Title: "People Like Us"
Summary: They all came from different pasts, from different backgrounds. They were broken, shattered, or close to it. And when everyone, even those they had loved, had given up on their existences; he came into their lives with an outstretched hand. "After all, people like us have to stick together."
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the amazing characters of Katekyo Hitman Reborn! I own the plot of this story, though, but I do not own the original KHR!
Chapter Title: "Talk of the Goal"
"A small smile was on his face, and his brown eyes held fondness in them as they closed."
Gokudera looked up at the tall mansion he had been raised in. His eyes took notice of the shadows in the windows, the servants watching his departure with joyful expressions. A smirk played at his lips at their reactions. They were trying to hide their happiness, just to spare him. But he wasn't sad. There was only one servant he liked out of the bunch, and that butler was coming with them.
The teen's silver-green eyes turned their gaze over to the black-haired man. Reborn seemed to notice the attention he was getting, and smirked smugly. He had changed into his regular clothes. A yellow button-up dress shirt with a jacket over it, and black slacks that covered his long legs. A fedora rested on top of his head, it being black in color with a yellow band around it.
It had turned out he was simply a scout for the Vongola Boss. Tsunayoshi had put the greatest Hitman in the world on an undercover mission to look for a Storm Guardian. The silver-head didn't care that he had been deceived. In fact, his admiration had grown for the dark-eyed man. Not anyone could act as a butler for so long.
"Are you ready," a calm and soothing voice asked. Gokudera's silver-green eyes turned to the slightly taller form that was walking towards him. Those brown eyes were cheerful and timeless, full of fondness for the new Storm Guardian.
"'Course," was the teen's simple reply. His eyes were shining brightly at the sight of his new Boss, the one that had saved him from his self-induced solitude. A pale hand ruffled his silver locks gently, a teasing manner that the brunet had.
"I'm sorry you have to leave your home," Tsuna mumbled seriously, his hand still resting on top of his Storm's head. The smile that was always present on his face had slipped off, "You can always stay, Hayato. I'm not forcing you-"
"Are you kidding," Gokudera interrupted, making a mental note to hit his head for being disrespectful. A determined expression covered his face, and if possible, his green eyes were sparkling even more so. Gray dog-ears and a wagging tail appeared on his body, and sparkling flowers surrounded the teen. "I want to be by Boss's side at all times! And if leaving the mansion is the price to pay for that, then that's just a bonus!"
Tsuna blinked his large brown eyes a few times, pale face flushing a light pink color. The sparkling flowers still surrounded his new Guardian, and cherry blossoms began to float into the scene. What was strange was that sakura blossoms weren't in season…
Reborn called the young silver-head over to put his bags into the trunk of the glossy black limo, saying that he had done enough work for two years. A smirk pulled at the brunet's mouth at seeing the fedora-wearing man acting all high-and-mighty now that he was no long undercover. It was entertaining to see the older man himself once again.
"I forgot how interesting you were," said the Hitman, walking over to his Boss and ex-student. Those dark eyes sparkled in amusement. His arms were crossed in front of his chest, and a smirk played on his face, which was partly shadowed by the fedora. "Tell me, how far have you gotten in your goal?"
"You mean Vongola's goal," the brunet corrected, rolling his eyes. He squeaked rather loudly when one of his ex-tutor's hands pinched his cheek. The curly side-burned man always loved to pinch the baby-fat of his face.
Once the hand retreated, returning to the side of its controller, the Boss of Vongola rubbed his sore cheek. He glared lightly at his trusted comrade, but looked more like a pout in those dark eyes. "To answer your question, yes, I have made some progress."
The atmosphere around them immediately turned from light teasing to a thick business-like feel. The smirk on Reborn's face had fallen off at the words, and he tilted his fedora down a bit more. He had turned to serious mode, Tsuna noted. But he himself had as well. Everyone that knew of the Vongola's goal would turn serious at the news.
"How far," the Hitman asked in a hushed tone.
"I'll tell you when we return to the Vongola Manor," the brunet sighed out, running a hand through his gravity-defying brown locks. His eyes were closed and a small bit of his frustration showed on his face, but disappeared quickly. "Right now we should get Hayato there and comfortable. After all, he's an important person to me."
"To your higher-up, you mean," Reborn scuffed, "He's the incarnation of that pink-haired man. They're one and the same, just as you and the no-good blonde are."
Tsuna chuckled softly, not being able to disagree with that fact. He found it quite funny, in fact. His brown eyes turned back to the excited silver-headed teen that was arguing animatedly with his father and stepmother. A smile graced his features as his eyes sparkled once again with that timeless fondness.
"No, he's not just an incarnation. He's precious to me, just as G was to Giotto."
Tsuna sighed as he walked the halls of the Vongola Mansion, heading towards the rendezvous room. He wore his orange button up shirt with a loose black tie and black slacks, as he had earlier that day. The silver-headed teen that he'd gone to save was being fitted to a room of his choosing, somewhere he'd be happy.
The brunet smiled lightly at the thought of his new Storm Guardian. He was the first of seven Guardians to be found, to be saved from their own personal hell. The teenager's hell was solitude. No storm should be kept secluded for so long. They would burn out as time went by if they were cut off from anything else.
The soft clicking of his shoes resounded in the empty hallways as he walked, the only noise available. He had learned from Reborn, his ex-tutor, how to keep his footing silent, but when you were devoted of sound you came to like noise. The soft click of his heals were what kept the panic attacks from happening.
"You seem rather unfocused," a deep voice commented. Tsuna turned his head to watch the greatest Hitman in the world walk up to him, a smirk once again on his face. The fedora that usually rested on his head was missing, most likely in his room. Those dark eyes were sparkling mischievously, and a bit of excitement were hidden behind amusement.
"I guess you could say that," the Vongola Boss sighed once again, rubbing the back of his neck. "I can't seem to focus on anything. Not with being so close to…"
"To it?"
"Yeah," Tsuna nodded his head hesitantly, "To it. I suppose you wouldn't know how it feels to be out of your real form for a long period of time, huh, Reborn?"
"Hmm," Reborn hummed in agreement. The two adults walked together in silence, heading towards their destination. The Hitman couldn't completely hide his excitement to see how far his Boss had come with their goal. What interesting people had the brunet been saving? "When will you tell your Guardian of your true form?"
"When the time is right."
"Which would be?"
"Enough with the questions," Tsuna stated. He stopped in front of a closed door that looked just like the rest. But the loud noises of its occupants were what set it apart. Different voices could be heard through the wood, arguments and loud yelling resounding within the room. "It's time to discuss business."
Reborn's signature fedora appeared out of nowhere, and he set it his head, adjusting it for a moment. The hat shadowed part of his face, which had its business poker face hiding away his emotions. A true profession in this sort of arrangement.
Tsuna opened the door, and the talking immediately silenced at his presence. The aura surrounding him was still kind and caring, but had the Boss-like feel of leadership within it. His brown eyes took notice of the five beings in the room, who all smiled or smirked at him in return.
"It's nice to see all of you once again. Please, take a seat and relax. We have many things to discuss tonight."