Chapter Forty-Two
Tsuna scanned their expressions. "I know it's hard to accept, that Kawahira-jii did those for the sake of the blasted system. But let's remember that people do the wrong things for the right reasons. You're in the mafia because you have to hide. Wrong thing, right reason. If I was in your position, I'll curse him too. But he told me the reason. Do you know how many times I have to invite him for tea? To the point that he's so at home that he comes in with his own tea set and ramen to share? I'll make him tell me all the things he can recall, all the things he can remember in his past?"
"How do you know he's not lying?" Fon queried, jade eyes intently staring at him. "He's a mist. Mist can lie. They are good at it."
"Intuition." He simply answered. "I have the Vongola hyper intuition in me. Lie, and I'll know." He fixed Yuni to his arm and put his free hand to his Dad's knee. The man has been tensing up. "Seeing how he hasn't popped out anywhere yet, I'll say he's living his life for a while now. If he was any ungrateful, he should've killed me when I was still a kid." He patted his Dad's knee. "Or when he realized that I'm the one who changed things. I was able to activate my flames when I was four." Then he turned to Reborn. "Remember the kid who called you eleven years ago and started to say informations?"
The hitman's brows furrowed a little before turning to Verde. "The kid in Japan, Verde."
"Ah. The one you made me trace because he called and..." Green eyes turned to him in amazement. "You were that kid. Same voice, same articulation. No wonder you sounded mature, and you know what to do and say."
"That day was his birthday." Shouta chimed in. "They were attacked on the day of his birthday."
He took his Dad's hand, interlaced their fingers and gave a squeeze. "Don't make it sound like it's a bad thing, Dad. I met you during that day."
"How did you know my number, Tsuna? You were a kid. I don't remember meeting you prior that."
"I was intending to dial the Japan emergency number." He answered. "If I remember right, I asked for heroes to be dispatched because the intruder that time was trying to take down the door and I was..." He wetted his lips as he remembers everything. "Trying to stop Kaasan's bleeding. My original world's Reborn had drilled his number in my head, so when I'm in super emergency, he'll be the first I will call. So I must have dialled your number that time unknowingly and by reflex. If Xanxus didn't say anything the last time they visited, I won't know. Regardless, I'm sorry for startling you that time, and thank you for redirecting the call to Japan's emergency number. I could only do so much in a toddler's body, and hyper dying will mode is not recommended for me to enter that time."
"Figures. You threatened the man, then you collapsed." Reborn hummed. "No wonder Vongola Decimo sounded so familiar. We've met even before I met you."
Tsuna quirked a smile. "At your service."
Reborn smirked before turning to his fellow Arcobaleno. "I'm staying with this kid. I'll come to Italy for hits, visit Giglio Nero, then here in Japan. Might as well get to know the bringer of my old life."
"If there is anything I could do for you, please let me know." Fon said.
"Kyouya and Ipin." He uttered, squeezing his Dad's hand. "I want to know how are Kyouya Hibari and Ipin."
Jade eyes stared at him, before realization flashed. "He must have been your cloud."
"And my Ipin was a Sawada." He relied. "Her, Lambo Bovino and Fuuta dela Stella were my adopted siblings. I want to know how are they; her and Kyouya."
"Ipin is in China, and living a normal life under my care. Since I went back to normal, the Triad cannot force me to do things. From the day I took her in, I've been teaching her martial arts for self defense and no assassination. And Kyouya is about to graduate early from being a police officer, the last time I checked on him."
Tsuna can't help the relief he felt. "Thank you."
"I can give you the information about the other two." Viper offered. "As a compensation."
"I'll take that as a thanks." He replied gratefully then he turned to Verde. "If you're going to thank me, I suggest do me a favor?"
"What is it?" The scientist asked.
"Search for Hayato Gokudera, Shoichi Irie and Spanner. They're bright children. They'll do well as your apprentice. I don't want their talents to go to waste. You can tag Gianini too. He's a bit clumsy on some sides, but you'll be fine." He indulged.
"I'm in contact!" Byakuran chimed with a hand raised like he's in class. "I'll tell him to find Spanner then go for Verde. They'll convulse in happiness."
"I can already see Spanner blurting a lame oh, then Shoichi will complain about stomach ache out of nerves." He reminisced. "Old times."
"I'll... Keep an eye on the Vongola." Lal sighed, dejected and resigned. "With what you've said, Enrico will probably deploy assassins and hitmen on you. Since you have Reborn, tell him to contact me when someone from your immediate circle get targeted. I'll see to it to tie those three up and ship them to you. I don't think Vongola will mind having a new leader in the form of Xanxus."
"Oh?" He exclaimed, amazed with the offer. "Thank you, Lal."
Colonnello put a card on the table. "That's my card. Lal is a mist-rain, that's why she's kinda temperamental. I'm the full rain between us, so if you want to talk to someone, other than Reborn and your Dad," A respectful nod to his Dad. "or any of your friends, you can come to me."
Shouta took the card and inspected it. "Mafia island. There's such a thing?"
"There is." He affirmed. "It's a neutral ground where mafiosi from different famiglie can mingle even when you have disputes outside the island." Then he turned to the blond with a teasing smile. "We're not gonna have an affair, are we?"
"What?! No! I'm loyal to Lal!" Colonnello denied with horror and mortification evident on his face.
"You idiot!" Lal shouted with a flush and tried to attack the blond if Fon didn't stop her. "Let go of me, Fon!"
"Yuni-chan is asleep, Lal." The storm chided, causing the woman to freeze.
"But you know," Tsuna piped in, grinning cheekily to the two. "Lal and Colonnello of my world got married after the curse got broken. I was fifteen that time." He chuckled when Lal flushed redder while Colonnello's eyes sparkled.
"What about you, Lackey?" Reborn nodded to Skull, who fidgeted. "What can you offer?"
"Oi. Stop that." He admonished before smiling to Skull. "A simple expression of gratitude will suffice, Skull. Mafiosi and hitmen hate debts, that's why they can't help offering things. Besides, I considered us kindred spirits. Reborn's counterpart also bullies me like the way he bullies yours. So we should really stick together."
Tense shoulders relaxed and an easy smile graced the stuntman's lips. "Thank you for freeing me, Sawada. I can have my life back, even before I became a mafioso and an Arcobaleno."
"No problem." He looked up to his Dad who is watching him with fondness and amazement. Then he turned to Aria. "Holding Yuni like this is a good compensation, Aria-san. As long as both of you live and have a happy family, I'm okay."
Midnight eyes watered before looking up to those green ones of Gamma, who smiled back. "Thank you, Tsunayoshi-kun. I will forever be grateful."
"You deserve it." He replied, glancing at Byakuran before gazing at Yuni. "You all deserve it."
It didn't take long for them to say their goodbyes. But instead of going alone, Byakuran went with them again on the way to the school with the car. Reborn stayed with the others for arrangements. He did say he'll claim the bed again. Tsuna didn't remove his hand to his Dad's, not that Shouta minded.
Tsuna honestly feels... Good. To see and know that the Arcobaleno are alive and he was really able to free them. He honestly doesn't know why he still has his flames. Why it's so powerful when his body should've be giving that much flames. He knows it's in the will. But there are certain facts to be considered. How he was able to retain his soft and hard flames? Those were given to him after he got approved by Primo to destroy Vongola, literally or figuratively. Or how he can just unlock the Arcobaleno curse without the container. Maybe it was just his soul?
Damn. Tri-ni-sette never made sense.
"Thank you for everything, Byakuran." He expressed, beaming at the albino who has the door opened. He gave a bow. "I hope we see each other again."
"By the time we do, I want to treat you to a parfait." Byakuran smiled. "To commemorate how wrong your tutor is."
"Nah." He dismissed, knowing what the mafia boss means. "It's what drives me to be better, Byakuran. I may be training as a hero, but I'm still a vigilante through and through. I follow, bend or break rules for my morals."
Purple eyes stared straight at him, as if gauging him before grinning widely. "Still the Tsunayoshi Sawada we love. I have a present for you, by the way."
Tsuna's eyes widened as Byakuran produced two rings. It was the Version X sky rings. "H-How-"
"When Takeshi came here, they were having a meeting. After your rain told them that you're here, my other self looked for ways to give you this. I informed him that Leon is Leon, so your gloves are good." Then he handed it as Tsuna laid his hand. "You can switch back to the Version Vongola whenever you want. Our Talbot here did the tinkering. Your Vongola ring is different from the sealed form of the ring here. Even if Enrico is able to unlock it, he won't be able to utilize it. You're the only one who Primo wants. You are the rightful Decimo."
"Ten is the one that changes everything back to where it started." His Dad uttered, getting those purple eyes on him. "No wonder One likes Ten."
"Yes. Besides," Byakuran's smile softened. "your partner misses you."
Brown eyes watered in gratitude. "Thank you."
"No. Thank you for changing us." His friend countered. "Thank you for being our sky, regardless of different worlds."
After saying goodbye again, Tsuna pulled Shouta to the prinicipal's office. He asked Nezu for his time, regarding his anticipating partner. Curious, Nezu gave in and went with them. He was so excited that he can't help running ahead and beckoning his Dad, who was carrying Nezu, to hurry up. He didn't see how the two smiled fondly at his exuberance.
When they got to the Gamma gym, the Training Dreamland, Tsuna let them stand back. He slipped the bigger ring to his middle finger then the small one to his pinkie. The big one as a symbol of responsibility, the small one for promise. Taking a deep breath, he coaxed his flames to light up his rings. It didn't even take long for Natsu to go out. In a burst of a big flames, the lion version of Natsu appeared, complete with the sky flames mane and the metal helmet.
He narrowed his eyes in challenge as the lion growled. He can hear Shouta shouting his name in worry but he raised his hand. In a count of three, both let out a burst of flames. Natsu growled, pumping more. But Tsuna overpowered it. It took seconds for his partner to submit, lowering himself. The brunet sighed in relief and retracted his flames. If they did what they did years ago, they could've done more damage in the training ground. Shit. He almost died that one time he opened it out of nerves and curiosity. Good thing Dino, Basil and Takeshi were there.
"Natsu." He cooed as he kneeled a knee on the ground. "It's me, Tsuna."
The lion perked up, orange eyes staring straight at him.
He smiled warmly. "Come here, Natsu. I missed you, buddy."
"Gao." The lion meowed, curious and uncertain.
"Gao?!" The two persons behind them exclaimed.
"It's me. I'm sorry for leaving. I didn't do it on purpose." He apologized. "I hope you forgive me-"
He found himself with a handful of lion, hugging him. He laughed and buried himself to the lion's shoulder. Bester was usually the one who hugs him like this. But as Natsu started to grow, both give it to him. Sometimes, Uri will come too after ignoring Hayato. He missed them.
Sky flames burst from the lion and slowly, Natsu went to his small form, and started to say how sad he was and how he missed him. Tsuna understood everything, well-versed with the 'gao' language. He apologized softly for leaving and for being inconsiderate. He did express how happy he is to have him beside him again. After their sweet reunion, Tsuna carried the small cub to the two people who had been watching them.
"This is Natsu." He introduced to his cowering partner. He chuckled. "He's a quirk animal. He's terribly shy in front of other people. As you can see, he has my flames because he's a manifestation of my flames. In a way, you can say he's an extension to me."
"But you said you were sorry for leaving..." Nezu trailed off.
"He has been in the care of my friends." He explained. "I needed to leave him that time because I couldn't take him with me. I was a kid, I couldn't do the paper works. Dad doesn't know him personally, only in stories I've told him. Now that I'm older, I can do the paper works with the help of Dad." He pursed his lips. "Please, let me keep Natsu. He... He has been lonely."
"Gao." His partner softly comforted.
"What does he eat?" Nezu questioned.
"My flames, but he can eat actual food too. Cat food, fish, meat." He answered. "He comes out sometimes, when restless or bored. But most of the time, he's behave. He won't do any harm as long as those we held precious get hurt."
"Are you sure he's not an experiment?"
Tsuna winced before turning to his partner. "Are you an experiment?"
"Gao!" Natsu shook his head vehemently. "Gao gao gao!"
"Alright." Nezu placated with a small smile. "I get it. You're a manifestation of Tsuna's flames." Then he turned to him. "I'll help you with the papers. It won't be long. Thank you for confiding this to me, Tsuna."
"It means a lot to you, so I'll do anything in the procedure." He replied before eyeing his Dad. "Natsu, that's Dad."
His partner recoiled, getting nervous. "Gao."
"He's technically harmless." He coaxed. "You'll like him."
The cub doubtfully and reluctantly went down from his arms. Natsu strode for Shouta who looked down to see the flaming cub. Black met orange. They stared off a little before Natsu stood still and blinked at him. His Dad slowly crouched down and opened his palm for his partner to see. Tsuna smiled when Natsu stepped forward a bit and submitted. The hero quirked a smile and patted the cub's head. Natsu visibly relaxed and purred automatically.
Tsuna stayed silent for the whole duration as Nezu started to converse with Natsu while Shouta keeps on patting him. It looks like his partner knows what to say and what not to. He could only smile as the cub charmed both.
Nezu let them go and told them to go for their dorm. Tsuna expressed his gratitude and bid his Dad a 'later', since both will eat together with Reborn, and now with Natsu. His partner snuggled on his neck while perching on his right shoulder as they went for the dorms. Tsuna can't wait to sleep with his lion again.
When Reborn got into the main building, Natsu turned into his lion form and pounced on the hitman. Reborn didn't even manage to pull his gun out when Natsu draped himself on him and made them fall on the ground. His partner keeps on 'gao'-ing excitedly and mournfully. Tsuna had to pry the lion off the hitman and made him understand that 'No, that's not our Reborn', 'Yes, they look and act the same', 'Yes, he's an Arcobaleno', 'Yes, he loves me', 'Yes, he'll love you because he loves Leon', and 'Yes, we sleep in the same room'. Reborn was just watching them while standing beside his cooking Dad, and raised his hands as if surrendering. Shouta laughed his heart out and praised the two for how good they are for making the hitman surrender.
The next following days were quite... Eventful and peaceful. It took a lot of time for his dormmates to notice and see his partner being carried by him. Sometimes on the shoulders, on the head, the arms and just walking beside him. His teachers noticed the cat, but didn't bother. Most likely briefed about Natsu by Nezu. Hizashi did pet Natsu, who reminded him of Squalo, while Nemuri just smiled at the cat.
The first one to see him was Hitoshi though. The purple head was ecstatic and giddy to try to pet Natsu. Tsuna nodded to his partner and encouraged him to get to Hitoshi. It was like seeing Shouta making friends with his partner. The next people to notice Natsu were Shouto and Katsuki. They were all going out for the gate since the two were going for the licence lessons while he's going for the agency he wants to intern to, that he picked with the help of Reborn. Shouto blandly pointed him out while Katsuki took Natsu by the nape and held him up. Poor cub, crying at the sight of scary blond. It took minutes for Natsu to calm down and let Katsuki pet him on the head.
(On that night, same day, Katsuki demanded to see Natsu and played with the cub for hours inside his room while he watched some video on his phone.)
(Shouto asked the same thing.)
(He taped it.)
The next persons to see were Mineta, Sero and Kaminari. The three caught him playing in the courtyard with Natsu. They were all shocked and afraid first, but thought twice when they noticed that the latter was cowering from them too. Tsuna can't stop his laughter because what's more hilarious than seeing a big bad lion cowering instead of intimidating others? That's where the girls started to come in. The first to see was Jirou, who looked starstruck and offered Natsu a soft song she wanted to sing for the cub. The lion must have seen Chrome on the other and agreed. Next was Mina who coddled him then Yaoyorozu who made yarns and cat toys for him to play.
Satou, Kouda and Tokoyami found Natsu hiding from him when they were playing hide and seek after they came back from his intern place. Kouda coaxed the cat to talk to him and found out that Tsuna is his owner. Dark Shadow had fun talking to his partner with Kouda. Satou was a little shocked with Tokoyami, but they didn't mind. The brunet caught them talking in the living room with Ojirou and Shouji. They were all listening to the lion blabber about his life with Tsuna.
(Good thing Natsu knows what to keep secrets about.)
Hagakure was more or less afraid of cats. To see her jump after seeing Natsu perched on Tsuna's shoulder while the latter is making himself a coffee that one morning was a sight to worry. Same with Natsu who jumped too and whimpered. It didn't take a while for the two to have an understanding that both of them are kindred spirits. Iida discovered this after Aoyama showcased the cat around with a style on the helmet. (Aoyama didn't ask anything. He took it in a fucking stride.) The class president demanded papers, which he gave and surprised them that Natsu lives in his Vongola ring. They won't even believe him that Natsu mirrors his true self.
Who would believe that Tsuna is a scardy-cat?
The second to the last people to know were Kirishima, Asui and Uraraka. They all were back in class that time and noticed a cat on his head. Uraraka's eyes were glowing, while Asui asked for Natsu's information and regarded him in a friendly way. Kirishima reminded Natsu of Ryohei, so more or less, the cat got attached. After that, the three started to tell the brunet what happened to their internship.
(Natsu gave him an exasperated look. He didn't deny that he loves listening to people babble about their lives.)
The last person to know was Izuku. The greenet took his time. He opened the door with a somber look on his face, sat by Lion Natsu, and leaned to the latter's stomach. Tsuna let the other tell him what's on his mind. About this Chisaki guy, Eri girl, Sir Nighteye who was Togata's boss, and All Might's predicted death, that won't happen anymore because he cured him. Tsuna and Natsu both let the teen bask in the sky flames they let out. Then Izuku stiffened and turned to Natsu who was looking at him with lazy eyes. Tsuna has the laugh of his life when the greenet asked him who the cat is and how did he get there. That was the first time Natsu didn't cower.
All in all, the week isn't that stressful.
(Oh how fate and the universe just love to prove him wrong.)
"Oh. All Might-san's friend?" The brunet repeated before smiling at him. "A pleasure to make your acquaintances, Sir Nighteye. I'm Tsunayoshi Sawada, you can call me Tsuna casually. But I'm known as Vongola Decimo."
"Nighteye," He turned to Gran Torino who motioned a hand to the teen. "He is the one who healed All Might's incurable injury."
His eyes widened as he eyed the brunet who blushed. "Gran Torino-san, don't go saying that. There were doctors there too. And besides, it was a quirk residue that was eating All Might-san's system. I only was able to cure him because it made itself known. It was bad move for All for One."
"You know him?" He questioned.
"Oh. I've talked to him." The teen answered flippantly. "He was all so twisted and such. He has quite an obsession about All Might." Then he gave a smile. "Let's just say we... Kinda have this agreement to never talk to each other again, unless utterly necessary."
"B-But I never saw you..."
Caramel eyes blinked before giving an amused yet nostalgic smile. "Well, it's given. Some of my family have that kind of ability. Sometimes they see me, sometimes they don't. What we know is, the future is never set. In my case, it's because I don't follow the rules. You can call me a glitch, an anomaly-"
"Or the game changer." He continued.
"Seeing you and All Might-san have never talked for awhile, I hope you do. We don't want to regret anything when it's too late now, do we?" Then there's the warm smile again.
For some reasons, Nighteye saw another ray of hope.