I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.


Guardian Gift Exchange

He was an idiot.

"How does a person forget where they hid their Christmas present?" said Lambo desperately. Half of his body was stuck underneath his bed, his legs stretched out behind him on the carpeted floor. He groped blindly about, hoping to snag the light orange bag that contained the present he needed.

Deciding that his effort was a lost cause he crawled backwards and sat up. "Oh, man."

"What are you doing?"

Lambo glanced over his shoulder. I-Pin stood in his doorway with a bemused expression. "I can't remember where I hid Tsuna-nii's present!" he said in dismay. "Our gift exchange starts in about five minutes!"

"And you're just now looking for it?"

"I thought I knew where it was." He shrugged helplessly. "I've looked everywhere but I can't find it."

I-Pin shook her head. "You shouldn't have such a poor memory so early in life." She removed her hands, which had been hidden behind her back, and held out the present Lambo had been intently searching for. "You hid it in my room so that it would be safe."

The twelve-year-old flushed. "Oh. Right. Thanks."

She grinned as her friend took the gift. "Have fun with the exchange. If you get anything good share it with me."

"Eh. We'll see."

I-Pin stuck out her tongue at him before heading back to her room. Lambo moved aside the white tissue paper to make sure that the present was still intact. Relieved, he rushed into the hall and down the stairs.

Sock-covered feet sliding across the wooden floor, Lambo came upon Tsuna's office. He opened the door and found that the rest of his siblings were already gathered, in various positions on the dark leather couches situated around Tsuna's desk.

"I expected you to be the first one here," remarked Gokudera.

"Well, I would have been here earlier but I had…stuff to do."

Mukuro raised a brow. "What stuff?"

"None of your business," sniffed Lambo. He gave a small yelp when Mukuro's fingers tightened in his black curls. "Ow! Let go!"

"Mukuro-sama," said Chrome in exasperation. "Leave him be."

"I will when he answers my question," said Mukuro silkily, pulling slightly on the boy's head.

"I lost the present so I had to find it, okay?"

Gokudera rolled his eyes. "You'd lose your head if it wasn't attached."

"Oh, shut up, Elfdera."

Gokudera's eyes narrowed and he stood, but his movements were halted by Tsuna's hand wrapping around his wrist. "No fighting," he rebuked lightly. "Or else we'll never get started."

"I'll get you later," growled Gokudera, pointing threateningly at Lambo, who smiled innocently in response.

When everyone settled down, the gift exchange got underway. As always, Tsuna went first, handing a lumpy, yellow-wrapped package to Ryohei. Hibari arched an eyebrow. "Have problems with the tape, omnivore?"

Tsuna grinned sheepishly. "Little bit."

"It is an EXTREME wrapping job!" Ryohei declared, immediately tearing the paper off in one motion. He held up the dark red boxing gloves, staring in awe at the silver autograph scrawled neatly on the right glove.

"That's one of the professional boxers you like, right?" asked Tsuna anxiously. "I wasn't sure if I remembered correctly."

"How did you get them signed?" asked Ryohei.

"Oh, um, it took some tracking down, but he's actually a really nice guy, so it wasn't any trouble."

Setting the gloves beside him, Ryohei got up and enveloped Tsuna in a tight bear-hug. "EXTREME thank you!"

"Not so hard, Turf Top," snapped Gokudera.

Tsuna smiled, returning the embrace. "You're very welcome, onii-san."

"Guess it's my turn." Ryohei let go and went to retrieve his present, a small box wrapped in red paper. "Here, Octopus Head!"

Gokudera took it and peeled the wrapping paper off. Lifting the lid of the black velvet box, his expression softened. He turned the box slightly so that the others could see the silver watch nestled inside, golden hands and red gemstones glinting in the light.

"Ooh, shiny!" admired Lambo.

"Thanks, Turf Top," said Gokudera, removing the watch and fastening it securely to his wrist. He let out a grunt when Ryohei wrapped his arms around him. "Geez, a hug isn't supposed to be a choke hold!"

"Shut up and hug me back."

Rolling his eyes, the Storm Guardian gave the boxer a squeeze. "There. Now let me give my gift."

Gokudera picked up the indigo-wrapped package beside him and walked over to Chrome. Smiling, the girl took it and set it in her lap. She beamed as she unearthed a scrapbooking kit.

"It's your new hobby, right? Figured I'd help you kickstart it or whatever," said Gokudera.

"It's perfect." Chrome stood to kiss his cheek. "Thank you!"

"You're welcome."

Gokudera returned to his seat and Chrome gave Yamamoto his gift. "Here, Takeshi."

Yamamoto peeled off the blue paper and grinned at the collection of special-edition baseball cards he uncovered, each in a protective plastic cover. "Wow, Chrome, these are great! Where'd you find them?"

"In all sorts of shops," said Chrome simply.

"Seriously, we went everywhere," said Mukuro feelingly.

"These will be great additions to my collection." Yamamoto set them aside and stood up to hug the girl.

Mukuro pouted. "I want attention too."

Lambo shook his head. "You are so weird."

"Excuse me, I'm not the one who mixed soda and pizza in a blender for a snack."

"It was an experiment!" defended Lambo.

Before Mukuro could retort, Tsuna cut in with a firm, "No bickering during the gift exchange."

"Yeah," agreed Yamamoto. He held out an oddly shaped green package. "Don't you want to open your present, Lambo?"

Eyes brightening, Lambo hopped down and went over to his older brother. He took the package and sat on the floor, eagerly tearing off the wrappings. "Yay!" he squealed, hugging his new gumball machine, which was already filled to the brim with grape gumballs.

"Baseball Idiot, that is the last thing he needed," groaned Gokudera.

Hibari, who had been watching the exchange in silence, cut in with a firm, "I am not dealing with him when runs rampant on a sugar high."

"Eat those in moderation, Lambo," ordered Tsuna. "You don't want to get sick."

"Yeah, yeah." Lambo looped his arms around Yamamoto's neck. "Thanks, Take-nii."

"You're welcome." Yamamoto smiled and ruffled his hair fondly.

"Now it's my turn!" Lambo hurried to retrieve his present and went over to Tsuna. "Here you go!"

Tsuna lifted the boy to hold in his lap. Digging through the tissue paper, his fingers closed around the gift and he lifted it out. It was a silver square picture frame with eight gemstones decorating the edges. The gemstones reflected the colours associated with the Guardians and their respective Flame.

The picture inside the frame was of the eight of them. Tsuna and Lambo were in the center of the group, their cheeks squished together. Gokudera, Yamamoto and Ryohei stood to the right, with Yamamoto's arms slung around both of them. Mukuro, Chrome and Hibari stood to the left, with the girl in between the two of them, a gentle smile on her face. Mukuro had his usual smirk with Hibari looking rather uninterested in the whole ordeal.

"It's beautiful," said Tsuna softly, pressing a kiss to Lambo's hair. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," said Lambo cheerfully.

"I guess we know who's next," said Yamamoto in amusement.

"Talk about irony," added Gokudera with a grin.

Mukuro and Hibari glanced at each other. "Here," said Hibari curtly, throwing the gift at the illusionist, who caught it.

"Kufufufu. It hasn't exploded yet. So far so good." Mukuro dug a small box from his coat pocket and tossed it to Hibari, who snagged it between two fingers. "You go first."

"No, you go first."

"No. You go first."

"I'm going to come over there and bite you to death," growled Hibari. "Open it."

Mukuro removed the wrapping paper and stared at the pair of black leather gloves. His name was sewn in silver thread on the bottom of each glove.

"Not bad," muttered Mukuro. "Thanks, Skylark."

Hibari grunted and unwrapped his present. He opened the lid and lifted out a small golden charm that bore a very similar likeness to Hibird.

"That's cute," said Chrome with a smile.

"Thanks for not getting me something worthless," said Hibari, slipping the charm carefully back in the box.

"Hug! Hug! Hug!" chanted Lambo and it was not long before the others joined him. "Hug! Hug! Hug!"

"I will not cave to peer pressure," said Mukuro, crossing his arms.

"I will not sink to your herbivorous behaviour," said Hibari flatly.

"Hug," insisted Chrome, tugging on Mukuro's arm with a pleading expression. Mukuro's resolve wavered.

"Come on, stop pretending you don't love each other," huffed Lambo. "Hug!"

"If it will shut you all up, fine," grumbled Mukuro. "But if he stabs me, I refuse to be held accountable for my actions."

"Don't you do it," warned Hibari.

"Stop whining." Mukuro crossed the room and tackled the Cloud Guardian in a rough embrace that was not without affection.

"I ought to beat you silly," growled Hibari, giving him a jab to the stomach. But he nonetheless gave Mukuro a brief squeeze in return. "Now get off me."

Mukuro reclaimed his seat and said, "Is everyone happy?"

"Very," said Tsuna with a bright smile.

"That wasn't so hard, was it?" asked Chrome.

"Yes. It was. His murderous aura hurts."

"I can show you something that will hurt more," offered Hibari.

"No fighting on Christmas," insisted Tsuna. "Mostly because I don't want to deal with the paperwork to sort out whatever damages you two might cause."

"Remember when they took down the front door?" recalled Yamamoto.

"It was an EXTREME fight!" exclaimed Ryohei.

Gokudera crossed his arms. "You know, in the new year, you lot can deal with your own paperwork."

"Paperwork is EXTREMELY boring!" the Sun Guardian said. "It takes a boring person to do it!"

Lambo nestled against Tsuna, a contented smile on his face as Gokudera and Ryohei started to bicker. They were an unruly bunch. But no matter how many times they argued or fought they all had a bond that could not be broken. And to Lambo, that was the greatest gift of all.