A/N:

@bbbk007: Hahaha! I couldn't kill Reborn. Too great for him to die.

So I just realized... This is the last chapter before the epilogue. How forgetful of me. Argh. Hahaha. Thanks for reading this, for clicking the favorite and follow too.

Anyway, go on.

Chapter Thirty-two

Reborn adjusted Tsuna's head into a comfortable position before continuing his readings. The guardians only watched and grinned at each other (others are smirking).

The brunet hasn't detached himself from the hitman since the day Verde discharged him. Where Reborn is, Tsuna is there. He was like a duckling following his mother. And even though they deemed that the hitman is irritated with what his student is doing, he didn't show it. If possible, the tutor is engaging his student to follow him, almost wanting the kid to be with him at all cost.

They know it's because of the near loss the two experienced. The two have the strongest bond among all of them. The way how Tsuna depend and protect Reborn like a child, and how Reborn treat Tsuna and secure him like a father.

"Why can't just Reborn adopt Tsuna?" Lal asked out of a sudden, taking all of their attentions. "The brat is already willing and old enough to silence anyone who goes against the motion."

"Reborn can do the latter part." Fon pointed out.

Takeshi laughed. "Let's just give them time. I think Reborn is processing it."

"Is that even okay?" Hayato asked, slowly paling at the thought. "Reborn-san is really scary."

"And can only be tamed with the use of Tsunayoshi." Mukuro chimed in, earning a nod from them. "And the latter can be controlled by the former. It's a win-win situation."

Lambo snuggled close to Hayato, remembering what they witnessed in the battlefield a week ago. "Don't wanna remember."

"Same." Hayato responded, feeling scared at the hitman yet amazed on Tsuna's power. "Juudaime is incredible though."

"Imagine them in a battle field? That will be very extreme!" Ryohei cheered.

"Or just imagine them in a sparring fight?" Takeshi suggested.

Kyouya's eyes glimmered in anticipation. "The one who win will be my opponent."

"Kufufufu~ Don't dream, little skylark. The duel will obviously become a draw."

"Then you should be the one I'll bite to death." Kyouya declared.

The two strongest guardians glared at each other.

"Bossu is asleep." Chrome murmured. The two stopped their glaring contest. "We don't want a grumpy Bossu."

The arcobalenos silently snickered when the two looked away from each other. Oh they know well how grumpy Tsuna can be when his sleep is disturbed.

Tsuna stared at his food. He looked at Reborn who was sitting opposite to him. The hitman raised a brow when he noticed the child's stare. He noticed that he has been eating a little of his food. Loss of appetite, perhaps? Or not... It won't hurt if he asks the child.

"What is it?" Reborn asked. Tsuna hesitated. "Come on. Tell me."

"Soup." Tsuna mumbled that the hitman heard.

"You want soup?" Tsuna nodded. "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"I didn't want to bother you."

"Tsuna." The brunet looked at him. "You bother me a lot, so what's the difference with asking some soup?"

Tsuna shrugged. "I don't know."

"Come on." Reborn urged as he stood up and walked towards the kitchen. Tsuna followed him. "What kind of soup do you want?"

"Anything. As long as it makes me eat everything I want to eat."

Reborn stared at the cabinet that is full of different pans. "That remind me... They didn't let you eat properly again, huh?"

"No." Reborn eyed him. "They served the meals on time. But I can't eat them. They're laced with poisons. Different poisons each day when they started to experiment me again. I rather eat bugs than eat those. Even if I'm immune to poison, it doesn't mean it can't give me pain."

Reborn took a deep pan and put it on the stove. He took a knife, a chopping board and some condiments then placed them in front of Tsuna. He pointedly glared at the brunet when he put the knife on top of the board. Tsuna smiled slyly and didn't say anything as he started to do his assigned work.

Just like in their little home in Japan, they synchronized in doing what they're doing. After cooking, they went back to the dining room with the soup. Tsuna stared at the big bowl of soup in front of him. He chuckled, gaining Reborn's attention who was already eating.

"You know, this reminds me of the first time we ate together." Tsuna said as he looked at it. "Although we aren't in the house, not in Japan, and with different utensils, still you're the same person who cooked for me, the same person I ate with, and in front of me is the same soup but in a little big serving from the last time."

Reborn smirked. "You have a good memory there."

"Every meet ups are memorable, Reborn. Must be remembered all the time. I can even remember that one time you crept in my room because of worry after a nightmare. Or that you snuggled on to me three days ago because I'm warm." Tsuna said cheekily.

He laughed when he saw Reborn's onyx eyes widened and a dust of pink shade lit up his face. The hitman tugged his hat down to hide his embarrassment. Tsuna drunk some of the soup before staring at his parent.

"Don't be embarrassed about it." Tsuna said dismissively. "I feel grateful that you're worried about me when I'm not. That you want to keep me safe." He smiled. "It's good to have someone I can freely speak to like Kaasan and look up to like Tousan. Not that I'm comparing you to them. You're all different people. But the way you worry about me and accept me while others don't is quite similar. I can understand Kaasan and Tousan being like that, but you," Reborn raised his eyes to look at him. "a stranger, understand me a lot and very considerate when you're not."

Reborn scoffed. "I am considerate."

"But Dino-nii said you rarely do that. You're also impatient, but you become one even if you don't want to. I want to apologize for imposing that much as much as gratefulness I feel for your actions."

Reborn chucked a spoon towards Tsuna who dodged it. "Shut up, Baka. You've done enough damage, what's the use apologising now?"

"Better late than never, right?"

"Smartass."

Tsuna smiled. "Thank you."

'It's like I did gain a son.' The hitman thought before pushing the bowl further to the brunet. "Drink already. You need to sleep too. It's already late."

"Hai."

"Juudaime!"

"Tsuna!"

Reborn perked up from his seat and went for the window. He didn't care if his action towards the meeting in session was rude. He heard his student's name being called, and that means danger.

Tsuna was sitting on the ground, rubbing the back of his head as Hayato and Takeshi attend him. His brows furrowed. Of what he understood, Tsuna climbed the tree beside him then slipped, resulted to the fall. But why did he do such a thing?

"Is Uri okay?" Tsuna asked as he looked around.

"She is Juudaime. That damn cat is troublesome. You didn't have to get her Juudaime. I could've gotten her myself." Hayato said as he inspected Tsuna's head for bleeding.

"Won't want you to get hurt." Tsuna said as he held out his hands in front of him. "Uri!"

"But Tsuna, you almost died." Takeshi argued as Tsuna petted the cat.

Tsuna smiled. "I didn't, so it's fine. And I know you two will be there if this happen again."

The two guardians can only sigh at that before smiling.

Reborn looked back to his companions then to Timeteo who was watching him carefully. He cleared his throat before gazing at the Vongola Boss with seriousness.

"I want to make a proposal, Nono."

Tsuna brushed away a hair from Kyouya's face before looking at the approaching hitman. He beamed at him, only to receive a passive expression. He made a face before looking at his cloud guardian who faced his tummy.

"Kyouya needs a hug." Tsuna thought out loud.

"What makes you say that?" Reborn asked. He crouched in front of him.

"His face tells me so." Tsuna said, running a hand on the prefect's hair. "There there."

"Tsuna."

"Hmm?"

"What will you say if I tell you I'm adopting you?"

"What should I call you then?" Tsuna asked back abd looked at him. "Tousan? Dad? Papa? Or Reborn?"

Reborn stared at him for a sec before chuckling. "That's what you're going to say?"

"Well I want to jump up and down in excitement and shout in happiness but I can't at the moment because Kyouya will kill me if I do those. Other than those, I'm practically speechless at the moment so I don't really know what will I say if you're really gonna adopt me."

"I am going to adopt you, dumbass." Reborn replied as he smacked the brunet's head. "I already have the papers. Timeteo already agreed and Xanxus approved."

"I think you threatened the latter to approve."

Reborn smirked. "I did."

Tsuna smiled back. "I want to hug you, but I can't at the moment."

"Kyouya. Let go of my figlio."

"No."

Tsuna chuckled. "Let him."

"You're too considerate for your own good."

"You are too."

"I am not."

Tsuna sighed as a dynamite went off and a crying Lambo ran up to him. He patted the child's head, smiling at him. He cuddled with the child before leaning to Mukuro who was sleeping beside him, closed his eyes. He felt someone sat beside him and slightly leaned on him, then another laid his head beside his right thigh. Then another used his other as a pillow. When he took a peek, he almost snickered.

The one beside him is Hayato, the one on his left thigh is Takeshi and Kyouya is the other. Ryohei is sleeping beside Hayato while Chrome is on Mukuro's side. With Lambo in his arms, they're all complete. He sighed. He looked at the sky and started to reminisce the past.

He's very fortunate to have them. They were strangers to friends.

Hayato Gokudera. The ever raging storm that does not have a direction, causing havoc everywhere to find a home.

Takeshi Yamamoto. The pouring rain. The rain that couldn't wash away it's own sadness. Searching acceptance of who he is and not the pretending him.

Ryohei Sasagawa. The misunderstood sun. Shining to protect others, yet sacrificing his own to achieve this.

Lambo Bovino. The striking lightning, very young and understanding despite the pain he received from being neglected.

Kyouya Hibari. Aloof? Yes. In need of pack? Yes. He may infuse fear, but he suffers pain to when others look at him that way.

Chrome Dokuro. A half of the mist. The light one who worry about others when she, herself, is in danger. She deemed herself weak since she lost almost everything because of an accident.

Then there's Mukuro Rokudou. Another half of the mist. The one who doesn't trust mafiosi because he also suffered the same thing of what Tsuna had, and had it worser.

He contentedly sighed... It feels at home. So peaceful.

He felt Mukuro wrapped an arm around his torso while Chrome did the same to his other mist. He stifled a laugh as he rubbed Lambo's back because the kid grumbled something under his breath. Kyouya adjusted himself as he turned. The others remained as they are.

"Ah. Tsuna the teddy bear." A baritone voice said. Tsuna smiled. "Won't help you if your whole body become numb."

"I bet you'll make it worse." Tsuna responded as Reborn stood in front of him. "Want to join the fun?"

Reborn snorted. "You're the one who cuddle with me all the time."

"Because you're warm." Tsuna answered with a shrug, but his eyes and smile give mirth. "And I want a mother's cuddles. I missed kaasan."

"Hmp." Reborn huffed before smirking. "I'll just stand here and wait for the time your body get numbs. It'll be fun to watch you get all sensitive with the touches."

"Mean." Tsuna pouted.

"Any plans? I heard Timeteo talked to you about the inheritance."

"He did. But I told him I'll take on the mantle after I graduate high school. Of course, you're my advisor and my guardians are my guardians. I want Kyouya to take on the CEDEF, and Xanxus be someone who who'll help is in war planning, so I want him to be present at all times in meetings."

"I don't think that'll be hard. Xanxus adores you."

Tsuna shrugged lightly. "Don't know. He always glares at me. But I know he doesn't mean ill."

"So basically, you're going back to Japan?"

"We, including you, are going to Japan. Don't go excluding yourself. I'm going to rebel if Grandpa pull you out or send you somewhere. And you won't like it when I do rebel."

"Judging from your open threat, I can almost envision Italy burning in every corner because of your rampage, and with the aid of your guardians, it's almost a goner."

"What an active imagination." Tsuna chuckled, earning a scowl from the hitman. "Don't worry. Like parent like son."

Reborn huffed as he smirked. "Shut up."

"Already shutting."

"You need to move, Tsuna. Or you're going to catch a cold." Takeshi said lightheartedly, waking up the brunet who's sprawled on the cold floor.

"Hn." Tsuna hummed before shifting in a more comfortable position.

Takeshi stared at his friend before looking around. They're by the garden's doorway. The door is open and cold wind is flowing in. He stared at the door then to Tsuna before something clicked. He laughed loudly, making Tsuna's brow furrowed.

It was a hot day in Italy. The sun is on its peak. No wonder Tsuna is laying on the floor by the door. It's cool and the air is refreshing. They're the only ones on this side of the house since most are roaming around and doing their own business. Even Reborn is somewhere in the mansion.

Takeshi shrugged and sat on the floor with Tsuna. He smiled, closing his eyes and let himself enjoy the breeze. He miss Japan. His Dad. His sushi. His home. He opened an eye and looked at the sleeping brunet beside him.

But the trip to Italy was worth it though.

"Takeshi." Tsuna whined as he opened an eye to look at his friend. "Why is it so hot today?"

"Because the sun is shining?" Takeshi answered.

Tsuna stared at him. "Maybe that's the reason why Onii-san is the sun. He likes to sweat a lot and make people sweat too."

The rain guardian laughed at that. "How about Hayato?"

"Hmmm..." Tsuna hummed as he thought. "Hayato makes people feel scared. It's fitting since he's a storm. A storm with destructive nature yet a calm center."

"Lambo? Unpredictable?"

Tsuna nodded as he closed his eyes. "One moment he's being a brat, then next thing you know, he's standing lazily in front of you and insulting you. Have you seen Hayato being so worked up on him?"

"Oh I always do!" Takeshi responded with a chuckle.

"Lambo has this indestructible defense, his bratty side and laziness. But when he strikes, it's painful. Like a lightning."

"Hibari-sempai is a cloud because he maybe aloof but he's always there."

"Yes." Tsuna said as he laid on his stomach and brought his right knee up to his stomach while his left is still straight. "Kyouya is so fluffy sometimes. I just want to give him some stuff toys in a shape of Hibird."

Takeshi laughed loudly. "What about Mukuro? Chrome?"

"Pineapple!" Tsuna cheered as he opened an eye to look at his rain. "They literally have eyes anywhere. Mists are dangerous."

"But why are they so against of each other?"

Tsuna laughed, getting the gist of the question. "Because clouds are up in the atmosphere while mists are a little lower in the sky. Same but different. Cloud is more of headstrong in attacks while mists deceive. Though both are prideful, they still hate each other."

"But I can imagine them working together."

Tsuna nodded as he closed his eye. "I can too. But not now. When the right time comes and when things went really dire."

"How about... Me?" Takeshi asked hesitantly.

Tsuna inched forward to him and used his leg as a pillow. "My rain."

"I know that."

"My anchor." Tsuna sighed contently. "You're cheerful personality makes me calm and set normalcy amidst the chaos. And whenever you act normally in something really worth mouth gaping, it just puts me on gear again. So basically, you are the rain that wash away every single thing that makes our family confused and disarray."

Takeshi can't help the blush creeping his face as he laughed. "You literally made me blush, Tsuna."

"That's good." The brunet responded before yawning. "Now let me sleep. The air is really good in my head."

"Right right."

And the two spent their time alone till the others joined them.