A/N:

@michiko-chan27: I'm sorry. I couldn't make a chapter with the Arcobaleno point of view. I could make an omake but it will be posted after the story is done. I'm glad you like the previous chapter though. Skull deserves being summoned because he was the first demon to try Tsuna's customized summoning circle back in the Academy. And it will take courage to ask Tsuna for a contract. He's that precious to them.

@MichiruLeIdiota: Hahaha. You're in for a surprise of who'll be next after Bermuda. Thanks for re-reading the latest chapter. And yes, Sawada Family is that bad-ass. I'm still imagining how Ietsuna tried to kill Mochida's father with a notebook. And to think Iemitsu is the sanest among the family members. Just who said Nana was a saint? Is Tsuna a saint even? I promise I will make an omake after Skull disappeared to the summong circle, though. It will be posted after the story ends.

@acertainpasserby: Oh man. I feel you. To have someone who will accept you for being who you are, even if you're 20 millennia old, will be great. Hope you find your own home too.

So here's another chapter. I want to give you this as a gift for a special occassion. I may or may not update another chapter later. Maybe one in midnight? Hahaha. Thanks for the other reviews. You people are awesome. You keep me pumping.

Ah. Before I forgot, this story will have (more or less) sixty-five chapters, including the epilogue and excluding the omakes.

Anyway, go on. Onwards.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Tsuna let out his tongue a little as he colored a specific part of the paper. Taking another color, he ran it through until he deemed it satisfying. He put down the two colors and showed the paper to his audience. Lambo snorted, Bermuda blinked, Verde only stared at it while Kaori giggled.

"Is that a cow flying?" Bermuda pointed out.

Tsuna looked at the picture with a shock look. "It's not!"

"You have no imagination, Bermuda. Cow doesn't fly. Pig does." Verde waved off.

The brunet pouted dejectedly.

"We know you can draw better than that, Tsuna-nii." Lambo comforted, the corners of his lips are twitching at the urge to laugh. "Try harder."

"Kaori-san. They're so mean." Tsuna wailed to the Bovino matriarch who patted his head.

"Redo it, Tsuna-kun." The lady urged.

The young man beamed. "Okay!"

Tsuna is in the Bovino residence, spending time with the mother and son before the former goes to work. Not that Lambo needed a babysitter that day, but he just wants to spend some time with the kid. He's that adorable.

It all started five days ago, when Kaori called their house to remind Nana that she'll need her for the night. But the female Sawada has a meeting to attend that day and it will take hours for her to come back just in time. Tsuna saw the distress and volunteered. He was granted.

Of course, he was briefed of what he was supposed to do and who is he meeting. The Bovino of Namimori is only composed of one mother and one son. The mother has three jobs and one of those requires whole afternoon till eleven in the evening, so a babysitter was needed to look after her ten years old son. The mother's name is Kaori Bovino while the son is Lambo Bovino.

When he first met Kaori, the lady was a nerve wreck. Probably thinking that Tsuna is a strict person who hadn't been in Namimori for three years. She is beautiful though. With Japanese and Italian features, black curly hair and brown eyes, she looks like an actress from a famous company. She can even compete with his mother, but Nana is still the undefeated beautiful woman for him (Oh hush it. She's his mom).

So with a big smile and occasional small talks about herself, her son, the house and some things that caught his eyes, he was able to make her comfortable with him. Of course, he didn't mention the missing father. He had been taking pointers how to deal with human situations from his Mom since him and Skull had a contract. But even without the lessons, he's still sensitive with people.

Tsuna glanced at his little charge. Lambo is reading his notebook on the table. Discreetly, he put an orange color on one part of the current paper and started to form a flower there. He noticed the noiret look at him with amazement but he continued to make shapes. Bermuda started to join him, Verde watching them from time to time at the corner of his eyes. When they leaned away, the notebook is a colorful mess. It made the little Bovino laugh.

The kid is just so cute. His features complimented him greatly. Lambo has black curly hair and green eyes. Green eyes came from his father and the hair was from his mother. The child is bullied because of his looks and snarky, mature attitude. However, in reality, Lambo is a meek kid who loves to play with his animal figures, with the cow as the hero and others as enemy. He only fights when his mother is being bad mouthed. And he found the kid so endearing whenever Lambo acts like a child he is. He doesn't even have any problems with demons near him like Bermuda and Verde.

"Tsuna-nii?" The kid called shyly.

"Yup?" The brunet responded, eyes on his new forming drawing.

"D-Do you think they'll stop?"

Tsuna and the present demons looked at the child.

Lambo fidgeted, eyes casted down. "Bullies are really mean."

"Do you want to have a summon then?" He questioned.

"Tsunayoshi." Verde chided.

"There are uses of contracts, Verde." The brunet stated as he fixed the lines of his drawing with black color pen. "Pleasure seeking, revenge, help, knowledge and protection."

"And you want this child do a contract with a demon for protection?" Verde asked.

Tsuna shrugged. "Yes. It's protection anyway. We just need to find what his aura is, and a good demon to bound with him. Of course, we need to have Kaori-san's permission before proceeding, and Lambo's thoughts of the idea."

"I'm here you know." The kid pouted indignantly.

The young man chuckled. "Remember Lambo, when adults are talking, you can never butt in unless you're spoken to. It's a primal rule. There are things that children must not know nor have an understanding to it at their young age. And since I'm twice your age and they're quadruple times older than us, you need to understand that you can't go in without being addressed to."

"Okay."

"So now, do you want a contract?"

"For Mama, I will." The child replied with determination.

Tsuna glanced at his skeptical demon friends before smiling. He'll prove them. "Hmm. Let's ask Mama Kaori later."

"Is there a problem, Tsuna?" Iemitsu Sawada asked when he noticed his son laying on the grass in their backyard.

The brunet looked at him and shook his head. "Nothing, Tousan. Just thinking."

"You'll get wrinkles if you think too much." He joked as he laid next to Tsuna.

"Just like Jii-jii?" The young man asked innocently, almost painstakingly believable if it wasn't for the small snickers getting past his lips.

"Shh..." He stage-whispered before grinning himself. "But yes. Just like Jii-jii."

They laughed before basking in silence, eyes in the evening sky and watching the stars twinkle here and there. It felt like the old times. When Tsuna wants to just relax and he'll invite Iemitsu outside for a fresh air. He even had to stop his son from going out in the cold night that one time the brunet wanted to see the night sky in winter.

Old times...

Discreetly, he peered at his son. Tsuna had grown up from the past three years. Hair longer, a little taller, face mature, sturdier body and smarter. Seemingly, quieter and stealthier. More expressive other than a smile of interest or appreciation. He eats more than Iemitsu can remember since he got home, and talks a lot with Nana about certain things. High demons he does not recognize appear here and there to see them, probably Tsuna's friends. At some point, he can see his son being happier than he is.

Of course he missed his son when Tsuna was away. There were no letters, no phone calls, no visits. He didn't even see his son grow up, nor hear tales of his accomplishment. It took a lot of self-control to stop himself from walking in the academy grounds because he knew why Tsuna didn't do anything to communicate to them. It was the pride. That since he's being taken away from them, he vowed to go home with an award.

Ganauche, who often visits them, always says an apology or two. He regretted taking Tsuna from them. It seems like their youngest family member openly expresses his hate to the lightning guardian of the society. It can't be helped since the brunet forgot to trust humans again because of what Namimori did. Admittedly, he wanted to punch Ganauche. But he knew that the man saw how gifted his son is, therefore, Iemitsu cannot blame him. Assuredly, he forgives the man, but the thing is he doesn't forget.

Say seeing Tsuna looking at the sky with a thoughtful yet clouded eyes makes him want to know what's inside the brunet's head right now. Years ago, his son was pretty transparent. But now, he's as cryptic and mysterious as puzzle. He has to blame his Dad for making the young man read a growing library of books. His Tunafish would still be cute by now if he didn't become like this.

"I can almost hear you calling me Tunafishie, Tousan." The brunet said with a visible shudder.

"Awtsu. You don't like that?" He asked with a fake hurt.

The young man winced, a guilty look crossing his face before sighing. "It's fine. I'm still your tuna anyway."

Iemitsu cheered, making his son chuckle. He smiled softly afterwards. "You know you can tell things to your old man, Tsuna. I may not be as good as Jii-jii, but you can still count on me to listen."

Tsuna's eyes dimmed a little. "Did I make you feel that, Tousan?"

The blond faced the Sky before shrugging. "Sometimes. Especially when you go to your grandpa whenever we don't understand you, or when you have a big decision to make and you don't go to me for any advice."

"I'm sorry."

Iemitsu looked at his son and smiled pleasantly. "But I understand why, Tsuna. It's because your intuition knows that your Jii-jii has more experience and Nana and I are still getting used of how to handle kids. Dad did advice us to spend some time with you to know how you think. In a way, we will be able to understand half of what you wanted to convey. And it worked nicely, so now we can understand you just like how Dad does."

Silence went between them.

"You know I have three contractors now, right?" The blond nodded. The brunet sighed, frustration and desperation were evident in his body language. "It's not that I don't trust them, Tousan. But it's just that, aren't things moving too fast? I just got Viper then I offered a contract to Skull five days later. Then Bermuda searched for me to offer me a contract. God. There's so many things in my head right now as I rationalize things."

"Things like what?"

"Like are they using me as a replacement for their past sky? Are they craving for something warm? Why me of all people in the Earth? There must be someone out there who is far amazing, powerful or much understanding than me, or maybe much more like a sky than me. Someone experienced. Someone who knows what to do when things get nastier or how to get things going."

"Tsuna." The brunet's attention went to him. "What is your definition of a sky?"

"A sky is someone who is naturally a leader. Someone who can empathize with his comrades, communicate with them, understand them and make them feel protected under his supervision." He made a contemplating look as he stared at the sky. "He's someone who knows how to handle situations. Who is willing to take on anything for the sake of his elements. Someone even strangers can depend on and trust. A sky is a person or a demon who can do amazing things that others can't do."

"You're defining a masochist sacrifice, Tsuna." The young man gaped at him. Regardless, the older Sawada continued as he traced constellations with his eyes. "A sky is someone who is an epitome of oxymoron. He can be a strong weak, a conceited selfless, and a conscious sympathizer. He's someone who doesn't need to be strong to fight, nor be selfless for the sake of others. He doesn't need to handle every situation, do things on his own, nor be the protector of anyone. He isn't someone who has to be entirely amazing, because what makes a sky is his elements.

"If he kept on doing everything, what's the use of his elements? Sometimes, a lightning can handle a situation. Rain can give solace. Sun can take on everything for the sake of his comrades and his sky. Mist can be trusted by anyone. Storm can protect. Night can understand. And cloud can be as amazing as they already are.

"See the difference with your sky and my sky? Your sky doesn't have an element. He's solitary. Mine relies. He knows how trust back when he knew he could. He shares the pain of others. They protect each other and they fight side by side. That is a sky, Tsuna. Remember, elements without a sky are undirected weathers. A sky without elements is a grey sky. Without each other, they cannot function properly. They become unbalance."

The brunet didn't say anything, still downing the true meaning of sky from his father.

"Maybe your definition of a sky was based on someone." Iemitsu saw the twitch from his peripheral. "But it's not a reason for you to compare yourself. The demons you've been seeing here in Namimori adore you because you're you. You're Tsunayoshi Sawada. My cute Tunafish. Your contractors and future dealers regard you because they see you're different from all the humans they encountered. You accept who they are, share their pain, can go with their personalities without even trying, and never restricting them."

"I'm just scared." A small, vulnerable answer.

Iemitsu sat up and face his son who covered his eyes with his arms. The blond sighed then smiled. "It's okay to be scared, idiot. I've been in your place. Meeting expectations because your father was a renowned hunter, trying so hard to impress other people, and asking what did you do wrong to have so much pressure on you."

Brown eyes peaked between the arms to see him.

"But you know what my Mama told me when I cried to her?" The father looked up to the sky. "She told me that the Sawadas aren't good with expectations and pressures. So we do what we're good at."

"What is that?"

"Break those expectations. Don't answer them. Kill them by doing something entirely different. So I told myself, so what if Dad is a hunter? I can be the best exorcist in my time. And here I am." Then he looked at the child who's staring at him in awe. "I broke the expectations, I became the best exorcist, I married Nana, we had you, I was able to convince Dad to live with us, I lived in a house with my family and I'm talking to you."

"Can I do that?"

"Son, you have done it years ago. You're the reason why people of Namimori fear and respect us. We three might be fearsome, but the hell you bring here is much devastating than our combined efforts."

"You make me sound like a reincarnation of an Armageddon." Tsuna mumbled, making the blond guffawed.

"Probably. You're bound to do great things, Tsuna."

"Alright." The brunet sat up and smiled. "Thank you, Tousan."

"Always, Tunafishie."

"Oi. Get inside already, you idiots." Both looked at the source of voice. It was Ietsuna, looking at them with irritation. "It's already ten in the evening. Are you going to sleep or not?"

Both father and son blinked before they raced to go inside the house. The living room got filled with the laughter of the two. Nana, who watched, smiles at how adorable her family is and in relief that her son's worries were gone. Family brings back family after all.

"Thank you Hana-chan." Tsuna expresses with glee that was returned with a unheated scoff.

"You haven't been there for a month and you're already on a pinch without me." The noirette said from the other side of the line. "Oh. Wait till Hibari get a hold of this. He'll be all sulky."

"Is he?"

"Yup. He had been sleeping in your room for three days straight, after pacing there for a week of course."

Tsuna chuckled. "Tell him I said hi."

"Sure sure. Need to go. More monkeys are piling up to call someone or something."

"Bye Hana-chan."

"See you soon, Tsuna."

The brunet stared at the phone in his hand before putting it on the receiver. He looked back to Viper who was sitting on the couch. A moment later, a portal opened up and three men piled out. Bermuda, Skull and a semi demon with white hair and brown eyes. His upper body to legs are human's, including his head, neck, and arms. His mix animal is a kangroo, explaining the hands, the feet and the tail. This is Ryohei, brother of Kyoko who is a summon of Hana.

Tsuna contacted Hana through Viper. At first, the information broker threw a heavy fit since he wasn't being paid to do it. So Tsuna bribed him strawberry milkshake. Curiosity got the Mist good, so he complied. If he only knew how Ietsuna, Iemitsu and Nana shook their head in sympathy. The brunet got what he wanted, and Viper is on a good withdrawal right now, trying hard not to demand a lot of those milkshake.

Since Lambo is a lightning, Tsuna thought that he'll work well with a sun. Lightnings are sometimes... Lazy (explains why Ganauche doesn't handle paper works (it was obvious)). Sun are pretty active most of the time (it's a scientific fact and Reborn is just like that). Combine the two, you get a balance. Other than that, suns are scary as hell so their protection is pretty much granted.

"Nice to meet you, Ryohei. I'm Tsunayoshi Sawada." Tsuna greeted politely.

The white head beamed. "Kyoko extremely mentioned you a lot of times. Nice to extremely meet the man who can make Hana smile."

The young man smiled at the mention of his friend. "Hana-chan is cute, isn't she?"

"Yes!" The Sun agreed immediately.

Tsuna hummed before handing a paper. "Please memorize that incantation."

"Is the human nice?" Ryohei asked.

The Sky noticed the haunted look behind the sunny personality before nodding. "Yes. He's a ten years old child with a mature like personality. A reason why he's getting bullied. But he hates experiencing that. He wants protection for him and his mother, will you be able to help him with that?"

"Of course!" Ryohei cheered.

The brunet introduced Ryohei to Kaori who immediately took a liking on the sunny disposition of the demon. It was probably because the house has never been this lively before. The two talked when Tsuna left them to wait for Lambo outside. It was nice that the Bovino matriarch understood what his son wanted and agreed for Lambo to have a contract.

When Lambo came, he was unharmed. The way his face showed happiness spoke a million things. It means no kid bullied him. He even ran up to the young man and squealed in happiness while hugging him. Tsuna only smiled before ushering him inside to meet Ryohei.

The two got acquainted... Steady fast. They talked about food, animals and medicines. Tsuna figured Ryohei was an experienced doctor before retiring as a demon in Fiants. When he deemed them comfortable with each other, he beckoned the two to follow him.

Tsuna stared at the circle he made. It was the original, but with a little tweak here 'n there, just to express satisfaction on the deal. Pretty different from his. It's made just for Lambo so he won't experience the flashbacks. Just the feelings so he can be a little sensitive.

They proceeded to do the contract. Tsuna kept on chiming in sometimes when the two forgot their lines. It caused a lot of laughter between the three of them. When it was done, Tsuna looked at their markings. Lambo's was a two horned brown helmet with a green thunderbolt behind it. In the center of the helmet is the child's name in Aye Matey font. Ryohei's, on the other hand, was red gloves in front of a whole yellow sun, with the same font.

After establishing their contract, Tsuna said his goodbyes with his demon companions before going home. They walked in a slow pace, enjoying the breeze when Bermuda tugged his jacket.

"Yup?"

"Contract?" The Night whispered.

Tsuna looked at the demon before nodding. "Sure."

"Ha?!" Three voices exclaimed.

The brunet chuckled as he stopped walking and looked back to the three. "Yes. Let's do it Bermuda. You've searched enough, and I'm granting you assurance that you won't have to go to places to see me again."

The air got knocked out of him when Bermuda hugged him tight. He hugged back.

He understands how hard it is to search. He has been thinking about the circumstance with the night arcobaleno for a day, and he figured why Bermuda wants to have a contract with him. The Night was the level one demon who eats with him at times in the canteen, the demon who entered their room and injured him greatly out of searching for him, and the same one who found him the other day. How can he reject such dedicated demon who wanted to always be with him?

"When?" The demon asked.

"When you want it." The human answered before they parted from the hug.

Viper and Skull looked at each other then shrugged. It was okay. This is what they wanted anyway. Tsuna deserves his elements, and the Arcobaleno are his weathers.

"Oi Tsuna. I want my milkshake." Viper demanded as he stalked towards the brunet and gently pushed to walk.

"I want some too!" Skull pouted as he followed them, tugging Bermuda who was openly smiling.

"Sure sure. What do you want to eat, Bermuda?" The Sky asked, making the Cloud and Mist pout and grunt.

Enjoying the reaction of his fellow Arcobalenos, Bermuda answered. "Glazed donuts."

"Oh! I like that. Let's pair that up with the milkshake."

"You're not gonna ask me what I want?" The stuntman sulked.

"The Muraveynik cake. The one we ate in the restaurant. You've been thinking about it for sometimes. So I searched how to do that to make you one."

Skull made an 'uwaah' sound before pouncing on their chef's back. "Thank you!"

"Be ready though." Viper warned, a grim smile on his lips. "Tsuna's food can give withdrawals."

Tsuna laughed at the pale faces of his friends.