A/N:

I just realized that creating KHR's Reborn's point of view is like trying to open the ocean with bare hands, and I'm not Moses who had the power to do so. So I hope you don't bash me. Hahaha.

Oh. And you'll see who Aetu is and what kind of devastation Tsuna did in KHR world as he became a mafia boss, and later on became a vigilante group leader.

Thank you for the reviews, by the way. I couldn't reply, but I really, truly, and so appreciate them. You guys are awesome.

Anyway, go on.

Chapter Fifty-Four

Twelve years of not seeing him, Reborn still know the brunet like the back of his hand. He'll give him some credits though. He got more mature, got more affectionate, has enough time for himself, and a great actor. Tsuna was never a good liar. Reborn will know when the brunet is lying, even when he's keeping a secret. But now, he has to hear the news from the child himself to be assured that his assumptions are correct. Especially now that he's acting like he heard nothing wrong about his future.

Being the Vongola Decimo took toll on the child. He struggled through those fights from Varia to Vindice. He persevered to not get killed by assassins, hitmen and mafiosi that were dispatched to kill him and his family by the incoming years after. He watched and heard him cry through sleeps, shout in nightmares and lament those times he could've done more for his family. Tsuna strived to never be the mafia boss he was in the future-not-to-be. He took on his teachings seriously, reached out for lessons and advices, and tried to learn every rule.

All just to break every single one of them.

The brunet only discussed it to them. They waited out until all Arcobaleno got their bodies back for five years, before he made all of the defenseless ones hide in the Simon island where no one can discover except for the Simon themselves, and them. After that, Tsuna slowly cut every single alliance the Vongola has with mafia famiglie, like a sharp scissor cutting strings, before declaring a war against them. And he sat at his throne, surrounded by his family, waiting for attacks in all angles. He was like a tactician Reborn never imagined him to be during that time. He was like a chess master, moving his pieces— no pawns needed to infiltrate every family and destroy them from outside and within. Every advance from the other side gets toppled down before it can even come closer. No dirty tricks, just sheer power, strength and ability. Sometimes, when he got offended personally, Tsuna will go himself and do the deed.

But maybe, that was also his shortcoming. Reborn never consulted the child. He was there. He gave advices. He gave his insights. He followed the child's whims, but never gave comfort. And before he knew it, the brunet's mental health dawdled to insanity. Sometimes, he'll see the maniacal glee and satisfaction in those eyes as they watched Italy burn. Sometimes, they're filled with so much sadness, grief and regrets. But there was no remorse. No guilt on what he did to the world and who had died. The one time they know he didn't lose it yet is the fact that he stopped Mukuro from almost hurting an innocent woman.

Mukuro almost blamed it to him, but Tsuna defended. Granted, he didn't do anything because when he noticed it, it was too late. The brunet was already neck-deep. However, even if he can save the child, he won't. It was a reward for all the hardship Tsuna had to endure just because of mafia. For the cruelty of the world that made Tsuna crawl to survive. Those cries and tears of endless pain for the past seven years before everything blazed under his command. The brunet calls them small mercies, so does he. Letting him kill all those bastards and fuckers with no restrain and destroy the world that shackled him with the responsibility he doesn't want to carry in his small shoulders, were the small mercies he could offer— the other way to avenge the innocence that was ripped off from his student.

After everything, before Tsuna stopped from going bat-shit crazy, he asked Reborn to total the deaths. From those they killed, to those they hunted and massacred, ambushed and tortured to death all around the world: Europe, Asia, America and Russia. It was a lot. Shoichi did the tallying himself. But he was the one who broke the news, and he was the first to see Tsuna's breakdown since the war happened. And he was there when the brunet blamed himself of those deaths. He blames himself for all the injuries, all the fire, and all of what happened. Reborn was there when Tsuna wished he went with them. That he should've died too for not feeling guilt and doing all of those regardless of how cruel all of those mafiosi were.

He was just there, but he knows he couldn't do anything to ease the pain. He tasked Hayato to do the clean up as he tried to find a way for Tsuna to understand everything. And that's where Kawahira and Byakuran came in. The ones who can understand insanity are those who have plunged their lives on it head first. Byakuran with his parallel world visions and Kawahira's long life. He let them talk and coax Tsuna that it was okay. The person who really snapped out the brunet from his world is Byakuran. Maybe because both of them are skies, and the albino knows how hard it is to be one. To fully recover, they asked Mukuro to put those memories in a dam at the back of Tsuna's mind and let it slowly come to the brunet so it won't overwhelm him. The mist complied.

As years go by, he noticed how Tsuna becomes more contented after they established Vongola as a vigilante organization behind its business front. The brunet was ever the supportive one, encouraging his guardians and other family to be happy on their own. It eventually went to Mukuro proposing to Chrome, which brought the others to take their time in settling while still doing their jobs. Tsuna, with his everlasting worrying, persuaded Reborn to do it. At first, the hitman said he doesn't want it. He's fine being alone, until the brunet asked if he wanted a junior or something in one of their silent hang outs in the latter's office. When he said he thought of it once, it drove his student nuts and persuaded him to at least have a test tube baby with Verde's help. He relented at the constant pestering, and Aeturnus was born.

Tsuna was far excited about the baby than him. He will tell everyone about the child, visit it everyday with anyone available, and tell it stories of what happened that day. The girls find it adorable of how devoted he is. After nine months of nurturing in a test tube, at the twelfth of October, the baby was born. Tsuna asked him if they can name the boy 'Aeturnus'. When he asked why, Tsuna snickered that he has an inking feeling that Reborn's little legacy will live on. That, and because his name, Reborn, technically means a cycle, so why not name his kid immortal? He shrugged and nodded. The boy was officially named as Aeturnus Sinclair.

(With how loved Tsuna is, Nana asked Verde to put Aeturnus Sawada Sinclair. The lightning complied. Who is he to refuse the birth mother of the man who freed him from the curse?)

(Of why Sawada, they don't know.)

(Nana knew her son will take care of the child with Reborn, so why not?)

Honestly, the moment the baby opened his eyes, they flitted to him and Tsuna. His student cooed at the kid, saying he remembered a theory that although babies can't see yet, they can sense and always stare at the most beautiful person in the room. He whacked the other on the head for the nonsense— though it sounded real since the child never left his eyes on him or Tsuna whenever either of them holds him. Since no baby was present that time (because the kids were slowpokes on how to make a girl fall in love with their different charms, except for Ryohei and Mukuro who were engaged), Tsuna doted on the kid. All Reborn has to do is see the kid when his student is busy. Not that Aeturnus hates him, but it was obvious from the very start that the kid prefers Tsuna the most.

As his son grows up, Tsuna noticed that they were clones. He can't help laughing at the brunet's insertion of making Aeturnus grow with 'humanity' that he lacks. He gave way, but he still punishes the kid when he does something stupid, like going out without supervision or pestering Tsuna while working. In a way, Aeturnus grew up like him in some aspects, especially on the personality, but more sensitive. He was never a spoiled brat, except when he wants to hog Tsuna's or his attention. He never wants toys or expensive things, just handmade gifts or thoughtful ones. He's very protective and very dangerous when angry. Tsuna pointed out that Aeturnus got that from him. He concede.

By the age of twelve, Aeturnus secretly calls Tsuna 'Dad', while he's 'Papa'. He gets shy when he calls the brunet like that in the face. Tsuna doesn't know because they really keep it. He even suspected that his son has a crush on the brunet, who sees his world on the kid— given the fact that Tsuna set his foot down on his opinion of getting married. Even if there are more children coming in and out of the brunet's life, Aeturnus bragged to him that Tsuna loves him more. He didn't say anything, not until his student died.

Much like him, Aeturnus was devastated. He was fifteen at that time and wanted retribution. He wanted revenge. But Lambo already did it for them, since he was the one who saw Tsuna crumpled in front of him. He had to fight the thought out of the teen and ask him to remember that Tsuna did not raise him to be stupid and do something moronic. Although he was able to snap him out of that, the brat declared that he wants to protect Tsuna's family, so he'll take on the world's greatest hitman title from him. He said over his dead body, so his son waited until he died.

Huh. He wondered if the brat cried when he breathed his last breath. Maybe not. He's twenty-seven now. He must be rejoicing or something.

"Come on." He looked down to the cold hand that took his wrist. "Dad is waiting by their kitchen. I'll read Eri-chan a story while you two get to know each other again. I'll be with you when you serve the food."

He blinked at the blinding lights as they entered the teachers' dormitory. "You should be a good middleman."

Caramel eyes looked at him with mischief. "Reborn, the greatest hitman, is losing his charms and wanting a middleman to mediate?"

"Unheard of." He rolled his eyes as they toed their shoes off. "I can charm hundreds of ladies even at my age."

"Did you and Aetu ever do that?" He peered at the brunet who voiced the wonder. The other was putting on the slippers while placing one in front of him. "Have a race who has the most ladies begging for your attentions?"

He smirked as he put the slippers on. "You're staring at the ever victorious."

Tsuna laughed as he led them to where the kitchen is. "You two are always silly back then."

'When it comes to taking your attention.' He thought. "Don't rank me up with your kid."

"My kid?" The brunet repeated. "That was your sperm and your two-point-O. God. You two were like peas in a pod. Sometimes creepy with how you smirk at the same time and say the same thing." The he paused and gave him an inquisitive look. "Espresso or chocolate?"

"Chocolate." The last time he checked, that was what Aeturnus drank while they were watching TV. "He still makes yours."

A wistful smile curved on the teen's lips. "That's heart fluttering." Then they entered the kitchen. He watched the other jog towards a man by the stove with a sweet call. "Dad!"

As if a puzzle clicking, the last of his memories came rushing in. He remembered his counterpart meeting Tsuna for a first time as captives, giving him the gloves, meeting Shouta Aizawa in the address Tsuna gave him, and seeing Tsuna's forlorn look before they parted. Then he saw himself listening to the news of the Sawada couple's passing, getting switched off to the mansion and stared at their tenth generation family portrait, meeting Tsuna after two months, the Arcobaleno meeting, Natsu jumping on him, and spending time with Tsuna in the latter's room. He watched himself instruct his student on a fucking operation, get dragged to the hospital every night, celebrate his birthday, receive gifts his counterpart highly appreciated, then pick gifts for Tsuna's and Aizawa's birthdays, be lulled to sleep by lullabies sang by his student, and watch Tsuna sing on the stage with his classmates.

He can remember all the talks, the jokes, the banters. It's as if nothing changed, only world difference. It's magnificent how Tsuna can create a home even without using his flames. Just a little shift, nudge and nod, and the person will be part of the family. To even have his counterpart see a brother in the man who nurtured Tsuna further... Unbelievable.

"Reborn," A warm smile got directed to him as Tsuna presented his Dad, who has a spatula in his left hand. "This is my Dad, Shouta Aizawa. The man who kept me sane." Then the brunet peered at Aizawa who looked back to him. "Dad, let me officially introduce to you my tormentor, tutor, advisor and father figure, Reborn."

"Chaos." He greeted first and tipped his hat. "It's nice to meet you."

"Likewise." Then the man offered his right hand with a small smile. "Although it should be welcome home to both of you and the other Reborn, isn't it?"

He smirked and took the hand. "I see. Tsuna had been a bad influence."

Aizawa chuckled as Tsuna whined in indignation. "Tell me about it."

"I'm not gonna dwell on how the heck did I become a bad influence to Dad." Tsuna waved off as he slipped off his jacket. "I'm gonna tell Eri-chan a story."

"Don't spoil the kid too much." He chided.

"She's my version of Mukuro." The brunet let out his tongue at them. "If I can make my version of Reborn smile as much as possible, I'll make this one sweet!"

"You can't argue with that." Aizawa said and went back to his work. "Even when he was having a hard week, he still comes to the hospital to eat dinner with me and tell stories to Eri."

"I recon there was no major changes in him since he came here?" He asked while removing his jacket and hanging it to the hanging man. He sighed. That brat, even corrupting him with his own words. "Although he seems to revert back to being a teen— for a fifty-six years old at least."

Aizawa paused. "I don't really know. He always acted like a mature kid since I took him in." Then he moved again.

He went near and rested his hip at the counter, something he felt familiar in doing. Huh. His memories make him feel like he's not new to the world. "I bet he never does anything that won't benefit you."

"Is that a bad thing?"

He shook his head as he let out an ear to hear Tsuna telling a story about the friendship of a lion and a porcupine. "Not at all. That's what makes him sane."

"Tsuna..." The man paused and shook his head. "Sometimes, I wonder what's inside his mind. We maybe closer, but I'm starting to think that I couldn't help him in some things."

"If I may?" He asked. He can't say disrespectful things to the man his student (almost son) sees as a real father, can he? "Tsuna has been the affectionate one. He raised my son when he was twenty-nine and never tried to find a woman for himself."

"He told me so."

He nodded. "It was the result of me teaching him to prioritize his family before himself. It was an honest mistake, but during that time I met him, he was selfless and thought that making everyone happy will make them stay beside him. So I took advantage of that. I made that his drive to be as he is. To keep his dying will alive." He blinked. "It drove him mad, honestly. To protect the family, he did what he could do. He soiled his hands and dove deeper to the darkness I regretted pulling him to. There was a moment in time that I wished I let him enjoy his teen years. Reach twenty by doing the things he wants, not because he needed to.

"So when Takeshi said that he saw Tsuna here, although unable to let go, I felt relief. He said he looked stable and warmer. He said Tsuna has an incredible Dad who looks really protective of him. He said, he looks so young and not bothered by anything. Takeshi said, Tsuna is living his life and receiving so much love instead of doing the caring alone." Onyx eyes turned to Aizawa who looked at him in astonishment. "You don't really know how much you mean to Tsuna, but you are the reason why he was able to love himself, do the things he couldn't do as a child until he became sixteen, and experience the love of a parent. Iemitsu lacked that role, Nana was never able to fill in that. But you did. You gave him a family that he couldn't have when he wasn't within my reach. As he said, you made him sane. So don't think that you couldn't help Tsuna. All you have to do is be there for him, and he'll stand strong. Be the reason for him to live."

Gratefulness filled those black eyes. "Thank you."

"You have to remove those thoughts out of your head, Aizawa." He advised. "Tsuna never likes it when he thinks he's making a family of his feel insecure. He wants to be the one who feel insecure, not us. However, the family is grateful to you for giving him the affection we couldn't give when he was still with us."

"Right." The man responded and handed him a plate. He took it and the succeeding one and moved for the already set table.

"Argh." They turned to Tsuna who came in with a disgruntled look. "I almost fell asleep."

He can't help smirking as Aizawa laughed. "You almost fell asleep on your own story."

The brunet stammered as he went red, then relented with a moan of despair. "Dad! I'm gonna bunk with you. Reborn is being mean."

"Nope."

"Hie!"

Somehow, Reborn was able to see why Tsuna got attached to Aizawa over the dinner. The hero is someone who has his own struggles that reflected his life. He looks like someone who was miserable and jaded, until Tsuna came into his life. A little afloat because of his best friend Present Mic, and a person who takes upon himself to teach others that life isn't full of sunnies and rainbows. Aizawa is someone who knows how painful grief is.

He wonders how did Tsuna able to patch up those broken pieces again. Maybe that's the reason why Aizawa felt like he thinks he doesn't know if he's helping Tsuna? Because the brunet practically took care of him as they grow up? Hm...

But isn't he like that too? Tsuna took care of him when he thought of leaving? And when everything was happening to Tsuna, he felt helpless of not being able to at least reason something out of that head full of remorse? Has he ever apologized for all the things he had done? No. He doesn't think so. Tsuna died without hearing his apology.

"...-orn. Reborn?" He looked at the side to Tsuna peeking at him as they walk. "You okay? Don't be sad that Leon went to Dad. He wanted to spend some time with him too."

"Tsuna." He called out, as he stopped walking, which caused the other to do so. "Have I ever apologized to you?"

"Ha?" The brunet blurted in surprise. "What brought this-"

"I'm sorry for pulling you deeper in the mafia." He stated and pursed his lips afterward. "You almost went crazy because of the burden I damped on your shoulders. I couldn't even help you lighten the guilt when you blamed yourself. You died without even hearing me apologize. So I'm-"

"Shh." Tsuna hushed to him, while burying his face to the hitman's chest and hugging him tighter. "Take a deep breath, Reborn."

He complied and took a deep breath. As he let go, he slowly wrapped his arms around his student's shoulders.

"Remember when we fought over the Vernara Famiglia mission, verbally and literally?"

"When you took Aeturnus?" He questioned, burying his face on those fluffy locks.

"Yeah. We were so angry at each other and on the situation that we fought, and you beat me. I left because I couldn't stand the thought that you'll go alone to take care of them. It took you a month to get to us. To me. And you sent flowers as a form of apology. I mean I felt like a girl being wooed to come back, but I know you meant well that time. I know how hard it is for you to say sorry sincerely, and not as a sarcasm over my dame-ness.

"You have a lot of pride in you. You are the personification of the sun. You are my sun. So apologizing was never your forte, and when you do so, I know you thought about it so hard." He pulled back when the other looked up to him and warm caramel eyes stared at him. "So whenever you've done something bad or something that makes me angry, I'll always remember those flowers you sent and I'll forgive. Frankly, I thought a lot of times about those hardships you pulled me into. Even the mafia. But if we think about it, it was necessary. If I wasn't a candidate, assassins will still come for us because I am Young Lion's son. And you made my life bearable. Because of you, I was able to have friends, have experiences that I thought I will never have. For once, I felt like I was a protagonist in an anime series.

"When I thought of you dying after we discovered about the truth of the Arcobaleno system, I couldn't let go. I couldn't stand still and see my tutor, who brought me everything to my life, die without seeing me as someone he will become proud of. You are part of my family, long before I knew it, Reborn. You are my very first friend, although Hayato was my first mate and guardian. I felt like saving you is too shallow and my thank you wasn't enough— that I wanted to grant you something that will make you happy. So I tried my best to make you happy. So don't apologize, okay? Whenever you feel like you want to apologize to me for all the mafia related things, just think that I always will and already forgive you."

He sighed. "Why are you so forgiving?"

"Because you deserve it." Tsuna replied and stepped back with a smile. "Now come on. It's cold. I don't want you to catch one."

He took a deep breath, feeling his shoulders and heart go lighter before smiling a little. "Yeah yeah. I'm coming."

Nothing changed. Tsuna never changes.

Tsuna's eyes flashed orange as his intuition tingled. Leaving his homeworks, he scrambled to get his jacket, mittens, headphones, phone with its headset and wallet before going out of his room.

It's Sunday and a rest day for them after a long weekend. Given the fact that the Hero Billboard Chart of Japan came out just that week, the hype of people are on high. Tsuna seriously didn't consider seeing the presentation, but he got curious of how Endeavor is faring with all the expectations. He did say he wanted to become the number one.

It's not that Tsuna is against with the other's wishes. Heck, he'll even support. Everyone wants to be number one on something. If there's a title for being the number one Tsunayoshi Sawada, he will gladly take it on. But the fact that Endeavor did things to his family to pass on, at least, his wishes to his descendants, is just wrong. It wasn't something Tsuna could support. A person can't make a family just for selfish stupid reasons. Maybe it was karma that tore them apart, but to see the children suffer the burn of that decision— causing Fuyumi to try hard, Natsuo to stay away, Shouto to feel responsible for their mother's breaking point, and Dabi... Oh his little Dabi to go for the dark side and try to get revenge on his foolish father. What could hurt more to see the result of your past come back to you like a ghost? He just knew it will break their family more apart. Especially now that Endeavor is trying to repent.

Shouto had told him that he was right when he said Endeavor only wanted to talk to the red-white head. Although he was really loud, Shouto felt like his Dad is trying to say something. Tsuna could only sigh and ruffle the other's hair for his and Natsuo's stubborn personalities. He can't blame them. He was as adamant as they were when the others tried to persuade him in forgiving Iemitsu. It's just that he has now realized how frustrating it is to be on the helpless side of the argument.

Arriving downstairs, he came upon the commotion in the news. His eyes widened at the sight of the people panicking and a coverage of Endeavor fighting this black shadowy thing with Hawks as his back-up and support. He doesn't know which city, but it looks somewhat near. He gazed at Shouto who is watching. He wanted to approach, but he controlled himself. This isn't the time for him to give solace. Shouto has to realize how his Dad deserves his spot as the number one hero.

He gripped his mittens when they all saw how Endeavor got a blow on the left eye. His intuition assured him that it's not as lethal as it looks and can be repaired. He kept quiet when his classmates reacted and went worried for Shouto as his Dad came in to see him too. Katsuki stood beside him as the red-white head shouted in anger and disbelief that Endeavor was down with that one move. He took the blond's shirt sleeve and gripped it as he prayed that Endeavor will persevere. He knew how much lives depend on those shoulders, and how painful it is to lose a parent. The Todoroki Family doesn't deserve it.

He was able to breathe when the villain got defeated and Endeavor stood up with a fist in the air. Shouto crouched down and breathed a sigh. He would've felt the same thing if it happens to him. But he was in that situation a lot of time. Operations, surgeries, battles. He let go of Katsuki and was about to walk for the door when he caught something blue at the corner of his eyes. They widened in shock as the camera zoomed in on the scene.

"That's Dabi! A member of League of Villains!" The reported said in panic.

"Idiot!" He can't help hissing, unknowingly catching Katsuki's attention.

"Ah! He's backing away!" Someone of their classmates exclaimed as Miruko tried to attack Dabi but he got transported away by that slimy thing coming from his mouth.

"Tsuna!" He turned to Shouto who stood up and started to walk.

"I'm here." He called out, earning eyes on him. He gave a reassuring smile to the red-white head. "Hey. Your Dad is awesome out there." He patted the other's back after getting a hug. "The number one hero is amazing, isn't he?" He got a nod. "He'll live. Don't worry."

"Tsuna," He looked up to his Dad who was holding his phone. "Recovery Girl is asking for your assistance."

He nodded. "Alright." He stepped back as Shouto let him go. "I'll be back with a good news. Drink a chocolate or something then ask permission to visit your family. Fuyumi-san-"

"Fuyumi-nee-san." The other corrected.

He stuck his tongue out. "Fuyumi-san must have been worried. Call her, alright? I'm going. Bye Aizawa-sensei."

He went for the door and opened it. He waved at his classmates who called him out to be careful before closing the door. He wore his mittens, activated his flames and flew off. It didn't take much time for him to arrive to the hospital. He met Chiyo there and got ushered to do the usual. He grumbled jokingly to the medic how he felt like he's a doctor something with all this. It caused the old woman to laugh and thanking him on making things lighter.

Wearing scrubs, they went for the operating room. When he was about to enter, he saw Hawks looking at him. He nodded to the hero before going in. He was instructed to wash his hands thoroughly before letting him in and dressing him. When he got what he needed to do, he nodded to the doctors who are smiling at him. It was his usual team.

"Let's save another life then." He greeted before looking at Endeavor and patted his shoulder. "Good job, Endeavor-san. Let us take care of the rest."