A/N:

@michiko-chan27: Hahaha. It's Ganauche's fault for reacting like that. Hahaha. Pride isn't that scary. Wait for the other Sins. You'll be amazed with them. A R27 moment is present in this chapter. And Ietsuna's death has its purpose. I hope it does show though. Anyway, thank you!

@acertainpasserby: I told you it's chaotic! Just imagine Tsuna and Fon having a contract in a place like that. (Da-da-dam!) No worries about Pride. Wrath will take care of him. I can sic Colonnello or Skull to you though, since Reborn isn't available for you. Xd But get good night rest, yeah? Don't be like me, I haven't slept for eight hours since last week. Anyway, thank you!

@YozoraLupa: Thanks. Hahaha. I hope I won't disappoint you.

@LavaLilly: Peace. - v

Thanks for the other reviews! Ya all making my week! Here's another chapter for all of you. Hope you won't mind the grammar and spelling mistakes. The usual. Hahaha!

Anyway, go on. Onwards. Don't mind me here.

Chapter Forty-Five

Tsuna closed his eyes as tears streamed down his face. Two of the people he greatly respect are laid before him, buried underground for the Earth to accept again. It hurts, but what can he do? He wasn't God to resuscitate them.

Thirty casualties. Forty-six injuried. Fifty destroyed homes. Regardless of how the Namimori natives thanked him with all their hearts, they can't put a smile on the brunet's face. They couldn't even look at him in the eyes, knowing how much damage they caused him in the past as a whole. No one has ever received his response, only the two remaining Sawada had given their reply. He wasn't inclined on doing so. Nor did he want to. He was asked by his Jii-jii to do what was right. And with the information that the demon was here for him, it was right to get all the people of Namimori out of town to place them out of harm's way.

"Mama."

He looked down to Lambo who's looking at his mother's burial place with sadness, longing and tears. The child may have comprehended enough clues that his only family had died, but the shock submerged him for several days before he cried himself to sleep. Nana had to take measures of taking care of the child. And Tsuna...

Tsuna couldn't find himself facing the noiret until today.

Crouching to Lambo's height, Tsuna inspected the kid's appearance. Puffy eyes, red nose, red cheeks and just... Tired and sad and confused and hurt. God. He's such a coward. He doesn't even know if the Yamamoto survived themselves. What kind of a person is he to prioritize his safety and the others' lives when he couldn't secure his family's protection? His parents have assured him that he did his best. That he had done what was right. That he can't do things all together. Maybe... Maybe. But how can he convince himself that if he personally can't forgive himself?

He's the worst.

"Lambo." He called, almost a whisper. The green-eyed child faced him, teary and sniffing. "I'm sorry."

"W-Why?"

Tsuna closed his eyes, more tears cascading his cheeks. "I-It was my fault why Kaori-san is dead."

"Tsu-kun." Nana approached, only to be stopped by Colonnello and Iemitsu.

"It was my fault that she's not with you." He opened his eyes to see a surprised Lambo. "I-If I was more quick, I could've saved you three. I-If I didn't prioritize other's safety, I could've reached you sooner. Saved you sooner. Kept you alive with your Mama."

"I-I..."

"I-It's okay i-if you don't f-forgive me." The brunet gulp, hiding the twinge of pain on his heart as he imagined being unwelcome-d by the child he had thought of as a little brother alongside Kyouya. "I-I deserve t-the hate. I don't deserve your forgiveness. But please. Please never resent Ryohei and stay with my parents. T-They'll give you home just as nice as yours. But I know they can't replace your mom. It will forever be in my conscience of how I killed your mother due to my incompetence."

"But Tsuna-nii," The young man's heart thumped at the call. "Mama said you'll always save us." Wide innocent green eyes stared at brown ones. "She said you'll try your best to help us, keep us safe and care for us. That if she goes away without me, I'll always trust you to know what is good for me."

Oh God. Why?

Tsuna threw himself to Lambo and wailed like a child he was. He heard the little noiret cry himself, but he doesn't care if he did that. They just sat there, letting the world know that a piece-- No. A part of them died with their loved ones. After a couple of minutes of shamelessly crying in front of his parents and summons, Tsuna pulled away and stared at the child.

"Don't ever forget Kaori-san." He put his fist on the child's chest, by the heart that is beating steadily under his skin. "She will live on. And someday, when fate allows, you'll meet again and she'll be your mother again with a better family and better world. Okay?"

"Uhn." The child affirmed.

Tsuna smiled widely. "Good boy."

Tsuna stared at demon who stared back to him. With narrowed eyes, Tsuna moved his queen, cornering the black king. The level one demon looked down to their game and gave a sound of frustration. The brunet laughed in victory, whooping and teasing his opponent who lamented his loss in the most comical way a demon would. Their audiences cheered for the human who only gave a peace sign as he sighed in relief internally.

The demons in Namimori had been avoiding him since his grandfather's funeral. It seemed impossible, but they felt ashamed and guilty of what their kin had done to him. They felt more incompetent for not being able to help him at that difficult time. And that confession really pulled his heartstrings, and melted at their concern.

So in a way to make amends, he lingered in the edge side of the house as if giving them a message that he's approachable. Some did come, but not close enough. They were skittish and cautious. At some point, he got bored and started to read books. It worked since some of them came and looked over too, interested on what he was reading. Then when Verde joked about playing board games with the demons, he did give it a try and they played (he loved how Colonnello and Fon teased Verde for being wrong). And after a few rounds, they couldn't stop themselves from apologizing to him and such that made him really smile.

So far, he had been playing for twenty times in a row with different low demons wanting to defeat him. There are some moments that he got stomped on what to do when they cornered him enough, he means that his demon friends there in Namimori are that smart. They know what's wrong and right, they just usually do the wrong stuffs since they are demons.

At the corner of his eyes, he peaked at his summons. Today, Fon, Colonnello and Verde stayed with him. His Mom was in the kitchen, planning to go to rest after making her kitchen and dining room clean. While his Dad went for the Vongola branch in the city to update things he does not recognize. And the rest of his summons...

According to Colonnello, the others were still recuperating from the damages (although Tsuna saw them all present three days ago) and stayed at home. The said 'others' voiced their protest on the Rain's misinformation (Colonnello emphasized that it was the same thing, earning some amused grins from Fon and raised eyebrow from Verde) in their shared mindscape. But the only one Tsuna knew who didn't need recovery was Reborn, who has been lurking around his home.

They... Haven't talked yet. It was probably because Reborn wanted give him space with all the fiasco that happened. But Tsuna wants to clarify to the hitman that he didn't call him out of desperation. He really means to call him... It's just that he doesn't know when or how, and that was the right time to do so.

God. It feels right to have the Sun back to his line. Also to see the Sun's symbol become colorful again after almost three months of being grey makes Tsuna really happy. But then again, he has to consider the sun demon's feelings. So if he has to wait, he'll wait.

In accordance to chess, first move matters. But he can't do the first move all the time, can he?

He was about to start another game as another demon, he assessed as level three, replaced the one he defeated, when they felt a strong gust of wind. Tsuna had to cover his eyes to avoid getting anything in them. When it died down, he peaked from the comfort of his arms and saw a raven transforming into his human form.

His throat constricted when onyx eyes met his. Now that he thinks about it, Reborn's air is different. It's like the demon is not the Reborn he knew. There's this new level of confidence in the hitman that Tsuna can't measure, but is willing to match up with him. The demon is in a whole new level of silence that it sometimes becomes an alarm on Tsuna. And the overwhelming presence he feels does not fluctuate, but oozes like miasma from the Sun's body, giving chills.

It's like... This is the old Reborn he always saw before the former met Luce.

"Where were you?" Colonnello accused in a jesting manner.

No answer, but the hitman walked towards them.

"You completed the mission then?" Verde inquired.

A flick of eyes was the only answer.

"Would you like some tea?" Fon asked after, earning a light shake of the head. "Very well."

"May I?" A soft whisper from the sun arcobaleno who stood by his side and offered a hand.

Tsuna breathed before taking the hand and smiled an apology to his opponent. "I'm sorry."

"Grrv... Rlq-barg..." [It's fine. Have a nice chat.]

Once Tsuna slipped on his slippers, he wasn't surprised when he saw himself in a familiar lakeside. His eyes lit up when he saw the fishes in the lake stopped swimming around to look at him. With a hand guiding him to them, he grinned widely to his friends. When he sat near the bank, he didn't let go of the hand. He gripped it like his life depends on it. He won't let go now.

"Sorry for disappearing like that." He apologized.

"No problem." A bubble popped. "We'll go ahead so you two can talk." Another popped.

The young man tried his hardest to stop a blush as he bowed. "Thank you."

Tsuna stood up and took a few step backwards before looking at Reborn.

"Hi." The hitman greeted with small smile.

"Hey." He responded, eyes still on those onyx ones.

"I missed you."

Tsuna's eyes widened as his heart fluttered. He immediately closed off all connection as he obviously went red at the sudden attack. But he can feel it from their connection.

The passion, regret, longing and happiness.

"Are you okay?" Reborn asked in worry and almost teasingly, which the brunet nodded meekly. "Ah. Sorry. I attacked you like that."

"Uh..."

"But I couldn't help it. I've been with you for days yet it felt like you're still miles away."

"Is it because I don't talk?"

The hitman nodded before guiding him to their usual spot. "But you don't to anybody. So it was understandable."

"I'm sorry."

"Tsuna." The young man pressed down the tingling pleasure of happiness that wants to run down his spine. "I should be the one who apologizing."

Tsuna sat on the ground as Reborn did, their hands still touching and gripping each other like lifelines. "Is it because you were wrong?"

"Yes. I was wrong." The hitman admitted, still staring at him. "I was wrong of judging you. And comparing you with Luce. I was wrong on making you feel like I don't want you anymore. And I was wrong for not being there as your contractor. I know you'll forgive me. Even already forgiven. But I just want to say my apology. I'm sorry."

"Reborn-"

"You're really different from Luce." The demon looked down at their hands, slowly playing the other's fingers with his own. "You're human. You're fragile and you're kind. You're compassionate with all living things, but that doesn't mean you don't know how to bestow judgement to the wrong. You know how hard it was to live in a society, yet you still survive. You know your strengths and weaknesses. And you keep yourself motivated with all the negative things being thrown towards you. You're undeniably amazing.

"I should've thanked you for patching up my hat. You worked so hard to return it in its previous form. You spent days and nights despite the fact that you can hardly think because of what you've discovered about me. And even I attacked you because of it, yet you didn't say anything about it. Thank you."

Tsuna nodded with unshed tears as black eyes gazed at him with sincerity.

"I want to apologize for making you feel unpleasant when I had... Sex in the town. It was for a-"

"Mission. I know."

"But still, I should've tortured the demon to get the information instead of doing that. I should've thought it through before doing something rush. Or maybe explained it to you because you deserve the explanation."

"But you can't because I'm not an Arcobaleno." Tsuna smiled understandingly. "I saw your group rules. And even though you ran with your own set of commandments, you still abide to them. So even though I felt like I needed the explanation, I understand why you need to keep silent about it. It's me who has to think outside of the box. You also have a life outside of mine. Besides, you did what you thought was necessary."

"It wasn't your fault." The hitman persists.

Tsuna hummed. "Then let's agree that it's our-" With an emphasis by pointing his finger to Reborn and himself. "-fault."

"Okay." The hitman chuckled. "And I'm sorry for not talking to you. I should've told you what was my problem."

"Is it really because I always block you off?" The brunet questioned.

Reborn nodded while looking away, a little ashamed. "It's... A stupid reason. I couldn't understand what you were trying to block off, but when I saw your memories, I felt like a sub-normal. God. I felt like I'm Colonnello. And that idiot even managed to make you calm down when I..."

"Cast me off?" Tsuna supplied with a little teasing smile.

"When I cast you off. You were worried that I'll feel your feelings and destroy our friendship because falling in love with a demon is not known. You also didn't want me to suffer sleepless nights when you were being infected by an incubus. And after Viper helped you, you rarely block me off but I was still the one who never answer your calls. To think that I have the audacity to be angry about it when you, of all people, never ask for help about anything unless it's really needed."

"I can't apologize on blocking you off, can I?"

"No." The hitman eyed him evenly. "You'll never apologize for something you'll never do without reason. You're the most sensible human I know. Everything you do has its purpose. Everything you think has a meaning. If we doubt you again, it will be our fault. If I don't trust you again, it will be my mistake."

"No worries. I'll also believe in you. All of you." Tsuna smiled.

Silence.

"C-Can we go back?" The human stared at the demon who looked a little uncertain. "Can we go back to being us? Talking about those things you love? No barriers. No awkward moments? That... Just us?"

"We can." The brunet answered before smiling a little apologetic. "But it will be a lot different. New different."

"I can adjust." Reborn gulped, a little nervous and overthinking. "I know we can. Just... I don't want to lose you again with something I know I'll regret."

Tsuna massaged the back of the hitman's hand with his thumb. "Okay."

"Can I hug you?"

A laugh was heard. "Since when did you need a consent to do something you- Waah!"

Tsuna found himself pressed tightly to the hitman's body. He can feel the other's breathe on his shoulder, shaky and disturbed. Knowing what he can do, the young man closed his eyes, hugged back and patted the hitman's back. Melting into Reborn's arm, he laid his cheek on the other's brood shoulder and relished the protective presence of his demon. His very first demon.

They stayed like that until Reborn let him go. Tsuna inspected the hitman's face, cupping him in his hands and ran his thumbs on those white cheeks.

"Welcome home, Reborn."

"Yeah. I'm home."

He can't stop shaking.

Pride has been like this ever since the fight against the human sky and its elements. He remembered how hard he tried to consume that human with his mist, how hard he tried to fight that Sun with his power, only to be defeated.

He has been recuperating in his own chambers, not even going out even when his lord wanted his presence. Hell. The humiliation he got is too much to bear. And the realization struck him that hard.

He was powerless. He couldn't do anything other than invoke fear to the weak and be stooped down by the strong. He is a sin, yet he felt like a level one demon in the sights of those onyx eyes and orange orbs-

His eyes widened at the memory. No wonder he felt so terrified after the threat. The human reminded him of the sorcerer, Giotto de Vongola. That human wizard never bowed to him. When all demons trembled at his powerful miasma, that sorcerer didn't even blink and stared at him like an equal being. Such arrogance that annoys him to brick.

Getting off his bed, he walked for the door. The hall was silent, walls lighted by the hot magma spurting from the cracks of the floor. He strode towards the meeting room, where he knows the other Sins will be. When he opened the door, the first sin he saw was Wrath. And his temper rose.

"You unreliable foolish baboon!" He shouted as he tried to attack Wrath who only stared at him with boredom while stepping back from his spot to evade him.

"Woah Pride!" Greed tried to placate. Well, tried. "What's wrong? Got asswhipped?"

"Quiet!" And he used his mist to make the Sin submit to him. He succeeded and he enjoyed the pleasure of having control and power over people again. "This pest has been talking with that pathetic human sky!"

"Is this true?" Envy queried, interested with the notion as she looked at Wrath who only yawned in his hands.

"Sky?" Wrath repeated, looking at them all with boredom. "Which of them?"

They stared at him in surprise.

"Tsuna." Lust uttered, looking straight at the table. "His name is Tsuna."

Red eyes flashed as they looked at the youngest sin. "What did you do to him?" He accused.

"Wrath." Belial called as the Sins backed away a little.

The gaze turned into a harsh glare. It was a rule not to defy Wrath's small wishes, and they just have to test him again. "Did you send him the incubus?"

All of them watched as Lust paled. "I-I-"

Magma started to boil as miasma cloaked Wrath heavily. "You made my human suffer?"

"Enough-"

Nope. Wrath didn't listen to Belial. They hardly blinked when Pride suddenly got thrown across the room while Lust screamed in pain when storm aura surrounded her. Wrath's movements were so fast and sharp too. He was already on Pride, punching the hell out of the mist Sin who can't fight for his life. As if a finishing blow, Wrath kicked Pride to Lust direction before following them. The mist Sin collided with the cloud Sin, causing some painful 'crunch' noises of broken bones and a big crater on the wall they smashed into.

They could hear Lust's sobs of pain while Pride is noticeably still. When Wrath came to their spot, he took Lust in an arm choke while his other hand is on Pride's neck. He was muttering something under his breath, whispering to them something with anger written all over his expression. Then slowly, both Sins tried to scratch Wrath's arm and hand, respectively, to make them breath, but the storm Sin did not give any hole. He even tightened his hold as if taunting and mocking them, and with a 'snap', Pride and Lust went limp.

The remaining Sins and Belial could only watch when Wrath burn the two with his storm aura before tossing their bodies away to the magma below and glared at the rest of them with so much anger.

Wrath wasn't one to be hold down. He was never bossed around. He was just so powerful that he can fit in to the other infernal spirits that do not want to associate themselves to the troubles their subordinating demons and humans have caused. It was only Belial who wants to play in their world. It also occurred to other Sins how Wrath's presence was always needed down below. It's just that the most powerful sin can't leave his human life away, his hatred to that race, that he just want to stay as a sin.

In other words, not even Belial can govern him.

The remaining Sins steadied their grounds as the floor suddenly shook. They watched in horror as Wrath rocked on his heels, a crazy look on his face. He's on one of his episode where his insanity plagues his mind, urging him to kill and destroy everything. The palace had been his victim for several times five millennia ago. And no one has the enough power to calm him down since the memories that comes in his mind are those injustice that had been done to him when he was still a human.

"Ah, they've done it." A drawl was heard from Wrath. "I was being a good boy for Tsuna but they just had to touch him."

"Wrath, calm down!" Sloth panicked as the palace trembled with so much intensity.

"We need to get out of here." Gluttony chimed in as Envy clutched on his arm to gain balance.

Belial simply disappeared.

"Shit." Greed cursed.

"What will he say?" Wrath hummed, eyes in glaze like he was looking back to a memory. "Right. Take it easy. Take it easy."

Then the ground halted from shaking. The Sins stared at their fellow who's expression went from maniacal murder to a soft expression. Wrath turned on his heels, humming under his breath. They watched him go out, leaving them with individual emotions to deal with.

Envy's white eyes went grey with desire. She wants to have that ground Wrath has. She wants to attain such calmness. Why does Wrath has to have everything she wants? Why can't she be that powerful? Why can't she be needed? Invited? Wanted? Desired? She balled her hands into fists. She'll get that human.

Greed's yellow eyes darkened with malice. His heart throbs with so much want. Such human? Being patronized by eight demons and the most powerful sin? He wants to be in! He wants to see what's so nice about that human! Wait. No. If he was getting all this attention, then it means he's that valuable!

Sloth's eyes closed as he thinks to himself. Why not take that human as his servant if he's that precious? He maybe lazy and uncaring, but if he can use such precious gem for his liking, his life will be worth it. At least, the human isn't that hard working or lazy. Just... Simple.

Gluttony grinned as he imagined the taste of that human they're talking about. And a sky. Skies are tasty. Very delicious. Especially their hearts. When was the last time he ate skies anyway? Hmm... Ah... Uhm... Right. Five millennia ago.

While the four contemplate and think, Belial made his decision. With a scary scowl on his face, he decided to eliminate the sky himself.