Maybe it was Reborn practically stalking Tsuna and seeming to know every single thing he has ever done and ever will do, but at this very moment, Tsuna felt as if he was being watched.

It was like an itching feeling, the kind spawned by rashes or bug bites. Prodding the itch only makes it worse. Ignoring it evokes nothing other than a hindering perturbation. Of course, Tsuna rarely wants to bother others with such a meaningless gripe of his. He generally lets the itch fester against his instincts, letting it grow and swell until Tsuna can find a place to lie down and close his eyes.

Closing his eyes is a trick he learned that helped disassociate himself from pain. Pain isn't the same as uneasiness, however. A bruise can be shut out. He's used to those. An itching restlessness makes Tsuna want to get up and get moving. He has to do something, or else he feels like he is going to start pulling hairs and hyperventilate.

And Hana caught on fast to Tsuna's dilemma, asking him, "Are you okay, Tsuna?"

Tsuna sat at the edge of a couch, back hunched and eyes staring absently forward. Kyoko was beside him, in the middle of the sofa, and Takeshi with his arm cast sat at the opposite end. The Namimori idols were enjoying some classic Yamamoto sushi. Across the three was a wide screen TV, currently displaying a battle between two over-the-top fighting game characters.

"No, no, no!" Ienobu sat on the floor in front of the couch, alongside his fellow player. "How do you keep grabbing me?"

"I play EXTREMELY well at this game! I have had EXTREME practice!"

"I'll show you extre–stop grabbing me!"

Hana rested herself on a comfy chair beside the couch, directly next to Tsuna. She was going through some papers from a binder – NDC business no doubt – while occasionally glancing up to watch the game. Now, her attention was focused solely on Tsuna.

"It's nothing," Tsuna whispered, realizing a second after how Hana would be able to tell in a heartbeat that he was lying. "I'm kinda tired. Falling asleep. I just need to get some air."

Suspicious eyes seemed to wane as Tsuna moved to leave. When he reached the door, he looked back to his friends. Hana resumed her work as the rest of the gang remained engrossed in the match between Ienobu and Ryohei.

Takeshi was smiling. It was a real smile, shared by almost everyone present. He wasn't hiding anything behind his smile now. He was being honest, and that was all Tsuna needed as assurance that Takeshi would stay genuine and in a clear state of mind.

TakeSushi was closed for the day, so Tsuna was greeted by an empty restaurant when he entered the ground floor. The sound of knives clanging together and hitting a cutting board echoed from the kitchen. Takeshi's dad was probably cooking up some more sushi for later. This weekend is meant to spend time with Takeshi, after all, and if they are going to keep him happy, everyone needed to be well-fed.

That itching sensation persisted like an annoying fly, unfortunately. Feeling claustrophobic, Tsuna exited the shop and began a short tread around the neighborhood. He wasn't planning on straying far from the restaurant, and maybe some fresh air would do him so good. A clear sky like the one overhead did wonders to uplift Tsuna's spirits whenever he's feeling down.

Though the sun did start to grow a tad overbearing.

And that was when a woman with goggles and a helmet came barreling at him on her bike.

Tsuna almost jumped twenty feet into the air in shock. That bike had nearly run straight through him. He leaned forward, hands planted on his knees as he panted for air. Looking down the road, the mysterious biker was driving back toward him, thankfully at a normal speed.

She stopped in her tracks once she was right next to Tsuna. She removed her helmet to reveal long strands of light pink hair and a pair of green eyes. Those eyes looked oddly apathetic toward Tsuna, despite her smile. It was an unnerving look, reminding him too much of… well… Reborn.

The woman tossed him a soda can from out of nowhere. "Please," she said, "have it if you like."

Tsuna caught the can, straining to smile politely all throughout their little interaction.

Then he hurled the can as far away from him as he could, a panicked expression overtaking his face. Some of the soda had started leaking, and the strange purple liquid started bubbling and corroding the entire can. The foul stench that could practically kill a bird faster than a sprout of air pollution only made Tsuna even more panic-stricken.

Wait, it can kill birds! One just flew over the can, picked at the soda, and immediately dropped the floor! What was in that thing? Was – Was she another assassin, like Gokudera-san?

Not taking any chances, Tsuna ran.

The strange lady drove after him, but despite Tsuna's scrawny demeanor, he could be fast when he wanted to. He had to get away from bullies when he was younger somehow, and he had to be quick enough to escape the occasional rapid animals of today. Reborn's physical training sessions also did wonders.

However, Tsuna's stamina still runs out too quickly. He found a hiding place from the mommy biker behind a bush. She rode pass him, but Tsuna remained in hiding, trying to quiet his breathing.

As a bead of sweat went down Tsuna's temple, he heard a rustle of leaves. The bush shook as Tsuna caught a shadow moving on his left. Carefully, Tsuna turned his head. Gokudera-san was there, crouched next to Tsuna behind the bush, flashing a smile and a wink and a thumbs-up with his cigarette exuding smoke.

"Tenth! As promised, I remained a reasonable distance away from TakeSushi and patrolled the perimeter. But when I saw that you had left the premises without your most esteemed twin, I knew had to follow you in order to secure your safety in your brother's stead!"

When Gokudera-san had approached Tsuna as the twins were on their way to Takeshi's place, Ienobu outright banned him from entering the restaurant. Tsuna played peace maker and convinced Gokudera to keep his distance, mostly to avoid any awkward interactions between anyone.

Tsuna gulped in a pile of saliva that was building in the back of his throat. "Can you, uh, not smoke here? There's a bush and –"

"Of course!" The cigarette was crushed under Gokudera-san's shoe. "I've also got some watermelon." He pulled up the green globe from behind him, sitting inside a small net. "I realize Tsuyoshi Yamamoto is a chef of amazing talent, but watermelons are supposed to be really sweet! Perhaps you or your most esteemed twin would enjoy some?"

Watermelon? That was… random. "Uh, thanks? I guess? But, I'm in the middle of something right now, so…" Gokudera-san set down the fruit, his eyes hardening.

"Some kinda trouble? If you want, I will take care of it for you."

God, Gokudera really was a hitman, wasn't he? "I don't want to trouble –" Wait, he wouldn't be bothered by helping his "Tenth" however he can. "I mean, you d-don't have to –"

"Tenth," Gokudera began in a voice so much like Ryohei's when he was about to go into one of his extreme rants or lectures, "if I am to be your right-hand man, I must be able to recognize when you are in a state of distress. You obviously are now, but I must still be able to alleviate you of that distress. Please, allow me to prove my worth to you, Tenth!"

There were stars in Gokudera's eyes. Not literal ones, but the kind of stars that anyone who is overwhelmed with passion and positive emotion, like an obsessive fan finally meeting his or her idol. It was… odd, for Tsuna to be the idol in this case.

"O-O-Okay, then, you can help out... somehow." Ienobu, bloodlust aside, would be safe with Yamamoto-san, Ryohei, and Hana nearby. Tsuna wasn't much of a fighter without the Dying Will Bullet, so having Gokudera-san back him up was probably the smart choice.

Gokudera-san would probably have squealed in delight like one of Takeshi's fangirls if a scream resounding throughout the neighborhood didn't interrupt him.

"What the fu –" A bark or a squawk from a bird echoed after. Tsuna looked above to see a flock of them moving through the sky.

Was that…

"That was your most esteemed twin, Tenth!" Gokudera said with his own deafening shriek. "His scream sounds just like yours! The resemblance to your screams I heard when I watched you be trained by Reborn is impeccable!"

Tsuna rose to his feet, patted off any dirt that got on his pants, and sprinted towards the direction of the howl.

X

Elsewhere…

Reborn wasn't one to dabble himself in day-time dramas or soap operas, or any television programs in general. Why should he? Reality up close and personal was so, so much more entertaining.

The world's greatest hitman had his two miniature feet planted atop Baka Ienobu's head. His student was a little dazed and confused, his stance a bit wobbly. Bianchi was off her bike, leaning back with a disappointed frown. Her initial attempts to eliminate Dame Tsuna had failed, as did her plan to poison Baka Ienobu with another poisonous soda can. The shock and fear that was oozing out of Ienobu was something Reborn had been waiting to feel out for some time.

While Reborn had planned for the twins to do whatever they pleased to cheer up the Yamamoto boy for today, he could not help but track his students' trails when they left TakeSushi. Tsuna wanted to go for a walk. Ienobu apparently lost a video game match with Sasagawa and thus was obligated to go out and purchase another pack of soda for the group. What luck that they had ran into Bianchi!

"Baka Ienobu," Reborn spoke once his student's feet were steady, "you should watch your language. This is a woman that deserves respectful."

Ienobu opened his mouth to continue spouting exclamations with expletives only for Reborn to stomp down. Ienobu bit his tongue and staggered on his feet, silenced.

"Ciaossu, Bianchi."

"Oh, Reborn," the woman moaned out the baby's name, "I'm here to bring you back to Italy. Let's do another job together, Reborn. A peaceful place like this town doesn't suit you. A world where it's more dangerous and thrilling fits you so much better."

Under Reborn's feet, Ienobu seemed to stiffen. Perhaps Bianchi's whimsical smile reminded him of that one girl who retains an odd fascination for Dame Tsuna, the same one that keeps watching Reborn as he walks the twins to school.

"I told you, Bianchi," Reborn said. "I have a job to raise Baka Ienobu here and his twin, Tsuna. I can't join you."

While Bianchi seemed to sulk for a moment, Ienobu churned his jaw around and judged that he could still speak without trouble. "Hey, Reborn, who exactly is this woman?"

"Bianchi is a freelance hitman better known as Poison Scorpion," Reborn answered mildly. "She was my fourth lover."

Bianchi was about to speak up, to share her despair upon Reborn's cruel confinement to the Vongola, until Ienobu made a forceful choking noise, taking a step or two back.

"You've got to be kidding," he retched out. "First backwards-working assassins, and now pedophiliac hitmen? What the heck is wrong with the mafia?"

Reborn hopped off of Ienobu's head. In the split second he was in the air, Bianchi was already on the hunt with poisonous pies in her hands. Ienobu was running backwards with his swords drawn and trying to keep the enraged cook away from him. Reborn had expected such a reaction between the two, and needless to say, he was quite amused by the results.

"Get the fuck away from me!"

"How dare you insinuate something like that!"

Pure music to Reborn's ears.

Leon was standing on all fours on the brim of Reborn's hat. He wiggled his body, prompting Reborn to turn to his right. His dame student and Hayato were jogging down the street toward the little fracas. Hayato had the determination of a right-hand man, as was expected, while Dame Tsuna was another couple of meters away from gasping for air. Stamina training would have to be augmented to compensate for this weakness.

Tsuna called out in that whiny, useless voice of his. He was about to fall forward until Hayato caught his fall. Both of them appeared fairly drained of energy at the moment.

Reborn watched as his student worried over his would-be right-hand man. "Gokudera-san!" Tsuna shrieked as the Italian covered his gut and fell to his knees. "What's wrong?"

"Don't worry, Tenth," Hayato gritted out through clenched teeth. "That woman… is…my sister. I cannot… help, but beware of… her poison… cooking…. You, Tenth… must go save your brother."

With that, Hayato plopped face-first onto the floor. Tsuna screeched lowly, biting his lip. He looked to and fro between his unconscious subordinate and his twin brother. Reborn considered saying something to further panic Tsuna, perhaps in a teasing tone rather than a lecturing or deadpan one. Thankfully, his student quickly made his choice and dove between Ienobu and Bianchi.

"Wait!" Tsuna cried, standing in front of Ienobu and his palms raised conciliatorily to the assassin. "P-Please don't kill my brother!"

A rather pathetic strategy on Tsuna's part, Reborn mused, though it was perfectly in-character. To the boy's credit, Bianchi did stop and pause her attacks. Ienobu lowered his weapons but held them tightly, ready to move in if Bianchi reignited the fight. However, Bianchi spotted her brother down the road. She forwent her pies and made her way to him.

The twins appeared to be safe, but Ienobu veered around his brother, bringing his sword up to thrust through Bianchi's midsection. He moved fast enough for the one end of Reborn's mouth to curve. It was an impressive move for Ienobu's age, swift enough to take full advantage of Bianchi's momentary distraction. If Bianchi's muscle memory didn't trigger in time to avoid the attack, Ienobu may just narrowly win their little squabble.

Then Tsuna cut in between them, pushing Ienobu's arm so he swung too wide to hit Bianchi. While she went to Gokudera unabated, Baka Ienobu shot his brother a frustrated look. Tsuna gave him an apprehensive one.

"What are you doing?" Tsuna asked.

"She's another goddamn assassin, Tsuna! What do you think I'm doing? Hell, why is Gokudera here?"

Reborn watched the brothers argue. Well, he watched Ienobu yell on and on until his voice would eventually break and watched Tsuna speak firmly with some semblance of composure. It was like looking at Iemitsu argue with Nono, if Iemitsu was an angry man and if Nono lacked any intimidation under his charisma.

The hitman turned to her past lover. She was still trying to give unwanted comfort to Hayato. "Bianchi," Reborn called to her, "please give me a moment with my students. We may discuss doing another job together later."

Bianchi gave Reborn a knowing smile, giving a wink and blowing a kiss. She stroked a hand on Hayato's back before departing.

"Seriously!" Ienobu was still screaming his head off. "Why are you so tolerant of assassins trying to kill us?"

"Gokudera-kun's not that bad," Tsuna responded.

In an instant, said Gokudera-kun was kneeling at his boss's feet, in perfect position to kiss them. "Tenth! I am so honored to be –"

"Why are you here, again? You ain't a right-hand man to anyone, last I recall." Ienobu was about to go on another tirade, but Tsuna cut him short.

"You said that woman was your sister, Gokudera-kun?"

Hayato nodded furiously, so much like the loyal dog he wanted to be. "Yes, Tenth. Bianchi and I are half-siblings. You see, at our castle, we used to have a lot of luxurious parties, but when I was six years old…."

"Wait!" Startled, Hayato staggered back as Ienobu pulled their faces closer to each other. "You know that hitwoman?"

"Uh, yes!" Hayato stifled a cough. Reborn wondered if he still held any animosity for the younger twin. "I know her, most esteemed twin."

"And you're a mobster, too, right? A mafia hitman with skills and experience?" Ienobu pulled Hayato up and slapped his hands on the Italian's shoulders. "If you make sure there aren't any more assassination attempts on me and my brother, I will gladly, gladly give you the rank of right-hand man for Tsunayoshi."

Hayato's eyes sparkled. Before Tsuna had his say in the matter, Hayato was running after where his sister had left, declaring, "I will not disappoint you, most esteemed twin, or you, Tenth!"

Sly move, Baka Ienobu, but a competently clever one.

"Otouto, you shouldn't mislead Gokudera like that."

"Aniki, aniki, please. By this point, I don't care if we have to get the NDC involved and getting us bodyguards. I don't want to deal with zany and weird-ass hitmen coming at us every other week."

"The N-ND-D-DC?" Tsuna lost his air of coolness. "But we agreed that we wouldn't tell Hana-san about the mafia stuff. Or Kyoko-chan or Takeshi."

"True, but if I have to keep sleeping in bed wondering when the next assassination attempt will be –"

Reborn stepped in between the brothers. "How can either of you know for sure if these recent 'assassination attempts' aren't merely training scenarios that I have constructed?" He could feel Ienobu glaring at him, wanting to cut the baby down so badly.

"That's right!" Tsuna exclaimed. "We're being trained!"

Oh, a lightbulb went off. "Go on," Reborn insisted.

"We're being trained to take over the Vongola as M-Mafia B-B-Bosses!" Reborn kicked Tsuna's shin to shake off the stutter. "If we're the only candidates available, why would the Vongola let their heirs be exposed to enemy hitmen? And the hitmen that were sent weren't really killing us, right? Gokudera wants to be our friend, and –"

"And that Bianchi bitch tried to –"

Reborn kicked Ienobu somewhere in the pelvic girdle. The Sawada let himself fall, his cheek dragging on the ground with his bottom facing the sky. Reborn motioned for a Tsuna to pick up his hanging jaw and continue speaking.

"Bianchi's Gokudera-kun's sister. She can't be too bad, right?" Tsuna eyed Reborn with a longing for confirmation. In return, Reborn nodded with mild approval.

"Keen observations you've made," Reborn praised. Tsuna smiled with his teeth shining. Ienobu groaned to express his pained woes. "However, both of your performances today are still very lacking." Tsuna's countenance fell, realizing too late what Reborn's answer meant. A second later, Tsuna was lying on his side, hugging his left leg close to his chest. "Your resolve is proving to be above average, the both of you, but each of you lack the necessary finesse I require from my students."

He turned to Tsuna first. "Dame Tsuna, I like your fast thinking and fast reflexes, but your moments of weakness were too obvious. Hesitations and stuttering are key opportunities for someone to get the upper hand on you, and that can prove costly. Bianchi had an ample chance to attack you from behind when you were busy arguing with Ienobu."

Then he vaulted up to Ienobu's behind. "Baka Ienobu, you have the sufficient combat prowess even low-level mafia members are obligated to know. However, much like many low-level members, you are incompetent at maintaining a good amount of self-control. Imagine if Tsuna was not as swift and dexterous as he was when he misdirected your strike against Bianchi. He might have gotten hurt instead."

The Sawadas fell silent, refusing to make eye contact with Reborn. Unperturbed, Reborn retreated away from the twins and started walking back to the Sawada household. He needed to make the proper arrangements with Nana to allow Bianchi to stay with them for the foreseeable future.

"Enjoy the rest of your day with your friends," Reborn called back. "Training starts early tomorrow morning, whenever I decide to wake you up."

As Reborn strolled away, Tsuna absentmindedly scratched the back of his knee.