Title: The Anomaly
Genre: Romance, Angst
Pairing: Xanxus X OMC
Summary: When two angry souls find each other and one is a girl from another world who is murdered and finds herself being reborn in a world where it is normal for people to catch fire. Literally. Did I mention that said girl is now a boy?
Warning: OC(not Self-Insert), Slash, Yaoi, Boy X Boy, Reincarnation, language

Chapter Thirteen

It was an oddly calm but quietly seething Tsuna who silently pushed the decrepit door open, his baby tutor a silent comforting weight on his shoulder and Bianchi following not too far. He had to leave behind his friends and even the girls had been put in danger when they had nothing to do with this.

When Reborn had told him that the Ninth wanted him to capture a criminal who had escaped from the mafia prison Tsuna had had half a mind to refuse until his tutor added that said criminal was most likely the one who had attacked those prefects and kidnapped Hibari, Fuuta and Naoki. Something had literally snapped in him and it did not take him long to decide to go after this Rokudo Mukuro. Tsuna knew he was weak, that he was a coward and particularly Dame, but there was no way he would let anyone hurt those precious to him, especially if he could help it.

He did not react when Reborn called Yamamoto and Gokudera to accompany them on their mission, mind on Hibari who was never supposed to be brought down, on sweet little Fuuta who was too nice to hurt and on Naoki, his own brother. He could not let them get hurt, not when he was the reason why Rokudo Mukuro even came to Namimori. This made him hate the mafia even more. It was because he was being forced to become the tenth boss of a mafia family that an unknown criminal was coming after him through those he cared about. He never wanted this in the first place.

Then his mind went to his friends and he felt himself becoming conflicted; after all if not for the mafia he never would have met them or become friends with them in the first place.

…He never would have met Reborn.

Shaking his head, he clenched his jaw; it was not time for this. He was to save Fuuta and Naoki and find out where the heck Hibari was, because nothing could bring down the older teen. (It was only the faith he had in Hibari that made him keep hope that the older boy was well. He did not know what he would do if the strongest person in Namimori was suddenly defeated…)

"I'm very happy that we could meet again," a familiar voice drew his attention to the other side of the room where the remains of a stage was. On it was an old couch but what made him stiffen in surprise was not the fact that the older teenager he had met before fighting Lancia was sitting there but the fact that Naoki was lying against him, seemingly unconscious. Tsuna had never seen his brother so vulnerable before; he was dressed in the clothes he had been wearing the day he had disappeared, his hands resting lifelessly in his lap and his head lolling against the unknown boy's shoulder.

There… there was something wrong. His first thought was that the two were being held hostage in that cinema room… but he had a strange feeling that there was something wrong with this situation, something that made him instantly wary as strange heterochromatic eyes fell on him. He wanted to rush forward and check on his brother but he had a feeling that this would be a very, very bad idea.

His lack of action might have warned Bianchi though as she suddenly stiffened defensively and pulled up her guard. Reborn did not react but Tsuna had a feeling that his tutor was equally wary.

Tsuna's brown eyes narrowed and he unconsciously took a small step back, dragging Bianchi with him by the wrist. Warily, he starred as the older boy regarded him in open amusement, a smirk pulling at his lips.

"Who are you really?" he finally brought himself to ask, eyes unwittingly darting to his unresponsive brother in worry.

The other boy's smirk widened. "Rokudo Mukuro, at your service." Then he added in a purr, "Why don't you come forward so that we can get to know each other better, Tenth Vongola Boss?"

Tsuna gritted his teeth and glared. "What did you do to Naoki? Where are Fuuta and Hibari?"

Mukuro's face suddenly blanked. "The one you call Noaki is mine now and not returning to you anytime soon; the birdie is none of your concern anymore… and as for the child," His smirk returned and he purred, "Well, why don't you find out for yourself?"

That was when Tsuna noticed Fuuta not far but… there was something wrong – wrongwrong!

The fight lasted too long in Reborn's opinion, but there was nothing he could do about this. He had been expressly ordered not to interfere and if he did it would go against his contract. The Hitman was surprised by how much all he really wanted to do was to jump in and deal with Rokudo Mukuro himself. It was only because of his self-control that he was able to stop himself. Barely.

His fingers dug into his palms as he watched the criminal and his very own student fighting. If he could he would be forcing Leon to hurry up and pop out Tsuna's new weapon already.

He usually did not particularly care about anyone and if he did he would not be on the verge of panicking as he was if said person was put in danger. He was more than surprised when he found himself worried and fearing for Tsuna as the boy fought his greatest and most dangerous fight yet.

Rokudo Mukuro was good but Reborn would not have been the greatest Hitman in the world if he failed to notice how the teenager was acting; he purposely moved the fight away from where they had found him when they had entered the room, away from the unconscious Naoki. Moreover, he had a feeling that the boy was not fighting to the best of his abilities. Whatever the reason though, Reborn was thankful as Tsuna would have been in even more danger.

Reborn hated not knowing things, and he hated it even more now, when Tsuna was fighting for his life and his brother's, and he had no idea why Mukuro wanted to hold Naoki in his possession, even going so far as to keep him from the fight. He did not know, but he was going to find out.

The fight ended spectacularly, with Rokudo Mukuro and his little gang being taken by the Vindice. And God, Reborn did not wish to have Tsuna in the same room as them ever again. They were dangerous and Tsuna… was just too kind, totally unsuited for the mafia but at the same time, Reborn could not be prouder; his student had really grown up since the first time they met. Seeing Tsuna go into Hyper Dying Will mode had made a warm glow appear in his chest and that was when he realised just how much his idiot student meant to him.

It went against his contract –he was supposed to always stay neutral until Tsuna was officially made into the Vongola Boss – and his ethics – he was never supposed to become that attached to anyone, not with his current job occupation – but there was nothing he could do; he was already in too deep.

"What's wrong with him?" his voice came out in a croak, his eyes wide in fear and worry as his fingers twisted his T-shirt spasmodically. Tsuna was exhausted and all he wanted to do was drop on his bed and sleep for three weeks straight, but how could he when his brother would not wake up!? The medical team had come as Reborn had said and Tsuna could not have been more relieved but then whatever they did, Naoki still would not wake up. If not for the slight rise and fall of his chest, Tsuna would have believed the worst. But still, why would he not wake up!?

They were dragged to the hospital where Shamal was waiting with an uncharacteristic serious look on his face; the doctor had taken Naoki to a hospital room and had remained there for an hour. Tsuna had been unable to follow and if not for Reborn's comforting warmth beside him he knew that he would have been even more hysterical with worry than he already was.

His body hurt and he felt like he was going to drop anytime soon, proven with how much his hands were shaking which had nothing to do with his worry and more with his exhaustion and pain. He needed to sleep off the tiredness of the fight with Mukuro and his gang but Tsuna was stubborn; he could not leave until he knew what was wrong with his brother. It was his fault the other was in that state after all.

He felt Reborn's eyes turning momentarily on him before turning back to stare at the door behind which Naoki was. The baby had been silent since they had left Kokuyo Land but Tsuna could not be more thankful for his continuous presence beside him. God, what would he do without Reborn? Well, the Ninth would have most likely sent someone else, someone not Reborn and maybe even worse than his current home tutor. He shuddered; yeah, he preferred Reborn, even with his sadistic tendencies and questionable teaching methods. Now that he had him, Tsuna could not imagine a life without the other.

The sound of a door opening brought him from his thoughts. His head snapped up and he practically jumped to his feet as he saw Shamal exiting the hospital room. He stiffened; the frown on the doctor's face was not encouraging.

"Sh – Shamal-san? Is Naoki alright?"

The doctor sighed and ruffled his hair. "Well, physically, he is. But mentally…"

"What do you mean?" Reborn asked beside Tsuna. The teenager felt as if he was being engulfed in water, the rest of the conversation seemed to take place behind a barrier, separating him from the other two, even as his attention zeroed in on Shamal.

"The kid is trapped in his own mind and whatever I do, I can't reach him. That illusionist is a really good one and even I can't break through whatever he did."

"So?" Reborn frowned beside him and Tsuna swayed on his feet.

"The only way for him to wake up is if the illusionist lets him go himself; there is nothing I can do."

And Tsuna's world went black.

Naoki eyed the other as heterochromatic eyes looked around dispassionately. Well, didn't the look wonderful? Naoki asked himself sarcastically, eyebrows rising as he eyed the other. To anyone else his companion would have appeared normal but Naoki knew him enough to notice the almost invisible dark shadows under his eyes and the haunted look in his heterochromatic eyes. Whatever had happened while Naoki was trapped in this place was affecting the other and despite himself – despite his hatred and need for revenge – Naoki could not help the slight poignant worry that pulsed momentarily through him. He frowned.

"Honesty," the other greeted, heterochromatic eyes turning back to him. "Are you ready to hear me now?"

Naoki crossed his arms and glared. However, he did not attack like the last time they had seen each other. He merely raised an expectant eyebrow and drawled, "Quite."

"How about we sit down and talk?" the other asked, gesturing towards the two armchairs that suddenly appeared in a flash of indigo flames.

"I'd rather not," Naoki deadpanned, remaining where he was. "How about you just get on with this?"

Mukuro sighed and it seemed so tired and resigned that it made Naoki pause for a moment, another tinge of worry pulsing through him, which he promptly ignored in favour of shooting the other another questioning look.

"Honesty, I never meant to hurt you," he started, eyes staring at him with unveiled pain and sincerity. That was so uncharacteristic of the Mukuro he knew who was usually mischievous and cunning that it made Naoki pause again and frown.

"You still did."

"I know but it was never supposed to be like this."

It was only because of this raw pain and sincerity in the other eyes and voice that Naoki did not burst out in rage. Instead, he gathered all his negative emotions and locked them away and sighed, plopping down on the closest armchair. Mukuro followed suit and sat down on the opposite one.

"Then w-why –" As his voice cracked, Naoki pursed his lips, took a breath and then continued, "Why did you do it? I trusted you, Mukuro; I loved you."

Mukuro flinched at that but Naoki did not feel any vindictive pleasure at the other's pain. "I –" he licked his lips before continuing. "I loved you too, Honesty –"

"Then, why? You cheated on me, with my own sister!"

"I know! I –"

However, Naoki did not give the other time to continue as he interrupted him again. "You proposed to me, Mukuro. We were supposed to get married. Why did you do that!?"

"Because I loved Orchid too!"

Silence.

"I – I loved Orchid too, but I never thought this would happen. I never wanted to hurt you, Honesty. Never. I was going to break it to you gently, but Orchid… I don't know – something went wrong. Orchid – she – she changed and I don't know why or how but she changed and something was wrong, and I did not notice until it was too late –" He stopped and took a deep breath before he continued, mindful of the completely blank expression Naoki was directing at him. "I loved you. I truly did but… but…"

"But you loved her more," Naoki finished; his voice bland and flat even as his eyes roamed Mukuro's anguished face.

Mukuro buried his face in his hands and whispered, "I am sorry."

Naoki stared at him some more before he sighed, eyes looking away as his body relaxed from its tensed position. "I would have cancelled our engagement if it would have made you two happy."

"I know…"

Naoki closed his eyes, feeling a lump in his throat which he swallowed with some difficulty. "What happened?" he asked, his voice cracking with his overwhelming emotions.

Mukuro looked up. "I don't know. Something went wrong with Orchid. I –" There he swallowed and continued, "I f-found you on that day. I came to tell you everything but I –" he let out a shudder. "Instead I found you two in the kitchen; Orchid as screaming and laughing and crying, and then y-you – God! You were such a mess and I could not do anything and Orchid, she –" He let out another shudder and Naoki huddled in on himself, wrapping his arms around himself. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…"

Naoki looked away.

AN: Okay, so there are a few things that I did not put here that I will include in later chapters. It took me a while to write what I wanted and as I'm sure you know by now, I hate repeating what everyone already knows happens in the manga so usually I leave places blank during which my readers can make up whatever they want to happen. This chapter went a little quickly and now we are sort of done with this arc.

As for Naoki's current reaction to Mukuro and his explanation... well, there are reasons he is so accepting. First of all, he loved Mukuro and second... well, you will find out later, much later in the story. There is more to Naoki than what even he knows. There is a reason why this story is called 'The Anomaly' and why Kawahira knows and called Naoki an 'anomaly'. Obviously, I'm not going to tell you why now but it's food for thought, I guess.

As for Tsuna... Well, he is obviously developing differently from the anime. One reason is because of what TYL!Naoki told him and then the fact that his own brother was put in danger. I mean, honestly, if a family member whether you get along or not is in danger because of you, what would you do? Keep in mind that Tsuna is also a Sky and too kind for his own good.

About Reborn and Tsuna... Reborn starts to realize his feelings and it's difficult for him to accept. First of all, Tsuna is a child, not even out of middle school; second, Tsuna is his current mission and I always see him as being particularly strict about his work ethics; then there is the fact that as a Hitman, the World's Greatest Hitman, he knows better than to get attached to someone as said someone could become his weakness and be used against him. He cannot allow that. Tsuna on the other hand does not notice anything, not even the fact that he has a soft spot for Reborn. He is still young and for him love is the childish infatuation he believes he has for Kyoko, who is too much like his mother (Oedipus complex much?), nice to him, pretty and the epitome of the perfect girlfriend in his teenage boy mind.

Er... Anyway! Leave behind a review and tell me your thoughts.