Disclaimer: I don't own KHR or stuff.

Word Count: 8517

Intermission 18

Xanxus was young when he was brought into my care.

His mother had been spreading rumors of a child that I had fathered and I was curious as to why such wild tales would be told.

Upon meeting the boy I saw nothing that would label him as my son; there was no pull to the child as I had with my own children. It wasn't until his mother urged him to show his fire, understanding that I was going to leave him did I realize that he may be more than what he seemed.

At the tender age of nine he held a flame that others would have scrambled in haste to get.

I took him in as my own then and there, making sure that his mother would be taken care of for her remaining days. I brought that boy in and I did as best as I could to raise him.

Being Vongola of course I had other priorities and I could not dedicate the time to nurture Xanxus as I would like. So I did what I had done with my sons, I showed him my ways when I could, the tutors and maids that were assigned to watch him took care of the rest.

He grew to be brilliant, ruthless and efficient.

I'm sure you could have guessed that.

It was around the time I was beginning to show my sons the way of the Vongola Don did the atrocities that led to their deaths happen. I could not blame Xanxus, even though many have mentioned that perhaps he had a hand in that.

I stand firm that Xanxus would never.

He was the little brother of them all and they all meshed well together, if anything the boy looked up to them and I'm sure they were one of the reasons why he pushed himself, to be like them. His reaction when I told him that he would be unable to inherit the title of Decimo was subdued for him, but something in him did change that day.

He was more withdrawn, took great care to watch his steps. He kept a sharp eye on who followed him and was good at losing whoever I sent to keep an eye on him. It wasn't until several months later, after his sixteenth birthday that the reason for his change came to light.

A coup, Tsunayoshi.

Xanxus had changed, shown his true colors, his rage and anger for what he called a slight against him. This boy who I had taken in, had watched grow beside my own sons, considered him as one of my own, who I had to tell that he could not be Decimo formed a plot to overthrow me. The following that he gathered for that wasn't anything to scoff at, small in number they were, but they held against Vongola's forces well.

I couldn't let that stand, I had no choice but to put down the budding rebellion. Yes, it hurt me just as much as it has hurt Xanxus to do what I did, but what other choice did he give me?

I did what I thought was best for the situation and for Vongola.

And I will stand by it.

/ | \

Tsuna got home that night feeling conflicted.

Reborn had stayed behind, while one of Dino's men – Leonardo, he thought was his name, the one that Natsume got along with – brought him home. Now here he was, having long since trudged up the stairs staring at the fish plaque on his door and wondering why exactly he was left with this mess.

There was a thump that came from his sister's room, an apathetic meow, and his sister muttered something back to her cat that he couldn't exactly make sense of.

He shuffled away from his door, knocked on his sister's door, opening it when she made a sound of approval in time to see her tug her arms through her sleeping shirt and pull it down over her back. Her hair was wet, which started spotting the shirt….had it always been that long?

"Want me to brush your hair?" he asked, closing the door behind him, moving over to her bed and taking a seat on it, holding his hand out for Emi to sniff. The cat smelled him, its tongue licking at his knuckles before it got up and moved to the farther side of the bed and curled up into a ball. "Your cat hates me."

"You're the one always saying she's evil," Natsume said, handing him a wooden brush, opening up the bottle she had picked out of one of the drawers of her dresser and lathering her hair up. "Be gentle on the tangles."

"Pfft, when aren't I?"

"I've seen you brush your hair Tsuna."

"Hm."

And she sat down, her back to him. He split her hair up in three sections, running his fingers through certain tangles as he did, before starting on the first section he made and began the process of brushing. It was quiet, minus the fact Emi's soft snores and the sound of the brush going through some tangles. Minutes went by and he was almost done with her hair, setting the brush down as he began to braid it, curling the ends around his finger so that it would hold for a while.

"Done."

His sister nodded his head, scooting forward and laying back, her head resting beside his leg as she gazed up at him with an inquiring gaze. She sniffed a little, her right hand coming up and tapping underneath this nose, "What's up?"

He was about to shake his head and say nothing, but then he thought it over, "I was left to decide what to do with Xanxus." His sister's brow furrowed, he placed his hand over it, pushing the skin of her forehead together so that it wrinkled up, she in turn grabbed his wrists and pulled them away, mouth pursed as she levelled him with a stern look.

"Tsuna."

"Timoteo-ossan just might beat out dad for worst father of the year."

"Should you be saying that about the old man?"

Tsuna shrugged his shoulders, "Tsume I'm beginning to think that the Mafia makes for awful fathers." His sister sighed, pushing herself up and sliding back to sit beside him, putting an arm around his shoulders and jostling him lightly.

"Hey –"

"The old man gave me until Sunday to make a decision, I – I honestly don't know what to do," and he let his head rest on her shoulder, exhaling heavily as he came clean to his sister. Seriously what was he supposed to do?

He had been told what Xanxus had been like as a child, how he had always been ambitious and ready to prove himself. That he had taken the deaths of his brother's very personally and after being told that he would not be able to be heir, the young teen (at the time) had stood for it, albeit reluctantly.

Something had happened in the year of the death of the last brother for Xanxus to suddenly decide to stage a Coup and come down on Vongola as he had. Timoteo wasn't telling him, just saying that Xanxus had changed drastically, angry, raging and full of hatred.

A sense told Tsuna that there was more to it and it seemed to be only him that took what the old man was saying with a grain of salt. Then again few would dare openly question and demand the Don for more than what he was giving. He had already stepped the line by questioning Timoteo as he had, and he would have kept pushing but he knew to keep his tongue.

"I feel like there's something missing, from what Timote-ossan says Xanxus just lost it and went on a rampage."

She didn't like Xanxus (which was putting it mildly), but she also didn't like Timoteo. She nibbled on her lower lip as she considered her words, knowing that he was coming to her and no one else, "Have you considered asking the sword guy, with the nice hair?"

"Superbia?"

"Sure why not," she couldn't recall his name at the moment, but she wouldn't doubt that was it.

"He's off limits, I was told not to talk with them."

Natsume snorted, rolling her eyes, "See this is why you need me, because I never listen to shit like that, so here's what you're going to do, you're going to find a way to talk to Superbia because who wouldn't know Xanxus like that guy?"

"How?"

"You know if I didn't care about you so much I would punch you for that dumb question, really Tsuna?"

Right, right, his sister had shown up with some gnarly stuff the last couple of days, it wouldn't be too farfetched for her to be able to get them to see a guy who was probably under heavy guard. He straightened up; slightly appreciating the devilish smile his sister gave him.

"Just leave it to me, okay?"

/ | \

He had been given a necklace that had a smoky looking crystal hanging off of it. His sister had redressed herself into warmer clothes, before showing him how to sneak out without getting caught.

(Well now he knew how she had been getting out of the house that week.)

They made it to the hospital in less than thirty minutes, Tsuna feeling his nerves begin to get to him because he hadn't actually done anything like sneaking around. His sister squeezed his hand, giving him an encouraging smile and a thumbs up, "We'll be fine."

Indigo flames brushed over him, the sensation feeling odd as something ushered for him to be calm and quiet, to listen and to follow. A warmer, less prickling feeling came next and this was one soothed him, helped him breathe easier, his nerves settling down.

"What floor is everybody on?" she asked him as they made their way in, letting him lead while keeping her focus on hiding them.

"The ninth floor."

"You're kidding right?"

"It's not a joke."

She shook her head, but didn't say anything else after that, the pair making their way up the stairs instead of the elevator. Reaching the ninth floor took a while, but once they made it, they were barely out of breath (a good thing, if not all that exercise that they had been doing would have been for nothing.)

"This way," Tsuna murmured, tugging Natsume's hand and walking by Timoteo's room. The Varia where held a corridor down from where the old man was and it took Natsume sending out some small mist animals to get the room where Squalo was.

The man that stood watch at Squalo's room was Leonardo, the blond familiar to Natsume who was always nice to her and greeted her whenever Dino brought him along. Tsuna stood behind Natsume, watching as his sister stood in front of Leonardo, the man furrowing his brow as he felt as if he was being watched.

"Listen only this once, you must lose yourself to thoughts that worry you, but you must still stay here and watch over – do you understand your position?"

The man cleared his throat, his eyes glazing over, yet still looking as if he was keeping watch.

"Tell me Leo, is there a guard switch any time soon?"

The blond looked down at his watch, shrugging his shoulders, cracking his neck to the side, a sigh leaving him as he murmured, "Fifteen more minutes."

"Thank you Leo," she stepped around the man, tugging Tsuna along who watched a little amazed at what he had seen happen. "This may feel a little weird Tsuna, but just go with it, okay?"

She placed her hand against the door, a look of concentration on her face, similar to when she had phased through the doors at school to get to Takeshi. With a deep breath she walked through the door, pulling him along.

It was a weird sensation, as if he was passing through goo, but knowing that if anything went wrong his body would be a pincushion of splinters. As soon as they went through it, they were out of it and there was a confused, yet very aggravated looking swordsman staring them down from his bed.

"Before you yell, or do anything attention grabbing, know," Natsume paused placing her hand against the wall and sending out a pulse of indigo fired that lit all walls of the hospital room. "No one will hear you~"

"The fuck do you want?"

Tsuna stepped forward, his sister ignoring the silver haired man and leaning against the door, "What happened to Xanxus."

Squalo stared, both brows rising before sneering at them, "The fuck do you care?" Really the little shit shouldn't be bothering asking around about the Boss, there was no point, they were all fucked, what good would him knowing about Xanxus' help them?

They lost their chance and now they had to wait for their punishment.

Tsuna frowned, "Look I don't like any of you," Natsume made a sound at that, Tsuna ignored her. "But I'm not being told the whole story and I'd rather know what the hell has happened before I stick my foot out and step on a crappy situation."

The swordsman continued to stare intently at the two teens, mostly focused on the Decimo brat, before shaking his head, "Don't know why it fucking matters to you, it doesn't matter anymore does it? We're all fucked."

"That really depends."

"Depends on what shit stain?"

Tsuna gave the man close lipped smile, eyes closing as he did so, "What I decide," and he moved forward, taking a seat at the lone chair beside Squalo's bed. "So Squalo-san, what was Xanxus' grudge, what led him to stage a coup?"

Intermission 19

I didn't fucking know.

I just knew Xanxus was the man to follow, he rose above the others, had proved himself, and walked with a gait that just demanded that he be looked at. He was a suave motherfucker, rarely letting what others said get to him.

The one and only time it got to that asshole, it was when Don Vongola had taken him aside after Federico's funeral. I don't know what happened in that meeting, but Xanxus came out different, more subdued. The days that followed it Xanxus was rarely seen; don't know what the hell he was doing – if he was trying to figure out his brother's killers or what.

It wasn't til months later that he came up to me and asked for my help.

Fucker actually asked for my help.

At sixteen he was planning something dangerous, that he kept mum over. I respected him, I followed him even though he wasn't saying much of what was going on.

Let me guess, Don Vongola glossed over the whole Cradle Affair?

Only told you he had to as he did, because he had no choice, 'lest Vongola be torn apart?'

That old man, seems so nice doesn't he? Appears like a caring grandfather, but is able to spin everything his way. There's a reason he's led Vongola for so long, I fucking recommend not falling for the act.

Xanxus found one of his books, the old Don likes to write, usually keeps shit hidden, but when Xanxus wants something he finds a way to get it.

Something in the book pissed him off though, right over the edge.

Don Vongola can't be honest with anyone, couldn't be upfront with Xanxus and tell him why he couldn't lead Vongola. Old man just let the Boss believe he had a chance, that he was actual blood and related to him. You want to know why you were chosen over Xanxus, why you were pulled out of your fucking carefree life and given that shit hanging around your neck?

Blood.

This whole Vongola Boss comes down to blood and your ass just so happens to be able to actually inherit. Doesn't matter if you're capable of leading or not.

Fucking Xanxus is an adopted bastard that Nono took in only because of what he was capable of at a young age, the old man never bothered rectifying the situation or correcting anything that Xanxus could have assumed.

He just let the Boss think that he had a chance and the Boss proved himself to the old man time and time again, that he would be able to lead the Vongola if the time ever came.

And when the time comes the Boss is told, "No you can't."

No reason.

No nothing.

Of course Xanxus fucking lost it, trained or not he was sixteen. How would he not get pissed? How would he not want to get back at the fuck that led him along all his life? He even got supporters for this cause, to overturn Vongola to fucking change it.

He was put on ice, literally after a fight broke out between him and his supposed old man and now all those supporters are fucking gone or in hiding, unless Don Vongola finds them and takes them out for good.

Ha, you okay shit stain?

Surprised?

Part 46: He Decides

"Tsuna we have to get going."

Squalo gave them a sharp grin as the girl ushered the brunet up and led him out. Whatever the girl had put up fell away, he could hear what was going on outside now, the pacing of his guard, the words of another before his door opened and he was checked on.

"Where the fuck do you think I'm going?"

Ballsy, he gave them that.

Fucking kids, yeah, but there was already a difference to what he thought they were and how they really were. Didn't mean he liked them, but he could give them a little respect.

If his Boss wasn't a ball of fucking ice at the current moment, he'd probably laugh at the idea that someone was getting around Timoteo and actually getting away with it.

Ballsy fucking brats.

/ | \

"Why do I get the feeling we're all being played by an old man?"

"Because he's the one whose been pulling the strings and calling the shots?"

"I used to think he was so nice."

"He probably is, but y'know….Mafia boss."

The chains of the swing made a light screeching sound as Tsuna pushed himself , Natsume who sat on the other one beside them sat idle just watching her brother. She was still shaking, having had a close call with the changing guard and barely managing to get around a shaggy haired doctor who had felt the disturbance that was them.

Tsuna sighed, digging his feet into the ground and kicking up some of the wooden chips, feeling a few get into his shoes, "This sucks."

"I mean it also sucks to just watch all this happen without being able to do anything, but I'm sure it sucks a lot more when you're at the center of it all."

Tsuna narrowed his eyes at his sister, quietly judging her bland tone, "Are you really going to bring that up now?"

"No, I'm…just stressed and being an ass. Sorry."

The younger twin sucked in a breath, "Tsume your game is tomorrow, you should be resting not here."

His sister shrugged, lightly swinging herself, "I'll manage Tsuna."

"No, come on, let's go home –"

"Tsunayoshi," his sister said, not budging from her seat on the swing. "I'll manage, don't worry yourself." She sighed, lacing her fingers together before pulling one hands fingers back and cracking them and doing the same to the other.

"I shouldn't have, you have so much better –"

"Don't start that," Natsume cut him off, getting off the swing and putting an arm around her brother's shoulder, effortlessly putting him in a headlock. "Seriously, don't. I want to help; I'm always here to help, okay?"

She didn't say anything about his sniffling, or the watery hiccups that left him. It didn't matter how many times she would have to say it, Tsuna would probably always try to bring it up and get her to back away on her own.

They stayed there for a while after that, the pair eventually ending up on the floor, Natsume leaning against one of the thicker poles that held up the swing set, Tsuna sitting beside her.

"….thank you Tsume."

The girl smiled, humming lightly, running her fingers through his hair.

"Always Tsuna."

/ | \

Even though she only got a couple hours of sleep last night, she woke up feeling much more refreshed than usual.

"Morning sunshine," Reborn's voice was the first thing she heard and she groaned, turning away from the baby hitman and hiding her face beneath the pillow she had been using.

"No."

"Yes, go get ready for school."

She may feel refreshed, that didn't mean she wanted to go to school. She couldn't wait until the start of next year, Saturday classes wouldn't be a thing anymore. She only had a few more months to deal with that though and then the weekends were free.

"Kay," she managed out sleepily as she sat up, blinking slowly and taking in the brightness of the room. She wondered how her brother managed to sleep through the brightness flowing in; he had never been one to close the blinds in his room. "See ya in a bit," she said to Reborn as she got out of bed and made her way out of the room towards hers.

The tiny hitman gave a brief nod, turning to the still slumbering teen that had once again taken up most of the bed. How Natsume put up with sleeping on a tiny part of the bed, he didn't know, then again the girl could probably sleep anywhere if tired enough.

"Time to wake up buttercup," he said, Leon morphing into an alarm clock and setting him down right beside Tsuna's ear, before it went off, making the teen shoot up, hands covering his ears as he looked around in alarm.

"What the heck?"

"The heck is right, you have school, Tsuna."

"Okay, okay, just shut that off please!"

Leon changed back, flicking his tongue out at the teen. Said teen only shook his head about to move off his bed and get his morning going, "Nono will understand if you aren't ready to make a decision like this."

Tsuna gave Reborn a blank look, though he only raised his shoulders in response, his own way of showing that he acknowledged what Reborn had said. Reborn watched the teen look through his closet for his other uniform shirt, picking up his pants off the post at the foot of his bed and heading toward the bathroom to change.

Lightly pursing his lips, Reborn ambled off the bed and headed downstairs, where he joined Nana and Bianchi for a cup of coffee. A light roast coffee was what Nana preferred whenever she made the caffeinated beverage, though she was always nice enough to make a separate pot for him that was a lot stronger.

"Thank you Nana."

"Morning to you too Reborn," the woman greeted, pulling apart a piece of croissant bread and dipping it into her coffee. Her hair was tied back, her hair now past her shoulders and she didn't seem to be keen on cutting it any time soon. "It….feels as if almost everything has calmed down."

The hitman only stayed staring at the brunette, nodding slowly even though she didn't see it, "Almost."

"In time all will be well, it is the only thing that we can really count to help us through these times," Nana murmured, stirring her drink with the end of the croissant.

"Mama did you talk with tutu today?"

"Only to wish her goodnight," Nana answered her eldest, who had grabbed the chair at the head of the table and moved it towards the corner so that she sat beside her mother. "Want some coffee?"

"Can I take a sip of yours, my stomach's feeling funky."

The woman only gestured for Natsume to get some, the girl grabbing the woman's cup and drinking a little, her nose wrinkling lightly, "A little more sugar," she said teasingly, her tongue lightly sticking out as Nana rolled her eyes at her.

"You are coming to the game tonight right?" Natsume asked as she righted the chair, leaning on it and giving Nana a hopeful look.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world, sweetheart~"

There was a light beeping sound, Natsume cursing as she moved away, stopping long enough to place a kiss against Nana's cheek, "I'll see you all later then!"

"Oi, oi, you're leaving?"

"You're taking too long, I have to go, but I'll see you at lunch," Natsume called over her shoulder as she closed the door. Which was opened again a couple seconds later, "Bring me something to eat yeah Tsuna?"

The young brunet rolled his eyes, "Sure, sure," and his sister was out, the front gate closing loudly announcing that she had left the house entirely. The brunet ended up taking the seat Natsume had left out beside his mother, who offered him a piece of her croissant, which he took a piece of and grabbed another whole one for himself.

Nana hummed, slightly amused, but feeling warmed at the idea that even though chaos was taking place in her home, at least somethings never changed.

(Reborn wouldn't say anything out loud, but he could definitely agree with that.)

/ | \

The half day at school went as well as it could have, Tsuna turned in his missing work, took a few quizzes that his sensei's had lined up for him to see that he really was keeping up on his own work and not just copying off of others.

(And may or may not have been planning with Natsume over lunch on how to handle Timoteo. His sister had surprisingly sided with giving Xanxus a chance, compared to going along with whatever Timoteo had in store for the Varia.

Even if the guy was a huge asshole.)

"You should have been placed in the third year class for English," Kim-sensei told him, the short curly haired woman giving his short written responses a look over before writing his score at the top of his paper.

"Do you think so?"

"It would have saved you from having to go through all these steps, Sawada-kun," she answered showing him his score before she put the paper away in her folder. "Though I would still like to be able to set up that conference with your mother, Sawada-kun."

Tsuna blinked, shouldering his backpack as he stared at his teacher – who was only supposed to have been here one year, but had added another year to her contract. He heard slight rumors about the previous English teacher and how Kim-sensei was not only much nicer, but taught a lot better.

Maybe it was her youth or her upbringing in the States that made everyone curious over her and that made them pay attention, or she was just a really good teacher.

Probably a bit of both.

"Eh? Are my grades slipping that bad sensei?" he fell back on Japanese, a little worried because there was no way that Reborn would let that slide, even if he had been missing out on school.

The woman shook her head, "No, it's nothing to worry about," she smiled at him, hoping to soothe his worry. "Really, Sawada-kun, if anything I would just like her to be informed on how well you're doing even though you have been out of school recently."

Tsuna scratched the side of his cheek, a sheepish smile, "Oh, ha, yeah my sister and I recently got a tutor, I think that may be it."

Kim-sensei made a soft 'oh' sound, "Well whoever your tutor is they are doing a great job at keeping you on track."

"I'm sure they would appreciate the compliment."

"I hope they do, well, that was all Sawada-kun, and have a good rest of your weekend."

"You too sensei."

He left the classroom, not at all surprised that Natsume and Hana were outside waiting for him. If he felt a shiver at the smile Hana gave him, Tsuna would never say anything, but he did feel a bit wary.

"You okay Tsuna?"

"Yeah…"

His sister nodded, patting him on the shoulder, not really believing him, but letting it slide for now. "Alright then, well I'm about to head off towards the gym, you still have that juice box?" He nodded, bringing his bag so that it rested against his front and pulled out a squished looking orange box, which he held out to his sister.

Natsume took it, beginning to walk away and holding up the peace sign in farewell, "See you guys~"

"I'll try to be there," Hana called after the fair haired brunette who said something, but they really couldn't understand it. The dark haired girl shook her head, crossing her arms against her chest before turning to Tsuna and giving him a very wooden smile, "So, Tsuna, what have you been up too?"

Oh, yeah Hana's scary when she's mad.

With a quiet 'hie', Tsuna said a rushed "I'll talk to you later Hana!" and headed out. He wasn't running away from the girl, he was just saving that conversation for a later date.

Like Monday.

If he was lucky.

Part 47: Deal With It

Timoteo wasn't sure if he was hearing right.

"Forgive me Tsunayoshi, I think I may –"

"No, Don Vongola, you did not," Tsuna interrupted, knowing the boy probably knew that he was once again pushing his limits. (Federico had done that to him, Xanxus had as well at one point…) The boy's politeness would hold through, just as much as his own would. "I realize that Xanxus' has caused a lot of damage and that he should be held accountable and he will be, but certain punishments should be in place of others."

"In place of what?"

"The ice prison he's currently in," the boy brought up, Timoteo could tell that the boy just knew that it wasn't the first time Xanxus had been in that state. "I'm sure there are better ways to make sure that someone stays where they are supposed to – in this case it would be making sure that Xanxus works and does the duties of what is asked of him as head of Varia," Tsuna said, his voice not at all giving away his nerves which he was glad for. "Along with trying to salvage whatever relationship you two previously had, seeing as most of it was in retaliation to your decisions."

Tsuna breathed slightly, a little irked that his nerves were showing through in the way he kept fidgeting with his fingers, which kept lightly rubbing the edges of the arms of his chair. "For the next five years he will be under observation from an unbiased party, along with making sure that his mental state is well after being imprisoned as he was for the last eight years." And that gave away that the boy knew a lot more than what Timoteo had told him, making the old Don wonder when the fifteen year old got the chance to talk to someone other than him about this situation.

"Some good points you make, Tsunayoshi, how did you come to these conclusions?"

The boy only smiled, one that suggested that he was humoring him, but Timoteo knew the boy wasn't like that, "I had a little help," was all the boy offered. There was a knock on the door, which was good timing, Timoteo needed to think over what the boy was suggesting and if he would be willing to actually let it go through.

He hadn't thought that Tsunayoshi would be willing to pardon Xanxus of all things, if anything he had expected that the boy would want to get back at him for putting him through the trials of the last couple days.

Tsunayoshi was led out of his room, the door closing behind him after his Sun Guardian walked in with a plate of food for him. The lunch tray was settled in his lap, giving his food a quick glance over before looking at Reborn, "I didn't expect that from the boy."

"I have been teaching him, though I'm surprised it stuck so well," their lessons had gone over well, but Tsuna had never been in the situation to actually use them. This was a first and it honestly felt like Natsume had a helping hand in this.

"He is too hopeful; someone like Xanxus cannot just be treated like that and if he is let loose it will not look good for him. He needs to be harsher, have more edge, if not I'm afraid this world will devour him whole."

"…a chance, Timoteo," Reborn spoke after a while. "Let the boy speak with Xanxus."

"How, the ice won't be undone unless it's by the flame that did it."

"More of a reason to let him try."

"Do you have such confidence in him?"

Timoteo ate as if he wasn't having the current conversation, setting his fork down after a couple bites and once again looking at Reborn, "I take your silence as a no," He said, lightly wiping his lips with his napkin. "If anything the youngest of my sons is not qualified for the Varia position and will be handed over to –"

"Don't take my silence as you will, old friend," the old Don wasn't fazed by his friend's tone, though the shadow that stretched behind him was a cause for concern. "Again, all I ask is for a chance, if it fails do as you wish."

Timoteo picked up his fork again, his gaze lingering on the hitman before going back to his food, "Of course, I did give the boy the right to make a decision." The sound of the fork scraping against the plate and his own tone showed that the conversation was over. "I place my trust in you, dear friend, if the boy doesn't succeed Xanxus and the rest of the Varia will be dealt with more appropriately."

/ | \

A buzzer signaled the beginning of the game and Tsuna watched as Nami-chuu's team moved for the incoming serve of the opposing team. Natsume was placed in the middle of the second row and he had heard her explaining to the others how the positions and game went, though it usually went over his head, not understanding it unless he was actually doing it.

He stayed by the exit, arms crossed against his chest, felt himself zoning out, the noise around him becoming muffled, only zeroing in when the cheers got loud on his side of the court. His eyes roved over the crowd in those moments, spotting his mother, Bianchi, Hana and the kids. A half smile curled his mouth as he watched his mother – who was so vibrant and loud in this moment, cheering for his sister.

A whistle was blown and his attention was brought back to the court and for a split second his gaze caught Natsume's. He was thinking it was coincidence as she didn't seem to recognize him from a distance as she moved over for the rotation.

She was always in motion, eyes on the ball and seeming completely aware of her teammates movements. The ball headed in her direction and she propped it up, pushing it forward to the blond in the middle front row who in turn smacked it over the net, aiming for the space that had been made between the front row players of the other team.

His watched beeped, making him bite his lip at what that meant for him.

He wondered if what he and Natsume had come up with during lunch would actually happen. For someone who was usually rather pissy about him being hurt or in fights and holding grudges against bullies, she had been more than willing to set that aside and give Xanxus a chance.

His gut told him to trust his sister, to trust his own instinct.

Sure nothing had been in favor for Xanxus, in the end it would always be against him no matter how hard he tried to change it. The man still had no right to react as he did, though Tsuna was more than nice enough to shift a bit of that blame on Timoteo who probably hadn't handled Xanxus' situation well.

(For a moment he was kind of happy that he had Iemitsu for a father, the man when he was able too, was more than willing to help him…..he was still a shitty dad though.)

The buzzer rang, signaling the end of the first game and Tsuna shuffled out, knowing he had wasted more time than he should have.

Time to get his head in the state to deal with a hot mess (Natsume's words not his), if not he would hate to find out what Timoteo's method would be.

/ | \

The game had been so close, but Midori still won.

As they shook hands with the other team, Natsume couldn't help but think that it was a good game and she told the other team as much, congratulating on their playing and their win. The Nami-chuu team huddled together in a circle, arms over each other's shoulders as they put their heads together.

"That was a tough game," Hayashi sighed, "They're really something."

"They're considered one of the top teams for a reason and we made them work for it," Kato said, having heard the brunette girl's quiet words. The purple haired teen gave them a tired smile, but a proud one none the less. "I'm proud of you all."

Mirai nodded with the captain's words, bleached blond hair pushed back and out of her face, gave them a smile that wrinkled the girl's nose, "Same here, you girls really put in the work to play like you did today."

Someone clearing their throat got them all to look up at their sensei, "Harada-sensei!"

"Good game girls," the short haired man said, "If you play like that in the next games you'll definitely get some wins."

"Mou~ but this was the qualifying game to go on to the next level."

"So take it as gaining experience, learn from it," Harada said, "That by far was the best game I've seen this team play."

"Definitely," Mirai agreed under her breath, earning a playful shove from Kato. "Alright I think we all want to get cleaned up and crash in our beds, so we can talk more on Monday, right Harada-sensei?"

"Bring your appetites," the man said giving them a two fingered salute. "I'll see you all Tuesday."

Watanabe made a popping sound with her mouth, "Oh, he must be happy if he's doing what I hope he's doing."

"Which is?"

"Food~" the lone red head of the team, Takahashi lightly shoved Watanabe, who bit down on her tongue to keep from laughing out loud. The team got to talking after that as they headed to the locker room, either talking about how they had played or what food Harada would be buying them the following week. Along with if they should plan a hangout soon, since they all surprisingly got along fine.

"See you," Natsume waved at everyone, getting goodbye's in turn along with a light hearted smack to the shoulder from Mirai. "Text me if you guys end up doing anything else."

"Sweetie I'm so proud of you!" Nana swept her up in a hug as soon as she stepped out of the gym, "You reminded me of my own volleyball days and oh, I swear if the family was here they woulda shook up the whole place with their cheering."

Natsume felt as if something caught in her throat at that thought, but she swallowed it down, instead nodding and smiling just as brightly as her mother, "You think so?" Her mother nodded, pulling away and just looked up at her daughter.

My, my how she had grown. Nana remembered when Natsume and Tsunayoshi had started middle school they had been her height and now they were taller than her.

"How about some ice cream?" Hana's voice popped up and the way her daughter just seemed to shine at seeing her friend there, made Nana's heart happy. She had always wanted her children to thrive and it had taken time, but to see them actually grow and be more than what they had once been….it really warmed her.

But what had been the price for them to be this way?

"Ice cream sounds great," Natsume linked her arms with hers and tugged Hana along, who only rolled her eyes.

Perhaps the price paid wasn't as steep as it seemed. If anything, she believed it possible for her children to turn it around, if not, well, she knew a few people who would be more than willing to lend a hand in doing so.

/ | \

When the ice first began to feel less restricting, Xanxus' first thought was that it felt a lot better when the ice was melted willingly. His scars tinged a little at the reminder and how volatile the first melting had been.

This was, and he would never admit it, therapeutic. It wasn't like Timoteo's flames that had enveloped him, which had been just as angry as his, and he loathed admitting, heartbroken, but the man had done what he had and because of it, it scarred him for the rest of his life.

Not that it mattered; the scars were just an example of what he's survived, something he prided himself on was being a tough motherfucker that was hard to put down.

He knew who it was that was undoing the frozen flames, didn't know if he should feel disgusted that the brat was soft hearted enough as to undo the ice. When the ice fully melted and he felt as if he had full control of his body, the first thing it did was give in on him. He was caught by one of the old man's guard dogs and placed in a chair.

No restraints or anything to assure to keep him down.

Xanxus glared, lip curling up in a sneer as he watched the brunet usher the man away, "The fuck you think you're playing at?"

The brunet before him only blinked, head tilting slightly as if thinking over his question. The door closed behind the guard and he finally spoke, "I'm not playing at anything; I'm just here to offer you a deal."

"I –" it felt as if he was choking on his tongue and he nearly gagged at the sensation. He refrained from reaching to rub his throat, only glaring even more darkly at the kid, who didn't smile, just kept staring straight at him.

"Calm, you are not calm, when you act up you will lose your right to control yourself," the boy said, voice a touch lower than before, calling to him and making him listen. "You can accept my deal or you can die, along with the rest of your people."

Xanxus' nostrils flared, the fingers in his left hand twitching, "Why should I accept anything from you?"

This time the boy smiled, though it was a bit hollow, not like the pictures that had been gathered, his brown eyes were tinged gold, "The same reason I decided on this," he paused for a bit, pursing his lips a little as if thinking over what he was about to say. "Change."

"What the fuck do you think you're going to change?"

Tsuna rose a brow, pulling his legs up and sitting crisscross on his chair, resting his arm against the arm rest and holding his chin up with his hand, "There's a lot of things that can change, you just have to give it a chance, which is what I'm giving you." He bit down on his lower lip, tearing a bit of skin off from his lip, "I don't like the Mafia and I have little to no respect for Vongola as it is."

Xanxus held back from snarling at the brat, wondering then why the hell the fuck had he even fought for if he didn't care about it.

"I want to change it, I want it to stand for more than it does," Tsuna smiled again, looking a touch too innocent. "And by that I have to start with you, I want to prove that I can make a difference, that there is another way."

This time the brat's eyes were a pure amber, the room filling up with a lightness that would have left a lesser man breathless, "So what will it be?"

Xanxus stared awhile before he started laughing, head thrown back as he did so, "You fucking got balls," his grin was toothy, eyes bright with some emotion that Tsuna couldn't quite place. "This'll just piss off the old man, so why not."

Tsuna's eyes crinkled shut as he nodded.

"These are your terms then…."

Part 48: A Second of Peace

Iemitsu rubbed his hands down on his face, elbows propped against the top of his desk. For a second he just sat there, face in his hands, deciding to let the darkness that enveloped him for the moment, the slight sting of pain that came from his temple when his fingers brushed against the cuts there took his thoughts away from the current moment.

He inhaled deeply and quickly exhaled it all, pulling one hand away from his face, while the other dug through his already mused up hair. His right hand reached over for the paper on his desk, it would be the third time he'd have read it, but he still couldn't get over what was happening.

Apparently Tsuna's decision to forgive Xanxus rather than to make him face whatever revenge he could have conjured would be considered soft hearted by many. But Iemitsu knew the ways his children had been raised that no matter how terribly someone had done, they should never take revenge.

If anything they'd forgive, but getting them to trust you again would be like pulling teeth from a pissed off lion and knowing their tendencies, they could be the most passive aggressive little snits when they wanted to be.

(Just like Tsuna had been acting towards him, it was a slow burn and it was one that if he didn't try fixing soon enough, would leave him to watching Tsuna's back for the rest of his life.)

Xanxus was being forgiven to a certain extent, along with the rest of his group. He was going to be left in charge of the position he had taken from Superbia, but he would be watched for the next five years on how he was handling his position and if he could eventually be trusted once again.

If Xanxus went along with the little that was being asked of him, he would not only get away with what equated to a slap on the wrist, but he'd be in a position where Tsuna himself would be able to trust the man and come to him for advice, if only because he at least gave it a chance.

Which kind of clashed with the impression Tsuna gave off, the boy had been pissed the entire time, but held onto it tightly before he showed that he was. Perhaps actually fighting against Xanxus had eased some of that?

He was a boy and boys did tend to get rowdy to get rid of pent up frustration or energy.

Maybe if he could plan a trip back home soon, he'd ask his son for a spar, both to see how far he's come and to feel how he fought.

Wasn't there an old saying that said 'You never know a man until you've exchanged blows with him'?

"Get your head out of the clouds; we have to finish this clean up before Nono gets back."

"Lal Mirch," Iemitsu greeted, folding over the top right corner of the paper. "Let me take a short mental break, I've had a long week."

The arcobaleno scoffed, pushing up her googles and levelling him with glare, "You have ten minutes Iemitsu."

"Thank you, you're such an angel," he deadpanned, shifting his left hand so that his chin rested in his palm.

"Make that five."

With that said she went back out, not seeing Iemitsu rolling his eyes, and luckily enough she wasn't Reborn to pick up on his thoughts.

'Slave driver, I can see why she was a trainer for COMSUBIN.'

Not one to look five minutes of a peaceful break without any interruptions, Iemitsu leaned back in his chair, kicked his feet up on his desk and decided that a quick cat nap wouldn't do any harm. Now if he misjudged that time, he may or may not come to harm.

Lal may look like a pint sized toddler, but she did pack quite the punch.

Thoughts of what to ask Basil when he returned, the situation with Xanxus, and the rest of his duties were cast aside as he began to recall a time of what had once truly been peace for him. Of when Tomiko-baasan was still alive, holding his hand as they walked to the markets or the quiet dinners they used to have.

He lost himself in his memories, of when he had met Nana, holding his children for the first time and how it felt as if his world had come to a halt when those pair of baby blue eyes looked at him.

When the five minutes were up, Iemitsu opened his eyes, a strict no nonsense air about him as he stood up from his desk, slipping the papers into a folder and taking it with him as he left his office. He handed the folder off to Oregano who happened to be passing by and without a word he headed down to the lower levels of the building.

Pressing his thumb against the indicator, he gave it a brief flare of his flames, the machine beeping in confirmation, the door sliding open. He caught his reflection in the window pane he came to stand before, his eyes cold and narrowed as he stared at the person held in the room.

(Would his children look at someone like this one day? Would they be capable of dealing with traitors like this? Tsuna would learn to broaden his terms, he may have spared Xanxus and perhaps the rest of the Varia, but those like the Del Valle man, who had impersonated Nono, would be dealt with much more permanently.)

Cruelty never outdid cruelty, but it was never amiss in this life.

Some just paid for it worse than others did.

AN: So since I'm going based off of what I remember (which is how Jasmine has been working this whole time) a lot is very different here.

I also apologize if I messed up on the volleyball scene, I looked into it and read about it, but since I'm a very hands on learner, I don't really get it? But yeah. Uh, Tsuna knows that Xanxus is adopted by being told by Timoteo, so he doesn't understand that Xanxus didn't know. Which is why they talked to Squalo and found out through him.

Thanks to everyone for the lovely reviews, I constantly go back and read them and I gush like "wow these people are amazing and I wish I could hug them because they deserve it so much". I'm still squeeing honestly.

Again updates will be really slow - I'm trying to transfer out this year so I'm building up my chops for auditions in January? or Feb, one of those two.

Until next time guys!

Sorugao