Yo! Just wanted to make everyone aware of one small change I've made in the first chapter. I've changed Tsuna's age from five to eight in order to make him a bit more mature. That said I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Ch. 3: Amici

Life with the Sawada family was weird, for lack of a better term, in Tsuna's opinion.

Now, don't get him wrong. Tsuna loved living with his new mamma and papá. It was just different from anything he'd ever experienced. Things like having a comfortable place to sleep, clean clothes, warm meals, and kind smiles were unfamiliar concepts.

Though, to be honest, feeling anything was strange itself. It was as if he hadn't really been living until he met that man in the field, as if he had been looking at a colorless world, detached from the flow of life around him, completely empty inside. Now, however, each day was filled with so many different sensations, new emotions to learn the names of, that he couldn't help but view the world in wonder, disoriented by the overload of information.

This new life was strange and sometimes he felt as if he didn't deserve it. It was, after all, a life gained from much sacrifice and death. Sometimes, when he closed his eyes, he could still see the mutilated bodies and the white halls stained with dark crimson. He may not have liked the men in white, maybe even hated them, but that didn't mean that their deaths were something that he had wished for.

Yet despite all the pain and despair his existence had brought, he treasured this second chance; especially this strange notion of "family" rather than "famiglia".

Shaking his head of such thoughts, Tsuna watched the young woman milling about the house, preparing for their outing. Her long chestnut hair swayed as she passed by him to retrieve her purse. Catching his gaze, she beamed at him cheerfully before going back to her task. His heart filled with warmth at the spark of happiness he'd seen in her eyes.

Nana Sawada was the kindest person Tsuna had ever met. She never hesitated to give him a happy smile or a loving hug, and was infinitely patient when it came to teaching him simply day to day things. He particularly enjoyed listening to her hum a lullaby while tucking him into bed at night, amazed at how so simple a gesture could make him feel so safe when before he wouldn't have understood it's significance.

Tsuna turned to the small frame that sat on the small table beside him. It held a photograph of their small family of three. Nana and Iemitsu were on either side of him, holding him with matching smiles while Tsuna stared at the camera expressionlessly. The boy focused his attention on the blond in the picture, thinking about the man who was currently away at work.

Iemitsu was…odd. Plain and simple. That's not to say that Tsuna didn't respect him, of course. For all his faults, Iemitsu was still a capable and brave man, worthy of some degree of admiration. But then he would do something ridiculous and the image would be shattered. Like coo about how 'adorable' his son was and then pout to his wife when said son wasn't amused by his antics, despite being a grown man.

Though, Tsuna had to admit that he did enjoy the stories his papá would tell him and mamma at dinner on the nights that he was home.

There was a clattering in the kitchen as Nana shifted pans around, most likely looking for the house keys. The small boy leaned back in his seat at the table and closed his eyes, content. He never imagined that his life could ever be this peaceful.

Tsuna's greatest fear was that someday he would wake up and find that all of this had been a dream and that he was actually still in that dark and cold cell waiting for the next painful injection. Nothing but an empty shell.

"Tsu-kun, are you ready to go?"

Tsuna snapped out of his musings to give a nod and grabbed Nana's hand eagerly as they headed out of the house.

Whether or not it was just a dream, he would enjoy every second of it before it came to an end. Because Tsuna knew better than anyone how fast things can change, for better or for worse.

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Nana couldn't remember a time where she was more content than the last six month together with Tsu-kun. She finally had the family life she had longed for. Sharing meals together, reading bed time stories, and having fun with one another doing everyday things. It was incredible how such simple actions could make her so indescribably happy.

Not everything had gone smoothly, though, and the first few weeks had been difficult. Given the environment that Tsuna had lived in before, it was understandable that several adjustments had to be made. And at the same time, she and Iemitsu had to learn what it really meant to be parents, especially to such a special boy.

Nana could still remember her panic when Tsuna suddenly collapsed after their decision to take him in had been made. She'd been frantic at the sight of flushed cheeks and strained breathing, worried that his fever had come back with a vengeance. It had taken Timeteo and Iemitsu nearly an hour to reassure her that Tsu-kun would be alright. That it was simply due to the boy using his "powers".

Flames and Dying Wills. Nana could only shake her head in wonder at the explanation. She still didn't really understand it but she did know that it was something they needed to be careful of in the future. The strain simply couldn't be healthy for such a young boy.

Weeks of rest had been necessary to get Tsuna back in good health. Nana was glad to see all the wounds heal and his form fill out but she knew in her heart there would always be some injuries that could never be healed. Even now, there were some nights where Tsuna would wake up from painful memories, screaming his poor lungs out. Only her comforting could get his terrified whimpers to stop long enough for him to go back to sleep.

Now, however, all the excitement of those first weeks had finally faded into a normal routine. There were still a few bumps here and there, of course. Nana had no doubt that there would be more trials they would have to face together in the future. But for now they would take it one day at a time and that was perfectly fine with the new mother who looked forward to spending those days with her son.

Tsu-kun was just so excited at every new experience. It was adorable, but sad, how little he knew about the world. Still, Tsu-kun, if anything was a very quick learner. In no time at all he had learned how to speak more fluently, likely due to a desire to better expression himself to her and Iemitsu. Nana could understand how frustrating it was when no one understood you, thinking back to her first month in Italy with chagrin.

Tsunayoshi was the sweetest boy anyone could have asked for and yet she couldn't help worrying about him. Tsu-kun had the most expressive eyes, and for the most part she could understand his moods. The problem, however, lied in his inability to understand how to change facial expressions. No matter what, his face was always impassive. But, she supposed that after all the poor boy had been through, it would take some time before such things came to him naturally.

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The summer sun was shining blissfully as the mother and son pair made their way through the open air market leisurely, ignoring the whispering of the nosy housewives around them.

Nana, for her part, had always been a major topic for the intrusive women. They were like moths to a flame, muttering speculations to one another as to why a foreigner would be alone all day in the house despite supposedly being married.

"Her husband must have a woman on the side."

"She must be a horrible wife. That must be why he's never around!"

"Maybe they were never even married. Perhaps she's just the mistress."

Their words no longer bothered her. At first, it had hurt, knowing that people she had never talked to judged her so harshly but after time it mattered less and less. As long as she had her loved ones, what did it matter what they said? She did however draw the line when they dared to insult her son.

"What a ragamuffin!"

"She must have found that little urchin on the streets."

"How pitiful. It must be as unwanted as its mother. "

Simper. Simper.

It had taken all her willpower to not let those pretentious women know their places.

When the same nonsense occurred when she took Tsuna to a local park, Nana started to view their little community in Italy in an even less flattering way. To refuse to let their children play with her son? That was very insulting, not to mention hurtful. Nana and Tsuna have not visited the park since.

Nana knew that wasn't a very good solution. After all, Tsuna needed friends his own age to interact and play with for better social development, especially given his past experiences. But, on the other hand, she wasn't about to subject him to public stigma just on the off chance that some child might have grown past the prejudices of their parents.

Maybe a change of scenery was in order. Tsu-kun did seem to enjoy the lessons on Japanese that she had been giving him recently…

"What would you like for dinner, Tsu-kun?"

Tsuna gave a bashful blink before whispering softly, "Omurice."

"Okay!" Nana gave a cheerful smile at the answer. It was the first real solid food she had made for Tsuna once his stomach was strong enough for it. She was glad that he liked such a popular dish from her homeland.

Nana continued to chatter on merrily as they traversed the bazaar looking for the necessary ingredients while Tsuna listened contentedly. The two were so focused at their tasks that they didn't notice the commotion occurring around them until they heard the shouts.

"Out of the way! Move it, move it!"

A middle aged man was yelling at the mass of shoppers. He was dressed formally in a black suit despite the broiling weather. Sweat glittered on his bald head and his face was flushed in exertion. At his heels were several dozen other men dressed similarly. It looked as if they were chasing after someone, but it wasn't until the person passed by that Tsuna got a good look at their target.

Wide, panicked emerald eyes scanned their surroundings in a face pale with shock. The boy's hair was a beautiful shade of silver that glinted in the sun as he ran and it instantly drew Tsuna's attention. His eyes widened as he watched the young boy run toward them. Strangely enough, the boy was dressed in a similar manner to the men after him, a dark suit complete with a black tie, though he wore shorts rather than slacks.

For a brief second, the boy's eyes met Tsuna's caramel orbs and the brunet felt the flame stir at the raw emotion reflected in them. The sound of raging winds echoed in Tsuna's ears as silver bled into a rosy pink, emerald eyes shifting into a color a shade or two darker.

Just as Tsuna opened his mouth to say something, anything to the boy, the moment passed and he ran out of sight.

"I said move it!" The man in the lead cried again, pushing rudely at the shoppers. The man's entourage followed, and swiftly the already crowded market became completely congested. Chaos erupted as carts were pushed over and fresh produce rolled across the ground. There was no room to maneuver and shop owners were yelling as their products were trampled. Customers fired in rapid Italian, angry at the discourteous treatment.

The man at the head of the mob shoved at Nana, causing her to drop all her groceries, and Tsuna felt the flame flare in indignation. "Oh my!" Nana cried in alarm, taken by surprise at the harsh jostle and the swarming crowd that followed. Caught off guard, she let go of Tsuna's hand. "Tsu-kun!" she shouted, heart leaping to her throat when she suddenly lost sight of him.

"Mamma!" The small boy tried desperately to find Nana, but there were simply too many people. His height put him at a large disadvantage as he looked up at unfamiliar faces in vain. Helplessly, Tsuna felt himself being carried by the crowd. Doe eyes were wide with panic. What if he never found his mamma!? The thought sent his heart racing, breaths coming in at shorter and shorter intervals.

Tsuna tried to push his way through only to be roughly shoved away. Back and forth, back and forth; like the little sphere in a pin ball machine. After one last struggle, the brunet landed on his backside in an empty alley, air expelling from his lungs to make room for a familiar emptiness.

He dithered for a moment, unsure of what to do. Desperation was making his thought slow and cloudy, forcing away his usual calm. How should he even go about finding his mamma?

Tsuna looked around the dirty alleyway when a glint of something caught his eye. The flame urged him after it hurriedly. Despite his hesitation, Tsuna listened to its call following after the shine quietly, stepping over scattered trash carefully. The brunet panicked when he accidently kicked an empty bottle and the light swiftly flew away.

Frantically, he tailed the source, passing through alley after alley, running as the glimmer moved faster and faster. The pathways were like a maze and Tsuna wondered briefly where the light was going but he chased after it, knowing it was his only lead back to the market; the flame humming its agreement.

Tsuna ran after the shine, afraid that he would lose sight of it. The mysterious gleam turned around the corner and he chased it doggedly. Pivoting at the turn, the small brunet nearly ran face first into the person on the other side. He looked up, caramel meeting emerald, and was surprised to find the silver haired boy from before.

"Why are you following me!?" The boy snarled angrily, eyes blazing.

Tsuna flinched at the loud shout and brought his hands up in a placating gesture. "I'm sorry…I wasn't...I just…" He trailed off in a whisper, somewhat embarrassed, though his face didn't show it. What should he say? He'd never talked with someone his own age before…

"What? Speak up!" The boy said in irritation. Who the hell was this weirdo? He was starting to creep him out with that impassive face.

Straightening, Tsuna met his gaze firmly. Papá always said that a man's got to look confident even when they don't feel so. "I wasn't following you. I lost my Mamma and was looking for her."

Something passed in the boy's eyes at the words but it was gone as fast as it had come. He crossed his arms haughtily and bit out, "Well? Do I look like your mother? No. So find someone else to bother because I'm freaking busy!"

"Busy? What do you me-" Tsuna replied, only to cut himself off. He raised his head attentively in the boy's direction and strained his ears.

"Hey! Wha-" The boy was interrupted as Tsuna hastily grabbed his wrist and pulled, running the opposite way for where they had entered. "Let go!" The other boy yelled heatedly, trying to yank his hand free.

"This way!" Came a man's shout and the silver haired boy held his tongue as he realized that the brunet was trying to help him.

They came to a cross roads and Tsuna hesitated. Growing impatient, the silver haired boy pulled at their linked hands and turned to the right, "This way!"

"He's over here!" bellowed an angry voice. "Hayato, you better stop fooling around. The boss is growing tired of your little games!"

Tsuna felt the boy beside him tense, growling in fury at the words. "You can tell him to go suck it! I'm not going back!"

A bang shattered the air, and Tsuna and "Hayato" skidded to a stop. They stared wide eyed at one another before turning around slowly.

The bald leader of the horde from the market stood with his arm raised to the sky, gun in hand. He brought it down and pointed it straight at "Hayato". "As long as I bring you back alive, I'm sure the boss won't mind an injury or two," he said coldly as he pulled the trigger.

"Hayato" could only stare in shock as the bullet raced toward him. A strong tug jerked him to the ground as the strange boy twisted in front of "Hayato", shielding the taller boy with his small body, leaving an unprotected back open to the deadly fire.

Startled emerald eyes looked into calm sunset eyes, amazed at the regal power they exuded. "Hayato" was brought out of his daze when those eyes suddenly closed in pain as the shot grazed the brunet's right check.

Tsuna hissed at the stinging wound but quickly shook himself out of it, pulling "Hayato" abruptly to his feet before dragging him along as he ran away from the trigger happy man.

Behind them the hairless man stood in shock, pale and trembling. He had gotten cocky, so certain of his aim, he didn't think twice about taking the shot. The man didn't actually expect to hit the young master; he just wanted to spook him. To shot at the ground near his feet and scare him into coming home.

But now he'd almost killed an innocent child! How was he supposed to know the crazy kid would jump into the line of fire?

When the boss heard of this, he was dead meat.

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The two young boys ducked into another alley, coming to a stop as they tried to catch their breaths. For a moment, all that could be heard were the soft murmuring of the nearby pedestrians on the main street and the harsh pants of the hiding children. "Hayato" recovered first and he watched the other boy curiously, admiration weakly veiled.

Sensing the other's gaze on him, Tsuna straightened up from his hunched position and turned to "Hayato" in confusion. He opened his mouth to question the odd look but was promptly interrupted.

"Why?" The silver haired boy questioned, tone strangely strained. "Why would you risk your life for me? You don't even know me." His gazed sharpened as a sudden thought occurred to him, "Or do you?"

Tsuna shook his head softly in reply. He considered the boy's other question, not really sure how to answer him. After all, the smaller boy's body simply moved before he knew what he was doing. There was no particular reason for it.

Looking at "Hayato", Tsuna could see the tension in small shoulders and anxiety lining furrowed brows. The brunet understood that his answer was extremely important to the other boy. Tsuna knew that whatever he said, he wanted to help "Hayato", to take away the fear hiding in those sharp eyes.

Desperately hoping that he was making the right decision, Tsuna swallowed his nervousness and simply replied, "I didn't want you to die."

"Hayato" blinked at the straightforward response, stunned by the startling honesty, before further creasing his brows in frustration. "But why!? You don't know me, right? Then we're nothing to each other! Why risk everything for a random stranger!? Especially for someone like me…" His shouts trailed off to a mutter, leaving an awkward silence between the two boys.

Tsuna frowned as emerald eyes darkened only to start in shock when he felt a hand clench his own. Looking down, the small boy noticed their hands were still linked from before, having forgotten in their panic of gunfire. He raised their joined hands so the taller boy could see them.

"Hayato", surprised by the action moved to let go but was prevented for doing so when the brunet held on tighter. Irritated, "Hayato" glared at the strange boy, ready to snap at him. Catching a glimpse of determined brown eyes, however, he hesitated.

"You're wrong," the smaller boy said, a slight waver in his voice. He was so nervous his palms were sweating but he held the other boy's gaze. "We aren't 'nothing' anymore," shaking their joined hands he continued, "as soon as we met we've become 'linked' just like these hands." His eyes softened as he recalled his fondest memory. "My Mamma once told me that when people meet, they become 'connected'."

Those words from their first meeting had unknowingly saved the broken boy he had been. Nana had done more than nurse him that day, more than given him a home. That day, she had given his life meaning, validated his very existence in a way no one had bothered to do before. Once he had truly understood the meaning of that word, "connected", he'd latched onto it frantically. Because if they were connected, that meant that his life meant something to her. That somewhere out there in this bleak lonely world, someone cared about him.

Tsuna wished that he could somehow make the boy understand the significance behind his words. But no words came to mind to describe the feelings he wanted to express. Letting go of the taller boy's hand, Tsuna whispered softly, "I helped you because I wanted that connection to last," hoping that it had been enough to get through to him.

"Hayato" just stared at the brunet in wonder, baffled at his strange way of thinking. The silver hair boy wasn't quite sure what the smaller boy meant by all that, but there was one thing that he did understand. For whatever reason, his existence was somehow important to this weird kid. He turned away from the brunet quickly rubbing his nose to hide a sniffle, moved by that thought.

"Come on," he said gruffly.

Tsuna tilted his head in confusion, "Where are we going?"

"Where else? To find your Mamma, of course. Isn't that why you followed me in the first place?" Though the taller boy was facing away from Tsuna, the brunet could see an embarrassed flush turn the back of pale ears red.

Though neither of them knew it, Tsuna's lips twitched upward in the faintest beginnings of a smile.

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Sawada Nana could barely breathe through her tears, let alone speak coherently enough for the police officer to understand her.

"Ma'am, please try to calm down. We can't help you if we don't understand the situation," the officer said, somewhat uncomfortable at having to deal with the hysterical foreigner.

"Tsuna- Tsunayoshi…my, my son! He's missing! Please, I can't- I have to, to find him!" She managed to choke out.

Nana could only imagine how scared her son must be feeling at the moment. How would he ever be able to find his way back to her? Tsuna could hardly speak complete sentences mere months ago. Even now, the only people he conversed with regularly were her and Iemitsu. He wouldn't be able to ask for directions the way a normal child might. Would he even know to go to a police station for help? For a child that was once unwillingly part of the mafia, going to the police would probably be the farthest thing from his mind. Just thinking of him all alone somewhere surrounded by indifferent strangers sent a fresh wave of tears to her eyes.

Who knows what could happen to a young boy his age all alone in Sicily. What if he was kidnapped by some pervert? What if he was taken and sold in the black market as part of a human trafficking ring? What if he was taken by people like the Estraneo Familigia?

Those thoughts turned Nana's blood ice cold.

Ready to continue searching for her missing child, ignoring the hesitant officer who, for whatever reason still didn't understand the urgency of the situation, Nana was interrupted by the most beautiful sound ever.

"Mamma!"

Turning around swiftly, teary brown eyes zeroed in on the small brunet boy running toward her. "Tsuna!" she cried as she knelt down and enveloped him in a fierce hug, "Thank god you're alright! I was so, so worried!"

Tiny arms tightened their hold around her. Knowing he had made her cry made Tsuna's chest feel heavy and the flame dimmed in shame. "I'm sorry, Mamma."

Seeing the mother and son reunite, the officer quietly excused himself, glad to be done with the awkward situation.

Nana let out a shaky breath, her racing heart finally slowing down, "It's not your fault, Tsu-kun." Giving him one last squeeze, she let go and cup his face in her hands. Seeing the cut on his face her stomach clenched in worry, "You're hurt! What happened?"

"He was injured protecting me."

Startled at the unfamiliar voice, Nana looked behind Tsuna to see another boy. Dressed in formal wear, the silver haired child shifted in place nervously. Recognizing him from earlier, the woman blinked in surprise, "You are - !"

Noticing he had her full attention the fair haired boy gave a polite, though somewhat stiff, bow. "My name is Hayato Gokudera. It's nice to meet you ma'am."

' A Japanese name?' Nana wondered, surprised. Shaking the thought off for now, she offered the boy a kind smile. "It's nice to meet you too, dear. My name is Nana Sawada. I see that you've already met Tsuna here."

"Yes ma'am," the boy replied, assuming that "Tsuna" referred to the stoic brunet. Hayato meet the woman's stare before his eyes lowered in guilt, "I'm sorry. He was injured because of me."

Hayato would have to be blind to not notice red and swollen eyes. This lady must have been completely distraught the moment her son left her sight. To see him return with an injury while in the company of an unknown boy would make anyone angry. But for whatever reason, she leveled him with a warm regard and a welcoming smile.

He watched as Nana gave Tsuna one last squeeze before standing. Thinking back to the smaller boy's earlier desperation, it was glaringly obvious that this mother and son loved one another very much. Jealousy simmered in his chest, unwarranted and unwanted. He'd had that too once, though he hadn't known it until it was too late.

Locking the ugly emotions away, Hayato lifted his gaze. As he stared into her gentle eyes, brown fading into emerald and Hayato struggled to swallow the lump in his throat, blinking rapidly to get rid of the image. Now was not the time to mourn what has been lost forever.

Nana shook her head softly, "Not at all." She smiled brightly, "I'm glad that Tsuna has found someone important to protect! Right, Tsu-kun?"

Tsuna nodded his head vigorously while Hayato flushed in embarrassment, wanting to dispute the claim but not having the energy to. Nana, on the other hand, looked every bit ecstatic at finding her son making his first friend despite the strange way in which it must have occurred.

The taciturn brunet took a few shaky steps toward Hayato and grabbed both of his hands in his own. "Friends?" he'd asked timidly, doe eyes hopeful.

Hayato opened his mouth to respond but the words were caught in his throat. "I can't be." He wanted to say, needed to say.

Tsuna waited patiently for an answer, blinking slowly until his eyes remained closed and he slumped forward into Hayato's surprised arms.

"Wha- what happened? Is, is he okay?" the fair haired boy exclaimed frantically.

Nana rushed forward, quickly bringing a hand to Tsuna's forehead, feeling the beginnings of slight fever. She pulled small boy away from him and easily lifted the brunet into her arms. She turned her attention back to Hayato, "Did anything…strange…happen while you two were together?" she asked carefully, though she already knew the most likely answer.

The boy hesitated a moment, considering what to tell and what not to tell, before answering, "I…When he, he covered me…I thought for a second that I, I saw orange…eyes…" He stopped speaking, realizing how crazy it all sounded. When he looked at Nana, however, he saw her nod in understanding.

"I see," she murmured. "He's okay," Nana said continued reassuringly seeing Hayato's confusion. "It seems that the excitement of the day must have caught up with him."

"I see. That's, that's good," Hayato muttered in relief, shuffling in place nervously. Now that he had a moment to relax, he found himself feeling uncomfortable instead. With Tsuna unconscious, there was no one left to bridge the distance between two strangers that only knew one another's name. Not that the reserved brunet was a great go between but still…Hayato wasn't used to talking to adults, let alone ones as nice as Nana. Not ever since she died.

Taking in Hayato's disheveled appearance, Nana's eyes softened in sympathy. The poor boy must be tired and hungry, having most likely been on the run all day. "Would you like to rest at our house? I'm sure you've had a long day too. You must be tired."

Now, regardless of what others might believe, Nana was no fool. She knew that inviting a stranger into one's home, even if they were a child, in Sicily was dangerous. There was no way to guarantee they wouldn't gut you at the front door and rob you blind.

Therefore, it was important to be cautious, especially in this case as the circumstances were so suspicious. For a young boy to be roaming around town alone…it was strange. Not to mention the fact that the men that had been chasing him earlier clearly had some kind of connection to the mafia.

Still, she wouldn't be Sawada Nana if she left a lonely and tired boy out on the streets to fend for himself. Especially when Tsu-kun had trusted this boy enough to help him, despite his crippling fear of strangers.

Hayato hesitated, a refusal on the tip of his tongue. What right did he have to continue to intrude on this kind family? Clearly, they were foreigners that had no experience in dealing with the mafia. He didn't want to get them even more involved in his problems. Tsuna had already done more than enough for him. Besides, there was no place for a bastard like him in the home of a loving family.

But no matter how hard he may try to tell himself to refuse, the truth was that Hayato didn't want to part with this compassionate mother and son just yet. And more importantly, he had no other place he could go to safely hide from his father's henchmen.

Hayato looked at the brunet in the women's arms while Nana calmly waited for his answer. There were so many things he wanted to ask Tsuna, to know about his bizarre boy that hid a benevolent heart behind a blank face.

Though he knew he didn't deserve it, Hayato decided that he would be selfish one last time. After this visit, he vowed he would never bother this family ever again.

Decision made, he faced Nana once more, "I would be honored to visit your home, ma'am."

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TBC

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