A/N:

@Lulu lemparouge: Thank you! That means a lot to me. I hope I don't disappoint you in the future. :)

Thank you for the reviews. Merry Christmas, by the way. (Why did I forget to greet you people? Sorry. My fault.) Anyway, hope you have a good happy holiday! If not, always look for the positive side of the situation.

Anyway, go on.

Chapter Twenty-five

Kyouya bumped him in the head with a tonfa before giving him a hug. Even Hayato and Takeshi gaped at the skylark. Tsuna just patted his back before eating again. It was a sign that Kyouya remembered him.

Mukuro materialized with Chrome. Tsuna invited Chrome to eat as the two, mist and cloud, glared at one another and started fighting. Takeshi started to cheer for the two while Hayato kept on chastising him. Chrome and Tsuna just shook their heads and started to watch their fellow guardians fight.

Tsuna was walking home with Hayato when they saw a kid in uniform. Tsuna immediately recognized the kid and approached him. Lambo saw Tsuna approaching. The moment Tsuna raised his hand that was holding a grape candy, Lambo immediately ran towards him. Laughing, Tsuna gave him the candy before taking him in his arms.

Hayato opened the wrapper for Lambo, grumbling about 'stupid cow' and 'troubling juudaime'. Lambo didn't bother him and just stared at Tsuna who was chuckling at Hayato's fay.

"You look familiar, Nii-san." Lambo pointed out.

Tsuna smiled and tapped the kid's nose. "And you are too."

"My candy?" Lambo asked.

"Here, stupid cow." Hayato gave.

Lambo glared at him. "Baka-aho!"

"Baka and aho are both stupid, stupid!"

"Baka! Baka! Bakadera! Bakadera! Baka-"

The three stilled. Lambo stared at Hayato in big eyes before looking at Tsuna. Tsuna smiled softly and kissed Lambo's forehead. The kid teared up before hugging the brunet who hugged him back.

Tsuna and Hayato walked again, with a crying Lambo. Now, Ryohei is the only remaining who haven't remember anything.

"Espresso?" Tsuna asked as he put a cup of coffee in front of the hitman.

"Nii-san." Lambo whined. "Cuddle with Lambo-sama."

"But it's morning already." Tsuna replied as he picked up the child. "Wait. I'll carry you in my back."

Tsuna went for the sofa and took his blanket. When Lambo piggybacked him, he covered the kid with the blanket and tied it around his torso and across his body. Reborn stared at the brunet in bewilderment.

Tsuna smiled as Lambo snuggled close to his back. He resumed to his cooking. Reborn stood up and reached for the kittle. Tsuna, who got what he wanted to do, gave it to him, then put the dishes in the counter. Being considerate, Reborn took them and placed them in the table before sitting on his spot.

Reborn watched the kid in the kitchen. He has this kind of feeling that he knew the kid. That he's familiar with him. Even the espresso he drinks is good and familiar. And the way the kid smile, look at him and tell him things make him guilty.

Did he do something wrong? Did they meet years ago? He wanted to ask. But he has this gut feeling that the kid will break the moment he ask something out of boundary.

"I'm sorry about Lambo." Tsuna apologized as he took the kid from his back.

"What happened to him?" Reborn asked after he sipped some coffee.

Tsuna cradled the sleeping kid. "He remembered something. Cried to his sleep and woke up crying again when he thought I went away. He's much of a crying baby, but he's just a lovable kid."

"He made Bianchi worried."

Tsuna nodded. "But I called Vongola to inform them."

Reborn almost choked. "You called Vongola?"

"Ah. Yes." Tsuna answered as he took some bread. "I have their number. Xanxus-nii gave it to me before they left the country."

"Who are you?" Reborn asked.

Tsuna's mouth hanged at the question. Then his mouth closed up, his eyes looked at anywhere as he bit his lower lip before his bangs covered his eyes. Reborn was stoic, but he was feeling guilty with the question. He didn't mean to ask it. It blurted out.

Conflicted, Tsuna sighed before smiling at Reborn. The hitman stilled at the gesture. He knew the brunet was hurt. He is an open book, despite the air of secrecy he holds. No. Reborn doesn't see the need for the kid to tell a secret. It's just that he's not disclosing it. He just had to ask.

"Tsunayoshi Sawada." Reborn stated. "What am I to you?"

"A parent." Tsuna answered. "My parent."

Reborn's brows furrowed. 'Parent?'

"Not biologically, of course. But you're one of those people who made me live when I wanted to die. You were really considerate and patient to my condition. Believe it or not, you even thought me to do things without blackmailing nor bribery." Tsuna explained. "Though I treat you as a parent, my grandpa, Timeteo-san is the one who requested you as my tutor."

'Wait-'

"I didn't really know your occupation since the day I met you. But you told me after waking up from poisoning. You said you're a hitman and Leon is your partner. But before you even told me that you're a hitman and my tutor, I already considered you as my guardian. Because you told me to live. That there is more-"

"In life that you must see." Both said.

Reborn leaked some killing intent. "Tsuna."

"Yehey! You remembered!" Tsuna cheered with a happy smile. "Welcome back, Reborn."

"I'm gonna torture you."

"Torture me, and I'm not gonna eat ever again." Tsuna blackmailed. "Give me a little break, Reborn. I'm a little emotionally stressed here."

"Why so? You ignored-"

"I did not!" Tsuna yelled.

Both gained tick marks in their foreheads.

"I did not ignore you. All of you. I rather leave you there, forgetting my existence because it was the right thing to do." Tsuna explained.

"You thought forgetting you is the right thing?" Reborn question, mocking.

"Or would you rather see me crying in front of you after you asked who I am?" Tsuna inquired. It made Reborn stilled. "Do you know how humans truly die?" Tsuna looked at Lambo who was gripping his shirt. "They don't die from being killed, poison, or when a bomb made them splatter. They die the moment their loved ones forget about their existence."

"That's the thing! You left us to forget you!"

"I believed in time. I have faith in you." Tsuna replied immediately. His eyes softened in understanding of what Reborn wanted to convey. "I knew you will remember me in due time. I knew that all I have to do is wait and trigger some memories in you so you'll remember me. I knew that the moment you come, everything will come in their places. Time is always there, Reborn. And I believe that you really will come." Then he smiled. "And you haven't failed me yet."

"Baka."

"I know." Tsuna said. "I know I'm stupid."

"But it doesn't mean you have to hurt like that! That you'll endure every single thing! You already had enough, Tsuna. You..."

"It's okay, Reborn." Tsuna smiled as he stared at their cold food. "I can accept anything, as long as it doesn't hurt any of you. It's what a sky do right?"

Reborn stared at him. He can't fathom how Tsuna can endure all those pain in two months. He maybe fragile like a glass, but he's also strong as a diamond. He tutted. He can't dump him all the blame. He's also at fault. To forget someone he really cares. A terrible fault.

"Sawada!"

Tsuna was knocked off his feet. He laughed when he heard Ryohei crying. He patted his sun guardian's back. He missed the enthusiasm and the cheers. He missed how energetic their family is whenever Ryohei and Hayato bicker while Takeshi is the peacemaker. God. Without Ryohei, they'll be in constant gloom.

He visited him once. After Hayato remembered. Takeshi and him just stood by the door, and watched their sempai teach his kouhai to do things. They didn't bother calling him, due to the excited aura around the senior. Now that he remembered, Tsuna knew it has something to do with Hayato and Takeshi. He can predict how those two work whenever they agree on something that rarely happens.

"I'm so extremely sorry, Sawada!" Ryohei wailed.

"It's okay, Nii-san. Just think of it as a part of your training?"

"Training? It's extremely wrong to forget a family, Sawada!"

"But you didn't forget me. You remembered me." Tsuna patted his onii-san head. "So it's okay."

Ryohei smiled, a tint of red in his cheeks. "You're very optimistic, Sawada!"

"Because you're also optimistic. Let's go? Let's eat in the rooftop with the others?"

Ryohei stared at Tsuna's back. For some reason, he sensed that Tsuna got stronger but still weak. Like his resolve is stronger, and he's more determined in something. Whenever he thought how Tsuna bore the pain of being ignored and forgotten for two months, he can only admire his junior. But he knew... He knew perfectly well that the moment they tackle the topic, that they really will in the future, his younger brother will break.

For the second time, he felt like he was useless for being unable to protect someone he cared for.

"Onii-san?"

He looked up. "Yes?"

"Don't get those demons control you." Tsuna said seriously before smiling. "You did your best in protecting me. If you fail now, you can always try next time."

"Or everytime." He added. Tsuna smiled bigger.

"I know you think you're useless. To be honest, I know all of you thought the same thing. Even Mukuro and Kyouya think the same thing. And I want to change that. It was also my fault for being a burden." Tsuna stopped walking and looked up the sky. Ryohei felt his heart throb in pain as he stared at the sullen child in front of him. "They wanted me. And they included you in the war. For two months, I've been thinking what ifs. So many what ifs. What if I was stronger. What if I was able to stop them from taking you all. What if I was able to warn you what was going to happen. Or what if I didn't come here? Will the peace of your lives remain? Will you be able to be safe and never be harmed, nor be part of this dangerous life of mafia?"

"Sawada."

"Was I being careless? Was I too happy? This suffering... Is this my kind of punishment for killing those doctors who deserved more than death for doing inhumane things to me and my fellow experimented children?" Tsuna sighed before looking at Ryohei and smiled. "Yet with all the things I troubled you with, I can only apologize. I'm... The perfect person to apologize instead of you and anybody else. I was the one who caused you to forget my existence, not the other way around. And I'm a hypocrite for crying and feeling hurt when you forgot me. So... I'm sorry-"

Ryohei didn't let him finish. He pulled Tsuna in a big tight hug. The child was astonished by the gesture, but relaxed afterwards. No. Tsuna didn't cry. He just hugged Ryohei who gave him a family warmth. He wanted to enjoy it while it lasted.

"You're an extreme idiot, Sawada." Ryohei whispered, tightening his hold on the brunet.

Tsuna chuckled. "I will not deny the accusation."

He was watering the plants when he heard shouting. He wasn't going to pay any attention to it when he heard a gunshot. Knowing a trigger happy hitman residing in his house, he turned off the hose and went inside.

The house is much livelier now. With the help of Lambo and Hayato, Bianchi, Ipin and Fuuta remembered Tsuna two days ago. It took all day to make the two children stop crying, while Bianchi was a little attached to him in the kitchen and keeping him company in the living room. That night, the three children (including Lambo) slept with him. And suprisingly, Reborn didn't say a thing about their setup.

He blinked when he heard another gunshot. Shaking his head, he entered the living room. Only to see seven people in attack stances. He recognizes his guardian Reborn, Mammon, Fon, Colonnello and Lal. Then there are two people he doesn't know. He stared at them until a 'click' was made inside his head.

"Verde-san?" He voiced out.

All attention went to him. He stared at Verde who stared at him too. The man is wearing a white lab gown, a formal attire consisting of long sleeve polo, necktie, slacks with belt and black shoes, a round pair of glasses resting on his nose, and his signature green hair. Tsuna put a hand on Reborn's fist that was gripping the real gun. The hitman tutted in dismay before lowering the gun. Tsuna removed his hand but put it back again when Reborn tried to raise it.

"Reborn!" Tsuna scolded.

"But I want to shot him." Reborn reasoned out.

"That is not a good reason." Tsuna said as he took the gun away and dismantled it. "And you people almost wrecked the house. I just finished cleaning it awhile ago."

"It wasn't my fault." Reborn huffed, looking away.

Tsuna exhaled before smiling at Reborn. "Sit and breathe."

"Hn." Reborn hummed before sitting.

Tsuna looked at Verde before slightly bowing. "Good to see you again, Verde-san."

"Likewise, Tsunayoshi." Verde said before crossing the gap between them and hugged him. "I was always thinking what happened to you. I apologize for my incompetence. If only I pulled you out."

"It's okay. The important thing is I'm here. Free." Tsuna replied then Verde let him go.

"Not that free." Reborn chipped in. He glared at the center table. "They're still haunting you."

Tsuna put a hand on Reborn's back. "It's okay."

"You kept on accepting everything."

"Because it's the only way for me, for us, to move on."

The others looked at one another before smiling at Tsuna's logic. Reborn sighed in defeat while Verde shook his head.

"It's nice of you to come, Verde-san. I'm sorry for the inconvenience." Tsuna apologized with a smile.

"You're speaking too formal, Tsunayoshi." Verde pointed out.

Tsuna laughed lightly. "Can't help it. It's been years since I last talked to you. A lot can happen. And I can't be the Tsuna who cluelessly and rudely interacted with you."

Verde sighed. "Come. Let me check you up."

Tsuna blinked before nodding. "Sure."

Verde checked up Tsuna. He wanted to do it privately, but Reborn was adamant on letting them alone. For some reason, he can feel overprotective parent vibes from hitman. He can only shake his head for Reborn's stubbornness. This is his first time- No. It's their first time seeing Reborn show emotions.

After the check-up, Verde has one thing in mind.

'What did they do to you, Tsunayoshi? Why do they name you as a perfect experiment?'

"So why are you here? I remembered requesting Verde-san from Mammon, not all of you." Tsuna questioned after the check up. For some reason, he felt relieved that Verde didn't order him to remove his shirt.

"I wanted to check you and Ipin." Fon answered with a smile.

"We wanted to visit." Lal simply replied.

Colonnello smiled. "I missed your cooking, Kora!"

Tsuna looked at the last person. "Who may you be?"

'Too respectful.' All of them thought.

"I'm Skull." The last person answered

Tsuna stared at the man. He has some gauze on his both cheeks and one on his left side forehead, a stud on his lower lip, an earring on the left side of his lower lip that is connect with a chain to his left ear earring. He has this black biker suit, decored with violet colored safety pads. He glanced at the helmet beside the man. He can conclude that he uses bike. Despite the punk appearance, Tsuna can say that he's not dangerous. He has Hayato, a hotheaded but harmless delinquent. So what could go wrong if he add him to the family too?

"He's my lackey." Reborn supplied.

Tsuna didn't miss the grimace that graced the young person. "Hi. I'm Tsuna. Would you like some cake? I baked some awhile ago."

"Hey! It's your cake." Reborn chided, getting irritated at how lax the other.

"And I'm sharing it with Skull-san." Tsuna answered as he approached Skull. "Do you use motorcycles? It's the use of the helmet, right?"

Skull's eyes twinkled in delight. "Yes! I'm a stuntman!"

"And an arcobaleno." Tsuna added, mesmerized at the young man. "You're cool."

Skull blushed fiercely at the compliment. "T-Thank you."

Reborn checked his jaw if it was still intact, or if it dropped. Tsuna just made the Skull blush and open up to him as they walk towards the dining room. He can already hear Tsuna's laugh and Skull's bragging. He looked at his fellow arcobaleno. Colonnello had his jaw dropped while the others are just sporting an amused look, except for Fon who was chuckling.

Tsuna served the others some food before going back to Skull to listen. He's so entertained as he imagined what the great immortal Skull can do. He was so fascinated that he also wanted to try driving a motorbike, only to be whacked by Reborn.

He talked to the others too. Making others join the conversation. The gesture lessened Reborn and Colonnello's act of superiority on Skull, Mammon started to interact while Verde gave small smiles from here and there. It made Tsuna felt at home.

"You were harmonizing us." Reborn pointed out as he sat beside Tsuna by the balcony. All the arcobalenos went home except for him, Lambo is asleep with Fuuta and the girls too.

"I didn't. I was just being initiative." Tsuna answered as he stared at the sky. "It really felt like home."

"Tsuna." Reborn called. "Don't do that again."

Tsuna looked at him, getting what he meant. "I can't promise you that, Reborn."

"And I want you to stop regretting everything. Or think of what ifs."

Tsuna smiled. "I'll try."

Reborn tilted his hat down. "And stop smiling when you know yourself that you have to cry. You said it to Takeshi, tell the same thing to yourself."

Tsuna bowed his head down a little, letting his eyes be covered with his bangs. Tears streamed down. "I missed you."

"I know."

"C-Can I...?"

"Just this once."

Tsuna hugged Reborn and cried to him. "I already did this a lot of time."

Reborn hissed playfully. "Don't remind me."

Tsuna gave a watery laugh before hugging him tighter. "Thank you so much, Reborn. For everything. For the understanding. For always considering me. And for always reminding me of everything. You're the best teacher I could ever have."

"Baka." Reborn said as he hugged him back. "Baka-Tsuna."