A/N:
Had fun doing this one. No need to read chapter fifty-six. Just based this on a possibility of what if the four sacrificers found out the solution to exorcise the Sins forever. So yeah. Hahaha.
Anyway, onwards!
Omake: (Chapter Fifty-Six: What could've happened?)
The first time Reborn met him was when he went for the human world to get Luce who was trying to get an admission as a college student. It was an impulsive decision because according to her, she was bored and Yuni wants to spend some time with her father, Gamma. There's also the part where humans are really interesting and she wants to visit Kawahira.
With all honesty, he doesn't want to go and get her. Skull could do it, or even Colonnello. But Lal had to threatened him about his guns, so he had to comply (no worries, revenge is sweet. Especially when he targets Lal). Even so, Skull wasn't that cooperative these years. He has been distant. While Colonnello kinda stopped doing things. Like he doesn't have any purpose at all. So he had no choice even if he doesn't want to.
The reason why he doesn't want to go was the fact that he can't stand seeing Luce. Not that he hates her. It's the bittersweet feeling of blatant rejection. If he was any lesser, he could've cried. But he's a hitman in the human world, and the strongest demon among his kin. So he didn't.
(More of he couldn't.)
He was walking around the campus with his invisibility when he saw Luce. She looks okay, a little pale though. Her dress is a little dirty and wrinkled. It caused him to furrow his brows. What happened?
He decided to approach her to ask.
He was close when a group of five humans approached her. They were wearing these shit-eating grins that grated his nerves in different wrong ways. Instinctively, he materialized one of his magnum, with loaded bullets as he walked nearer. He was going to take aim when a warm hand pushed his grip down and an arrogant voice called out to the group.
"Well, this isn't new. More names to put on my list." He looked at the human who stood beside him then to the group who turned towards them. "Ah wait. You're already in it. However, I don't think Kyouya won't mind if I play favorites tomorrow."
"T-Tsunayoshi Sawada." One of the five stuttered with fear. "W-We'll go. We'll go."
Tsunayoshi Sawada nodded as if he permits them. "Watch out tomorrow."
They scram after hearing that simple goodbye like they were being chased by devils.
"And put that gun away." The human glared at him, brown eyes flashing orange in reprimand. "You can't hurt humans unless they hurt you first. Even if it's self-defense."
He let his gun disappear and the hand on his was removed. He suddenly felt empty with the lack of warmth. "Got it."
"And you," The human looked pointedly at Luce who smiled sheepishly. "I told you to wait for me because it's dangerous for a demon like you to roam around. Even if you're the most powerful sky in this damn world, they will still discriminate you."
"I'm sorry, Tsunayoshi." Luce apologized.
"And you could've used invisibility. I thought that ability is common among you?" He huffed before jerking a thumb towards him. "You know this guy?"
Luce looked at him. "Ah. Yes."
"Good. If you're done, stay with him. Don't loiter too much or the prefect will hunt you. He doesn't see through your ability but he has some strong senses. Also class won't start until next week." The human started to walk away. "See you around."
Reborn was left staring at the back of the human. He looked so confident with his walk, with how straight his back and square his shoulders to look tall and intimidating. Brown hair like mane with how they stick everywhere, brown eyes that flashed orange in seconds he almost missed, and a lean body that looked like he can be snapped into twigs. But how come he was being feared by those five? What's that 'hunt'? Who's Kyouya? And that prefect?
"Let's go, Reborn." Luce invited.
"Hn."
The second time he saw him was when he was taking some forgotten notes for Luce. It was after two months and he almost forgot they ever saw each other.
He was walking towards the room he was directed to go when he saw a flurry of movements at the corner of his eyes. This movement prompted him to stop as a figure flew towards the wall adjacent to him. When he inspected who it was through the dust and debris, Tsunayoshi Sawada stood up from the hole he made, coughing blood in his hand. What the hitman didn't expect was the vicious and excited grin that graced the brunet's lips before he darted out again, clashing against a young man with black hair and tonfas.
He disregarded the scene and continued to his task.
(When he got back to the demon world, he sat on the couch and dwelled on what he saw. Normal humans are known to be delicate, especially with that lean body and how that human coughed blood. But that expression that showed so much exuberance was too startling for him. Who was that kid?)
The next time he saw him was while strolling around the campus with Skull trailing behind him. It was nearing the end of classes and Luce told them to wait for her so they could go back all together, since they delivered her project and all.
He side glanced the Cloud who has been quiet since then. He can feel the boredom and agitation to go back to Fiant and hole in his room. He had been doing that. He doesn't participate in their 'night bonding' anymore. Not that it was worth participating though. He's not even worth teasing these days too.
Reborn knew that even if Luce tries her hardest to keep them together, they'll break. Nothing sticks together.
"Woah Kid."
Both stopped when a kid bumped into Skull. It wasn't like a child, more of a teenager around fifteen to sixteen years old. Cobalt blue hair, bandaged wrists with nice clothes. He doesn't have any accessories except for a ring necklace. An engagement ring, small enough for a woman's.
The teen looked to them, causing him to froze. He has red eyes. Even if it has been five millennia since the war, Reborn will never forget the Sins they had to fight. And right in front of him is the exact reincarnation of Wrath. Even the height looked the same. The only difference was the teen is much healthier and radiates happiness instead of insanity and madness.
"Ah. Sorry." The kid sheepishly apologized. "I need to go. Nii-san-"
"Gotcha! Woah-!" A figure came barreling with a shout. With how he came, it wasn't really a surprise if the figure, Wrath reincarnation and Skull went tumbling down.
"Nii-san!" The kid whined on top of Skull. "You're heavy."
"What?! I'm sexy, you brat! Who taught you that?! Did Kensuke teach you that?!"
A groan from Skull was heard.
"No! And we have to get up! Someone's on the bottom!"
The brunet looked down on the pile they made and blinked. "Oh. Why didn't you say so. You didn't have to tell me how heavy I was to get me off."
"But you are." The kid teased as they got up. "Sorry about that, mister."
The brunet bowed. "Sorry. We were playing. I didn't got my speed right so we kinda pulled you in it."
Reborn blinked when Skull dismissed the apology with a laugh. "No. It's all right."
The brunet offered his hand. "Here, let me help you. I maybe thin-" He glared at the kid who snickered. "-but I'm pretty strong."
"Thanks." The Cloud said with a smile and took the help.
"Are you okay?" They were taken a back from the question. They stared at the young man who had this furrowed brows. "You don't look like you're eating."
"A-Ah..." Skull stuttered.
"Nice hands, by the way. You work with machines? My Tousan is good with it. He taught me how it works though I never tinkered an actual one. We're more on visual since we never have a live one. From your clothes, you're fashionable. I have a brother that needs a new wardrobe change- Oh wait. No. Kyouya will kill me if I talk shit of his uniforms."
"Nii-san. You're rambling." The kid reminded with a fond smile.
"Ah sorry." Brown eyes twinkled after the apology. They even glanced at him. "Say, why don't you two join us in a game? Just don't take down Ira all the time. He sucks at running."
"Hey! I won our five hundred dash!" Ira pouted in indignation. Reborn mused how even the names of Wrath now and then were same.
"That was one time, and the rest were won by me." The brunet teased with the first cheeky smile Reborn saw on his lips. "Anyway, I'm Tsunayoshi Sawada, call me Tsuna since my first name, last name and the whole name are mouthful. This guy here is my son by paper and brother but blood, Ira Sawada."
"Pleasure." The kid greeted with a big smile.
"I'm Skull." Skull nodded with a relaxed smile.
When they all turned to him, he only tipped his hat in greeting. "Reborn."
"Good. Now, since Reborn was the last one to introduce himself, he's it. So run!"
Reborn blinked when the three ran away from him, shouting at each other to scatter so they won't be caught. He can't help the laughter that bubbled from his stomach before he took off, intending to get Tsuna. That cheeky brat introduced himself first and prompted him to say his name last so he can be the it.
(When he and Skull came back to the Arcobaleno house, they got scolded by Luce and Lal for forgetting about their Sky. The two only shrugged, sharing a look that only the two of them know.)
(Regardless, they had fun and they become close again.)
Reborn put his cup of coffee away from him as he laughed with Skull. He prompted the Cloud to flip for the next page while still snickering. The Cloud did and they both read the next page.
It become a past time for them to read the book Tsuna sneaked to them after a couple of visit. The two will visit the Human world to at least play different games with Tsuna and different more people. They already met Lambo (Tsuna's twelve year old little brother), Kensuke Mochida (ex-bully), Takeshi Yamamoto (a baseball player), Hana Kurokawa (a snappy girl who hate monkeys (boys) but tolerates the boys she's with), Enma Kozato (Tsuna's clumsy best friend) and Kyouya Hibari (The demon prefect of Namimori College). The books weren't really intentional, but the two of them get bored whenever they wait for the day they could come back to the Human world. Skull voiced it out and Tsuna gave them the books to stir their boredom away for awhile.
Honestly, since the day they played a game of chase, everything around Reborn become a little lively. Even Skull goes out of his room just to tell him things and point out those things they noticed about the little group of humans they had been playing with. It was unusual since they never do serious talks since years ago. Regardless, he welcomed it.
He doesn't know if the others noticed the changes in them, but he knew they're curious. Especially Luce because the two of them always forget to tell her they're going out or something. They don't even see each other around the campus because they were really warned to not disturb the peace of the classes. The group was known to be troublemakers so they don't get scolded pretty often (Tsuna whispered that it's because they have Kyouya that's why they don't get any punishment). So in a sense, they won't see each other any day.
"Hey, what's that?" The two of them looked up to see Colonnello peering at them from the threshold.
Black met purple, and discreet nods were shared. As Tsuna said, the more the merrier.
"It's a comic book." Skull replied as he pulled a chair out and gestured at it to Colonnello. "It's about a kid who was destined to become a mafia boss and his baby tutor who was a hitman."
"Oh." The Rain nodded as he sat beside Skull.
"Here." Reborn said as he passed a mug of coffee to the blond. "Careful though."
"Uh sure." The blond nodded reluctantly, causing him and Skull to snicker a little.
(When they went back to visit the Human world with Colonnello in tow, Tsuna welcomed them with open arms. They told them about the book and how they reacted, especially Colonnello who sprayed his drink on one part of the book. Tsuna laughed and assured them that he'll give them more books.)
(When they got back, they were exhausted but happy. Colonnello was grumbling how he could've won the hankie catching if Kyouya didn't smack him with his tonfa. Both laughed at the memory, causing the people on the house to look at them strangely.)
"Woah. You're hiding here?" Tsuna blinked at him before he grinned. "Caught you. Now come on, Renato. We need to find the others."
Reborn grumbled as he stood up. "I thought this is a good hiding spot."
The brunet laughed. "It is, but if I'm the seeker, it won't be."
"Why so?" He asked as they started to walk.
"Because I have this good mental ability. Besides, don't be grumpy. You're not the it. Didn't we compromised that the sixth to be found will be the seeker?"
The hitman blinked, clearly forgetting about that.
"Who do you want to find next? I want Kyouya to be the sixth though. It's fun to run away from him since he goes violent when the one he caught ran away from him." Tsuna hummed as he led them out of the library.
"Probably Ira and Lambo? So they can be checked out already."
"Nice one. I think I know where Ira is. Lambo is tricky since he's small and he can fit in whenever." The brune crooned softly. "How's Skull in your cottage?"
Reborn stared at him.
"Faring fine?"
"Yeah. He's going out more from his room and he eats more since he's having fun following the recipes you gave him."
A sage nod. "Good. Colonnello?"
He mused to himself how he sounded like he's reporting to a boss or like he's narrating something to a doctor. "Training more so he can run faster than you and Kyouya. He's more livelier and cheerful too. Almost annoying but endearing since he hasn't been like that for years."
"How about you?" He looked at the young man who ushered them in the disciplinary office. "Your condition was worse than theirs. Not that I'm putting my nose on your businesses and lives, but when I see someone struggling, I have to help."
"The same with Ira?" He asked as Tsuna kneeled in front of the desk and slowly opened the wall to see a sleeping Lambo inside.
"Yes." The brunet responded as he put a sticky note on Lambo's hand and closed the wall. "Ira is second to you though. He was insane when I met him. I think he killed a lot of different people? But I managed to change that by taking him under my wing. Kaasan wasn't happy about the things Ira suffered and also how thin he was, so she kinda pampered him along with Tousan and Jii-jii."
They went out of the office.
"It took some time to ground Ira and become the him he is now. And I'm proud that he overcome that challenge in his life and I'm the one who helped him."
"Did he hurt you in the process?" He asked tentatively and careful.
Tsuna nodded, with an ironic happy smile on his lips. "Yup. When we first met, he almost took my stomach out. When he panicked that one time, he almost crushed my fingers while holding my hand. Then that one time he was in a nightmare and he almost sliced my head off with a knife- Good thing I dodge Kyouya's tonfa all the time- And that one time he was so angry at me that he almost tore my heart out."
Reborn halted from his walk and stared at Tsuna with disbelief. "And you're still happy? Proud?"
"I believe in him." The brunet simply responded with a brilliant smile. "Ira's weakness is people believing in him. I haven't talked to him about his past because they're still painful, but I know they're the reason why he became like this. That he stopped expecting people to believe in him."
The hitman rationalized what he heard then a thought crossed his mind. "Is that the reason why he almost tore your heart out?"
"Yes." Tsuna responded with a chuckle. He went for the window and looked outside. "I told him I believe in him. He got angry and called me a liar. We kinda fought. He almost got me but I stopped him in time." He opened the window and braced himself with a hand on the wall beside him. He looked so fond of the memory he's recalling that it melted Reborn's heart. "He cried for the first time on that day. Sometimes, I can't imagine my life without him."
Silence.
"I'm okay." Reborn finally answered to the question about him. "I don't feel broken anymore and I'm having fun for the first time in five millennia. I don't feel bitter nor hurt whenever I see her. And I don't mind going out anymore."
A beaming smile caused his heart to flutter and his gut to twist in a pleasurable way. "Good."
(Reborn wanted to stop. He really wants to. But he couldn't. Not when he knew he'll heal. That he'll become himself again. That he will find something he knew he will never let go willingly. Not when he knew he has a chance and Tsuna is willing to give it to him.)
(When Colonnello and Skull pointed out that Tsuna is good for him, in front of the other Arcobaleno, in front of Luce, he didn't deny it and only said 'perhaps' with a cheeky smile on his lips.)
(Tsuna is such an influence. Really.)
"There's a good line between being concern and being obsessive, Luce."
"W-What?"
Reborn stopped on his tracks after he heard that. He peered by the side of the wall to see Tsuna and Luce facing each other. Luce looked so astonished with what Tsuna said. Well, who wouldn't? It was like the brunet is implying that the Arcobaleno in front of him is obsessed about something.
Reborn inspected his feeling about the confrontation. He feels alright. As if he was waiting for this to come to light. Tsuna is an observant being. He can see things others will turn blind eyes on. He will point out things even if it's obnoxious to be heard and somehow relevant in the long run (like how long Reborn's hair is growing, how Skull needs to replace his lobe earring because it's long and it will hurt if someone tore it off, or how Colonnello needs to patch his bandana and have to change his clothes because they seems too tight with his new build). And maybe, Tsuna saw something in the Arcobaleno's relationship that made him say this. Or maybe Luce said something that made him blow up.
"I can understand if you want me to stay away from them. Really. I have my own reputation and the adults have told their kids to keep their distances from me because I'm a bad influence. But to say I'm ruining everything, that's just stupid." The young man said with expressionless face and void tone. "If you haven't noticed, I'm helping them. Skull, Colonnello and Reborn. What do I know? Skull was suffering from restriction. You could've seen such a thing since you live in the same house. You don't know how to approach him? Bullshit. Put some attention on what he likes, how he likes things, why he likes them and engage him to something you know he'll like.
"Colonnello lost purpose in life. Do you know how much it hurt him not to be acknowledged? By his own sister? How do I know? He told me. He felt worthless because of it. He told me his sister values effort, yet his effort was never seen. He thinks that as long as his sister doesn't acknowledge him, no one will and he will never deserve attention. What you could've done years ago? Make his sister realize his efforts, make her see what she ignores. You could've seen how she treats him like a child, and scolded her for doing so. Because Colonnello deserves it for trying hard.
"What I know about Reborn is he's broken. Inside out. He didn't tell me who it was but he said he felt bitter about it nor hurt. He can bear going out again. Looking at your face, I say it's you. What did you do? Hook, line and sinker? Or no clear answer of rejection? You made him hope. Hah. What Jii-jii said about hitmen are true then. They love so much that they become numb. I commend him though. We're not close but I'm proud that he can be civil with you for more than five millennia. That he can stand being in the same room as you."
"You know nothing of what they had gone." Luce whispered, cold and unforgiving.
Reborn's heart thrummed at the slow smirk Tsuna gave. Shit. He looks good with that feral smile. "I know enough. You're telling me I should stay away from them because they're not concentrating on their missions. That they're not doing things you ask them to do. Sure. Okay. Then in exchange, don't come close to any of my friends. Don't ask anything from them, and even my siblings. Don't worry, I'll give them some heads up too."
The hitman went attentive when brown eyes glanced at his spot. How did he knew?
"Good luck with the three. I hope they won't cut ties with you." And Tsuna walked away.
(That night, Reborn told Skull and Colonnello what he heard. He didn't sugar coat anything. Nor censored names. So when they went for a visit and no one welcomed them, they weren't really surprised. Tsuna was a man of his words.)
(They blew up a third of Demon world, causing an angry Lal, an amused Viper, a brow raised from Verde, a curious gaze from Fon and a pale faced Luce.)
(He laughed how Skull gave a reality slap on Luce. The Cloud was so fed up that Reborn didn't mind Skull's outburst about his bullying.)
(Tsuna stared at them for a whole minute when they walked on his front porch, asking for a spare room to stay at. Ira was ecstatic with Lambo, and the Sawada Family were really welcoming. They played cards that night, and Tsuna was so good at it.)
"A science night with Ira and Verde, a game with Colonnello and Viper, a practice with Lal and Tousan. A taste testing with Kaasan and Skull, a mediation with Fon, then reading time with Jii-jii and Lambo. A bonding with Bermuda, and a study session with Luce." Tsuna listed off before bouncing back on his bed. "Then a cuddle time with my teddy bear."
"I'm the world's greatest hitman, not a teddy bear." Reborn grumbled as thin arms twisted around his waist.
"Uh-huh." A small affirmation before a face get smashed on his back. "I missed you."
His heart melted. "Are you that tired?"
"Yes." A soft answer. "I need my energizer."
"And I become a battery."
A small chuckle that he really loves hearing. "No. You're my life so hug me already."
He can't help himself from smiling as he turned around. The moment he hugged the brunet and kissed his forehead, he got knocked out. Reborn chuckled and nuzzled on that wild mane. He's so grateful that he chose Tsuna and everyone tagged along with him.
"I love you, Tsuna." He whispered.
"I love you too, Reborn." A soft respond but so sweet.
