TW: Swearing because of Xanxus lol.
Tsuna stands above Ganauche's body, and extinguishes the Flame on his forehead only once sure he won't stand up again, though doesn't allow his X-Gloves to turn back into wool gloves. He turns back to the deadly silent room, now unrecognizable, holes in the ceiling and the walls, craters in the ground and debris everywhere, burnt marks all over the place. His Guardians stand amidst the destruction near the rest of the Ninth's Guardians, all of them lying on the floor, unmoving.
Tsuna looks them up and down, assessing for any critical injury that would need to be treated immediately. They're all bloody and bruised, some nursing their injuries, but his shoulders sag as they still stand strong, nodding at him. He walks to them and they meet him halfway, and now that the battle is over, their box animals come back to their side, offering either comfort or support.
Hibari stays aside, as well as Mukuro, Chrome staying by his side. Tsuna catches their eye, and the barrier around them and around the room disappear.
They're surrounded, Reborn, Dino and his men, the Varia, and the CEDEF standing in the middle of the circle with them, though everyone keeps their distance, and no one lets a hint of hostility slips by them. The Varia steps forwards, Squalo first in line, and he has yet to retract his sword back in his hand.
"What the fuck is this?" he asks him again, his voice poised and quiet this time, but he's scowling, displeased to say the least, and sounds disdainful.
Disdainful, and Tsuna's anger burns him from the inside out. How dares he judge him, as if it's not their fault all of them stand there right now to begin with? As if Tsuna would have ever found himself in this position if they would all have just listened to him. "I thought this is what you all wanted me to become? Isn't this just the ways of your world you so badly wanted me to learn?"
Squalo grits his teeth, his jaw clenching. Tsuna doesn't back down.
"Is this is what this is, Decimo?" someone Tsuna doesn't know asks, stepping away from the crowd. "Asserting your power by getting rid of all competition?"
Tsuna almost feels like laughing, because if this was what this is, he knows most of them would suddenly be praising him, or at the very least respecting him. And this is the world they thought they could make him become part of? "This is me seeing to the fact the Vongola family will cease to be after me, as it is my right as Vongola Decimo," he says calmly, but his voice is strong. "This is me proclaiming to all of you that Vongola is hereby no more, and I will lay the title you all forced onto me to burn in its ashes."
Unease washes over the room, the tension in the air growing ever so thicker and thicker, and Tsuna feels it bear down on his shoulders, feels it squeeze his throat like a rope. He flexes his fingers, keeping his flames at the ready right under his skin. This is all meaningless if they won't even make it past the door.
Squalo bursts out laughing, the sound harsh and cutting. "Did your Arcobaleno hit you too hard on the head one too many times, Sawada?" he shouts, stalking forwards. "Do you realize just what this means? The scale of the conflicts this will start? But now you're suddenly okay with countless dead people, is that it?"
Tsuna grits his teeth, clenching his hands into fists. He does know what this means. Vongola falling apart with everything it has ever accomplished these past ten generations will leave an immense gap into the mafia worldwide, will reshape it whole. Families all over the world will scramble to claim the biggest, valuable scraps Vongola will leave behind, will fight each other to death to claim the now empty spot for themselves.
Tsuna even counts on it, counts on them to take the opportunity to bring Vongola down for good in its weakened state, forgetting about them entirely long enough for them to prepare to face against any retaliation that is sure to come. And yes it'll be war, but their deaths Tsuna couldn't care less about.
He does care about the collateral damage they'll leave in their wake, the innocent people who will inevitably die in their war, cares more than any of them could bother to, but he'll bear it—
Takeshi steps in front of him, swinging his sword in a vertical line in front of him, an inch away from cutting Squalo across his face. Squalo stops, and doesn't move any closer. "Don't you dare try to put the blame of that on Tsuna. Isn't that what you lot do anyway? What you've always been doing? Killing each other to gain even more power?"
"And what of it?" Squalo barks out. "This—"
"This would have happened sooner or later. I don't need to remind you what type of people you are, do I, Squalo? The things you do? It would have all inevitably caught up to you at some point. Isn't that why your world is the way it is?"
Squalo scoffs. "'Our' world? Why don't you take a look at what you've just done, brat, huh? Why don't you take a good look at the bodies lying at your feet right now?"
"And whose fault is that?" Takeshi shots back, anger clear in his voice, his hand tightening around his sword. "You want to put the blame on what's to come on someone, Squalo? Tsuna has always made it clear from the very beginning on where he stands when it comes to your world. You all forced him into this."
"Do you think I won't cut you down?" Squalo asks, his voice quiet again, and Tsuna tenses. He makes to step forwards, but Hayato puts his arm in front of him, stopping him.
Mukuro laughs. "Of course you won't. Yamamoto Takeshi is Vongola Decimo's Rain Guardian. I'd love to see you dare and cut him down in front of all of us even when you've sworn loyalty to Vongola Decimo. And like it or not," he continues, barely restrained glee in his voice, "Vongola Decimo is the one standing right there in front of you."
Squalo closes his eyes, smiling, and Tsuna's flames burst out of him because he's seen that trick before. Swift movements from the crowd register at the corner of his eyes as Takeshi takes his stance. Dying Will Flames spread sharp in the air, among which the ones of his Guardians.
Reborn shoots the ceiling, his Sun flames getting rid of it entirely, burning the debris to dust before they can fall on them. They all still, Takeshi's and Squalo's sword about to clash against each other's, Tsuna about to jump in between them.
"So he is Vongola Decimo," Reborn says, his voice at a normal level, but in the silence it carries easily to everyone. "And Vongola Decimo has spoken in quite the explicit terms." His eyes are shadowed by his fedora, and he doesn't put away his gun, holding it at his side. "And correct me if I'm wrong, but he didn't sound like he was open to negotiations nor disobedience. Am I wrong?"
The room turns several degree colder, and seemingly on instinct alone, the crowd around them steps back.
"But what does the leader of CEDEF has to say to that, I wonder?" the man who spoke up before says, and Tsuna wonders how important his position in the family is, wonders if its braveness or a death wish that spurs him on.
His dad seems to come back to his senses at being spoken about, straightening his back as a professional mask takes over his face. He takes in the room, seemingly can't help but to waver when he looks at him, can't help but glance at the remains of the Ninth again, before settling a hard stare on the man who spoke up. "True enough the CEDEF is independent from the family to some extent. But as you all know, and as I'm sure you'd never insult me or my men by implying otherwise, we still answer to the Vongola Boss first and foremost, and follows his lead wherever he sees fit."
His dad stares the man down until he backs down, and Tsuna releases the breath he didn't realize he was holding.
He steps forwards past Takeshi, taking the opportunity to end all of this now that things have settled down a bit. "That was all I had to say. You're all free to leave now."
It takes a moment where Tsuna holds everyone's gazes, but then they bow, and one after another take their leave. Squalo gives them one last withering glaring before turning his back on them, stalking to the door with the Varia following after him. Dino follows suite, managing a brief, pained smile his way, and then his dad, with one last look to him, with determination Tsuna isn't sure what to make of shining in his eyes.
Enma and his family step forwards once it's only them in the room. Tsuna manages a smile, walking forwards too to meet them halfway. He looks at Chrome, then nods.
"No, not now," Adelheid says as Chrome nods back. Tsuna frowns, looking up at her curiously. "Us staying back with you will already bring us unhappy mafiosi to deal with. And by no means you're not all being watched right now. No one else needs to see this."
"I didn't think you had it in you to follow through this to the end," Aoba says, crossing his arms on his chest.
"Of course idiot people extremely can't see Sawada's greatness," Ryohei says like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
Aoba immediately takes the bait, pointing a furious finger at him. "What did you say?" he shouts. "Who's the stupid one who can't even tell when someone is complimenting his Boss?"
"Who are you calling stupid?" Ryohei shouts back. "I will show you who's the stupid one with these extreme fists of mine!"
Adelheid slaps the back of Aoba's head before he can say anything else. "Enough. Learn to read a room, will you?"
Enma looks sheepish, scratching his cheek, but Tsuna only laughs, relieving in the sound of it. "Will you all be okay?" he asks.
Enma nods. "We know how to take care of ourselves." He glances warily past his shoulder, then averts his eyes, looking somewhere at his side, putting his hands in his pockets. "It'll help us if we could stay in Namimori for a bit more though, if that's okay with you."
A knowing smile pulls at Tsuna's lips, and he turns his head to look at Hibari. He tilts his head.
"Anyone causing disturbances in Namimori will be bitten to death," Hibari only says, his arms crossed on his chest.
Tsuna smiles wider, turning back to Enma. "So he says, so don't worry about it." He takes his hand in his, turning serious once more. "But, Enma-kun, if you run into trouble you can't handle by yourselves, please, let me know about it. I'll help you any way I can."
"As long as you do the same," Enma says right away, squeezing his hand. He opens his mouth again, but seems to hesitate, closing it without a word. Tsuna squeezes his hand encouragingly. "You've already done the hard part," he says then. "Just hang in there now, and hopefully things will settle just the way you want them to."
Tsuna squeezes his hand tighter. "Thank you. Take care of you, alright? All of you."
Enma nods. "You too."
They let go of each other's hand, sharing one last smile with each other before Enma takes his leave along with his family.
"Still so very naive, Sawada Tsunayoshi," Mukuro says then, and Tsuna's smile slips from his face. "So, so naive. We should have slaughtered them all while we could."
Tsuna turns to face him. "That's not what I came here to do."
"But that's the only way you'd truly have gotten what you came here to take," Mukuro says, harsher than what he might have meant. "Don't you still understand?" Tsuna says nothing, but doesn't back down, holding his gaze. Mukuro smooths his face back into his usual mischievous expression. "Ah, well. I suppose your stubbornness to not let yourself understand this simple fact is what makes you who you are. What is it to me anyway?"
"Are you leaving?"
"Of course. This is as far as our little alliance goes, and by no means it was an invitation for you to now consider me as one of your little friends. But I don't have to tell you that, do I?"
Tsuna shakes his head. "Of course not. Thank you for doing this with us, Mukuro. Keep yourself safe."
Mukuro raises his eyebrows. "Some funny things you say, Sawada Tsunayoshi," he says, disappearing in Mist flames.
"Bossu." Chrome steps in his line of sight, then nods. "I'll look over him."
Tsuna nods back. "Thank you. Look over yourself too, okay? Make sure you both take care of your wounds too." Chrome nods again, a little smile at the corner of his lips, before vanishing in Mist flames too. Tsuna then turns to Hibari, already well on his way to the door. "You too, Hibari-san. And thank you for coming too."
Hibari says nothing, keeping walking, but if there's one person Tsuna doesn't have to worry about, it's him.
Tsuna lets some tension slips away from his body once he's out of sight, exhaling deeply. Adelheid said they're being watched, and true enough his Hyper Intuition tells him so too, but things have settled for now, haven't they? They have, and they've all made it, and surely he can let himself relax a little.
He turns back to the last of his Guardians left, and smiles bloom on Takeshi's, Hayato's, and Ryohei's face.
"Shall we go back home now?" Takeshi asks.
Tsuna grins, nodding. "I'd love nothing more," he says, but braces himself as he turns back again.
Reborn stands right in his way, facing him. He put away his gun, his eyes now visible, smirking up at him the way Tsuna's become so very familiar with.
He'll miss it should they truly part ways forever.
"Are you coming with us?" he asks.
"I'm the World's Greatest Hitman, even if I've mostly been a tutor these past few years. After this stunt you pulled, even I have to look over my businesses, have to make sure they won't be shaken by it in a way I won't like."
"I see," Tsuna says, not knowing what else to say.
In a flash Reborn shoots him with a blank with the Leon-gun, and Leon is already back on the brim of his fedora when Tsuna looks again, cradling his forehead. "What was that for?" he shouts, whining.
"That pathetic face you were making," Reborn says easily. "Don't show me that kind of face now after all this."
And all of a sudden, Tsuna tears up. "Is this goodbye, Reborn?"
Reborn misses a beat. "Who knows. Though one thing that I can say for sure…" He removes his fedora from his head, putting Leon on his shoulder before holding it against his chest. He bows. "You've made me proud, Tsuna. This is the path you chose. Keep walking strong on it, and see it to the end."
Tsuna tears up for good, but he swallows back his tears, willing them not to spill out of his eyes. He bows deeply too. "I will. Thank you for everything, Reborn. And know that my offer will always stand."
Tsuna is bed-ridden for two days to recover from his injuries. On the third day he feels up to go to school, and his siblings burst into his room screaming and laughing to wake him up. I-Pin pulls away the curtains from the window to let the sun in, while Lambo bounces on his bed in the way that'll jostle his body the most, and Tsuna inevitably falls from his bed.
Breakfast is a loud and lively affair as usual, though there's an empty seat at the table Tsuna's heart clenches at the sight of. Thankfully he's easily distracted from it, Lambo having a choke-hold on the conversation with his loud chatter, but they're all happy to let him have it. He's making a mess of his food, his mom's, I-Pin's, Fuuta's and his reminders to watch his manners falling on deaf ears. He tries to steal their food too, Tsuna of course being his favorite target, I-Pin being too fast for him, and Fuuta too far away.
Bianchi turns to his mom to compliment her on her cooking, and Lambo jumps on the table with a mischievous grin, apparently struck by crazy bravery as he lunges for Bianchi's plate. Swift as lightning Bianchi holds her plate out of reach, and by the time Lambo needs to hang on the edge of the table so to not fall from it, he hauls himself up back on it again only to see his plate empty, Bianchi chewing on his food with a content expression on her face, and an innocent look thrown his way. They burst out laughing at Lambo's shattered expression, his mom standing up to refill his plate before he bursts into tears.
Hayato and Takeshi pick him up at his house, and they walk to school together to Hayato's and Takeshi's bickering, or inquiring about each other's injuries and reassuring each other's about their recovery. They run into Enma and Adelheid along the way, falling in step with them as they greet each other.
Both Adelheid and Enma wear a ring on their finger, and Tsuna beams at the sight of them. Enma told him it'd take seven days for their rings to get back their powers fully, but Tsuna can already see the difference in the way they hold themselves and move, the more confident and relaxed air around them now they have the means to defend and protect themselves to their full capabilities. It's a feeling Tsuna would know about, and he couldn't be happier it found its way to them too.
Only Takeshi, Enma, and him walk past the school's gates together, Hayato having ran after Shitt.P at her sight, and Adelheid excusing herself to punish some students breaking God knows which rules who had the misfortune to cross path with them. They make it barely in time, even when they should have made it early, but not even Takeshi could put up much of a fight against Enma's and his clumsiness and tendencies to run into trouble, let alone when they both come together. Tsuna releases a small relieved breath at not seeing Hibari anywhere in sight.
Lunch is a mess, which for once has nothing to do with him, but Lambo's, who's sneaked inside the school yet again. It's a sunny, warm day, and Hayato, Takeshi and him chose to eat outside, sitting under a tree. Rauji bursts out of the building into the schoolyard, Lambo perched on his head. He's laughing at the top of his voice, because of course he is, screaming taunts and jeers for all the world to hear at the crowd running after them. Mostly students, looking displeased to say the least, and God knows what mess Lambo got them entangled in, but also teachers struggling to catch up with the troublemaker.
Tsuna pretends he doesn't notice any of it, even when Lambo calls his name loudly. He will deal with it and the consequences, wherever he likes it or not because it's well-known by now from whose household the cow child comes from, but he just wants to finish his lunch in peace first. Is that too much to ask?
Of course it is, as Hibari wastes no time biting him to death after violently restoring the peace again. Which, yeah, fair enough. He is the closest guardian of Lambo he could get his hands on. Still, Lambo has some nerves laughing at him as Hayato argues with Hibari for said previous beating, Takeshi trying to mediate between the two of them, as if he wasn't bitten to death too. Tsuna mock-glares, then swiftly catches him in his arms to inflict him the merciless, highly effective punishment known as tickles, before calling his mom to come pick him up.
After the end of their classes, Kyoko, Hayato and him take the way to the boxing club. They open the door to fiery cheers, the air burning with the passion and energy of the club members surrounding the ring, though none of them are as passionate and energetic as Ryohei's and Aoba's, facing each other shirtless in the ring, boxing gloves at the ready to be used.
Kyoko, Hayato and him have just the time to claim a good spot to watch the match before they start pounding on each other like no tomorrow, wide grin pulling at their lips. The other club members cheer their throat raw, Ryohei's and Aoba's name overlapping with each other's. Kyoko and him cheer too, but their voices are easily drowned out by theirs, as well as Hayato's, fiercely promising painful retributions should Ryohei lose.
It turns into an all out brawl, not only between Ryohei and Aoba, but also between all the other club members, and Tsuna truly doesn't know why these type of things keep happening around him. Kyoko is still cheering for everyone like it's a normal thing to happen, though careful to keep her distance from the fight, Tsuna more than happy to do the same. Of course Hayato takes it as his cue to jump into the fight to beat everyone before they could get Tsuna involved whether accidentally or not, and of course, Tsuna still walks out the boxing club with an ice pack against his jaw.
They make a detour by the sport field, taken by both the baseball and soccer team. All the Shimon except for Aoba and Julie sit on the grass watching the baseball practice, and they sit next to them. Takeshi beams and waves at their sight, while Kaoru is a lot more shy, holding his family's gazes, but immediately averting his eyes when he looks at them. Tsuna thinks he notices a pleased expression on his face all the same, maybe even a little smile on his lips.
The practice goes well, but it's easy to notice the unease most of the baseball team feels towards Kaoru. Takeshi ignores it so hard it's comical to see from the outside how it makes his teammates ashamed of it, nothing but enthusiastic encouragements and unwavering cheerful support to Kaoru. Though being aware of them all watching them might not be the best way to help Kaoru, but if he's anything like him on that matter, Tsuna knows he holds dear to his heart their well-meaning intention.
They linger after the practice is over, both the baseball and soccer team leaving the sport field, Takeshi and Kaoru staying behind. Almost without needing to speak it out loud, they set up another small scale baseball practice, hoping their smaller numbers will help Kaoru loosens up and let him really get into practice.
It goes well for about ten seconds before Takeshi's competitive spirit, surprisingly as well as Adelheid's turn the game into a too high level one for what they meant to use it for, and even more so after Ryohei and Aoba join them. It turns into chaos even faster after that, everyone making use of blatant cheating while breaking the rules without care, except Takeshi who still dominates the game easily to everyone's ire.
The chaos reaches its peak when Hibari descends upon them out of nowhere, his tonfas out for blood. But no, the chaos really reaches its peak when instead of ending up fighting each other, which would have been the best outcome for them, Hibari and Adelheid make it a competition to be the fastest to hunt down most of them.
Tsuna can't imagine Kaoru getting anything worth being called practice out of it all, but he hears him laugh for the first time, and can imagine even less he cares much about that.
They all take the way home together, but soon the Shimon goes their separate way. In exchange they meet Haru halfway to Tsuna's home, and her and Kyoko immediately lose themselves in their conversation, as if there's only the two of them. Tsuna exchanges an amused look with the others, but they're happy to let them to their happy chatter. Tsuna smiles when he hears that Chrome and the Kokuyo Gang are doing well, and the girls are planning to meet sometimes soon, with I-Pin too, and maybe even Bianchi.
Kyoko and Ryohei say their goodbyes first, then Takeshi, then Haru. Hayato walks him back all the way to his home like he usually does, and they say their goodbyes in front of the gate, Tsuna watching his back until he disappears around the corner of the street.
His house is lively, the muffled voices of his family drifting to his ears, and Tsuna just stands in the street, basking in the sound of their voices, bathed under the sunset, a smile on his lips that hasn't left him all day. This is everything he's ever wanted, and everything he'll ever need.
It's not perfect, Tsuna saw the tension in everyone's shoulders, the careful looks to their surroundings and over their shoulder, saw the telltale signs of restless sleep or no sleep at all, all of which Tsuna shares with them. Part of today felt like they were actors making themselves ease back into well-known roles, but part of today, and he knows it without a doubt, was also genuine relief and happiness they could do all of that at all once more, and Tsuna holds onto the easy, comforting way it came back to them.
It's not perfect yet, and it may never go back to the way it was before—won't, really, but they'll heal and move forwards, and will make something new to call perfect again and cherish.
And it's truly everything Tsuna can hope for, and everything he'll ever need.
On the fourth day, only his mom's voice welcomes him back home, and Tsuna bites down on the panic that takes over his senses. He fumbles with taking off his shoes for his slippers, his hands shaking, and when he raises his head again his mom stands in the hallway, facing him. She smiles, and the expression on her face considerably settles him.
"Is everyone okay?" he still asks too quickly. "Are you?"
Realization flickers across her face, then guilt as she winces. "Yes," she hurries to say. "They're upstairs in their room. I'm sorry, I didn't realize..." She trails off as Tsuna absentmindedly nods, his heartbeat slowing down, strength getting back in his body. "I asked them to give us a moment. Your dad sent you a letter."
Only then Tsuna notices the letter in her hands. His mom says nothing else, and Tsuna makes himself step in the hallway, then follows her in the living room. They sit side by side on the couch, and still without a word, his mom hands him the letter.
"Do you want me to leave? The letter is addressed to you."
Tsuna shakes his head. "There's no way it won't concern you too."
His mom only nods at the corner of his eye.
Tsuna holds the letter on his lap, looking down at it, and does nothing else for a long moment. He dreads the content of it, dreads the consequences of it they'll have to grapple with afterwards. He dreads what he'll feel after reading the letter, fearing it might be feelings he isn't ready to face yet.
Still, Tsuna eventually opens the letter, and starts reading.
Tsuna-fishy, how have you been? Are you feeling annoyed right now by the nickname you've never liked? Don't be, it's just your silly dad indulging himself with it one last time, now that I've realized you've grown well past a childish nickname like that.
I hope you've recovered well from your injuries, and that your darling, lovely mom is okay too. Tell her she's more beautiful than any star in the sky, and that I love her more than anything in the world, and that not one second passes without me missing her dearly.
Your dad is currently at CEDEF, trying to whether the storm currently shaking the mafia worldwide to its core, and will definitely tear it apart if nothing is done about it. You see, even bringing an end to a family requires heavy diplomacy, and for one to keep in mind the political side of things, let alone bringing to an end a family like Vongola, with its ten generations long history.
Which is not to say I'm currently trying to abate the storm before it destroys Vongola fully. Right now all kind of important figures, both from Vongola and the branch and allied families demand of me to take control over things and keep Vongola from falling apart, but this is not what I'm doing. I've seen your resolve at the Inheritance Ceremony, Tsuna, and I will stand by it to the best of my abilities.
Which is why I will see to it that any unfinished business Vongola had will stay unfinished in a way satisfying enough it won't warrant retribution, that any debt it had will be paid and any word it gave will be fulfilled as much as possible considering the current circumstances, and that any people currently thinking about getting back to you or your friends will think better of it, and never consider that thought again. This process will take months at the very least, but more likely a couple of years, and in the meantime I ask you and your friends to stay strictly within the confines of Namimori. Some mafiosi had already infiltrated it, but by the time you'll receive this letter they would have been dealt with, so rest assured Namimori is currently a safe place for all of you, and I will make sure it stays that way. The Kokuyo Gang will be taken care of as well, as long as Rokudo Mukuro allows me to.
Until then, please understand that I won't keep in touch with you in any way, for your own safety. I will see you again once the dust has settled, but I hope you and your mom will understand that a part of me will never be able to leave this world. That, the circumstances being as they are, I have no wish for that to change. The saying says to keep your friends close and your enemies even closer, and even after the dust will settle, I'll need to be able to keep an eye on things to make sure you all keep being safe.
As of now, I want to tell you you can relax and look forwards to your hard-earned freedom and happiness, and though you can, because I will see to it, please stay alert, always, especially when you'll feel it's safe to finally lower your guard again. You'll need to stay alert for the rest of your life to some extent, I hope you already understand this and were already aware of it.
But enough talking about boring, depressing stuff, isn't that right? Tsuna, I couldn't be happier that you've found people you're ready to go so far for, and who are ready to go so far for you too right back. That our home grew bigger and you now have siblings only fill me with happiness too. Your mom always wanted more children, but after you, we've never found the right opportunity for that.
Take care of her and all your precious people. And, Tsuna? I love you, I do. I realize now how terribly my ways of loving you went for you, but I've only ever had your well-being in mind. I'm sorry for all the pain it inflicted you, and I hope the freedom and happiness you claimed for yourself will make up for that and more.
Until we see each other again.
Your dad, Sawada Iemitsu.
For one long moment, Tsuna's mind is just blank. He read the letter, understood the words, but it's like he can't process them. It's only when he notices the damp spots on the letter, feels the wetness on his cheeks, only when he raises his hand to realize he's crying that the grief tearing at him from the inside out catches up to him. He breaks into sobs, and his mom promptly pulls him in her arms, then runs her hand through his hair as she whispers comforting words.
Tsuna should be happy, should be relieved and grateful at the very least. The content of the letter is good, better than what he let himself hope for, loving, even, and that in particular he made sure not to let himself hope for. It's even one of the best interactions his dad and him have ever had, no matter how sad and telling of their relationship it is, but the letter read like goodbye, and Tsuna didn't expect the grief and loss to hit him so hard.
Because—because his dad and him have never been close, have never seen eye to eye, have never understood each other where it matters. Tsuna shouldn't feel like this, shouldn't be breaking down in his mom's arms like this, and it's almost funny how he deluded himself thinking he wouldn't feel like that when looking at his dad during that godforsaken ceremony, would be able to handle whatever it will mean for their relationship.
But though his dad said they'll see each other again he hadn't said he'll come back, and the thought he doesn't see Tsuna worth the efforts to try to move past this and rekindle their relationship, even without necessarily making it better, simply hurts.
[It's not that Tsuna has ever seen himself too good to be close to his dad, it has never been the case. But even young Tsuna could see in his dad's eyes how he was falling short to be the person he wanted him to be, how he'd never be able to rise to his expectations of him, and it was better to use all the reasons he was giving him to learn not to care.
Tsuna is fifteen, and was three, and five, and thirteen, and has only ever wanted a dad too like the other children instead of only a father.]
When Tsuna calms down somehow, his face is buried in his mom's chest, his arms around her back holding onto her like a lifeline. He sniffles the last of his tears away, but neither his mom or him pull away, content to hold each other.
"It's... It's that bad then, is it?" his mom asks eventually in a soft, quiet voice.
Tsuna shakes his head. "No—" His voice is strangled, and he clears his throat, pulling back. "No, it's good. It's—it's more good than bad, really. It's—" Where did he even put the letter? He hopes he didn't damage it. He looks away from his mom, and finds it in one piece on the floor near his feet. He picks it up, and hands it to her. "It's okay, I promise."
His mom takes a moment to steady herself before taking the letter. Tsuna tucks his feet underneath him, leans against her side, and rests his head against her shoulder as she reads the letter. He says nothing even after more than enough time for her to read it passes, waiting for her to speak first.
"He says we'll see each other again, but doesn't say he'll actually come back to us, does he?" she asks, echoing his own thoughts.
"I'm sure he'll come back to you. More likely after I'd have moved out from home," he adds, bitterness sharp at the back of his throat.
"Don't say that," his mom says firmly, if still softly. "Please, Tsuna, don't say that." Tsuna doesn't say it again, but thinks no less of it. At least it's out in the open now. Better they all know where they stand sooner than later. "Tsuna." His mom pulls away to face him, and she cups his face. "This might be the stand your dad took right now, but it doesn't mean it's set in stone. It doesn't mean it's what he really feels either. I'm sure it isn't." Tsuna tries a smile he doesn't believe in for her benefit, but it doesn't stick. "And most importantly," she continues, stroking her thumbs across his cheeks, "your dad is the adult here. You only did what you had to do, and if it doesn't sit well with him and he doesn't plan to do anything about it, he'll just have to suck it up."
A startled laughter tumbled from his lips, and then he feels himself actually grins, totally caught off guard by the unexpected words. "It sounds like a lovely plan, actually."
His mom grins back, laughing, then pulls him back in her arms. "For now, I just want you to keep moving forwards to happy places, alright? You've earned it, and have every right to do so."
Tsuna buries his face in her chest again, and soaks in her warmth.
On the sixth day, Xanxus hunts him down. Tsuna's Hyper Intuition burns, and he runs from the breakfast table to the door without taking his school bag with him, bursts outside only for Hayato and Takeshi to take on a serious, tensed look at his sight, but as they've agreed before they move aside to let him pass and don't follow after him.
Tsuna runs to the mountains where he trained to prepare himself to face the Varia, not wanting to involve anyone in their fight. He makes it, but knows it's only because Xanxus lets him. His flames hit his back like a bullet, burning away his shirt and burning the skin underneath, stealing all the air from his lungs.
Tsuna harshly falls on the floor, rolling back on it, the uneven, sharp edges digging into his body and his fresh wound, and he whimpers. He coughs, dust all around him, but doesn't let himself dwell on his pain, rising on one knee. He flares his flames to clear the dust away.
Xanxus stands in front of him a couple of feet away, both his guns in his hands, glowing with his Wrath flames just like his hands. His jacket is nowhere to be seen, and his scars already cover his whole face, but it's more than that.
It's the crushing weight of his flames all around them, slowly but surely burning a crater under his feet, bearing down on Tsuna's shoulders so heavily he has to strain his body to remain upright, shimmering the air around them under their heat, almost evaporating it, and Tsuna licks his dry lips, swallows with a dry throat. It's the killing intent Tsuna can almost see slamming into him without stopping, can taste heavy on his tongue and he almost heaves, chilling him to his bones so much so he almost shakes.
It's how his fury is etched deep into his features in the most composed way, the coldest look Tsuna's ever seen on his face looking back at him.
"You're dead," Xanxus says, a fact. "And if your trash little friends get in my way, I'll kill them too, got that?"
"They won't." Tsuna stands, his gloves already on his hands. He doesn't close his eyes, but focuses deep inwards, and faster and easier than at the Inheritance Ceremony, he slips into Hyper Dying Will mode. His gloves become his X-Gloves Version Vongola Ring, and though Natsu is urging him to, he won't use his help in the fight. "I'm not afraid of you, Xanxus."
Xanxus bares his teeth. He shoots backwards, and though Tsuna's watching, suddenly his foot is connecting against his stomach. "Then let me teach you something new today, trash!"
Tsuna flies back, but doesn't let himself go far, maneuvering himself with his flames so he's lunging right back at Xanxus. His punch connects square in his cheek, Xanxus' head and body snapping to the side and downwards, but he plants his feet firmly in the ground, the strength of his punch only caving the floor underneath him while causing a shock-wave.
Xanxus is overwhelming like Tsuna knew he'd be, but this is something else entirely. Speed, strength, techniques, he outclasses him in every way more than he expected, like he's a different person altogether. Part of it is because unlike their first fight, he remains cool-headed despite his fury, but Tsuna doesn't explain to himself what else is there.
He doesn't dwell on it, instead focusing on meeting him blow for blow as much as he can, but it's hard. Xanxus' mobility and flying is better than his, alternating with short, sharp speed boost and a more continuous release of his flames for more flexible movements, making it harder for Tsuna to predict where he'll hit next. He makes every hit counts too, hitting him in a way that'll give him an opening to keep attacking, or will give him room for defense should he miss or should Tsuna retaliate, inflicting maximum damage every time, and he doesn't fail to exploit the split second Tsuna needs to push through the pain.
They're in the air, Tsuna trying to close the gap between them and make his guns useless, but he's stuck dodging the Flame bullets constantly coming his way. He dodges yet another one to the side, and before he can even balance himself again Xanxus is there, a dark, wide grin on his face. His kick breaks his ribs in a deafening sound, and Tsuna crashes on the mountain. He screams as soon as air finds the way of his lungs again.
Xanxus laughs. "Are you overworking your shit brain wondering why you can't keep up at all? Scum, the last time we fought, I was fresh out of that damn ice prison the shitty old man put me in. Try to survive this again if you can, trash! Bocciolo De Fiamma!" Tsuna barely rises on his feet on time, his hands above his head, putting up a barrier with his flames. They don't reach all the way down in a perfect circle around his body, his position leaving him open too to the brunt of Xanxus' attacks pushing past his barrier. "Is that all you've got, trash? And this is the fucking level with which you thought you could burn to the ground what belonged to me?" Xanxus flies in a circle around him, his Flame bullets raining down on him relentlessly, his attack just as painful and overwhelming as he remembered it, if not more. But Tsuna needs to focus less on the pain and on his ineffective barrier, and entirely on gathering enough of his two different type of flames in his X-Gloves. "Colpo D'addio." Now!
Tsuna releases a burst of his flames backwards to shot himself forwards, flying as low as he can, Xanxus' attack still grazing him, but he grits his teeth through it. He flies past Xanxus instead of attacking him, turning to face him in the same movement, and the surprise effect worked as Xanxus is a second too slow to turn back.
Tsuna outstretches his arm forwards, the palm of his hand right in Xanxus' face, his other arm in his back in the same position. "X-Burner."
It's the first time he fires the X-Burner like that, and the recoil sends him flying back too to the edge of the mountain, almost falling from it. Sharp pain bursts from his shoulder, and he screams, holding onto it. It's dislocated, maybe even broken.
Tsuna pushes through the pain when Xanxus' Wrath flames clear the cloud of smoke away, standing up. It was an X-Burner at point-blank, and though Xanxus still managed to shoot with his guns before it could connect, he has to have suffered heavy damage still.
He has, walking to him from the other side of the mountain, leaving a trail of blood behind him, his steps heavy. His shirt burnt away, bloody burns on his bare chest. Blood slides down the side of his face, but his arms are the bloodiest, though he still has a firm hold on his guns.
Tsuna meets him halfway, so not to be backed at the edge of the mountain. He'd rather they both stay on the mountain top, even if the clear, unobstructed space advantages them both. They stop a few feet away from each other, and that close Tsuna notices he's finally breathing heavily too, sweet rolling down his face and body.
"I'm not the same as the last time we fought either," he says. "I've grown too."
"What the fuck was that, you fucking trash?" Xanxus asks in a deceptively calm voice. "Why the fuck did you hold back instead of going for a finishing move? You can kill the shitty old man no problem, but you're going to show me some fucking pity?"
"The Ninth forced my hand," Tsuna says through gritted teeth. "You all have."
"And you think I fucking can't?" Xanxus suddenly barks out, but this time Tsuna is the one to attack first.
He draws close, but Xanxus dodges his punch, letting go of his guns, and too fast for Tsuna to keep up, he punches him twice in his stomach, then once in his face.
"You think I don't know close-combat, trash?"
Tsuna headbutts him, then uses his flames to knee him in the chin, and kicks him in the stomach to put some distance between them. "I don't care what type of elite training you had! I don't plan to lose against you, Xanxus!"
Xanxus lunges forwards, not picking up his guns on his way, and Tsuna can't waste any more energy to fly if he wants to keep up with him. They settle on close-combat, and true enough Xanxus is the only one with technique behind his attacks, but Tsuna refuses to go down, hitting back hard when he can. He would have, but the fight starts to having his toll on Xanxus too, and though he's been careful so far to release his flames too much at once for Tsuna to risk the Revised Zero Point Breakthrough, the blast of Wrath flames he releases through his hand gives him the boost in stamina he needs to keep going.
Tsuna doesn't know how long they keep fighting, beating each other like they're punching bags they intend on tearing apart under the strength of their hits. It's as he's on his knees, Xanxus pulling at his hair to make him look up at him, the sun blinding him, that he realizes it's close to noon, and all he can think of is how hungry he is. His body hurts, his broken bones the worst of it, and he's tired and hungry and wants to eat his mom's food.
Xanxus knees him in the stomach, and really, what is his problem with his stomach? "We're far from being done, trash, don't give me that fucking pathetic face." He backhands him, letting him fall on the floor. "Get up, I know you've not given up yet."
"I haven't," Tsuna says, barely above a whisper. He struggles to his feet, has to try more than once, coughing the blood in his mouth. He only struggles to his knees again.
"I'm going to end you anyway."
His intuition flares, but Xanxus moves too fast, taking a hold of his face and slamming him against the floor. His hand glows the color of his flames, but he holds them in, Tsuna's hand against his face too, likewise glowing the orange color of his flames. Between Xanxus' fingers he sees the surprise on his face he went for attack too instead of any type of defense.
"The fuck you waiting for, trash?"
"What about you?" Tsuna shots back. They're both breathing heavily, and there's a small comfort in knowing their fight will end there, one way or another. Tsuna really can't keep going a second longer.
"Why the fuck haven't you used that damn ice technique yet?" Xanxus asks suddenly. "I better don't fucking have to tell you it's your best shot against me. Do it, it's the only opportunity you'll have."
"I'll never use that technique against you again."
Xanxus barks a laugh, harsh and mocking. "Is that so, scum? Even if I had your trash friends' lives in my hands?"
Tsuna grits his teeth together, but makes himself stop, doesn't want to give him the satisfaction of getting a rise out of him. "Even I have my lines I won't allow anyone to cross."
"Do it, trash," Xanxus says, his voice calm and serious once more. His hand glows brighter, hot, hot, hot against his face.
Tsuna's instincts scream, urge him to push him far away from him, to retaliate, but he bites down on them. "Do it first. Go ahead. If you know me at all, you know it's the only way you'll make me submit to you."
Xanxus punches the ground next to his head, releasing his flames. Tsuna snaps his head to the side, closing his eyes, his heart leaping in his throat. The scorch of his Wrath flames washes over him, the ground cracking and giving in underneath him, and he thinks this is it.
It isn't, but Tsuna doesn't dare open his eyes even after it's all quiet again except for his madly beating heart, even after his body cooled down from the heat that would have eaten at flesh and bones and life. He opens them only once he swallows down enough of his panic to know for sure he wasn't hurt by his attack, turning his head to the other side.
There's a huge crater right next to his head, wide and deep too, but in a weird shape as the ground where he lies on and the ground past him are completely untouched. And maybe it's the almost death or the adrenaline or something else, but his first thought is how far he still has to go to achieve control like that on his own flames.
Xanxus stands over him, straddling his body, looming over him. "You didn't release your flames." He had, but not in the concentrated, deadly attack he threatened him with, merely releasing them in the air however abruptly, and it only must have felt like a particularly warm breeze blowing over him. Xanxus' features twist disdainfully. "Such a fucking trash to the very end, you scum."
He turns away, and Tsuna feels a humorless smile pull at his lips, would laugh if he had the energy for it. He truly is a fucking trash to the very end, absurdly enough. He already has blood on his hands after all, hasn't he?
Xanxus flops down somewhere nearby, and Tsuna stays on the floor, his arms outstretched at either side of him. He looks up at the sky without seeing it, listening to both their heavy breathing, making his senses stay sharp and aware of Xanxus' presence and any movement he might make as much as possible.
He sits up once he feels up to it, wincing and gritting his teeth all the way through it. The mountain top is unrecognizable, devastated, craters and large burnt marks etched deep into the rocky surface. Tsuna's pretty sure they took a couple of feet to the size of the mountain too.
Xanxus sits nearby but out of reach, his arm resting on his knee, both his guns back in his hands. His scars didn't recede, and Tsuna makes sure to keep his gloves into his X-Gloves.
"I'm sorry for the Ninth," he says in a soft voice. "My condolences."
"Shove them up your fucking ass. Maybe you shouldn't have killed off that shitty old man then."
"I had to. That's why I'm apologizing." Xanxus' face stays impassive, and Tsuna knows it's the most he'll get. "Why didn't you kill me? I know you meant every bit of your killing intent, but you didn't go through with it. Why?"
Xanxus catches his eye, and Tsuna's breath hitches. "Do I look like I still don't mean to put you down like a fucking dog?"
Tsuna flinches, but holds his gaze. "So you still do. And yet here I am. Why?"
A harsh look starts to take over his features, but then he only averts his eyes. "I'm going to say this once, trash, and only once. I would have killed you if you still were that fucking weakling who'd never have survived that fucking stunt you pulled. I will kill you should you ever go back into being that fucking weakling again."
Tsuna sits on the words, frowning. He isn't sure what he's saying, or how it satisfies him enough to let the matter rest between them for now, but it's more than he knew to let himself hope for. "What now, Xanxus?"
"Some fucking balls you have asking me that, scum," Xanxus says, catching his eye again, sounding almost amused. "You set Vongola ablaze, and now I have to make sure it doesn't take the Varia with it as it burns to the ground, that's fucking what."
"The Varia is still okay?" Tsuna blurts out. Xanxus narrows his eyes, and he raises his hands in surrender. "I just—I was just confirming it," he hurries to say. "Making sure I understood you right. Of course the Varia is still okay, I would know, wouldn't I?" Xanxus makes a disdainful nose, and Tsuna tentatively lowers his hands only after he looked away. "How's... how's my dad? If it's something you'd happen to know."
To his surprise, Xanxus bursts out laughing. "That backstabbing bitch is making sure Vongola burns down nicely just the way you want it. And here everyone thought he was worthless except as a mafia man. Aren't you glad, trash?"
"Kind of hard to be when you put it like that," Tsuna says, but there's the faintest of smile pulling at his lips.
"Like I care." Xanxus lowers his leg, bringing the other one closer to sit crossed-legged, and Tsuna doesn't catch a hint of pain on his face as he does. "As long as he doesn't get in my way."
A chill runs down Tsuna's spine. "What do you mean? Xanxus—" he presses, instantly assuming he won't answer him, but he does.
"Those so-called piece of shit elite Vongola members can do nothing but breaking down now you took away the power they've known all their lives, but some of them can still be used."
Tsuna's heart sinks. "You want to build Vongola up again," he says, barely above a horrified breath. "No."
Tsuna expects Xanxus to laugh again, but he only looks at him, dead serious. "A scumbag like you, telling me what I can or can't do?"
"I'll destroy it again," Tsuna promises, his voice unyielding despite the dread inside him. "Is that you're going to do? Built it up again just like it was? I'll destroy it again, I will."
"When the fuck did I say it'll have anything to do with you or your trash friends ever again, scum?"
"Then what?" Tsuna asks—demands of him. He has to know. "Are you going to build it again in your image?"
Xanxus' expression considerably darkens. "The fuck was that?"
"We both know how that already ended up once, how you left me no choice but to stop you. I will destroy it again, Xanxus. I swear to you that I will if it's the last thing I do."
Xanxus points his gun at him. Tsuna instantly crosses his arms in front of his face, lighting his gloves with his flames. Xanxus doesn't shoot. "That's right, you and I will never be anything close to allies ever again, don't you ever forget that." He stands, putting his guns away. "I'll build Vongola up again in whatever image I see fucking fit, and if you have a problem with that, trash, try and fucking stop me if you so badly want to die by my hand." He walks away, as if Tsuna hasn't so much more to say on the matter.
"Xanxus, wait. Wait! I'll—" He scrambles to his feet, and by the time he's standing up again, he's made up his mind. "I'll give them to you. The rings." Xanxus stops, but doesn't turn back. "If," Tsuna says, and he couldn't possibly emphasize it enough. "If I can determine without an ounce of doubt the Vongola you'll build again won't be a threat to us. Only then."
Xanxus scoffs. "I need no damn rings to follow through my ambitions, and I sure as fuck don't need a trash like you giving me anything. Never show your fucking face to me again." He resumes walking, but doesn't go far before Mist flames vanish him from sight.
Tsuna stays alert a moment more, making sure the threat is gone, and then the pain and tiredness slam into him like a truck. His body gives in under his weight. He falls into waiting arms.
"Tsuna-san!"
"Tsuna!"
"Sawada! You okay to the extreme?"
Hayato and Takeshi gently lower him down on the floor, one at each side of him, supporting his weight for him. Ryohei kneels in front of him, and firmly but carefully puts his hands on his shoulders. Both his flames and Takeshi's almost lull him into blissful oblivion.
Tsuna flicks his eyes between them, smiling. "You guys... thanks." He looks to the side at Chrome standing next to them, and she gives him a small, worried smile. "Thanks." He starts to worry when he sees no one else, and urgently looks around once more. "Where's Hibari?" Tsuna would have been worried if he was there too, because it isn't his type, but at least he would have been within sight, and not on his way to ruin all his hard work. "He didn't go after them, did they?"
Hayato clicks his tongue. "Said something about destroying Namimori's landscapes, and stalked off right as that bastard Xanxus disappeared."
"Oh no, oh no," Tsuna says, trying to move, to stand up, but all three of them have none of it. "We have to do something, we can't let him—oh God, guys—Chrome," he blurts out, hopeful, catching her eye. "Chrome, please—"
Chrome nods, disappearing into Mist flames. "I'll try my best, Bossu."
Tsuna only marginally relaxes once she's gone, slumping back against Hayato and Takeshi. God, please, let them not fight each other.
"Sawada, I'm still extremely not happy with this." Ryohei isn't looking at him, focused on assessing the damage and giving him first aid, but there's a distinctly displeased look on his face.
Tsuna nods. "Yeah, I know. But I had to do it alone. I'm sorry you worried."
"How did it go, then?" Takeshi asks. "I'm kind of fearing the worst seeing your state and the state of the battlefield," he says, only half joking.
Tsuna laughs, only half genuine. "Yeah, but—I mean, I'm not sure, but... I don't know, it surprisingly went pretty good? He said we'll never be anything close to allies again, and that he'll shoot me on sight should he ever see me again."
"What?" Ryohei shouts, but he's grinning proudly, relieved. "How is that any good, Sawada?"
Takeshi laughs. "That sounds like Xanxus alright. We've been pretty lucky on this one, huh?"
"I'm still kicking that bastard ass the next time I see him," Hayato says.
Tsuna laughs, all genuine this time, leaning against Hayato, and he lets his eyes drift shut.
On the seventh day, Tsuna opens the door on the Arcobaleno. The Arcobaleno, plural.
Tsuna would have been shocked to his core too even if it was only Reborn, because even though he's been nurturing the hope to see him again, he didn't even consider it could happen so soon, but as it stands Reborn, and Colonnello, and Lal, and Fon stand on his doorstep.
Colonnello whistles over Fon's greeting. "Someone got hit by a fucking truck, holy shit, dude. Those look super fresh too, how are you even standing right now?"
"I'm the one who trained him, what do you think?" Reborn asks smugly, entirely a rhetorical question.
Tsuna's frozen, his mind blank but working a mile a minute, absolute dread coiling in his stomach. Is everyone okay? The Arcobaleno are at his doorstep, so something must have happened. Is anyone under immediate danger right now?
Is he? And his mom and siblings?
Are the Arcobaleno there on a job?
Oh God, oh God—
"I thought you said he's grown," Colonnello says, amused, with just a hint of mockery in his voice.
"You need to catch him in his moments," Reborn says dismissively.
Lal huffs. "And some fucking moments they are."
"It's quite the sensible reaction to have though, you have to give him that," Fon says.
—oh God, what should he do, what should he do—
"Tsuna?" his mom calls out, walking to him. "Who's that?"
Tsuna walks outside, slamming the door shut behind him, and leans against it defensively. The atmosphere shifts as he looks back down at the Arcobaleno each in turn, silence falling on them.
"What is it, Dame-Tsuna?" Reborn asks. "Am I already not welcome here anymore? Open the door and let us in already."
Tsuna swallows thickly, then shakes his head. "I can't."
Reborn gives Colonnello a smug look. "See? Growth."
"Sawada-san," Fon calls his attention, stepping forwards. "We've come in peace, you can trust my word on this. We've only come to discuss some important matters with you."
Tsuna's instincts tell him it's the truth, but he still assesses the Arcobaleno once more, looking at them again. Reborn raises his eyebrow when they meet eye again, and it's all he needs.
"Okay." He opens the door, stepping aside to let them in. "Sorry about before," he adds, sheepish, feeling warm on the cheeks. Colonnello and Lal snort, and he blushes harder.
Tsuna looks for his mom as he closes the door behind him, but it's Bianchi who carefully peaks her head in the hallway from the living room. Her face brightens like the sun at the sight of Reborn, and she's quick to hug him tight in her arms.
"Reborn! I missed you so much."
"Ciaossu, Bianchi."
His mom comes out of the leaving room too after her, smiling at their sight. "Reborn-kun, hello. Welcome back."
Reborn tips his fedora downwards. "Ciaossu, Mama."
"And I assume these are your friends?" She bows. "I'm Nana, Tsuna's mother. Nice to meet you all."
"I'm Colonnello, thanks for having us."
"Lal Mirch."
Fon bows in turn. "The name is Fon. Thank you for taking care of my student all this time. She's very fond of all of you."
Tsuna looks for his siblings, for I-Pin especially, and finds them struggling to stay so-called hidden at the foot of the stairs, peeking at the scene. He sees the exact moment I-Pin catches sight of Fon, her face brightening like the sun much like Bianchi's had, and in a blink she's face to face with her master.
Tsuna stands aside for the greetings and reunions, and lets his mom take the lead as she settles the Arcobaleno in the kitchen. She prepares some tea for Colonnello, Lal, Fon, and him, coffee for Reborn, and then leaves the kitchen without needing to be told to.
Tsuna reluctantly takes a sit across from them, full of apprehension. He doesn't touch his drink. "So," he starts tentatively. "You need to talk to me about something?"
Lal snorts humorlessly. "Understatement of the century, brat."
"Who did this to you, Sawada-san?" Fon asks.
"Xanxus, but it looks worse than it feels. Also Tsuna's fine." He's black-and-blue alright, bandages pretty much everywhere, but at least he didn't end up needing any cast, his dislocated shoulder healed by Ryohei, though he can't move around for too long because of his broken ribs.
"Xanxus and the Varia are dealt with, then?"
"Yes," Tsuna says, unsure of where this was going. "I think we've come to an understanding."
"Think?" Lal repeats, clearly not happy with his uncertainty.
"I mean, it's Xanxus," he defends, and sure enough, Lal huffs.
"Fair enough. But that was just the Varia, it's one thing. There's a million other things that can't wait to bite you in the ass for what you did."
"Yeah, like how I'm now out of a job because of you," Colonnello says.
Lal sighs. "You and me both."
"You said you're working overtime right now though?" Colonnello asks.
"Just because Iemitsu keeps the CEDEF afloat now because he still needs it, doesn't mean it isn't bound to crash and burn too."
"Yeah, that was the whole point," Tsuna cuts in.
Colonnello, Lal, and Fon miss a beat, surprised, then exchange amused glances between them. They glance at Reborn too, but he only sips his coffee, pretending he doesn't notice, as if he isn't radiating so much smugness it's almost tangible.
Colonnello laughs, while Lal and Fon smile.
"Yeah, the brat's grown alright," Lal says. "But you still have no idea the scale of the mess you've started."
"I do," Tsuna says, defensive. "Like I said, it was part of the whole point."
"You really don't," Lal casually dismisses him, but something in her voice and in the look she gives him put him on edge.
"What are you saying?"
"We're here to offer you our support to deal with the mess," Fon says. Tsuna just blinks, completely caught off guard. "You might not believe it as I've failed to show up even once since I-Pin ended up in your care, but she's a very dear student of mine."
"Oh no," Tsuna denies, waving his hands in front of him, maybe lying a little, "I didn't—I would never—"
Fon's knowing smile makes him flush. "It's fine, it's only natural you thought so. But I do care very much about her, and of course about Kyoya too. And you've put them in quite the perilous situation."
Tsuna winces, but braces himself. "I had to."
Fon frowns, before realization flickers across his face. He smiles. "Of course, that wasn't what I was saying. In fact, I'm very grateful to you for that. I'm so deeply entangled with the mafia, unfortunately pulling them out of it has never been something I could have achieved in a way that would have made the risks of that worth it. That's why, now you've started that process, I'm here to officially tell you I'll do everything on my end to make it a success." He straightens his back, still smiling, but Tsuna suddenly remembers he's looking at one of the strongest babies in the world, a chill running down his spine. "I will not allow any harm to come to either I-Pin nor Kyoka, especially not because they've sought their freedom."
"Oh," Tsuna can only think to say, dumbfounded, and at the corner of his eye he sees Reborn rolling his eyes. "Is that—is that why you're all here too?"
"You're technically my student too, you know?" Colonnello says with an easy grin on his face, and expertly ignores Reborn's scoff. "And Ryohei is definitively my student too. I've lived with him and his family during that whole Varia mess. It just won't feel right for me to sit and do nothing, waiting for the worse to happen."
Lal waves her hand dismissively when he looks at her. "I'm still CEDEF until Iemitsu lets it crash and burn, and that's what he's doing right now, so that's what I'll be doing too whether I like it or not. But you knew that already, didn't you? He said he'd write you a letter."
"Yeah, he did. But he also said he won't keep in touch with us in any way until everything calms down."
Lal raises her eyebrow. "I'm not just any way. I'm the safest way should he ever change his mind, but I'm not here on his behalf. My support as Lal Mirch, a CEDEF agent, and Lal Mirch, former COMSUBIN's ace and instructor are two very different things. Be grateful you'll have both, brat."
"I am," Tsuna says right away. "Really." He looks at Colonnello and Fon too as he says that, but then settles his eyes on Reborn. "What about you, Reborn?" he asks softly.
"What about me?" Reborn says, that ever smirk on his lips. "My student proved to me he could survive a little on his own, so I went on a hard-earned vacation."
"Bullshit," Colonnello calls out, grinning, and there's a matching mischievous smile on Lal's and Fon's lips. "Do you have any idea just how high the prices on your heads are right now? How many hitmen are scrambling to be the ones taking down the guys who brought Vongola down? Reborn was busy out there shutting that down real quick."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Reborn says, even as the others are already laughing at him, Tsuna himself feeling himself smile, but it's a frail thing. "You must confuse me with someone else. Shamal, maybe? I hear he's been keeping busy."
Tsuna blinks. So that's why Shamal disappeared from their school? Does Hayato know? He's been worrying even if he wouldn't show or admit it, as well as Bianchi. Tsuna has to let them know as soon as he can, even if it's likely it will just make them worry again for different reasons.
"I see," he says, and something in his voice must have sounded wrong as they all snap their attention back to him again.
He says nothing else, and they keep silent too, exchanging glances between them.
"You do realize this was just us letting you know how it was going to be from now on, right?" Colonnello is the one to say. "We weren't asking for your permission."
Tsuna widens his eyes, incredulous. "No, of course not! And why would I ever refuse your help? This is so much—that's not what I—I just—" He bites his lip, looking down at the table. "It's just the way you've put everything, the way you felt the need to step up and get involved in this. We..." He takes a steadying breath, looking up again. "How long do you think we could have dealt with everything on our own?"
Lal doesn't hesitate, gives it straight to him. "You would all have been already slaughtered as we speak."
And Tsuna braced himself, but he still can't help but flinch. He opens his mouth, but his throat is dry and his tongue like lead, and he curls his fingers in his shirt over the knot in his stomach. He looks down, too ashamed to hold their gazes. "I did think about this," he says, has to let them know, can't let them think otherwise. "I would have never recklessly led them into danger like that—"
"You're fifteen," Lal says, not soft, but not unkindly. "And you've been part of our world for what? Two years, give or take? And even then, still mostly as a civilian. You did what you thought best according to the facts you had."
"Excuse you," Reborn says. "If I had known it would have come up so early, he'd have known everything he needed to know, only two years of mafia or not."
"Besides, it was quite the effective plan," Fon adds, ignoring Reborn, and Tsuna can't help but genuinely small a little at that. How strange and amusing and vindicating to see people who think of Reborn as nothing but their equal interacting with him. "It's unfortunate you all had to go through something like that so young, but the results aren't there nonetheless, aren't they?"
Tsuna smiles back, even if it feels strained. "Thank you." He stands, stepping back from the table, and bows deeply. "Thank you all so much for your help, I can't tell you how invaluable it is to me. If there's ever anything I can do—"
Colonnello snorts. "I doubt it, but sure, we'll keep it in mind. Just don't sweat it, and enjoy your civilian life or whatever."
"What he says," Lal says. "Let's just call it a day, I'm sure we all have stuff to do."
Tsuna keeps bowing all the same until he hears them walking away, then follows them to the door. They exchange their goodbyes, and he watches them go from the doorstep. He stays at the doorstep even after they're long gone and out of sight.
"What is it?" Reborn asks, standing next to him.
"Everything?" Tsuna says, hollow amusement in his voice. "It's just... The freedom I wanted so badly to give us, to give them—"
"You did."
"Maybe, but it'll only stay like that because of all the people working right now to keep it like that. And—and they're all mafia, you know?"
"Yes, and one of those people is your dad. It could have hardly been helped."
"You know what I mean. I don't know, Reborn, I..." Tsuna shrugs, then sits down. He keeps his eyes ahead, not looking at Reborn. "Our freedom from the mafia is being built on mafiosi's favors. I guess it kind of just feels a bit pointless, you know?"
"No, I don't. Who the hell is doing you favors, Tsuna? Those elite people, wanting, let alone needing to put you in their debts? Don't make me laugh." There it is, the mandatory jab at him as he's making a point. And Tsuna grins, because God, he missed it. He missed him. "If nothing else, they're getting even with you." Tsuna looks at him then, because that made no sense whatsoever. Reborn rolls his eyes, then sits next to him too. "Do you think they're doing all this out of the goodness of their heart? They're not good people. They're doing it because you've earned it from them. Because of the effect you had on them, however short-lived your time with them or in the mafia was. This freedom that shapes to become a lasting one more and more? Without a doubt you're the one giving it to them with your own two hands. Giving it to yourself. It's time you grow past the habit of undermining yourself and everything you do too, Tsuna."
Reborn keeps his eyes firmly ahead, thankfully so, because he'd undoubtedly hit him for the face he's making, calling it pathetic or unbecoming of a student of his or whatever. Tsuna tries to discreetly rub his eyes, though he has no doubt Reborn notices all the same, laughing, warmth spreading everywhere inside him. "Thank you. Really, I mean it. Thank you." He lets a comfortable silence surrounds them, waiting for Reborn to stand and leave too, no matter how his heart clenches at the thought of it, but Reborn doesn't. "So," Tsuna says, tentative, much like he was in the kitchen. "Why are you here if not for offering me your help?"
"I would rather shoot myself in the head than do that."
Tsuna laughs. "I know."
"Dino sent me. He wrote you a letter."
Tsuna sobers up as fast as if someone had thrown a bucket of cold water on him. Reborn is already handing him the letter when he looks at him, and he takes it with a hesitant hand, chewing on his bottom lip. He turns it over and over, as if it'll give him any hint about what to expect. He doesn't find any, if not the way Dino referred to him on the envelope.
To my little brother, Sawada Tsunayoshi.
Dino can still bear to call him his little brother. Maybe even still sees him as his little brother despite everything.
Or maybe he's just indulging himself with the name one last time like his dad.
Tsuna swallows through the lump in his throat. "Do you think it's good? Hopeful, at the very least?"
"Who knows," Reborn says, standing up. "Maybe he's cursing your very existence and promising you painful revenge. That's what I would have written if it were me."
"Well, Dino-san is nothing like you!" Tsuna splutters fiercely, standing up to follow him inside. "He's nothing like that at all!" But now of course, of course Tsuna can't help but fear it's the exact content of his letter. "Jeez, Reborn, did you have to say that?"
"You're the one who asked for my opinion," he says, clearly pleased with himself and Tsuna's reaction.
Tsuna rolls his eyes. He closes the door behind him, and only as he does he widens his eyes, realization sinking in.
"You're staying?" If he cared he'd feel embarrassed at how hopeful he sounded, but he couldn't care less.
Reborn turns back, immediately finding his eyes. He crosses his arms on his chest, smirking. "Am I not welcome here anymore? Would you have lied to me even when you thought it'd be the last words you'd ever get to say to me? I'd be very proud if that's the case, but I would still have to get back to you for that." Tsuna doesn't care to hear half of it, grinning wide, wide, wide, barely feeling the pain on his face from his wounds. "Now you've started to reach the greatest heights," Reborn continues more seriously, "as your tutor, I have to see to it you won't fall back to abysmal lows again. I'm sure your grades have already fallen, but I dare hope you've kept up with your training, Tsuna."
Tsuna just laughs, shaking his head, even if he has been keeping up with his training, thank you very much. "Reborn, welcome back. You'll always be welcome here, always."
Reborn clicks his tongue at the pathetic display of emotions or whatever, but it's the softest Tsuna's ever seen him. He tilts his fedora down to hide his eyes. "I'm back." Tsuna's heart swells, just about to burst, and this is everything he's ever wanted, and everything he'll ever need. Reborn's smirk widens, and Tsuna's smile falters in dread as he tilts his fedora up to show him one devilish eye. "But you won't feel like welcoming me anymore very soon, I'm sure," he says, sickly sweet. "We've got a lot of work to catch up with after all."
Tsuna shrieks.
A/N: I think it's said in canon the Shimon rings need seven days to get their full power back, right? But whether I remembered that right or not, that's the timeframe I went with, so the Shimon arc starts literally right after this lol. That's why I made a point to list the passing days, because I originally planned to cover the Shimon arc too, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Which is single-handedly because I've literally only read the arc once, and I knew I didn't have a good enough grasp on it to write it satisfyingly within this verse, so I didn't.
But like I said, it goes pretty much just like canon. I like to think Daemon makes it so Kaoru still attacks Yamamoto, and uses his twisted version of the Flood of Blood to turn Shimon (Enma) against Tsuna & Co just for the conflict of it lol, and though it results in a bit of Guardians VS Guardians like in canon, in this verse the Shimon arc is pretty much only Shimon & Vongola VS Daemon right away.
The Arcobaleno arc mostly happens just like canon too, except Reborn's team is a bit awkward because Dino & Tsuna have obviously stuff they need to talk about, and it's very murderous between Xanxus & Tsuna lol.
I might have missed the mark with Iemitsu here, but I just went with what felt right. On the other hand Xanxus thankfully was very straightforward with how he felt about the whole situation. Basically his reasoning is that Tsuna coming for the things he built himself around so tightly for better or worse (Nono/Vongola) is one thing, however pissed it makes him, but if he had done it without being able to bear and survive the weight and consequences of it, without being committed to do so, it would have been another thing entirely he would have killed him for. Also Tsuna took the things he wanted no matter the way he had to do it to take them, and Xanxus is the last person who has the right to hold it against him, and he's well aware of that. (And respects Tsuna for what he did, really, but he'll never admit that of course.) Meanwhile Dino gave me nothing, so you got nothing either zqsdfxgd. No, more seriously, I honestly think that for Dino it could go either way, so I thought I'd let that up for you to decide for yourselves. And depending on how you think it goes, them meeting again for the Arcobaleno arc is worse or better for it.
Reborn STAYS, and to be perfectly honest, of course he does. I always knew he would, even if I planned to let it up to you, but there, have it, and I'm happy to give it to you. Reborn stays, and Tsuna is happier for it.
And talking about letting things up to you, hopefully this unplanned bonus chapter didn't answer all of your questions. The appeal of an open ending for this story was really so you could all decide what happens next, though I obviously figured I could make it a less open ending lol.
Alright, this is the end of this story for real this time! I already thanked you in details before, so let me just simply say thank you again for reading this story to the end and for your support throughout.
I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Any and all review are appreciated.
Thank you for reading!
- Hope
Answers to Guests' Comments:
Mori: very glad the ending didn't let you down!
okay so, thank you so much for reading this story and enjoying it so much and leaving me all those kind words along the way. seeing your comments drop in my inbox one after another really made my day, i really couldn't stop smiling haha. and don't worry, i'll keep cross-posting over here as long as the site is around!
you're welcome, and once again, thank you for all your comments! :a lot of heart emoji: