the hitman smirk in pleasure of annoying him. "How's Bianchi, Fuuta, Ipin and Lambo?"

The smirk was wiped off. "How did you know them?"

"They're my friends." Tsuna answered.

Reborn stared at him. He sensed no lies but he can't determine if what Tsuna meant in his relationship with the others is present or past. Regardless, he replied. "They're okay. Living in the Vongola mansion and going to school."

"They're grades?"

"They're okay. Lambo is doing his best even though his freaking annoying. Ipin is learning Japanese while Fuuta is advancing."

"Bianchi?"

"She's taking care of them. And they're unexpectedly following her every orders."

Tsuna sighed in relief. "That's good. I'll treat you espresso next time since I'm going to be late."

"How did you know I drink espresso?"

Tsuna smiled. "You were eyeing the coffee beans awhile ago."

"Observant."

"Someone taught me how to do it. Anyways, bye bye. Thank you for the meal."

"Why are you leaving the house with me in it?" Reborn questioned, stopping Tsuna from leaving the room.

"Because even if I lock the door or not, you'll get out and get in without any help."

Reborn stared at the threshold even after Tsuna went out and closed the door. He had his lip in a tight line.

'What's wrong with that kid?'