OpalescentGold: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.
Memory
This is what she recalls.
Sky
She remembers the Sky, with his infinite compassion and acceptance, orange flame flaring high on his brow and eyes looking to the future, the one and only leader she has ever consented to following. Giotto.
Storm
She remembers the Storm, explosive and devoted, the best Right-Hand Man to the very end. A volatile bomb, bow and arrow ever raised in defense as offence, red eyes and pink - magenta, MAGENTA! - hair. G.
Rain
She remembers the Rain, ever easy-going and relaxed, a calm ocean with deeper depths than anyone could have imagined. A spectacular musician, an incredible swordsman, a loyalty that was unshakable. Ugetsu.
Sun
She remembers the Sun, a passionate priest, a burning strength always looking to heal, never to kill, but willing to rise to the surface for his family should it come to that. An undefeated boxer in the service of God. Knuckle.
Lightning
She remembers the Lightning, sheltered, pampered, cowardly, yet unable to deny the requests of his boss whenever the time came to be serious. A steadfast shield for those he loved, regardless of his fear. Lampo.
Cloud
She remembers the Cloud, aloof and cold, powerful and violent, unrestrained and untouchable. Perpetually going his own way, doing whatever he wanted whenever he wanted, a pillar of strength that never wavered. Alaude.
Mist
She remembers the Mist, deceptive and indulgent in the beginning, deceptive and desperate in the end. Heartbroken and angry at the Earth, at the Sky, at Vongola, he broke the family, so confused, so lost. Daemon.
Family
Noriko realizes what it is that she has been missing.
Sky
This is how she finds the Sky.
Play
Noriko is moving before she realizes it, kneeling in front of the brunet with wide, startled eyes. "Giotto?" she whispers, hope a trembling, fragile glass inside of her small, frantic heart. Does he remember? Is this my Sky?
The little boy blinks, frowns, and her heart drops. She knows the answer even before he says, "I'm sorry, but no...? I'm Sawada Tsunayoshi." There is no malice in her voice, but the glass shatters nonetheless, cuts until she bleeds.
Noriko doesn't reply, cannot reply, but perhaps some of the hurt shows on her face, maybe it is the Hyper Intuition - because this boy cannot not be a descendant of the Primo - because the child looks concerned. "Are you okay?"
"I'm okay," she says shakily to her classmate and bites her bottom lip in an effort to hold the tears in. This is not Giotto, not her Sky, and it hurts because she will never have her leader again, not truly hers.
But Noriko can work with this. She has to, because Tsunayoshi reminds her so much of Giotto that it is like seeing a ghost, warm and real and alive. "My name is Reiki Noriko," she says instead. "Wanna play?"
Tsunayoshi's face lights up, the smile that his lips curl up into radiant, and for a second, it doesn't hurt so much. "Hai!"
Smile
"Nori-chan, did you have fun at school?" Kiku asks her that afternoon when she comes to pick up Noriko from school. The woman herself has a pleased look in her eyes, the faintest of smiles on her lips.
Noriko peers at her mother through her eyelashes, turning to wave to Tsunayoshi as she leaves and is gratified to receive a shy wave back. "Hmm...hai, Kaa-chan! Why?"
"You're smiling," Kiku points out. And, she thinks but does not say, this is the first time she has ever seen such a bright, delightful smile on her daughter's face.
Noriko blinks and realizes that she is, indeed, smiling, so widely that her cheeks hurt. She doesn't care though. Even if he doesn't remember -
He has always been her friend.
Change
From that day on, it is as if Noriko has achieved enlightenment or had an epiphany. Her personality takes a completely unexpected one-eighty flip. While never quite depressed, she has always been unnaturally quiet and moody for her age.
Now, it is not so. She smiles and laughs easily, happily. She skips around, humming or singing to herself under her breath. Frequently, she flies around on socked feet and gives out surprise hugs or kisses to unsuspecting victims.
Her parents would have been worried, but there is a serene content beneath her abrupt joy, a balance that she has been missing since birth.
Kiku and Yoshio are bemused, but they accept their daughter's sudden change and welcome the small boy's presence in her life without question. If this Tsunayoshi can make their Noriko this happy, then he can certainly stay.
Names
"Tsunayoshi-kun - " she starts two days after they meet.
"C-Call me Tsuna, Noriko-san!" he insists.
"Then call me Nori. Just Nori," she retorts.
He stutters, "N-Noriko-san! I can't do that!"
"Then Tsunayoshi-kun." She smiles and twirls around in circles.
He droops adorably. She doesn't resist the urge to hug him tightly, ignoring how red his face gets.
It takes Tsunayoshi five days to crack. The first time he calls her by her given name - albeit with -chan added - Noriko laughs, wild and bright, and hugs him again.
This time, his face goes as red as G.'s hair.
Different
Tsuna isn't Giotto, even though she holds no doubts that he is at least a close descendant. Tsuna is shy and nervous, while Giotto was charismatic and confident. Tsuna is clumsy and fearful, while Giotto was bold and daring.
They are not one and the same.
Same
But Tsuna is still a Sky. He is still compassionate and kind, forgiving and accepting. He holds the same warmth in his brown eyes that Giotto held in his orange eyes. When he laughs, it is almost as if she is back by Giotto's side again.
Noriko is happy.