Disclaimer: I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.

The writing might seem kind of weird, so just know that if it's like (this) its just a continuation of a sentence or one of my afterthoughts, if its like (this) its the characters own thoughts, "if its like this" its in another language, "if its like this" the word has emphasis.

Word Count: 7965

Part 8: Tutoring Isn't Really Hell

Nana had known there would be a tutor; she had thought they wouldn't be necessary. She of course did understand that sooner or later or children's school work would go up a level and there would come a point where she would not be able to help them.

Reborn-kun had also said that he wasn't just any home tutor and that he would be doing his absolute best to make her children into the brightest pupils ever. It made her wonder where exactly Iemitsu had found Reborn-kun and though she wanted the best for her kids, she would like for them to move at a pace that was comfortable for them.

She had told Reborn that and he had readily agreed, stating that he would not push his students unless he knew they were absolutely ready for it.

Nana wasn't too sure about it, something about Reborn felt off – just like Iemitsu, just like Timoteo-san – but he did seem to want the best for her children and that's all she could really ask for.

"I suppose we'll give it a try."

There was a noise of protest from Natsume, who had actually been hoping her mother would say no. Feeling her mother's gaze on her, Natsume resumed eating, at least happy with the way her mother had cooked her piece of chicken – spicy (very spicy), with a slight tangy flavor.

"But if we really have no need of you, Reborn-kun, please don't feel too bad."

Reborn smiled, nodding in understanding, "Of course Sawada-san."

A pleasant silence followed suit, everyone eating their fill – the chicken was well cooked, the flavor was great and topping it with grilled mangos added more to the dish. The side potatoes were creamy and cheesy all in one and Reborn idly thought that he could get used to this.

Home cooked meals like this often beat out an expensive night out, even if the food was high end.

When the meal was finished and the dishes were cleaned up and the table properly cleared, the twins resumed their homework from earlier, Reborn observing them. They asked questions when they needed to and either Nana or him would answer, Tsuna being the one to ask certain questions repeatedly.

It showed him a little of how the Sawada's went about their daily life and it was a nice little thing they had going on. He couldn't really see how Iemitsu willingly kept his distance when he could have this – then again, no one who goes into the Mafia like Iemitsu had really gets a chance to enjoy a calm life.

/ | \

Over the course of the next few weeks, Reborn's life was the simplest it had been in a long while. He was still waiting on either a letter or a call, noting that both Iemitsu and Nono were taking their time in responding. Just because life was easy at the moment didn't mean he was going to slack off on why he was really here, though he made sure the twins did their work and asked the right questions he was also waking them up at the crack of dawn and getting them ready for the day.

He had them running (for their lives, they had no clue that the cute little chameleon could turn into a flamethrower) to build up their stamina before school and then after school he drilled into them proper etiquette, Italian, and gave out hints on how to deal with an unwanted person.

You know, things that would eventually lead up to the Mafia lessons.

Which judging by the letter that had come earlier that day, would not be happening if Nono said so, even if Iemitsu had seemed to agree with it. Deciding to actually be completely honest for once in his life, Reborn had showed the two the correspondence.

"Well he said you couldn't," Natsume pointed out handing the letter over to Tsuna, "Nothing about us telling her."

"You'll be involving her in trouble if you tell her."

The girl rolled her eyes, fingers raking through her long hair as she tugged it up and tied it up, "Papa's already involved in it, which means we've already been a part of it, we just didn't know."

Tsuna folded the letter, handing it back to Reborn, "You could tell us, we'll find a way to explain to Mama."

Reborn tugged at one of his sideburns, before nodding, "So be it, shall we begin then?"

For the next two hours he explained to them about the Mafia, how it had come to be. He told of Vongola Primo and what he had stood for up until the current Vongola Boss Nono. He explained to him the situation, how dire it was and he was surprised at how calmly they took this.

Natsume had begun fiddling with a small purple stone halfway through the lecture and he wondered where she got that from because this was the first time he's seen since he joined their home about three weeks ago.

"So Vongola used to be good then?" she asked once he finished talking, she didn't necessarily sound upset, her voice had more of a dreamy quality to it. It was in her eyes which were now more indigo than amber. "And it falls to either me or Tsuna to clean up their mess?"

(She wasn't surprised this was going to happen. She was just annoyed that it was still happening, grown men and women had decided – or whoever it was left up too – that a civilian child that they had sealed away was now going to be their puppet. Like hell she would let that happen.)

"There's a chance we can really fuck up Vongola," Natsume continued on, ignoring the 'tsk' her brother aimed at her. "Or destroy it."

Reborn shrugged, not really liking her words, nor the promise that lay in them, "I'm here to build you two up, what you do is up to you."

Timoteo's plan to build up the two feeling as if they owed Vongola would fail; Reborn could see it happening unless something changed in the distant future. Judging by how bright her eyes were and the feel of her flames (both the mist and the sky), Natsume was serious about what she had just said.

(As long as he didn't have to clean up that mess, they could do whatever they want.)

/ | \

School had gone well; Natsume got to know Kurokawa and Sasagawa a little better (they even met Sasagawa's brother who was very….very….extreme?)

It was time to go home and enjoy the short time between here and home, before Reborn got his hands on them and ran them through with his 'tutoring' sessions. Natsume hoped they did another Italian lesson today, though meditation wouldn't be too bad either (running though, she hated running, she had a feeling they were going to be running.)

Yamamoto was with them and was about to say goodbye and head off to baseball practice when a sharp call of 'You' got their attention. Neither Natsume nor Tsuna recognized the teen that approached them, a disapproving look on his features especially when he glanced over at Tsuna.

"Mochida-senpai!" Yamamoto greeted, a bit surprised at the tone the second year was using. Sure Mochida was known to have a temper, but he was never outright aggressive to those he had never met and Yamamoto was sure the two Sawada's hadn't met the Kendo Captain.

Something niggled at Natsume and without much thought she had put Tsuna behind her, while Yamamoto stood on her other side.

"I need to talk to you," Mochida had heard from the first year Kendo club members about how odd it was that Sasagawa Kyoko and Yamamoto Takeshi had been hanging around Sawada Tsunayoshi – a boy who Mochida had heard was considered No Good behind his back.

Why would a guy that was supposed to be one of the worst get Kyoko's attention, Mochida had no clue, but he had a feeling (he was assuming) that the kid was trying to aim higher for what he probably deserved. And that irked him, he who was captain, had the physical skills and good looks didn't have a chance with Kyoko – so why should this brat?

"Move," Mochida said to the girl and Yamamoto, who only frowned at him while the girl gave him a slight huff.

"Leave him alone," by the way Yamamoto referred to him, he was one of the older students and why, why would a second year have a problem with her brother. There hadn't been a problem for a couple weeks and now this?

"Sawada!"

Tsuna perked up, his eyes widening at the tone. Yamamoto blinked at the sudden change in his friend and his frown sharpened.

"Who do you think you are hanging around people out of your league?"

A sound left Tsuna, which Natsume translated as 'confused' and she was actually confused as well, because who was out of Tsuna's league? It couldn't be just because they had lunch with Kurokawa and Sasagawa – or yeah, maybe that could be it.

Kurokawa was right, boys were stupid monkeys.

"You should learn your place –"

Natsume cleared her throat, cutting him off and getting his attention on her, "I dare you to finish that."

Mochida gave her a dismissing look, "You stay out of this, girl."

The bright smile he got would have been nice if he didn't feel dread pool in his stomach. Mochida ignored it, she might have a scary smile, but she was a girl what could she possibly do?

"Then leave my brother alone."

"I said stay out of –"

There was a prissy little sniff he got (women were so easy to upset) and he was about to push her aside when her hand clamped down around his wrist before he even touched her and she twisted it. Yamamoto was about to step in and put himself between the two when he noted the color of Natsume's eyes.

Weren't her eyes hazel?

"One more chance to leave us alone."

Mochida scowled and wrenched his hand away from the girl's, "You should learn your place bitch." The pursed lips and raised brow was read as 'oh really now' instead of the weepy, insulted look he was expecting from her.

"Oyy, that hurts my feelings/Don't call my sister that!/Mochida-senpai!" were the three responses he got and really how did these two kids who had to scrape themselves out of the bottom and barely held themselves as average get friendly with the baseball player and Kyoko?

"Senpai the club activities are about to start soon, we should get going," Yamamoto stepped forward in front of Natsume and blocking the twin's out of Mochida's sight. The older teen's lip curled in distaste, 'keh' leaving his mouth as he turned around and headed towards the gym.

Yamamoto's shoulder's drooped, turning halfway to give the two a worried look, "Mochida-senpai isn't usually like that, and I don't understand why he would do that."

Natsume already had Tsuna pressed up beside her, her arm around his shoulder's, her cheek leaning against the top of his head as he leaned his head against her shoulder, "We're used to it Yamamoto, you shouldn't worry yourself over it."

That was terrible, did people just come up to them and talk down to them and call them names.

"It's not right –"

"Yamamoto-kun," it was Tsuna who spoke up, raising his head up from where it had been and staring up at the tall teen, "You're going to be late."

"But what if –"

Here Natsume gave him a very toothy smile one that made Yamamoto shiver, because there were promises in that smile that made him feel like he was going to get hurt, "I can handle whatever comes our way, I've done it before."

She was stronger than she looked, especially now with Reborn pushing them to become stronger, faster and better. She may not have Sasagawa's delicate build, nor Kurokawa's height – she had her mother's build and her father's strength (and flames that pushed her forward and made it possible to deal the hurt she wanted to give out).

Unknown to her, her eyes glowed, Tsuna's lighting up in time with hers, "Family protects family when it comes down to it."

"We'll see you tomorrow, Yamamoto-kun."

Yamamoto watched them walk away, a feeling that he knew too well rising and settling in his chest. He waved them off, giving them a halfhearted smile, even when his eyes narrowed and he jealously watched them walk away hand in hand.

What would he give to have someone watch out for him like that, he only had people looking at him and expecting things from him, never once getting the help that he seemed to quietly scream for (there was his father, but Yamamoto didn't want to put down his old man, not after what happened with his mother).

He made his way towards the gym, the toe of his shoe scuffing against the ground. He supposed that was what he got when he always said he was 'fine' that it was 'okay'.

/ | \

Reborn had cut the two's walk home short, blinking those big black eyes of his and the twins got the feeling that the small baby knew about what had been about to happen.

"Hey Reborn," Tsuna greeted, not yelping this time around in surprise, though the amber tinge in his eyes did fade away. Reborn eyed the fading color, both in Tsuna's and Natsume's eyes and nodded in greeting.

"Good day at school?" Reborn asked, jumping up and settling himself on Tsuna's shoulder once the two stopped holding each other. They were awfully touchy and weren't at all ashamed in doing so in public, which was refreshing to see in siblings instead of the usual screaming and hurting each other (though the screaming did happen and Tsuna was oddly proficient in putting Natsume in a headlock.)

"School was good," Natsume responded, reaching behind her head and undoing her hair tie and letting her hair fall loose (she could feel a headache starting up because of it). "Though fuck that Mochida guy."

"Stop cursing, where did you even get that from," Tsuna chastised and while Natsume pondered an answer for that, she really didn't think that the dead girl she remembered being was a potty mouth and she was slowly slipping into that old habit.

The rest of the way home descended into bickering, Natsume overusing curse words because it would annoy Tsuna and Reborn wanting to roll his eyes because they were being childish, even if they had a right to be (they were thirteen).

"We'll be going out to the forest today again, so be prepared."

Tsuna gave a slight groan, but he trudged upstairs once they got home, knowing that his sister was in this mess with him.

/ | \

They were sore when they got back home, though the buzz they felt flowing through them dulled it some. Tsuna felt better than he had in years, he also hadn't tripped once since they began their 'jog' back home (Reborn really was harsh, but it was a good kind of harsh).

After cooling down and making sure they stretched well, Natsume let herself fall onto the couch, not really caring when Tsuna fell on top of her. Even if she felt gross, she felt better than she had in a long while. Her mind wasn't trying to figure out what was wrong, her memories weren't popping up as often as they were, Reborn wasn't the terror she thought he would be (he seemed to have taken what she asked of him seriously, not once had he hit or done anything against them for no reason, though he did wield Leon like a threat and that often spurred them on when they began to lag).

The Reborn from that story would have bullied and kicked Tsuna around because he felt like it, but this one, he listened to them (he was also really good at explaining math, like sorry Aoba-sensei, but you've been replaced).

The etiquette lessons were a bit of a pain, but they didn't happen often, learning Italian was another way to communicate with their father (and that would have her at four languages), and learning about how the Mafia is and how they work was kind of interesting.

Tsuna often wrinkled his nose in distaste when Reborn would bring up the Mafia Wars or what each Don (and the lone Donna) of Vongola had done to further along the family. Her brother saw it just as well as she did how the Vongola had fallen and it was saddening because Giotto had tried his best to not make Vongola that.

It was all really Ricardo's fault.

There was no point in blaming dead men, the only ones who could turn Vongola around where those who were currently a part of it and they were already steeped and too used to the bloodshed.

"A revolution – not like the French though," Tsuna had murmured to her when Reborn had finally gone to bed, though unbeknownst to the two of them, he was listening.

"Really Tsuna?"

mew.

The kitten called up, stretching up and letting its claws sink into Tsuna's bed spread, while Natsume happily cooed at it, Tsuna gave it a slight glare.

"Oh Emi, my precious baby~" it was so weird to hear his sister baby talk the small cat, especially when she cradled it in her arms as if it actually was an infant. She messed with the cats front orange paw, absolutely enjoying the way the kitten would play with her finger.

"Bed Tsume, go."

She hummed and bid him goodnight, shutting the door with a quiet click behind her.

They were amusing, Reborn thought, as he let his body relax just enough so he could sleep and if they kept up with it, certainly capable of doing what they put their minds too.

He wondered if they would be able to handle the incoming storm.

Part 9: He's Loud, He's Proud, He's kind of Obsessed

She had come to realize that the stone she had tended to carry around had helped her in more ways than one. She could sense a familiar warmth in the stone that reached out and soothed her (along with something else).

Reborn had been training her and her brother how to get in tune with their flames, having them meditate out in the forest (where it was nice and quiet, the sounds of nature soothing even though some of the bugs weren't). This stone, it called to a part of her that had been locked away (like Tsuna) and if she considered it also had a hand in taking down her own seal, which at the moment was being held together by a few threads (Reborn's observations, not hers, though he probably thinks her other flame has something to do with it).

She has to return to that shop, to ask questions, how and why.

She knew sooner or later she would not be able to keep up with Tsuna's training; he was a pure Sky unlike her. She was a Mist first, then a Sky.

Maybe…..that man…..he had said his name was Kawahira right? Maybe he could help her; he had given her this small gift.

She breathed out, setting the stone on her nightstand and went to bed.

She couldn't stay up and overthink things tonight; she could do that tomorrow after Hishida-sensei's exam.

/ | \

Walking into class 1A, she found Yamamoto who grinned at her.

"Hey," Yamamoto greeted as she took up Tsuna's usual seat, "Tsuna went out a while ago during class," here he seemed to frown, "I'm surprised he's not back yet."

She was about to ask something when the sound of explosions going off sent warning bells inside her head.

"Oh no," she was about to get out of her seat, only for Yamamoto to be in the way of her doing that.

"Hey, breathe, you're looking a little pale," a strangled sound escaped her mouth, because funny (she was nowhere near pale) but she did breathe out slowly. Her shoulders had risen with her nerves and she relaxed them.

(bomber, silver hair, angry, so much rage, hurt, hurt, doesn't belong, doesn't have anything, doesn't care about his life.)

She felt sick, she should have remembered, but she had forgotten, it was hard to keep track when she was busy living life and actually enjoying it for once instead of worrying and looking over her shoulder (she was paranoid, the sealed state had made her worse because she didn't understand why. She was so violent and brash, so ready to fight on behalf of her brother, but that was over, it was settling.)

"We should look for Tsuna," she was calmer and she wondered what that was about when a minute ago she had wanted to freak out. She stood up, Yamamoto stepping back to let her do so as she followed the sound explosions (how could people just ignore that?)

"I'll go with you!"

"Onwards we go, my fair knight," she said a bit airily not noticing the slight pink dusting Yamamoto's cheeks as she did. She hadn't realized she was getting comfortable around them and was slipping and talking like she usually did with Tsuna when they were home (safe and sound and able to be their silly selves).

People seemed to be avoiding the corridor they walked down and even Yamamoto had mentioned to her that they should head back, she looked at him with one brow raised, "You can go." And she pushed onwards until they were near the courtyard where there was yelling and curses being thrown around.

There was a roar, one that sounded like Tsuna when he entered Dying Will Mode and peered through the courtyard's entrance and caught sight of a bright head of hair and "That's fucking dynamite!" her tone was disbelieving and did Yamamoto seriously poke her side right now for cursing?

She lightly slapped his hand away and walked on, seeing a familiar fedora wearing baby who was staring at the ensuing fight. She sat herself right beside him, Yamamoto standing right beside her as he looked on a little blown away because the kid that was fighting was the one who people used to call No Good Tsuna (he heard the rumors).

"You're supervising, I assume?"

The baby didn't acknowledge her, though maybe he did in way of Leon flicking his tongue at her.

"Look, Natsume."

She didn't want to, but she did, not at all surprised when she saw Tsuna dancing around and extinguishing the ridiculous amount of explosives that had been thrown. By the end of it the silver haired teen had fallen to his knees though she couldn't make out his expression from far away (she needed glasses, they weren't that far damnit).

"You are worthy of being called Vongola Decimo!"

Natsume brought her knees up, letting her forehead rest against them. They weren't there yet, they acknowledged the training and lessons and everything Reborn threw at them, but they still hadn't really accepted the 'Mafia Boss' title that would come at the end

They still hadn't told Nana.

"He's all yours Natsume," Reborn said before he disappeared off to who knows where. She raised her head a little, letting it tilt back just a little bit, an exasperated sound leaving her. She got up, dusting off her the back of her skirt.

"It seems we have a new person to our group," she commented to Yamamoto who looked over at the transfer student curiously.

"You think so?"

The closer they got they could hear the silver haired teen blubbering, down on his knees and bowing before a half dressed Tsuna. When the teen raised his head, he cast a glare at the two of them, one that Natsume returned.

"I have your shoes Tsuna," she had picked them up on their way here and handed them over, "Who's your friend?"

Tsuna tilted his head to the side, ignoring the teen's slight growl, "Eh? This is Gokudera Hayato," he finished buttoning his shirt and Tsuna waved over a hand at Natsume, "Gokudera-san, this is my sister Sawada Natsume and my friend Yamamoto Takeshi."

She honestly didn't know what it was sometimes, but she enjoyed the slack jawed expression as she wiggled her fingers at him and gave him a toothy smile.

"So mind explaining what all that was, hm?"

Poor, poor Gokudera, if he knew any better he wouldn't say anything incriminating. By the way Decimo shook his head, holding his arms up in an 'x' position, Gokudera kept his tongue. Natsume cast an annoyed looked at Tsuna who only gave her an impish grin.

"At least not here, we don't want trouble."

"Point, we should leave before the committee decides to show up and 'enforce the peace'," Natsume sighed out, using air quotes.

"Will they really?" asked Gokudera finally standing up and dusting himself off, there was a hard look in his eye and the trio before him didn't know what to make of it.

"Yeah, sometimes over the pettiest things, y'know they say they're here to keep the rules and peace, but some of them only do it if they feel like it," she explained (it was one of the first things she noticed when she got here and seriously so many things could have been avoided if the committee actually did what they were supposed too). "It's what you get for getting a bunch of a delinquents together and hoping they establish order. Some will try, others, well, they prefer to take advantage of the students."

Yamamoto looked surprised by this, "Really? I never noticed that."

Natsume scoffed, "That's because you're the Golden Boy, Yamamoto, you're up there, came in with doing something actually good. Us," she gestured between her and Tsuna, "Most people don't have anything good to say, so we're easy pickings."

"Natsume, I think you should keep your voice down," Tsuna said to her, noticing a few committee members beginning to show up.

"Tch, whatever, s'not like I care," she was sure they heard that, but it's like she said, she didn't care.

Intermission 2

The Disciplinary Committee (or the Group of Delinquents as Natsume often called them) was supposedly there to keep the peace. It was one of the first things that Umino-sensei had told them about on the very first day of school.

I hadn't heard much about them since then until a couple weeks later when a group of old 'friends' decided to come by and say hi.

If I acknowledged them I was screwed, if I ignored them I was screwed.

And I wasn't much for fighting back or saying anything against them, the thought of even doing so made my tongue shrivel up and the feeling of wanting to curl up into a ball got stronger. Izuna had been saying something, but he usually repeated himself so I could probably recite everything he said word for word.

I was shoved and I stumbled a little.

The trio surrounded me and continued talking down to me. It made me wonder why they thought what they said would hurt me? I knew who I was; I had a mother who loved me for me and a sister who would do anything for me. Maybe once upon a time I would have wished to be strong and tall like my father – but I didn't want to be the man who hurt his family, who stayed away and only spared a phone call or a letter every month for them.

I saw one of committee members walking by, though compared to the others I had seen he looked a little more thuggish.

The Disciplinary Committee was supposed to keep the peace right? They were supposed to help the students and watch out for things like this…..right?

So why did he just dismiss us?

Couldn't he see that I had no way of defending myself, that what the three before me were breaking the rules?

I held back a sigh, my bangs covering my eyes. I brushed them aside and made to get up, but I was pushed back down and it was Miroko who probably made a remark.

"Y'know I would have thought you three would be a little better, but I guess I was wrong," came Natsume's drawl (which meant she wasn't happy at all). The three before me stilled, Anaya being the only one to look over her shoulder and making a rude gesture towards Natsume. "Wow, I'm so offended."

"Come on, Anaya," that was Izuna again, "Before the committee members pass by again."

"Che, whatever, see ya Dame-Tsuna."

The trio walked away just as Natsume reached out to help me out "Y'know for thinking they're so good, they left pretty quick."

I gave my sister a deadpan look, "They scared of you," I told her in English, making her roll her eyes.

"I wonder why?"

"Let's just go home, yeah?" I reverted back to Japanese, the committee member from earlier passing by once more. Once they were out of the school and on their usual path home, I brought up it up, "Y'know how they said the Disciplinary Committee keeps things 'peaceful'," here I used air quotes.

"Yeaa?"

"Well they suck at it."

"Pfft, what did you expect from a group of delinquents?"

/ | \

It was an interesting time once Gokudera had joined their group.

It was livelier, much, much louder and explosive.

Literally.

How Gokudera brought in so much freaking dynamite, neither Natsume nor Tsuna had any clue how he managed it, but he did and it wasn't rare for at least one or two (or a dozen) to go off in the lunch period. Gokudera's fiery temper (why was everything so literal with this kid?) seemed to clash with Yamamoto's easy going nature and at times with Kurokawa (and don't get started on the time Ryohei came through).

And that was just the fourth day of him having lunch with them.

"If you keep doing that you're going to get the head prefect's attention," one Kurokawa Hana pointed out looking a little fed up with the one sided fight happening before her. Really, when was the silver haired monkey going to get that he wasn't phasing Yamamoto? As smart as Gokudera was, it seemed as if he was very short sighted.

"Gokudera-san," Tsuna called, trying not to make a face when said boy turned to him looking as if he was the most amazing thing in the world. He wasn't, he was just Sawada Tsunayoshi, who may or may not have a chance of becoming a Mafia Boss to one of the bloodiest families in the entire underworld. "Calm down please."

Gokudera looked about to protest, but he felt those eyes on him. He gave a stilted nod and sat back down, though not before he glared (which was really him squinting his eyes because he didn't really need his glasses or at least that's what he told himself) at Yamamoto. The idiot baseball player merely gave him one of his cheery smiles, making Gokudera's hackles rise.

"Stop baiting him, Yamamoto," it was nice to not have Natsume's full attention anymore; instead it was on the sheepish baseball player, who only rubbed the back of his head. Natsume shook her head, letting her face fall into her hands, "It's only Monday guys, and we've only been doing this for four days."

Really when did her life involve four (five if you counted Ryohei who was sometimes there, but not really) other people that had nothing to do with them. This little clique of theirs seemed drawn to each other, even if Kurokawa did stick her nose up at them sometimes (it was funny and Natsume could relate so bad) because her life had gone from slightly normal to a little absurd.

"Tenth – ack!" she threw one of her grapes at Gokudera, "A-ah Tsuna-san," the teen quickly corrected when the green fruit hit his cheek. He didn't understand her displeasure at addressing his Boss by his title and one day he was going to lose it, but not in front of the Tenth because that was his sister and he couldn't just yell at her in front of him.

He continued on as if he hadn't been interrupted, "Quarter exams are next week, I was wondering if we could study together." Gokudera was kind of proud of himself for not blushing or stuttering while asking.

Tsuna made a face that made Natsume want to squish his cheeks together, "I forgot those were next week."

"Oh, we should do a study group!" Yamamoto piped in, because he kind of really needed the help, his grades weren't the best and if they kept going the route they were going (which was down) he would be benched or worse kicked off the baseball team.

Which could not happen.

"Oh that sounds like it would be fun!" Kyoko chimed in, her eyes lighting up at the idea of hanging out with the others. They were all so lively and she was kind of glad her curiosity got the best of her that one day, even if Hana only tolerated the boy's because of her (and maybe Natsume).

Gokudera wanted to yell at them, he didn't invite them and they just decided to include themselves. It would have been his chance to show his Boss (future Boss) what he could do and perhaps begin the path of forgiveness for trying to kill Tsuna (who had already pushed that day to the far, far corner of his mind).

"That sounds like a great idea," a voice unknown to the others, but very familiar to the twin's spoke up. All heads swiveled to look at the new student who stood on top of Kurokawa's desk (said girl felt a shiver and her skin prickle at the sight of the short student). The long haired girl wore a modified version of Nami-chuu's uniform and appeared just a tad shy by the way she seemed to fidget with her hair. "We could all meet at the Sawada's house where their handsome tutor Reborn could help us."

The others ignored the loud smacking sound (Natsume face palming) and the choked sound (Tsuna's juice didn't go down right) that the twin's made at that.

"Oh, he wouldn't mind would he?" Kyoko asked, she hadn't known that the two had a tutor but she had noted that Tsunayoshi-san had been improving in his classes and though he still got called out by some of the sensei's he was able to answer their questions.

"Of course he wouldn't, he's all for helping those in need."

"Sawada-san won't mind?" Yamamoto asked, he had met the twin's mother once and he wondered if she would mind such a large group of them being over her home.

"Don't I get a say in this?" asked Gokudera, it had been his idea, why were they making away with it without letting him have a word in.

"Mama won't mind," Natsume answered after pulling her hands away from her face, completely ignoring Gokudera who had brought this on all of them. The attention was diverted from the new girl, who with a wry smirk made her exit and let the group focus back on each other.

When the others finally deigned to give the new girl a response, she was gone and while the others were only slightly curious, Natsume and Tsuna shared a look and shook their heads.

Their tutor was so weird.

/ | \

The week passed and Sunday came, having spent most of the morning cleaning up the mess in their rooms. When the twin's came down to eat some lunch, they were rather surprised at the amount of food their mother was making.

While Reborn was already sampling some of the food (he was partial to the fruit kabobs), Tsuna joined and began to dig into the freshly cooked plate of gyoza, not really caring that he would probably devour it all. Natsume picked one off before she headed into the kitchen, munching on it slightly as she watched her mother pull out a couple more ingredients from the fridge.

"Mama what else are you making?"

"Just things for you and your friends to snack on, Tsu-chan," perhaps Nana was going a little over board, but her children were bringing their friends over and for her it was something to celebrate. Nana began cutting up the avocado and green onion, putting both in a bowl and then squeezing a lemon over it.

"I was thinking that perhaps staying downstairs would give you all more room, just move the couches in the living room around."

Natsume made a noise that had Nana raising a brow at her and tried not to giggle when she saw the tip of her tongue sticking out, "Then why did we clean our rooms?"

Nana moved to fully face her daughter, a hand on her hip as she sighed, "So you can actually see the floor, I don't know how you two manage through that mess." She had given up long ago trying to maintain their mess, if they wanted to live like that, let them she wasn't going to give herself gray hair over it.

"We live very well actually," her daughter grinned at her.

A soft laugh escaped Nana as she returned to the cutting board, picking out the ogo seaweed from the water she had left it soaking in and cutting it up as well.

"Is that Tuna Poke?" Nana nodded, already knowing that Natsume had wrinkled her nose in dislike of the dish.

"I've also already made you that shrimp and crab ceviche you like," she had planned for it of course, knowing Natsume wasn't a big fan of eating raw fish. "There's also some macaroni salad in the fridge if you want to get a bit, but that's for dinner."

"Ah-kay Mama~"

She could hear the refrigerator door being opened and being shut as Natsume took out what was probably the ceviche and took it towards the dining table. She could hear her children talking between themselves, Reborn's voice telling them to just get on with it.

"Why did we clean our rooms then?"

Nana could picture Natsume shrugging, "Honestly I think it's because we brought down a lot of the 'missing' dishes when we cleaned your room."

"….aahh, that makes sense."

The sound of couches being pushed around and Natsume snapping at Tsuna for not putting in as much effort (her son could be so lazy sometimes) could be easily heard.

"Will you be around while the kids study, Nana-san?"

"Reborn, I've told you to call me auntie," Nana said first, she finished putting the last bits of the tuna in the bowl and began to mix around the ingredients. "I'll probably be in my room or outside in the garden."

"Tsuna that's mine!"

"I'm hungry, just lemme have a bit!"

"Tsunayoshi, no – agk!"

She wouldn't be surprised if the two were 'play' fighting with each other, though Tsuna did have a tendency to put Natsume in a headlock or found a way to trip his sister and sit on her just to annoy her. Judging by the whine (and the gloating laugh) it was the headlock.

"'Ey keiki -!" Nana was about to say more, but her son's voice telling Reborn 'we'll be good, promise! I'll stop see!' cut her off. It went in time with the doorbell ringing and as the front door was opened and greetings were exchanged that Nana couldn't help to smile.

It was almost like being back on the Island, with her cousins roughhousing with one another. It felt like she was really home.

Part 10: We Are Friends

"Oh please, Sawada-chan, call me Kyoko!" was what made Natsume realize that their little group had become more than just the 'group of people I actually talk to at school'. All it took was actually hanging out somewhere other than school, doing things 'friends' did (studying, eating, laughing with one another) together.

Natsume finished shuffling the stack of flash cards they had made and nodded, "Natsume is fine, Kyoko."

That got everyone else to chip in their part and by the end of it all they were on a first name basis, "Now that we have established the highest of friendships, let's put our collective studying to the test," she flicked through the cards not really remembering which stack she had grabbed, "The history round? Yeah, the history round uh, first question –"

By the end of it Hana and Hayato were butting heads, trying to see who would get the answer first, with Tsuna just a split second behind them though he was tamer about it. Setting the stack of notecards down on the coffee table, Natsume picked up her plate of ceviche and began to eat some, while Hana and Hayato bickered.

"Are you two done flirting yet?" Natsume asked after swallowing a forkful of her food, "We would like to continue on."

"Are they flirting?" asked Takeshi, tilting his head as he thought over it.

Hayato was spurting, looking fairly insulted, while Hana gave them a deadpanned look.

"As if!" the girl retorted, settling back down beside Kyoko who tried to smother the giggle that escaped her. "Kyoko, no, you know better!"

"But Hana-chan –"

"Don't you 'Hana-chan' me –"

Tsuna wisely didn't say anything, avoiding eye contact with Hayato who seemed to be looking for some kind of help. Instead he reached over and grabbed the notecards they had made for science. Biology was fun and all, but Nezu was kind of (very) terrible. They had actually managed through this one with Reborn's help, who corrected most of their notes and gave the appropriate information.

The small hitman also made a note to investigate Nezu (and the other sensei's) because there was something odd about the way the man taught his students.

"Okay, okay," Natsume placated, "Maybe we should stop and continue this another day, the studying has gotten to us."

They had been at it for a while, through various food breaks they had managed enough to not have to even worry about taking the accumulative exam at the end of the semester (thanks Reborn for shoveling more information than needed).

The sound of agreement that she got was good and they began to pack up and clean up any messes they had made.

"Sawada-san said if you all wanted to stay for dinner you are more than welcome too," Reborn piped up from beside Natsume, who flinched at the sudden voice and emitted an odd sound. The girl held her face in her hands, head slightly shaking and muttering 'why must you always do that?'

"Kyoko and I can't," Hana answered, feeling slightly bad about it, but then again she was already at her wit's end of putting up with Hayato. The guy wasn't bad; he was actually really smart and picked up on the material quickly for someone who just started.

Hana just needed a break from them all, they were exhausting.

"Maybe next time?" Kyoko added, as she finished putting her things away.

"For sure," Natsume responded finally recollecting herself and pulling her hands away from her face. "What about you two?"

Hayato seemed to be embarrassed, but said he didn't mind staying if it wasn't too much of a hassle and Yamamoto seemed to be on the same boat, though not at all embarrassed.

After the girl's had left, the four of them stewed in a quiet silence, not really knowing what else to do until Nana called them for dinner.

"We can play Mario Party," Tsuna suggested, scratching the side of his cheek.

"The perfect game to test our friendship," Natsume said once the two agreed, though Hayato was a bit gruff about it.

"Eh, what do you mean?" Takeshi asked as they all walked began to make their way to Tsuna's room. Natsume only smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners in her quiet mirth.

"Oh, you'll see."

/ | \

They hadn't even finished the game and by that time, Natsume had already cheated (she began the mini games before anyone realized they had started (1), Hayato had taken various pillows to the face (because he wouldn't stop screeching), Takeshi was actually trying to be fair, and Tsuna was somehow winning (he was a filthy cheater because this was all he did during school breaks).

"Stop doing that!" (Hayato)

"I'll stop when you stop yelling!" (Natsume)

"Come on guys, it's just a game!" (Takeshi)

"I see why Tsume said that." (Tsunayoshi)

This was the sight Reborn came upon when Nana had kindly asked him to call the kids down.

"Baseball is just a game! Hah, see you don't like that!" Natsume retorted, slightly enjoying pissing off everyone equally.

"Baseball is one of the best sports –"

"Don't you dare say that it's the best sport in the world," Hayato interrupted, after (gently) placing his controller down. "We all know its soccer."

"What does soccer have to do with anything? If anything volleyball is more –"

"You're literally smacking a ball around –"

"Boi if you don –"

"Why can't we all just get along?"

It was nice to see the kids bonding in such a way, even if they all began to argue over sports of all things. Reborn approached Tsuna, startling the brunet when he jabbed his side.

"A good Boss is able to control the situation."

It was also good to see that he didn't have to try finding suitable guardian's for either twin. They were all coming around rather nicely on their own and it showed just how strong the kids would be if they were able to ignore the empty presence of a Sky and befriend them instead of acting out against it.

"Is the food ready?" Tsuna asked, not about to acknowledge what Reborn had said and why he had said it. Reborn confirmed it with a nod and a knowing smile, before he exited the room. "Hey guys!" he called out over the three voices, which had begun to steadily rise. The three snapped towards him and he smiled kindly at them, "Foods ready."

Natsume was the first out of the room, closely followed by Takeshi, Tsuna and Hayato.

"Will it always be like this Tenth?" Hayato asked, accidentally slipping and addressing Tsuna differently.

"It's different from what I'm used to," Tsuna admitted, really when did they ever have friends over? Although it was a bit hectic keeping up with all the different personalities, it was nice. "But it's a good different."

"Oh…."

The two paused on the second to last step, Hayato's brow wrinkled in thought and Tsuna shook his head at him. He gave him a slight push to continue on downward, "Don't think about it too much, we're friends now aren't we?"

Even after the little spat (that had been started mostly on Reborn's behalf, Tsuna knew, somehow understood that Hayato hadn't really wanted to do it) between the two, Hayato had actually been one of the few to actually apologize after trying to hurt him.

Hayato perked up at that and gave Tsuna a smile of his own, scratching the back of his head as he did so, "We are aren't we?"

Friendship was odd for Hayato and if this was what was in store for him if he stuck with Tsuna, he wouldn't change it for the world.

Author Note:

(1) I'm that person tbh, my friend yelled at me for doing so, I didn't care, because she wouldn't stop winning. (and like Tsuna that's all she does with her life, so its unfair).

Well, as we can now all see everything has changed dramatically, at least compared to the last story (okay not dramatically, but its different). So far so good on this chapter, I think its the next couple ones that get a little weird so I have to reread them and hope they flow well (which to me it probably does, but I don't know about you guys). There are budding friendships, Natsume being the weird girl she was supposed to be but never really became in the last story.

Each chapter will have at least Two or Three Parts to them and an intermission, mostly because that gives me a focus for a section and makes it easier to write. So the titles are just that, sometimes they'll make sense, other times its just there because i'm terrible.

Ahh, thanks for all the favorites, alerts and reviews! Some questions were asked that would eventually be answered in a couple or so chapters (hopefully). Any errors or such please let me know!

PS. I do have a tumblr, its sorugao - bandgeek . tumblr . com, so if any of you have questions I'm there (also the messaging system there is way preferable over ff's.) There are some headcanons and badly drawn pictures of how I see my little baby girl, which are drawn by me.

Until next time~

I hope you all enjoyed~

Sorugao