REPLIES TO REVIEWS:

Dman4869 – Thank you so much for your support! I thought I really should pick this up since I've watched the stuffs for KhR this year again and I cannot get enough of it. I also want to finish this story too. And Papa Tsuna mode will be appearing from time to time though I hope it won't make him out of character. I'm doing alright but it's just work and life are making me busy. It's almost vacation in two weeks so I think I can focus on this one though. Looking forward to your reviews on the upcoming chapters! Hope you enjoy this story. Thanks again!

Stoneheart1909 – sorry for the long wait. It's here now. Hope you like this story!

AFTER THE RAIN

Disclaimer : I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn. Amano Akira-sensei, arigatou for the wonderful people you've made.

Target Three: Skyrocketed Popularity

Sun rays filling in the room and birds chirping in the refreshing morning was what woke up the young girl from her slumber. She sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Blinking around the room, she realized the things that happened that led her to the present.

Oh yeah, I traveled back in time.

Ciel's golden orbs stared outside the window and sighed. "I wonder if Papa is doing fine over there…." She whispered.

"I'm sure he is."

She turned to the sound of the voice with wide eyes to find a pair of green orbs staring at her softly.

"You know your father the best so you should know how strong he is." She said as she walked and sat next to her on the bed.

The young girl smiled sadly and nodded. "Hm, you're right. Thank you, Bianchi-san."

The pink haired Poison Scorpion smiled and patted her head. "If you need someone to talk to, I'm here. I don't expect the boys to know how you feel from time to time." She chuckled. "But they're kind, and they will protect you."

Ciel nodded in agreement. "Yes, I know. I trust them. After all, this is Papa's family." She grinned at the older woman. "Thank you for being here for me, Bianchi-san. You haven't changed."

"Hm? What do you mean?" The woman raised an eyebrow in curiosity.

Ciel faced the window again, looking at the sun that was shining so brightly. "You are always there to take care of us, whenever Papa and the others are doing their mafia work. You always play with Zia and I."

"Zia?"

Ciel clamped her mouth with her hands. "Oops, I'm sorry, I'm not supposed to say that." She murmured, and removed her hands. "Well, Zia is someone related to you, and she's my best friend."

"Ehh~" Bianchi smirked. "I'm sure I'll meet her in the future."

The young girl smiled again. "Yes, definitely."

A knock on the door intervened their conversation. "It's open." Bianchi said, as the door opened.

They saw the brown-haired boy stare at them curiously. "Breakfast is ready, let's go down, or we'll be late for school."

"Okay, Tsuna-san. Thank you."

Tsuna rubbed the back of his head. It was weird hearing her call him like that. "Ah, no, it's nothing…"

Ciel stood up and Bianchi glanced at the both of them. "You two go ahead, I'll follow suit after a while."

Tsuna nodded as he disappeared by the door, Ciel following after him.

Bianchi sighed. It wasn't noticeable because the girl's smile was so bright. However, as a woman, she noticed.

There was a little tinge of sadness in her eyes. She was definitely worried about her father, her family back in the future. However, she knew that words weren't enough to reassure her, especially since they really didn't know what was happening over there. She could only hope and pray that they will be fine or else, the girl would lose her smile, and she knew future Tsuna wouldn't allow that.

Right now, she could only be there for the young Vongola from the future and make sure she was mentally and emotionally fine.

Tsuna explained to his mother that Ciel was another friend of Reborn. It didn't faze her, and Nana welcomed the girl with open arms just like the others. Although, it was kind of different this time, since she was very attentive with her. Probably she felt an affinity to Ciel—she was her future granddaughter after all—to which Tsuna accepted. After every thing that happened, nothing surprised him anymore.

The spiky haired brown eyed young boss to-be smiled as the young girl happily ate her breakfast, to which Reborn smirked at. The baby (in appearance only because it seemed like they still had years to go back to their former bodies) tutor was amused at his student's soft gaze towards the young girl. He probably didn't noticed that he was acting like a father, with his affectionate glances at his future daughter.

Tsuna was still young, but his fatherly tendencies were showing already, all because of his daughter's presence.

Reborn mustered his strength to prevent his black eyes from rolling in irony.

Damn sky people. Always so expressive and giving in to their emotions.

He wouldn't have them either way though he would never admit it. Ciel could probably already tell though.

The hitman distracted his student by feeding on his breakfast again. "Stop pinning a gaze on your daughter, dame-Tsuna. It's unbecoming of a Mafia boss."

Tsuna glared. "AH! Reborn!"

"Hurry up or you'll be late."

"I want to eat but you—argh!" Tsuna stood up and pulled on his own hair in frustration. "And I don't have time now, we'll be late!" He slipped on his bag and turned to his future daughter—it was kind of weird thinking of her like that though.

"Ciel, let's go."

"Okay!" she stood up and faced the others with a grin while donning the bag she received from Tsuna. "We're going now!"

"Take care out there!" Nana called out happily.

They found Gokudera and Yamamoto in front of the house. Upon seeing them, the two guardians greeted them enthusiastically.

"Good morning, Tenth! Ciel-sama!"

"Yo! Good morning, you two!"

Tsuna smiled and greeted them. "Good morning, Gokudera-kun, Yamamoto."

"Good morning to you too, Gokudera-san! Yamamoto-san!"

The black haired boy stared at her. It didn't go unnoticed by Tsuna. "Yamamoto? What's wrong?"

"Well, I just thought that Ciel calls us so formally. You may call us by our names if you want. After all, we're just about the same age right now."

Ciel thought about it. It didn't really matter, but if it will make them happy, why not?

She grinned brightly. "Sure! Then, Takeshi-san, Hayato-san."

Gokudera burst in tears. "Nice Baseball idiot!" he turned to Ciel's smile and grinned. "Ciel-samaaa~"

"Now, I hope Tsuna will do the same." The black haired boy turned to the other Sawada.

"Eh?" Tsuna pointed to himself. "Me?"

Ciel turned to her young father. "Now that you think about it, Papa calls his guardians by their first names."

Tsuna's eyes narrowed. That was probably because they lived in Italy and first name basis was common in there unlike Japan.

"We've been so much together, but Tsuna still calls us by our surnames." Yamamoto wondered.

"Ah… well…"

Gokudera glared at Yamamoto. Of course, he would like the Tenth to call him by his first name too but if it will make the Tenth uncomfortable then it was fine with him whatever his Tenth would like to call him.

"Baseball idiot, don't make the Tenth uncomfortable!"

"That wasn't my intention though…"

"Gokudera-kun, it's okay! It's not that I'm uncomfortable with it." Tsuna started and everyone paid attention to him. "It's just that I haven't thought about it before."

"If it's okay with you, then…" Tsuna smiled at his friends. "Please continue to look after me, Hayato, Takeshi."

Ciel stared as Hayato cried a river of tears with shining eyes and big smile and Takeshi wrapped an arm around Tsuna's neck with a chuckle. "That's more like it, Tsuna."

The young boss grinned and Ciel smiled, happy to see his father's bond with his best friends.

As Ciel will be introduced later in her own class to be—Tsuna already was sure that it would be in their class since Reborn always had his ways—she stayed in the faculty to wait for the appointed time. Tsuna and the others walked to their classroom after dropping her in.

Tsuna fixed his things and prepared his textbook for his first class when a sweet voice rang next to him. "Good morning, Tsuna-kun!"

He blushed at her smiling face. Ciel really got that bright and amazing smile from her mother.

"G-Good morning, Kyoko-chan!" he greeted, an octave higher than his usual speaking tone.

"Eh? Tsuna-kun are you alright? Your face is red." The orange haired girl said in concern as she touched the poor boy's forehead. This innocent touch caused him to blush even further. He turned away and waved a hand in front of his face. "I'm fine really!"

"Okay, if you say so."

The orange haired girl was called by her dark-haired best friend and Kyoko waved goodbye at him, promising to talk to him later.

The young boy's eyes blinked rapidly, still red faced. He was more embarrassed compared to before because he already knew his future with her. He would have love to try confessing to her but he was still afraid of getting rejected.

And besides, it wasn't the time for that.

He was sure people would do something to get to his future daughter, and he had to protect her and the gem she was keeping.

It would save the Mafia world, and his ancestor slash great great (how many great do I have to add here?) grandfather, Primo's will.

Sheesh, he was already thinking like a Mafia boss just now!

That little spawn of a hell tutor of his was rubbing off on him! Argh!

Anyway, his thoughts were put to a stop when the door to his classroom opened, and their teacher stood before them, informing them of a new transfer student.

Tsuna sighed. See? Told you Reborn would always prevail.

But well, he was quite happy since he would be able to keep an eye on Ciel. He glanced at his friends, Gokudera-kun and Yamamoto, ah, no, Hayato and Takeshi and he could see they already knew it was their new friend.

"Come inside and introduce yourself." Their teacher said as a young girl with bright golden orbs and waist-length brown hair stood before them and smiled. "Good morning, everyone!" she happily exclaimed, catching the attention of the male population in the classroom. Tsuna noticed it immediately. "My name is Sawada Ciel. I'm looking forward to working with you!" Her big smile was the last straw and their male classmates, even the females were ogling the girl. They were talking about how cute and beautiful she was.

"Do you have any questions for her?" the teacher raised an eyebrow at his class, hearing the mutters.

One boy raised a hand and the teacher gestured to him. "You're a Sawada too? Are you related to dame-Tsuna?"

Suddenly, the boy who just asked found his face planted on his table. The classroom became deafening with silence.

Gokudera Hayato grinned proudly and gushed how wonderful Ciel-sama was and Yamamato Takeshi smirked while crossing his arms behind his head—a habit of his. And Tsuna…

Tsuna's jaw dropped, reaching the floor, not literally, of course.

If it wasn't for his training, he wouldn't have seen her move so fast and slammed her palm on his classmate's head. It wasn't too hard to include blood but still, he knew it was painful. He couldn't help a wince.

"I will never let you… or anyone for that matter… insult Sawada Tsunayoshi and that includes calling him by that despicable nickname." Her voice dripped with hate and the victim, even without looking at her, knew he was being glared at. If only looks could kill, he would already be in hell in less than a second.

He trembled and nodded.

Ciel removed her hand from the boy's head and placed a hand on her hips. It woke Tsuna from his stupor and walked towards the girl.

"Hey, why did you do that?" he asked, wide eyed.

She pouted. "As long as I'm here, I will never let anyone treat you any less than who you really are. I hate it."

Tsuna face palmed. Oh great, another protective Gokudera-ku—err… Hayato had been born.

"I understand now will you please don't do that again? You scared the class you know?"

The girl gasped and looked around. The people were still except the three people who knew her.

After a few seconds…

Screams, praises, and words of adorations were heard around. Ciel blinked. "Eh?"

"You're amazing!"

"So cute and cool!"

"She's definitely strong and athletic too!"

"Join the basketball club!"

"No! Join the soccer club instead!"

"Don't! Join our karate club! You'll be the strongest!"

The teacher stopped the students and sighed. "Silence! For that certain question earlier, Sawada Ciel here is Sawada Tsunayoshi's cousin. Now Sawada-san, go to your seat next to Yamamoto."

"Okay."

Ciel sat next to her future uncle and smiled. "I'm glad to be next to you, Takeshi-san."

"Same here, Ciel." He grinned and showed a thumbs up. "If you need anything, just ask."

"Hn!"

The class began; however, the male students were still glancing at the young girl every now and then and Tsuna who surprisingly noticed, narrowed his eyes. For the first time, he wanted for the class to finish immediately so he could take home the young girl and keep her away from these prying predatory eyes.

Being his best friend—not self-proclaimed, because the said boy also said so—Enma noticed the young brown-haired boy who was looking around with a stare that was close to a glare as his best friend could do. It wasn't a glare, but a hard stare. He heard the girl was his cousin, but in their world, it was probably a cover-up.

Especially since his best friend looked overprotective with the new girl.

"Tsuna-kun?"

His call fell on deaf ears as his best friend followed the girl with Yamamoto-kun and Gokudera-kun with his eyes as they buy something from the counter. They were in the school's cafeteria for lunch.

"Tsuna-kun!"

That seemed to wake him up and their eyes met. "Enma?"

The earth boss sighed. "Who's the girl, Tsuna-kun?"

His friend's brown eyes widened. "Eh?"

"I know she's not really your cousin. Who is she?" he asked. "Did something happen?"

Tsuna sighed. "In a short while of knowing each other, I'm surprised you knew I'm hiding something."

"Well, you're not really hiding it. You seem overprotective."

"What?" he stared at his best friend in disbelief. "No, I'm not!"

"You are, don't deny it. You're looking at our classmates like you want to fire an X-Burner at them." He spoke. "Good thing you're not in your hyper dying will mode right now."

Tsuna pouted. "Does it really look like I'm protective of her?"

"Yes, really. That's why I'm curious of her real identity." Enma stared at his best friend, who was slumped on the cafeteria's table; His head on top of his arms which were resting on the table.

"Enma…"

"Hmmm?"

"She came… twenty-years from the future." He whispered.

"Eh?"

"She's my future daughter."

"Wh—really?" his red eyes were wide.

"Yeah. We saw her yesterday and saved her. And then, she explained why she was here. Apparently, my future self sent her here to protect a gem that amplifies the power of the dying will flame… and to protect her from the enemy Mafia over there."

Enma breathed in and sighed. "I… see." He replied, and stared at the girl, who was talking to Yamamoto-kun about something as they walked towards them with a tray of food.

"So that's why you're so protective. Tsuna-kun, your fatherly instincts are kicking in."

Tsuna, instead of reacting the way he always did, just sighed, resigning to his fate. "Probably that's why I feel this way. I feel so angry, and I don't know why."

Enma rubbed his friend's back. "It's okay, Tsuna-kun. That's natural."

"Really?"

"Hm, you probably feel the affinity you have for her. She's your future daughter after all."

"I see… thank you Enma, that makes sense."

The red eyed boy smiled. "Happy to help."

The group of three finally came back and Tsuna rose up from his position when a tray of food filled with hamburger was presented in front of him. He turned to the young girl whose smile was as bright as the sun. "I know this is your favorite so eat up, Pa—I mean, Tsuna-san."

Tsuna returned the gestured. For some reason, he felt light because of her smile. "Thank you Ciel. Let's eat then."

"Hn!"

Enma stared at them.

Yep, his best friend's fatherly instincts were absolutely kicking in.

Their gym class for the afternoon was very eventful. The new girl, Ciel, Tsuna realized, was very different from his 14-year-old no-good self. She was his future daughter, yes, but knowing his—and hers— family, there was no way she wouldn't be trained at a young age.

And she was definitely trained, probably by his own hitman tutor.

She was athletic and flexible, but at the same time, the gracefulness was evident in her movements. They were having a Tobibako today. Vaulting had always been Tsuna's weakness (among the many) however, Ciel made it seem so easy and beautiful.

It felt like she was born for it.

Okay, that was an exaggeration but seriously, she was great.

If he didn't know that she was his future daughter, he would have thought that she was Yama—I mean, Takeshi's daughter instead.

Because of that, the male population, not only his classmates but also from the other classes, (they were in the gym and different classes were there for their own gym classes) were ogling at the brown-haired girl in adoration. They were all staring with those shining eyes of theirs and Tsuna considered going into hyper dying will mode to burn them.

Was it allowed though?

He could hear his classmates murmuring about making a fan club solely for the beautiful and strong Ciel-sama.

He considered joining it, if he cannot stop it, but he didn't have the time to join a school club, let alone a fan club for his future daughter, no less!

He couldn't imagine staring at her picture and fantasizing whatever over his own future daughter.

That would be weird and downright creepy on his part. Grr.

Oh, could he enlist the almighty Hibari-sama to stop this abominated fan club?

He might accept if he ask Ciel to fight him. He would definitely be elated to fight the future leader of Vongola.

Seeing how Ciel move, she absolutely had a talent for that.

"That was awesome, Ciel-sama!" he heard his dear friend said from next to him and he turned to see the girl situating herself to the other side of him. She smiled at Hayato and gave him a thumbs up.

"As expected of Tsuna's future daughter." Takeshi commented in a low voice. Despite everything, the black haired knew the importance of keeping information. Tsuna was grateful for that at least.

Ciel giggled. "Of course, I learned from the best tutors." She said, eyes shining proudly.

Tsuna raised an eyebrow. "Don't tell me the future Reborn trained you…"

"Then my future self did a great job in it."

The four of them turned to the voice and found Reborn in his usual cosplay. "Reborn! Why a basketball? We're not even playing it!"

"As if I care about that, you're really no-good, Tsuna."

"Eh?" the brown eyed boy glanced at Ciel and upon seeing a blank reaction from her, asked. "Aren't you going to be mad like earlier? He called me a no-good." He said, pointing at the basketball baby hitman.

Ciel laughed. "Nah, my uncle was the only one who calls you that, even in the future, and besides, it has a different meaning than those bullies."

"What do you mean?"

The girl just shrugged. "You'll know, but not now."

"I don't get it, but if you say so."

Reborn turned to the young girl and smirked. "So as I was saying, my future self did a great job in training you."

She shook her head. "No, he always said that I still have a lot to learn. He is strict on me, but he could also be nice. He always treat me to ice cream after training hours."

"Huh? Reborn? This hell of a baby tutor?" Tsuna pointed at his—quote "hell of a baby tutor" unquote—and received a bent finger, that caused him to scream in pain. Ciel grinned at the ever familiar sight. "He never even treat me to anything!"

"Shut up, you don't deserve any treats from me."

"Unfair~"

"If Reborn-san is your other tutor, who's the other one?" Hayato asked, and Takeshi seconded that. "Oh yeah, you said 'best tutors' so meaning you had another tutor aside from the kid."

"Yes," Ciel had a mischievous glint in her eyes, "I also learned hand-to-hand combat from my father's strongest guardian."

All of their eyes widened. "What? You mean…" Hayato muttered in disbelief.

"Hibari-san?" Tsuna whispered-screamed as Ciel chuckled. "Hm. Zio Kyoya is fun to fight with."

"W—Are you serious?" the brown haired boy remembered his own experience in training with the future Hibari and seriously, he thought he would die from his bloodlust.

"I love training with Zio Kyoya."

The boss-to-be realized that the girl was serious.

Oh my God, he couldn't believe it. There was another psychotic fighter in the making in Vongola!

And to top it off, it was his own future daughter. What the hell had been his future self doing and letting this happen?

He could feel an incoming headache.

The gym classes continued and as Ciel sat with their group, the rest of the teenagers were hesitant to talk to the girl. It looked like Takeshi and Hayato scared them off which was good.

He would rather deal with Reborn's hellish training than killin—err, keeping a bunch of innocents away from his beautiful and graceful future daughter.

However, there were still idiots who were courageous enough to face them. "Hey Ciel-chan!"

Tsuna's eyebrows twitched.

The young girl turned behind her and saw her classmate, a sand-haired boy with a boyish smile.

"Uh… if I'm not mistaken, you're Kaki-kun… right?"

The boy, Kaki, became elated. It got on Tsuna's nerves which didn't go unnoticed by his two best friends. Enma was looking from far away and smiled.

"Yes, I'm Kaki. I have a favor to ask if it's okay with you?"

Ciel tilted her head in question. The boy blushed with her innocent cute expression and Tsuna mustered all of his powers—but was having a hard time— not to strangle him.

"What is it?" she asked. The boy grinned at her.

"Well, will you please visit our fan club later after class?"

The gym classes continued but to those who were close and heard that request, a silence ensued.

Tsuna reached his limit but before he could even wear his gloves and pop the pill in his mouth, his self-proclaimed right hand man spurted into action to which he was grateful for once actually.

"What the hell are you talking about, you piece of trash!" Hayato brought out his dynamites out of nowhere and threatened the boy. "Stay away from Ciel-sama or I'll bombed you!"

"Maa maa, Gokudera," Okay, thank goodness Takeshi was present to control Hayato for a while because he couldn't do it himself right then but he was surprised when his left hand man—also self-proclaimed—glared at the poor boy. "If I were you, I would leave this place now and never show my face again to Ciel and any of us, you hear me?"

He said that lightly but the underlying threat was evident.

The boy trembled and barely managed to nod before running away.

"Eh? What's that all about?" Ciel turned to her future father and asked, "Is there something wrong with what he said?"

Tsuna smiled awkwardly and waved a hand. "He left so it's probably nothing. Forget it."

"Hmmm… okay."

He sighed in relief.

The teacher's voice could be heard, calling out for Sawada-san.

"Ciel, I think Sensei is calling you."

"Ah, okay then I'm off." She waved goodbye to him and ran towards the center of the court. As she went off, the boys in the court stared and murmured about how cute she was with her smile and long straight silky hair and sexy body and…

Oh, he would definitely asked Hibari-san to take down whatever fan club these people were planning to do.

He would make sure these people would be bitten to death, permanently.

So yeah, I really want Tsuna to call his best friends by their first names, and it will also be easier for me to write (grins). Enma being the sensible friend that he is made me happy. He's so cute (giggles). I love Ciel too so yeah, I gave her this chapter to establish her character. Oh and pardon Hayato's cursing and Takeshi's threats. Also, Tsuna's thoughts were also kind of out of character, or is it? Let me know what you think!

RR. Thanks for dropping by!

#Mari / 6.21.2022