A/N:

@michiko-chan27: Yup. They can't see each other. Well, more of like Reborn can't see Tsuna because of Viper's illusion. He did promise to Reborn that he will make Tsuna invisible to Reborn's eyes because of the stupidity he did.

@Espeon35: I really didn't plan on making Tsuna go home. I was thinking of 'Reborn will confront Tsuna cause the block didn't give much justice to their contract', but I kinda had this feeling that Tsuna has to go home because he has been away for too long and he needs to piece himself back together as you said it. And probably make Reborn think about what he had done.

@RedB: Sorry. I can't give you an omake. If I do so, it will be written after I completed the story. I hope you're alright. Hahaha. I didn't mean to make you cry. I didn't even know it's that painful. Maybe I got used to reading it that the chapter passed off as something normal.

@MichiruLeIdiota: Punishment of not seeing Tsuna for three months is enough for Reborn, I think. (Kufufufu (yikes. I sound like Mukuro)) He will suffer enough. Especially once he discovers his faults.

So thanks for the other reviews. I didn't really think of updating but I couldn't help it. Extra data means extra chapter. Light chapter, I think?

Anyway, onwards. Don't mind me.

Chapter Thirty-Two

"You're with the others right?" Doctor Furikawa asked.

Skull didn't say a thing, eyes darting between the floor to Viper who is beside him, and plainly visible too.

The doctor smiled. "Tsunayoshi's friends?"

Skull perked up and nodded earnestly. "Yes, Sir."

"Thank you for being there for him." The human expressed while leaning on the table the Cloud was about to open. "He's attending all his classes since he came back. Since the day he came from Fiant, he mellowed a bit. He hadn't caused any trouble too, nor angered Madam Cara. Tell him I said congrats for attaining his summoner title." And he handed two sticks of white chalks.

"Were you the one who kept track on his mental state?" Viper asked.

The doctor nodded. "I thought it was my job but I couldn't get him to open up. Maybe I can't understand him like you do. But if you can't too, hang in there. He already trust you enough to keep you close, he'll eventually tell you what he thinks."

Skull gripped the piece of paper in his hand before exhaling a breathe to relax. He remembered what Doctor Furikawa said, and it fueled his annoyance over Reborn more. But what can he do? He'll just have to wait more for the sake of understanding Tsuna. Patience is the key to success as they said it.

But was Tsuna really that alone?

The view is exquisite even though the train moves fast. But he can't bring himself to enjoy them. No. He simply let them pass by without appreciating the beauty they hold. It's like that time he was taken from his home three years ago. But instead of feeling furious like years ago, he feels dejected.

His mind went back to what happened last night. When he saw Reborn standing just by his bookshelf, he almost forgot how to breath. His heart was palpitating so fast and hard, and his eyes were trained just on his demon in black suit. Though he was snapped out of his staring when he felt those abyss-like eyes look at him, he was able to squeak out a greeting and give a smile in the end.

Talking to his demon feels nice even though they talked about the hat and Luce. It broke his heart when he asked the demon of erasing the contract. It was never his intention to ask that nor erase it even. If it made Reborn sad, what more of it to him? He was the one who wanted to renew their contract. And probably, he'll also finish it for them.

Doing the contract with Viper brought him back to when he did it with Reborn. He can't help remembering the promise he made to his demon. It was so pure of love. But then again, he was ready to do this. He was ready to get hurt, to cry and feel like the world ended. He was always ready, yet he didn't expect it to be this hard.

A croak of frog was heard from his head. Tsuna looked up to see the small green reptilian gazing down at him too. He gave an 'ow' jokingly when the animal slapped a hand on his forehead, then laugh afterwards. Viper will always be Viper.

The Mist changed into his animal form when they went out of the castle. Tsuna almost cooed at the cute green frog that jumped on his shoulder to rest. They aren't that tired nor travelled that long since Bermuda provided a portal for Tokyo before Tsuna can decline, but when they boarded the second train, Viper jumped to his head.

It was already twilight when a woman's voice announced from the intercom that they're nearing Namimori station, he fixed his belongings and readied himself to get off. After stepping out of the cart, he looked around the station. Smiling after deeming that nothing much changed in his hometown, he proceeded to walk home.

The town was as it is in his memory. No new buildings in the site. But people who are outside their home kept on looking at him weirdly. It's as if they don't know him. Probably yes, since his hair grew, his outfit is simply composed of an orange jacket, white shirt underneath, a pair of pants and rubbershoes which is different from his all around delinquent attire, and he's not wearing any band aids or bandages. So yeah, they won't recognize him anymore.

He walked through various shops and stopped to a fruit store. After buying grapes and a watermelon, he went on. He slowly approached the familiar street of his home, passing by the familiar park, his preschool, middle school and high school. One last turn to the corner, he saw the same house that made him feel at home all those years he wasn't accepted by the society.

Viper slapped a hand on his forehead that made him smile. It's as if the demon is telling him that he can't back down now. He opened the gates and walked towards the house. He stood in front of the door, took a deep breath before pressing the doorbell. A small 'just a second' was heard from the inside. Tsuna's heart thumped in wait and recognition of who was about to open the door. And when it did, the woman who raised him up came into view. They stared at each other, but the brunet gave a happy smile as a first greeting to his family.

"Kaasan." He called.

The woman teared up, hands automatically went to her mouth to suppress the shock. "Tsu-kun? Tsu-kun!"

Tsuna hugged his mother back when his fellow brunette tackled him for a tight embrace. He can feel the tears wetting his jacket, hear the soft sobs and the calls of his childhood nickname that stuck to his mother. He closed his eyes as well, feeling teary eyed for all three years he hadn't seen his mom or feel her warmth comforting him.

They stayed like that for seconds more before they parted. The lady Sawada held him at arms length, staring at him and inspecting him from head to toe. Tsuna replaced his expression with an innocent look. He just knew what his mother will be angry of. He figured that much anyway.

"Have you been eating well, Tsu-kun?" Nana Sawada asked.

"Yes, Kaasan. I eat." 'Except for breakfast.' Tsuna positively responded.

"But you're so thin. You hair is dull and you have bags under your eyes. You're also in pain." Tsuna grimaced at that. Nana shook her head as if disagreeing on something. "Nope. Since you're home, you're eating plenty of food under my watch. I'm gonna make you fat."

"Kaasan, that will be hard to burn off." He teasingly complained.

Nana waved a dismissive hand. "Nonsense. You'll be fine. Anyways, come in. I was cooking dinner when you rang the doorbell."

"Okay Kaasan." Tsuna saluted and began rolling his suitcase in when his mother addressed him again.

"Ah, Tsu-kun."

"Yes?" He queried as he looked up, only to meet the happy and welcoming gaze of his mother.

"Welcome home." The lady greeted.

Tsuna smiled widely. "I'm home, Kaasan."

Tsuna sat up as he get rid of the sleepiness in his system. He raised his hands over his head and stretched his torso until he felt a good 'pop' from his back. He could only smile in satisfaction. Glancing down to his companion who is sleeping in his little cute form, he patted Viper's frog head before slipping out of his bed for the bathroom.

Yesterday's dinner felt so at home. It's as if he didn't leave his family with the way they talked with him. The food was great, the table was a little noisy with all the bantering and small serious talks he can pitch in whenever asked, and he never felt out of place.

His father, Iemitsu Sawada, gave him a bone crushing hug when they saw each other. His dad was in the market when Tsuna got home, and returned just in time for dinner. After the hug though, they had a little fight off in the sala, but it wasn't that destructive. Just testing his agility and flexibility in a small space. He was given an okay sign for a good performance in response. Fighting Kyouya had its own good perks after all the destruction they do inside the DC office.

The meet up with his grandfather was the same as he imagined it to be. When they saw each other after the old man arrived from the library, just after Iemitsu, Ietsuna only nodded at his direction before ushering him to the dining room.

Tsuna sighed as he stepped out of the bathroom, showered and fully clothed. He eyed Viper who jumped on his right shoulder. The Arcobaleno croaked, which he answered with a quiet 'good morning' in return before going out.

Ietsuna Sawada looked up from his book to see his grandson walking down the stairs. The brunet, much like his mother in any features, gave him a small smile with a 'good morning'. That made him curious.

He knew his grandson pretty well even if they were apart for three years. Tsuna never gives small smile. It's always a big one or none at all. The big one signifies interest, appreciation and acknowledgement of becoming his family. The other surely gives the opposite. Small smiles indicate that something was off and something happened. Besides, one doesn't need to be the great Sherlock Holmes to figure out why the young man in front of him went home unannounced. It might have been an impromptu trip.

"Awake already?" He started off when the brunet was about to enter the dining room. "It's just five-thirty in the morning, Tsuna."

The young man shrugged. "I felt like waking up. What do you want to drink? Chamomile or just green tea?"

"Traditional." He replied.

Tsuna chuckled. "Two traditional cup of green teas, coming right up. You might want to be dropped here, Mammon. Me making tea is boring."

The frog, that Ietsuna just noticed, croaked and stayed on his perch by Tsuna's shoulder.

"You can meet my grandfather. He's as interesting as I am. Probably more than you can anticipate. I did learn from him."

"You're just saying I'm old, Tsuna." The blond pointed out.

The brunet grinned, glancing at his little friend. "See?"

"Now I know where your snarkiness came from." A male voice said and the frog leaped out of its place. But the reptile changed its form into a human in its mid jump. A cloaked man hiding half of his face and all of his body, with mouth only visible stood in front of him. "Good morning."

"Likewise. I am Ietsuna Sawada." The old man introduced himself, unfazed at the sudden transformation.

The cloaked man nodded. "Viper."

Ietsuna raised a brow before looking at his grandson who was watching them. "Chop chop."

"Yes, Sir." The brunet surrendered before going in.

Silence hanged.

"Please sit, Viper-san." Ietsuna offered, closing his book in the process. The man sat.

Ietsuna openly stared at Tsuna's companion. Certainly, this demon won't be any other since his grandson let him tag along. He seems powerful enough to shift from animal form to human form. It's either he is a Mist that is strong enough to fool him with his own aura, or he's a high demon with three different forms. He can't judge the other for his cloak obscures anything, and it seems the same with the body language too. Regardless, the demon is surely relaxed. He feels at home.

Well, the house does feel homey with Tsuna and Nana with it. If it was just him and Iemitsu, there won't be any people inside the house. All his life, Nana is the only one he knew who could make an old abandoned house look homey, a place that you can relax on even if danger lurks anywhere. Of course he can't say it wasn't like that with his wife. But still, the feeling was there and it was passed down to Tsuna with his aura that was formulated in his early years.

However, he wonders how the two were able to meet. It was one in a million chance for Tsuna to meet this type of demon. Considering the fact that his grandson rarely interacts with anyone in the academy, according to Ganauche, and probably being stumped down by those people in there. Yes, it is almost impossible. He was even thinking that the brunet will have a level one to three summons since the young man was adored by those kind of demons.

"May I help you with anything?" Viper asked, taking him out of his stupor.

"You can help me with these loads of questions I have in mind, but I don't think you'll answer me right away without Tsuna with you."

"I do not worry of Tsuna being with me. You need to pay up for every information I will give you though." Ietsuna stared at the demon. "I do not give free information, Sir."

"Well," The old man chuckled. "How much for an information?"

"It ranges from class F to S. If it's about my relationship with Tsuna, that's classifies as SS rank."

"A million yen, I suppose?"

"Ten million yen every specified answer." He corrected.

"I rather ask Tsuna." The human smiled.

The demon huffed. "Your loss."

"What loss?" Tsuna asked as he entered the living room. He settled three cups on the table and put the tray aside. "Here's a traditional green tea, Mammon. You'll love it."

"How much?" Viper asked.

"Nah." His grandson drawled with a smile as he picked up his own cup. "It's free. You should be already used to the fact that everything with me is free. Except for some certain things that will require your own share of money."

"Mou. Fine." The demon conceded before taking his own cup of tea.

"Jii-jii," Tsuna called with a smile. "this is Viper, my friend. He's here because I invited him. He'll be charging you with a lot of money if you ask him things. If you don't want to, take him by surprise. You'll get what you need before he realized that he answered you already."

"Oi." Viper called out, unhappy, but Tsuna only smiled teasingly.

Ietsuna's eyes lingered to the right wrist of his grandson where a symbol is before looking at him in the eyes. "He already did."

The brunet's merry laughter filled the silent house. "Really now?" The old man nodded. "What did you ask anyway?"

"About you." The old man answered, not minding the startled look on his grandson's face. "What happened for you to come back without any short notice? You should already know that nothing can fool me, my boy."

The brunet sighed, a mixture of fondness, guilt, hurt, sadness and regret is seen in the young man's eyes. "As expected from one of the greatest hunters in his time. Where do you want me to start?"

"From the time you entered the academy."

Ietsuna found himself having a roller coaster ride on Tsuna's story. The adventures may sound amazing and full of heroism, but he knows what's inside there. His grandson endured three years of discrimination, injuries, bullying and unjust treatment. He was thrown to a place where he could only survive with all the things he had in his arsenal. And he knows there's more to the story than the child brought up.

Maybe it was okay. It was fine since he will soon go on with his life. He will make a name in the world and such, but at the age of nineteen and being isolated from his peers for so long, it was greatly unfair. He is now contemplating whether to call Ganauche first or the academy headmaster to take their heads off.

The story was whisked away from the people of the academy to the lessons. The brunet looked so smug after saying he was able to alter a lot of incantations and vouch to it that they worked perfectly well. His interest grew when the child bragged about his own circle, how easy the subject tests were and how he saw Fiant, the now demon world. Then it went down to someone entirely different.

Tsuna started to talk about this certain demon. Viper even visibly tensed and forcibly relaxed himself for the brunet who animatedly told his grandfather who this demon is. What Ietsuna garnered was, the demon is a sun who was really important to his grandson. His name is Reborn, the strongest demon and hitman to Tsuna's view. A demon who helped his grandson open up with how Tsuna looked so happy and eventually the cause of contrasting expressions on the young man's face.

Happiness and loneliness. Gratefulness and regret. Assurance and doubt. There's also that expression he knew so well. Affection and pain. He knows Tsunayoshi Sawada is in love to this demon named Reborn.

When Tsuna was done telling every single thing, he was scrubbing his eyes, not wanting tears to fall. The grandfather can see that much. At some point, he understood what the brunet went through. Just when he found his own comfort, he suddenly lost it at the second it was already there in his arms.

Patting the space beside him, Ietsuna gave a fond smile when the young man stood up from his seat and sat on the other end of the couch and laid on it with the old man's lap as his pillow. The child didn't need to say anything because they always had this understanding between them. Whenever Tsuna has a problem, the one who he'll approach is his grandfather. Not his mother, not his father, but his grandfather. Because he knew the old man will understand him and his problems, and eventually tell his parents what's wrong since they listen to the oldest among them.

And he wasn't wrong. Ietsuna always verifies that.

"You did leave something for him, did you?" Ietsuna asked as he pats the brunet's hair.

Tsuna chuckled with eyes closed, exhaustion visible in his face. It's as if the loads on his shoulders were removed by just talking to his grandpa. "You know me so well."

"You're forgetting that I am the one who taught you to get the last laugh in any situation."

"Yes yes." The young man agreed before sighing. "Thank you, Jii-jii."

"Everything will be alright, Tsuna." Ietsuna assured, getting a nod from the sleeping child. He looked up to see Viper watching them. "I take it that you're the reason why he hanged on this long."

"My... Friends had their own fair share of worries and methods of making him happy." The Mist responded.

"Who are you to him?"

"I'm his second summon. And as he introduced, I am one of his friends, demon wise." The Mist replied with straighter posture, as if proud of what he is.

"Then what did Reborn do to my grandson?"

"A misunderstanding." Viper answered carefully. "He had standards regarding skies. He thought Tsuna was the same with our previous one. Even though he didn't mean to compare, he unconsciously did and strayed away from your grandson. My colleague can justify to that since he is the one who questioned Reborn."

The blond old man nodded in understanding. "It can't be helped. Even us do it sometimes."

"It will be alright, Ietsuna. I know Reborn will come to his senses. He just needs some little help here and there. I bet he's going crazy with all the searching he is doing to find Tsuna."

"Good good. Make him suffer first before he meets my grandson again."

Viper nodded. "I had to admit though, you're the only one who can make him open up like that. Coming back to one's home does give wanders to a troubled soul."

"Nonsense." Ietsuna dismissed. "You might have done it too at some point. But I believe he does it most of the time with Reborn."

"Yes. They met first before he was introduced to us. I just happen to be the second summon because I'm persistent. I won't even be surprised if one or two from my group will drop by here in these following weeks just to see Tsuna's health. We're pretty attached to him right now."

The old man nodded. "I won't mind. We won't mind. It's been so long since Tsuna had a friend. It will be nice to see him do things with you and such."

"Thank you."

Ietsuna continued his readings after a few seconds of watching his grandson sleep. Viper started to meditate and didn't move from his seat. When Nana and Iemitsu went down, they only nodded after being directed to stay quiet for the sake of their son. And they happily agreed, knowing they noticed they're son's unusual behavior yesterday. Regardless of how many years they hadn't seen their little bundle of joy, they will always be able to read him like an open book. They are family after all.

"Reborn?" Fon called as his friend passed by the living room.

The demon didn't say anything as a response but he did stop to listen.

The Chinese demon sighed. "Are you eating here today?"

Seconds later, the sound of door closing was heard.

Fon shrugged before he removed one dish from the table. While he fixed the food, he can't help feeling a little worried for Reborn. The latter had been like that since Tsuna and Viper went somewhere which is the brunet's home. Accordingly, the sun arcobaleno returned to the human to at least see him before they left, but the room was deserted by then. It's as if they left with that short amount of time he and Skull were talking in the living room.

Of course, Skull told them what happened and what was the reason. They can't really blame on Reborn since he was significantly close with Luce when the latter was still alive. At some point, they could see her in Tsuna. But that was short lived.

Fon remembered when he compared Tsuna to Luce. It was when the former suddenly turned up on their steps in the middle of the night, almost taking off Colonnello's head with a simple kick. It was so like Luce. But that's how Luce appeared on his doorsteps, smiling like nothing is wrong, except for the fact that her hands and clothes were stained with demons' blood. However, Tsuna wasn't like that. He came looking for Reborn, risking his life just to see his friend. He wasn't there for the sake of some premonition or something. He was there to see the sun arcobaleno alive and kicking, unscratched and breathing. And that's where the similarities ended.

He called the others for dinner. He was already sitting on his place when Viper appeared at the threshold of the dining room and went to his seat. Fon immediately scanned the Mist for anything different, only to feel a good strong aura, stronger than the last time he saw the other.

"I suspect Tsuna is okay now?" Verde asked as he took his spot.

"Mm." Viper affirmed vaguely.

"How's the family though?" Skull queried as he went out of the kitchen, a hot mug of chocolate drink in hand. "Are they pleasant?"

"Is Tsuna pleasant?" The Mist shot back.

Fon chuckled when the Cloud smiled sheepishly. "Sorry."

"Tsuna is fine." Viper announced as the three other occupants of the house settled in. "His family is starting to shape him up like he used to be. And probably for the better."

"That's good." Colonnello smiled, passing down the first food he took from.

"Can we visit him anytime?" Skull asked, sounding excited and a little nervous.

"Yes. His grandfather will appreciate that. Even if he knows and the other two members of the family know that we're demons, they do not mind. Apparently, Tsuna talking to the air is a common occurrence to them."

"Ah. One of his abilities then." Verde commented, obviously taking that information down.

"Fon."

"Yes?" He responded.

"I have something for you to give to Reborn. It's from Tsuna." The table went silent. The mist arcobaleno sighed. "I am positively sure that even if Tsuna has a million years grudge on Reborn, he will worry about the latter to the end of the world. He is that important to Tsuna. As like as not he is two levels higher from our importance."

"That can't be helped." Lal shrugs as she took a food from the passed plate. "If Reborn is still in his senses, he would be the very demon to understand Tsuna. I just hate how he likes Tsuna, but disregards it like it doesn't matter. His jealousy, irrational thinking and overthinking are stupid."

"Lal." Colonnello reproached.

Fon nodded. "Sure. I'll take it."

"Thank you." Viper expressed as he shook his head to the food that was offered to him. "If you want to have a contract with him, spend some time. Once you get to know each other, he'll consider. Insecurities are still tied. Possibly a little down after I become his summoner when Reborn made him feel those again."

"Yes Sir." Skull saluted before eating. "Can I visit tomorrow? I want to see him."

"Mm."