Okay, I admit, I am a HORRIBLE authoress for making you wait like this, but I promise that I wouldn't if I didn't have to. Sorry, sorry, please, please forgive me.
Thank you everyone who has favourite and followed this story. Your support means more to me now than I can even explain. I cannot thank any of your enough.
Beta'd by the lovely mercyn~~
The knots that Tie and the Strings that Bind.
Feelings and Pink Smoke.
"Speaking in another language and will be stated."
Flashback
"Speaking normally."
Obviously, the euphoria of winning against the legendary Varia wore off quickly, and Tsuna was regretful to find that it wore off too quickly for his tastes. When euphoria fades it leaves a unpleasant cud of remembrance, remembering the high, and remembering that they are no longer in a situation as wonderful.
It left everyone somewhat bitter.
Hayato was quietly contemplative, it was different to see this side of Hayato outside the study, but Tsuna's wasn't sure whether it was a 'good different' or a 'bad different' yet. He stepped up to his friend and tugged on the reddened string as he grew closer. He was pleased to see Hayato relax and turn to him with a small smile on his face, if Tsuna was more confident in himself he'd realise it was the familiar warmth of his presence that let Hayato calm so easily and not the manipulation of the strings.
"What do you think Hayato?"
"It was too easy, Juudaime." Red flashed in his vision when Hayato spoke, and it was soothing and brilliant. Fate was planning something huge, something bigger than Tsuna yet understood. Hayato had an inclination to what Fate was playing, even if he didn't know it was Fate who was playing it.
Tsuna was inclined to agree, his nod seemed to reassure and worry Hayato, because the silvernette knew the mafia, he was the most involved and one with the most understanding- except maybe Mukuro and Chrome- the Varia were not cowards, they should not have run from that fight.
Though, neither Tsuna nor Hayato could explain why exactly the Varia would run, so not wanting his right-hand to feel dejected at his inability to rationalise his feeling, Tsuna patted Hayato on the shoulder giving it a reassuring squeeze before smiling. "We'll figure this out, Hayato; we're not alone in this."
Hayato smiled softly, it would look painful and unconvinced to others, but not to Tsuna. With that he walked off to ensure that none of this other guardians would feel too bitter, he wanted to know exactly who was on the ball; who noticed that this battle wasn't what it appeared to be.
Takeshi, true to form, was grinning wickedly. He was lazily walking beside Ryohei, but there was an air of disappointment surrounding the swordsman. His sword was slung over his shoulder in that comfortable place one found a center of gravity. His hand was still white-knuckled and Tsuna could understand why. Takeshi had never grown up with siblings, so when he is suddenly thrust into a place where children were regarded highly- as to be protected- he was unsure of how to act. He was the first to find out that the children were in trouble; Tsuna suspected that he didn't really know what to feel. Did he feel responsible? Or confused? Maybe he just felt lost. All Tsuna knew was that Takeshi looked like he was ready to fight off an army right now, even when the threat was not to be seen. Considering how recently Takeshi had started fighting, it wasn't surprising that he couldn't relax with that battle adrenalin still coursing through his body highway.
Tsuna sent as much warmth, comfort and understanding down the quivering blue as he possibly could. He knew that Takeshi, of all his guardians, would not appreciate physical comfort right now. He was both unused to it and felt himself the main line of attack- second to Hayato of course- and Tsuna knew if he showed any kind of affection towards Takeshi it would make the teen second guess his own ability.
Lambo, Fuuta and I-pin, were walking in the center of the group of people, their strings wove around them in a kind of barrier, and from each and every other person were equally strong, tangled strings acting as a second barrier. Reborn was to their back, Tsuna currently to their front, and all around them were the brothers and sister they had grown to trust and depend on and love. It was relieving for Tsuna that all three children had found a place in this new family, and even if it hurt him to know they were fighting just as strictly as the older teen, Tsuna knew it meant he would not have to worry- though his worry was only minutely less about the children during a battle.
Each of the children had a stern look on their faces; Fuuta had the sternest face, his knuckles white around the large tome. Both Tsuna's orange and his own red knotted tightly around the tome Fuuta was told by his tutor never to let go of. He had a contemplative look on his face, so much so that his eyebrows folded in a tough way. Tsuna frowned and stroked the light brown hair in a comforting way; intrinsically love and warmth flowed down their connected strings.
Tsuna had gotten good at controlling the emotions each of his friends needed into whichever strings needed them, he was even better at hiding his emotions from the people who were physically connected to him.
"Fuuta, what's wrong?" his voice was cool; it had that worried tone, but was comforting none the less.
"Tsuna-nii, it doesn't make sense?"
"What doesn't?"
"My rankings are never wrong... one of them was." He began; there was an edge of panic, because for the young child this was all he could do to help his brother. He could protect himself; he could be useful to Tsuna and the Vongola with his rankings. If they were wrong... well he wouldn't have anything. "The Varia are the strongest in Vongola's current ranks, they are the most ruthless and the ones that love bloodshed the most... the likely hood of them leaving this confrontation without fighting one-in-one-hundred-million. It shouldn't have happened Tsuna-nii!"
Tsuna hid his shock and concern well, his string only quivering for a second, he knew of Fuuta's complex, how Fuuta thrived to be useful to Tsuna. But Tsuna was never going to use Fuuta like that. He –and the other children- would always have a place within Tsuna's famiglia, useful or not. He would not abandon them because they were 'useless' he was not like the other bosses, he was not like his father, or to an extent, his mother.
Stroking Fuuta's hair again and leaning to kiss the child's forehead as they strode back to their home, he smiled comfortingly. He hoped that it would relieve the child somewhat. "Did you take the rankings when it rained?"
A pause stilled the air; it was obvious- to Tsuna if not Fuuta- from the tightness and stillness of the strings that the others were listening too. "I don't think so Tsuna-nii. I try my best never to take a ranking during the rain."
"Don't worry then. You brothers, sister and I will figure it out."
"Thanks, Tsuna-nii." Fuuta hugged Tsuna's waist awkwardly, the large red tome digging a little into Tsuna's spine as the arms tightened, but he hugged back non-the-less.
Lambo was shaking when Tsuna lent down and picked him up off the floor. Warm breathe and something damp tingled across Tsuna's neck when Lambo buried his face into Tsuna's hair. He inhaled the spicy, warm scent of incense, vanilla, and a little cigarette smoke that cling to all the residence of the teenager's home. Since Reborn and Hayato smoked in their rooms and outside the house, the home and residence carried that deadly scent that had faded into something safe. It was comforting, the smell, even if it had a kind of foreboding. But to Lambo, and the other children, it was a scent of family, familiar, and safe.
"I was so scared, Tsuna-nii." He sobbed quietly into Tsuna's neck.
Tsuna froze, his steps becoming ridged and his back tensing so much so that all the strings tensed and even Mukuro and Kyouya hissed lightly under their breaths. Tsuna tried to loosen the tension in his strings; he was so stricken by the words Lambo sobbed that even Ryohei, the guardian most unaware of the strings presence looked over at him with worried, stony eyes.
It was hard though, to loosen that terror building and coiling in his stomach. There was nothing that plagued Tsuna more than knowing his brother- his literal brother- was scared and that it was his fault. He was less guilty about making Takeshi quit baseball, making Ryohei fight behind his sister's back, even about dragging Mukuro and Chrome back into the place that had destroyed them in the first place. The burn settling into his eyes was difficult to overcome.
"I'm sorry, Lambo. But you were so brave, and I'm so very proud of you." His voice was obviously raw with emotion, but Lambo didn't even need the tone to know that. He had always been aware- as Fuuta and I-pin had been- of the waves of emotion Tsuna could waft over them, he and his siblings had loved with the warmth and the connection with Tsuna all their lives. They knew of that something that made Tsuna easy to read, and made them warm and safe. To know that Tsuna was so distraught made Lambo sob more. "But know, Lambo, that you don't have to fight. I will never leave you alone. If you don't want o fight, or learn to fight, you don't have to."
Lambo felt Tsuna pull him away and kiss his forehead, a wash of warmth, pain, and something that told Lambo that Tsuna was at a loss for words, that he felt completely useless, before Tsuna cuddled him back unto his chest.
"But know, Lambo, that I'm proud of you no matter what."
Lambo was still for a moment; just breathing that smell that was entirely Tsuna and safety. He squeezed for a moment before lifting his puffy, red eyes to Tsuna. He kissed his brother's cheek before smiling sappily. "I love you Tsuna-nii."
Hayato came up to Tsuna with a small smile, he could keep his 'rivalry' with Lambo under control when the need really arose, so he scooped the child out of his boss' arms and cuddled him instead. Tsuna had others to see, and Lambo still needed some physical reassurance that Tsuna had discovered, Hayato gave perfectly.
I-pin looked up at Tsuna as he approached with an air of guilt and confusion. Even before Tsuna could stoop down she was reaching up to weave her arms around Tsuna's neck. He lifted her to the opposite side he had Lambo only seconds ago. She snuggled into him but instead of needing the comfort of smell, just being in his arms was enough and I-pin watched where they were going as Tsuna settled into the center of the group.
"You were very brave, I-pin." He began softly.
"But I-pin... I didn't do anything." She began. She had a habit of speaking in third person when she was confused or nervous.
"You don't have to fight to be brave I-pin. You knew Haru couldn't fight and you tried to protect her. You were brave, but you shouldn't put yourself in harm's way."
Another pause permeated the air. I-pin's expression still confused. "I wouldn't have been able to beat them." She confessed. Tsuna was silent, simply squeezing her to show he was still listening. "I would have been beat, Tsuna-nii."
Tsuna paused for another moment, the burn setting behind his eyes again when his mind dredged up images of I-pin (the other children and his guardians too only a moment later) on the ground bleeding and crying because they weren't strong enough; because he wasn't strong enough to save them. He squeezed I-pin tightly and buried his face into her long, sleek hair.
"I-pin, if something like that happens again, if you know you will be beaten or that you will be too hurt by an enemy, please promises me you'll run. Even if you abandon me, or have to let one of us fight alone. I want you to make sure that you, Lambo, and Fuuta are safe. If you're ever with Haru when it happens, just make sure you're all safe first, Haru included."
I-pin shot up to look into his eyes when he felt a wave of helplessness originate from him. She was shocked, and all the teaching of her sensei barraged her mind. "Tsuna-nii! I cannot abandon you, it's dishonourable. I can fight!"
Tsuna looked on her with understanding and pain. How to explain it to her? "I-pin. You, Lambo, Fuuta, even Haru, to me you are more important than honour. If I lost you where would I be? I would prefer to be labelled a coward and weak with all of you safe, than I would to be strong and mighty having lost even one of you."
I-pin knew immediately what Tsuna meant. That it wasn't just her and her two brothers, but her siblings Hayato, Takeshi, Mukuro, Chrome, Ryohei, Kyouya, and even Reborn. None of them were worth something a simple title. All the people gathered around Tsuna who had listened to the exchange felt the same; they felt it in the words and in the sudden crashing, suffocating wave of warm protection and strength. She smiled and kissed his cheek. Reborn came along form the back and took I-pin in his arms, he had the same aura as her sensei and she soon quietened in his arms.
Ryohei was both unaware of everything and also the one with the strongest understanding. He knew nothing of the strings, and had little awareness. But of fighting, and of Tsuna's position in the mafia, he had a strong understanding.
It was the mafia that split up his family, and was the mafia who had saved him. He understood Tsuna's part in it and found that he could not despise it. Tsuna was going to change the mafia. Ryohei knew this, because already he had changed it, he had helped a fellow famiglia member's sibling, something any other boss would not do, he cried when his siblings were hurt, and he burned with resolve when he felt a threat. Already he was mafia, and at the same time, was not.
Ryohei understood his part in this. He was going to be a shield and a healer to the group. He understood fighting, and he understood healing. When the Varia had appeared he saw their potential he tried to strategise their weaknesses, and as far as he could tell, as far as his gut was telling him, they had none.
Ryohei also understood what being a brother meant. He knew that his 'little brother' was the same as he was. Protective, strong, but also weak. Tsuna had found Ryohei's weakness and was fixing it. Now, it was his turn to protect Tsuna's blind side. To make sure he was not vulnerable.
Punching his fists in the air, with a smile and hoping he shone as brightly as the orange flames that Tsuna had been alight with only minutes ago, Ryohei shouted and hoped he brought his little brother out of the slump he had fallen into. "SAWADA! We will win next time TO THE EXTREME."
When Tsuna smiled and laughed at his antics, with a squeeze of his large shoulder Ryohei knew he did well.
Tsuna always found Ryohei comforting, even if the others found him annoying and overenthusiastic. Ryohei wasn't stupid, even if he wasn't smart. He had instinct that rivaled even Tsuna's own, and a 'strength' that none of the other guardians could even touch. When that yellow string flashed with ambiance and warmth Tsuna could not help but smile widely and clap his 'big brother' on the shoulder, he hoped it was enough to show his appreciation.
As he approached Mukuro a rush of warmth and power overwhelmed his senses and he soon found his two mist guardians flanking his sides. Chrome grabbed his hand and linked their fingers, and Mukuro allowed the string to do the same to his own hand. There was something strange but comforting that allowed them to be so close. Tsuna knew that if any of his other friends needed that closeness it would be just as easily, but outside the 'twins' it was only Lambo who needed close assurance. The others needed other things.
"Am I correct in assuming, Tsunayoshi, that you noticed the boy's strange strings?"
Tsuna found it satisfying that he was not at all surprised by Mukuro's assessment. The man had so many tricks up his sleeves that Tsuna wondered if perhaps his sleeves were black holes.
"Yeah, the Varia's strings aren't like ours. They are different to the past strings that link to our rings." Unconsciously Tsuna lifted his right hand –the one Chrome was clinging to- to show the collage of strings, knots and shades.
Of course Tsuna was right. The strings were a different shade, consistency, and strength. They were clinging to the Vongola rings, and not ingrained in them. Tsuna's string, and the other guardians' strings were all solidly tied to the rings they wore, and it was enough to tell Tsuna that they were the true heirs. But that left questions...
"What fate do these boys have with us, Tsuna?"
Tsuna looked at Chrome with a concerned, serious expression. He gave their connected hands a squeeze before smiling. "They are fated to be with us, Chrome, we just need to figure out how it is they fit into our famiglia."
Mukuro purred for a minute, intrigued and worried- though really only Chrome could see the worry- for Tsuna. The boy was strong, but ever so vulnerable. It hadn't changed; nothing had changed over their time together. So far Mukuro had seen no evidence that the children gathered to Tsuna's side were worthy of the boy's time or effort. He was still ready to kill them all if they made Tsuna vulnerable. He told himself over and over that it was all for Tsuna.
Chrome knew her partner was confused, worried, and changing. It was a good change; it made him happier, warmer, and more human. They had lost their innocence and purity in the dingy labs of their horrendous mafia famiglia. But slowly, they were regaining that purity, because Tsuna was bleaching them, forgiving them, and protecting them. Chrome sent waves of appreciation and love down the strings connecting her to both Mukuro and Tsuna, and when both of them looked at here with varying degrees of comfort and thanks she knew that she was doing the right thing and that she was going to fight to protect both of the men who she owed her life to.
Tsuna smiled once more and squeezed Mukuro and Chrome's hand before lagging behind to stand with Kyouya. The aloof man had a grim expression hanging over him. He lusted after fights, and he disapproved greatly of cowards. Kyouya was an honourable man; he didn't fight children, did not wound the elderly, and fought tooth-and-nail for those he deemed worthy or weak. Others didn't see it, but Tsuna did, and that made Kyouya more intrigued, and surer the man was worthy of his praise and protection.
As Tsuna approached, Kyouya's eyes flickered to his chest, seeing the intertwined strings that sat tightly against Tsuna's chest. He marveled at the feeling silently, as he always did. He was amazed that he could feel the pull, he could not see it, but the young pineapple had explained to him a few times what it was he was feeling. To think that something existed like that amazed him. But it only meant that the herbivore in front of him- who could see these 'strings'- was more amazing than anyone gave him credit for.
"What do you think Kyouya?" there were many questions behind that one. What did he think about the Varia, the strings, the fight, the others? There were many questions, many answers, and many opinions.
"Those herbivores are staying their fangs. They are up to something." He hissed. "They showed us no cards today, herbivore. We need to be ready when they bear their fangs at us. We cannot let them catch us unaware."
Tsuna nodded, a frown marred his face, because it seemed that Kyouya was right, as usual. The man had the perfect instinct for fighting, if he thought that the Varia were up to something, the likely hood of that was they were.
"Then prepare we will." Tsuna mumbled with a stern tone. He didn't comment on the warmth that brushed against his hand. Kyouya was not one for open comfort. But he knew when others needed it. A brush of hands here, bumping shoulder there. He would give into Tsuna, anything he needed, because the omnivore was interesting and so very difficult to ignore or let be/remain hurt.
Reborn watched on with floored interest. It was amazing. It was unbelievable, even to him who had seen it all. Tsuna had collected innocent, violent, strong people to his side effortlessly, and within months had them trained and aware of everything around them. Reborn could see that each of them was connected to Tsuna in every way possible without physical ties. It was amazing; they were aware and accepting of the mafia, of the fights ahead, and most of all, of Tsuna. It was remarkable, and it made him smile under the brim of his fedora.
They arrived home quickly all of them calm, but also depressed and scared in their own way. Without any prompting, moving as one entity they went to their rooms and changed into their work-out garbs. They donned sweat-pants or shorts, and loose, cotton t-shirts. Some donned armour, some braces. Each one tied their hair back where it was due, and slapped on sunscreen where it was needed. Together, as one movement they entered their backyard and started training on the various equipment or into the regular routines that had been started only a week into their lives within the ex-university dorms.
Tsuna watched everyone as they trained, it was obvious to him that they all were pushing themselves, and most of them did so without Reborn's prompting; in fact, Tsuna could see Reborn standing in a corner- where he had been since earlier that afternoon- with an expression he could obviously see as impressed incredulity. He was completely shocked that his 'students' would ever take to training and their roles of guardians so seriously. He was obviously proud though, because that smirk and the glimmer in his chameleon string warmed Tsuna. He appreciated that he wouldn't have to force these children, his children, into something he wished they were not a part of.
For all Reborn was strong and stern, he was equally sensitive, Tsuna had noticed. He didn't show it often, but the subtle things he did, correcting Hayato's aim when it was already near-perfect; nudging Takeshi into a form more comfortable even if he was already performing the fifth stance perfectly; giving Lambo an encouraging pat on the head when he cried out in frustration. Reborn didn't need to do any of it, but it obviously comforted him to encourage each of them in a more close way and not with bullets and harsh truths.
Speaking of Lambo, Tsuna's eyes narrowed on the 'cow-child' as he was doing shadow-boxing with Ryohei. It seems, over the past few months that Lambo had gravitated to Ryohei, of course Tsuna knew this was because his assessment of Ryohei was correct; he was born to be a brother.
Suddenly Lambo slips up and makes quite a blaring, obvious mistake. Tsuna sighed and walked forward as he started crying with frustration. Tsuna had watched Ryohei trying to teach Lambo the move for the past two hours, and each time the child missed a vital swinging motion of his legs that would alter his momentum and shift his balance. Despite the mammoth efforts of Ryohei trying to calm and teach the green-eyes 'Bovino' Tsuna knew that Lambo needed his 'real' brother to comfort him now.
"There there Lambo, it's alright not to get it right the first time." Though, despite his encouragement, Tsuna was worried. Lambo was the weakest and youngest of his battling guardians, he was their weak link, and the one who would be exploited as such a weakness. If Lambo couldn't defend himself Tsuna knew someone would die protecting him. While that would hurt, it would hurt Lambo the most.
For some reason this time Tsuna's comforts didn't work. The child bawled with frustration, and to Tsuna's horror he started to dig through that thick mop of hair he was so proud of. Tsuna's eyes dilated with fear as a freaking bazooka appeared in the child's hand. Had everything been less adrenalin fueled, Tsuna would have massacred Reborn for ever allowing Lambo to even look at such a murderous weapon. In fact, the other guardians were alerted to a problem when Tsuna's killing intent swept across the strings splayed around their back yard.
Then, to his increasing horror Lambo pointed the bazooka at himself! Unable to comprehend what was happening, Tsuna was only just dragged out of the firing line by a completely terrified Mukuro before a giant cloud of pink smoke enveloped them all. Everything happened incredibly fast after that, all the guardians and even Reborn were standing, weapons drawn and flames ignited as a stranger stood in place of Lambo.
"Yare yare, it seems I've put myself into quite a predicament."
The voice was deep, that of an older teen, but somehow, within the voice was familiarity. It spiked Tsuna to the core. He shoved the thought down, one of his people had disappeared in a blast of weaponry smoke, he had no time to sit idle and ponder familiar tones when something he though precious was missing.
"Who are you?!" Tsuna's voice was demanding, but it was that soothing baritone of calm that everyone could agree put them in the mindset to protect and fight.
Smoke cleared to reveal a tall, lanky man with tousled black hair that was a little larger than necessary. He had deep, shining green eyes, and a lazy form that sat in a signature sway of Reborn; one that was ready to fight as much as it was to lie down and sleep. Again there was that spike of familiarity and Tsuna was almost willing to put his flaming fists down; but it was impossible for Tsuna to know the man, the only ones Tsuna knew around that age were Ryohei, Mukuro and Kyouya.
"Tsuna-nii, I know I was a little brat during this time of my life, but the fact that you don't recognise me hurts."
There was that word 'brat' and the way the man inflected on the present being his past hinted in Tsuna's mind. It was something brutally familiar and important, but right now he was still raged with the disappearance of his guardian and brother.
Mukuro, Chrome and Kyouya shifted uncomfortably behind Tsuna, and he felt the unease and slight thoughts beating behind their strings. They were close to an idea; as close as Tsuna himself was.
Then it hit him. Like a tonne of bricks that were dropped from a skyscraper Tsuna was almost floored.
"Lambo?" Tsuna stepped forward; he unconsciously grabbed the green- and-fused-red string and pumped his love and confusion into the string. Lambo smiled knowingly and Tsuna noticed the boy's hand twist and intertwine with the braided rope. As if he knew.
"Hey Tsuna-nii. I was wondering when the first time meeting the younger you would be."
That's when Reborn stepped in, finally caught up and knowing where they were.
"Dame-Tsuna, say hello to TYL!Lambo. The bazooka he just fired has sent the Lambo of our time, ten-years into the future. This is eighteen year old Lambo. Don't worry though; he'll be back in roughly five minutes. The Bovino haven't found out how to extend the effects yet."
Tsuna just stared at Lambo; everyone else sighed and surrounded the boy. They asked him questions or tormented him. It seemed, even in ten years, Lambo and Hayato had that sibling-rivalry going, and Lambo still cried when he couldn't win. Ryohei was still as versed at being a brother as before, and Lambo whispered something into his ear that left Ryohei on the verge of tears. The others either kept their distance or chatted amiably, trying to pry as much as possible out of Lambo about the future as they could, but the once-child was much too tight-lipped for that.
"Come on now brats, it's time to make dinner and clean up, you all smell like you haven't bathed in weeks. Let Tsuna talk with the cow for a while now." Reborn escorted the others into the house with a quick smile sent to Tsuna before the back door was shut tight.
Everyone was soothed by the reassurance of Reborn and decided to either go make dinner- Chrome and Hayato that night- or go for a little run more before dinner- Ryohei and Takeshi- while Tsuna remained behind to speak with the teen-cow-child before the five minutes elapsed and left a child that would most likely- no, definitely- be covered in candy.
"But Lambo, are you really ok with this? Are you safe?" Tsuna's tone was hushed and his inflection desperate. Of all the guardians he regretted and worried about Lambo the most. He was a child, he was Tsuna's little brother.
"You have no need to worry about me Tsuna-nii. You all protect me and raise me better than Iemitsu ever could." Lambo looked like he wanted to say something else. "Things are going to get really hard Tsuna-nii, I want to tell you more, but I can't." Lambo leant forward and embraced his brother in a tight, warm, wonderful embrace. His head sat in the crook of Tsuna's neck and shoulder, and his arms wrapped comfortably around his shoulders; Tsuna's arms automatically embraced Lambo's back, and even if this teen-child was taller than Tsuna it felt, well, wonderful. "Just remember, Tsuna-nii, I love you more than anyone."
With a puff and the sudden expansion of impossibly pink smoke, Tsuna was left with an armful of Lambo as the child looked up with a huge smile, one that lit the day and flashed with warmth. "I love you Tsuna-nii! You gave Lambo-sama candy!"
I was reading 'Fated Strings and Charming Things' to try and get inspiration to write this and I realised that I never even humoured the idea that this would be so popular... I started FSCT as a drabble series, now it's a full series! I want to take this opportunity to thank you all so much! It means more than I can even explain!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
~~Bleach-ed-Na-tsu :3