[Update 26/06/13] - suggest everyone reread this chapter, nothing fundamental to the story line has been changed, but a lot to do with Basil and Iemitsu has been updated to make a lot of what Basil has done make sense. I hope you enjoy~

So I've shuffled things around a little bit, this chapter is about Basil's arrival (not Iemitsu that's later) and Tsuna's training for Zero-point breakthrough. Sorry if this confuses anyone, I re-read the Manga chapter and realised that it has been a while since I read it... so yeah... enjoy this kind of Basil point of view.

Oh... the battles aren't necessarily one day after another; the rain battle is two days after the storm... yeah... sorry for any confusion.

Beta'd by mercyn~~

The knots that Tie and the Strings that Bind.

Basil and Ice

With Hayato recovering with his mentor in the hospital, and most of the other guardians- except Ryohei and Kyouya- off training with their various tutors, Tsuna was resting in the living room with Ryohei; the boxer having just come back from training with Kyouya was sitting with Tsuna his blonde hair still damp having just stepped out of a refreshing shower.

Just as Tsuna was about to get up and offer Ryohei a drink there was the sound of the door opening. Now, no one was due home for a while, Reborn had errands to run and everyone else was training until dinner time. Kyouya had Disciplinary commitments until the following day so he wouldn't even be home for dinner. So to hear the door opening was both a shock and an uneasy feeling.

As they heard the footsteps approach the living room Ryohei was up in an instant, his fists were poised and Tsuna was behind him. Tsuna was not so amazed by the speed of his movement but by the overwhelming aura that radiated from Ryohei, the yellow string lit harshly as he moved and wrapped around Tsuna protectively. Ryohei was nothing if not protective of Tsuna.

Reborn appeared at that point with a teen similar in age to Tsuna trailing closely behind him, the teen was taller than Tsuna but only a few centimeters with burnt blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, the boy was lean and rather wary. But he didn't give off an air of malice. If anything he was nervous and shy. Though Ryohei wasn't ready to release his stance yet.

"Reborn! It is EXTREMELY good to see you're back! But why is he here?" No one missed the dangerous change in the tone between Ryohei's addressing of Reborn to the blonde boy.

"Ah, this is Basil. He's part of the CEDEF." Reborn raised an eyebrow and approached Tsuna, leaving Basil at the living room doorway feeling rather lost. Ryohei didn't move from his place between Basil and Tsuna, but he softened a little as Reborn approached.

The boy, now introduced as Basil, did not miss the approving smile on Reborn's lips as he appraised and relaxed the boxer with a quick yet gentle squeeze of his large shoulders, but that isn't what surprised Basil the most. What caused Basil's blue eyes to widen was when Reborn stepped forward, ruffled the burnt hazelnut hair and allowed Tsuna to rest his forehead against Reborn's chest. Reborn leant his face down and seemed to whisper into Tsuna's ears before smiling happily. Basil couldn't believe it. Reborn looked genuinely relived and happy.

On their way over Reborn hadn't been mean or aggressive, but he had been cold and rather distant. Basil was no fool he knew that his presence in Reborn's life was not a blessing and meant only more paperwork and unnecessary fuss with Basil's boss' son. Basil knew that Reborn was not a man who appreciated extra work on top of an already elite, towering work load.

Their ride from the airport was quiet and tense, but only for Basil- though he didn't know that- and the only sounds were those of the other cars on the road, not that there were too many on a Sunday evening. Reborn kept his face shadowed and his mind to himself, and that left Basil rather out of place.

But Basil was fine with that. His job was to come to Japan, help train Decimo –Sawada-Dono- and master has warned him not to get too attached, because CEDEF was still a separate body from Vongola. It was a good way to get to know Tsuna, because Tsuna was the man that Basil would be working with for the rest of his time in CEDEF, and a good working relationship was extremely important if they were going to continue a very successful Vongola, but it was supposed to be a professional relationship; according to Iemitsu. What made it better was that there was not even a year between Tsuna and Basil. Though, the blonde boy would soon learn that the differences between himself and Tsuna were near unbridgeable, and he would never truly understand how sheer their ideas of right and true contrasted, not even if he was suddenly able to see what Tsuna saw.

"Are you alright Tsuna?" Reborn whispered as he ran his hand down Tsuna's neck in a comforting manner.

"Yeah, you startled me is all. I wasn't expecting anyone home yet." Tsuna relaxed at the touch and the rush of warm comfort that stroked the string armour he wore.

Reborn seemed to hum then before continuing his quick massaging of the tense neck. He didn't like how tense and taut his little boss was lately, but until the battles were over he expected that Tsuna wouldn't calm down much.

Basil was shocked and confused, but he didn't outwardly show the kick of jealousy and the strange, out-casted feeling that washed him as he watched Ryohei, Reborn, and Tsuna interact. He couldn't really describe what he was seeing, not yet. He had never seen it before.

Suddenly he was aware that he was being watched, his eyes trailed the gathered men only to be met with a burning, resolute, beautiful set of burnt-amber irises and a face of cool contemplation. As Basil stared, engulfed and stripped away by the eyes, he realised that the boy he knew- or was told about- was not the boy watching him. He was misinformed.

Since Basil was six and began his training under Iemitsu to become CEDEF's next leader he was aware of Tsuna. Basil's boss would always harp on about how adorable and how innocent his little boy was. No one ever saw a picture of Tsuna, or even knew exactly where Iemitsu was from. For the child's protection. But everyone knew every little bit of Tsuna's childhood that Iemitsu knew; which was appallingly little, Basil might add.

Things changed though two years ago when it became apparent that Tsuna may very well have to take over Vongola. Iemitsu's tune changed drastically then and everyone in CEDEF noticed the almost cold sheen to the man's eyes and tone.

"Tsunayoshi is a weak and unstable child. I don't know what Nono is thinking by making him a candidate; especially against Xanxus." Iemitsu would sigh whenever his child came up in conversation. "He was not made for the mafia. He can't even figure out his future without being told, I don't know how he's going to lead an entire famiglia."

Basil took that as truth at face value, even if he had never met the boy Iemitsu spoke of. His master told him it was true, and Tsunayoshi was his master's child. Basil's understanding was that Iemitsu was in constant contact with his wife in regards to their children; Basil was unaware just how disjointed Iemitsu was.

Tsuna wasn't so lost and weak, he was simply laid back; he had motivation, but he was being pulled by a fate that had yet to set into place. Iemitsu, Basil, Nono, even Tsuna himself had been unaware of this and thus Iemitsu was left pathetically out of the loop as Nana laughed about how 'pathetic' and 'troublesome' their son could be; even if her words were joking and filled with laughter.

"Tsuna, Basil is here to help you train. He is going to help me train you in Primo's skills." Reborn's voice was smooth and warm, and for reasons he would never really understand, Basil shivered. Reborn's voice held trust and kindness; a fierce protection saturate the tones and Basil trembled because he heard the threat and the promise in the beautiful melody of words.

Basil once again was under scrutiny, and to his chagrin, to his disgust, he realised he wasn't even being regarded at all. Oh, of course Tsuna watched him, analysing him with those eyes that saw too much and an air of maturity that Basil didn't have yet- and didn't understand why he lacked it. But Reborn and Ryohei, neither man had even spared Basil a glance. To them, who were watching only Tsuna's face, Tsuna's body language, while they listened to Tsuna's voice and felt Tsuna's aura; to them, Basil was nothing more than an outsider who could never be in their fold. He didn't even touch their radar.

It made Basil furious to be looked down on so suddenly.

In CEDEF Basil was looked on with awe and pride. He was the next head and he was praised as a prodigy.

"Good evening, Sawada-dono." Basil smiled warmly, despite his internal wrath "Henceforth I shalt be thy mentor. As thy father besought."

Almost immediately the temperature in the room dropped a few degrees as Tsuna's eyes darkened and a sad kind of smile flicked onto his lips. Ryohei took on a grim frown and his fists tightened, most of the aura seeming to originate from him. Reborn simply pulled down his fedora to hide the depth of his frown, he himself not truly hating Iemitsu but instead his neglectful behaviour.

Basil was struck by a deep sense of sadness as those burning ambers dimmed, but he continued to stare as Tsuna opened his mouth and addressed this new teen in their home.

"I'd like to say that it's nice to meet you, but seeing as Iemitsu sent you I don't think your welcome will be all too warm."Tsuna's eyes were understanding; Basil had done nothing wrong. Though, even he felt a spark of resentment in his chest while looking over the mafia teen.

This was his father's student, after all. This was the child that Iemitsu raised and saw everyday in place of his actual son.

"What dost thou mean?"

Unperturbed by the boy's strange speech patterns, Tsuna's voice was warm but firm. He needed Basil to understand exactly what he was in for while he remained close to them. "In this house it is best not to mention my father, he is taken none too kindly."
"Tsuna is right, Basil." Ryohei cut in, he knew it 'hurt' Tsuna to talk about the man, especially right now. Especially after the latest fiasco. "That man is a traitor in our eyes, and while we won't take that out on you, I know a few of our friends will take none too kindly to you being here; being sent by him."

"Mentioning Iemitsu will make a few of our members seek you out to openly harass you." Reborn finished for Ryohei. Though Basil tried to ignore the fact that the man didn't seem disapproving of that 'harassing' trait in the guardians.

There is no exaggeration in saying the next morning is tense and rather awkward for Basil. Meeting each guardian one after the other had him questioning both the sanity and sheer brilliance of Vongola.

If Vongola knew the true extent of Tsuna and his guardians they were both brilliant and insane; brilliant for choosing him and insane for making him a last resort; brilliant for finding embodiments of Primo and insane for allowing such dangerous people anywhere near a position of power.

The simple fact was: each and every one of Tsuna's guardians threatened physical and no-holds mental harm should Basil overstep his boundaries or be evaluated as loyal only to Iemitsu. Basil learnt quickly that no love was lost over Iemitsu and that each guardian had their own reason for disliking a man they had never personally met.

Takeshi and Hayato had arrived home not an hour after Reborn, and at first they were surprised to find a brooding Ryohei and rather tense Tsuna sitting in their living room drinking coffee, mainly because Tsuna didn't drink too much coffee lately. Too hyped anyway, or something like that.

Hayato had demanded to be let home and Takeshi had helped him; the only reason he had been let out of the hospital by his mentor was with the promise of bed rest. Hayato was determined after all to be the best right hand he could be. Being stuck in the hospital didn't help him towards that end.

"Hayato!" Tsuna's voice held a note of panic hidden in the relief, "Are you sure you should be out of the hospital. What if you open your wounds!?" Tsuna gushed and fussed over Hayato's wrapped body as Takeshi laughed beside the bomber. It was strange to see Hayato with such a red face after all.

Tsuna stood with a relieved smile; he embraced Hayato and Takeshi before stepping back to quickly scan them one last time for injury. But he was already feeling more at peace now that his two best friends were home. The stings mirrored that relief, dancing around each other in warm embraces.

"Hayato, Takeshi, I'd like you to meet Basil, he's –"

"CEDEF." Hayato snarled as he approached Tsuna and recognised the blonde teen rising also.

"How did you..?" Tsuna trailed off as Reborn stepped forward from the gloom.

"I'm glad to see that you kept up with the affairs of the mafia despite your separation from it, I expect nothing less from Vongola's right hand."

Had the situation not been different Hayato would have flushed with pride, but as the case was there was a tension flooding the room as Takeshi understood Hayato's words.

"Isn't CEDEF the outside advisory agency?" Takeshi spoke with slow deliverance, his hand twitched for his sword and Tsuna –and Basil too-could do nothing but marvel.

Tsuna would never say that Takeshi was dangerous, because none of his friend-guardians were a danger to him, but the look that switched out the smile and carefree light in Takeshi's eyes really startled the brunet. For all intensive purposes, and with the twitch in his form, Takeshi looked like a Hitman; he looked exactly like Reborn when he had just received news he didn't like.

"Calm down, sword-freak. This kid is no threat to us. Besides, he's here to make Juudaime even stronger than he is." Hayato placed a stern hand on Takeshi's forearm and the swordsman responded immediately, his cutting glare shifting to a pointed gaze directed at the storm guardian.

Takeshi contemplated the words before relaxing his stance and throwing a carefree smile back onto his face. "Alright, if Haya says you aren't dangerous I'll believe him. But Basil?" Takeshi explained with a flicker of that cutting glare back on his face. "Tsuna is my little brother; you'd better not hurt him."

Hayato watched as Takeshi made his way upstairs with a scowl, "You don't need to worry about that, sword freak, if this punk becomes a problem he'll be gone before you can touch him." As Takeshi turned the corner out of view, Hayato focused his attention to startled blue eyes. "You had better help Juudaime; we can always get a new instructor and Juudaime's strong enough to not need your help. You'd better respect the kindness he's showing you."

With a colourful threat about dynamite and places where there's no sunshine, Hayato too made his way upstairs, he had some research to do.

All in all the meeting had shocked Basil, but he remained quiet and took his seat again as Tsuna motioned to restart their previous conversation. As Basil sipped at the coffee he watched around the mug's rim as Tsuna rubbed the bridge of his nose. He looked exasperated, but a large, proud grin was also worn unashamedly on his face as he looked up to Reborn.

"I have some awfully paranoid friends don't I, Reborn?"

"You have a protective family, Dame-Tsuna."

Basil wouldn't meet Lambo, I-pin, or Fuuta until much later. Tsuna ensured that the teen wasn't around when the children visited, and it was only at Takeshi's battle that he finally saw them. But the truth of the matter was that Tsuna wasn't prepared to explain to them exactly what it was their father had decided was more important than them. Tsuna was still trying to get them used to the idea of all the guardians loving and caring for them; he didn't have the heart to tell them that Iemitsu had abandoned them for the mafia- the very thing hurting them and their Tsuna-nii.

Tsuna smiled softly as Kyouya entered the living room later the same day. "Kyouya, I would like you to meet Basil, from today onwards he is going to be my training partner." Kyouya was calm and had a satisfied atmosphere to him as he entered the home, so Tsuna was sure that the meeting would not end in bloodshed. Or he hoped it wouldn't. "Basil, this is my cloud guardian, Hibari Kyouya."

"Good evening, Hibari-dono. It is a pleasure to meet thou." Basil bowed politely and watched and cold steel eyes raked his form.

Basil was once again astounded by the sheer intelligence and raw power in the gaze. He felt not naked but completely vulnerable. He felt like prey before its greatest predator. It was something that sent his fight-or-flight senses mad and for once, Basil wanted flight.

"Why was he sent?" Kyouya's voice was stern and smooth, his eyes switching from hard steel doors, to open comforting walls as they slid over to Tsuna.

He was disappointed when the brunet looked at the floor with heavy shoulders.

"Omnivore, why was this boy sent here?"

"He is the next head of CEDEF. He was sent by my father."

Almost immediately Basil was flipping and dodging as steel tonfas and an aura as sharp and oppressive as some of CEDEF's most seasoned interrogators crashed down and chased him. Basil was glad that his reflexes were so sharp, or else he would have been in serious trouble. That didn't change the fact, however that he had been taken by surprise in an unfamiliar place, because soon enough he was halfway up a wall held with rough spikes shoved into his shoulders in the form of tonfas.

"So the invertebrate sent you?" Kyouya hissed, "Why doesn't the bastard come train his own god-damned son instead of sending this pathetic herbivore?"

"Hibari-dono, what hast you so upset?!" Panic was rising in Basil's eyes as the blunt objects pressed into his shoulders roughly. Without anything else to do, Basil was forced to stare into raging steel eyes.

"Listen closely, Herbivore, I will tell you this once. Namimori is under my jurisdiction, if I catch you disturbing the peace for even a second don't think that I won't bite you to death. The herbivores living in Namimori also fall under my control, this house and these residents especially. Keep yourself in line and learn your mistake, useless herbivore. Kami korosu."

With that Kyouya was walking out the door. The only sign of comfort he gave to Tsuna was a quick, gentle embrace of his shoulder before he was making his way back to the Disciplinary Committee meeting room to recruit more people for Vongola's rising police force. Vigilante Vongola was well on its way to forming.

Though only Tsuna would truly understand any of the guardians' rage, he knew why they were angered by Iemitsu's actions. Or closer to the truth was his lack of actions. It was his and Nana's twenty-five year wedding anniversary last week and the fool of a man had not even bothered to phone his wife. He didn't even send a gift; but that didn't aggravate anyone but Tsuna, Hayato and Takeshi –all three boys having accepted Nana as a mother to them. No, some of the more violent guardians' fury stemmed from an incident that happened just after the lightning battle and before the storm.

Tsuna had been out with Hayato and Takeshi with the children. The five of them had gone out to get ice-cream and Takeshi has stopped by his house to pick up sushi for all the guardians to share- courtesy of Takeshi's father, though he had never met any of the people who were going to eat his food. On their way back they had been attacked by an enemy assassin. The man got a lucky shot at Tsuna, nicking his arm with a small blade before Takeshi and Hayato has him subdued. Lambo and I-pin had been traumatised; they and Fuuta still hadn't left Tsuna's side since the incident.

Reborn has dealt with the assassin brutally, and the man was disposed of before Tsuna could or could not make a decision for himself. 'Someone attacking my student has to answer to me, Dame-Tsuna.'

When Tsuna had phoned CEDEF to contact his father and demand a check be put out and protection provided for the children if not his guardians, Tsuna was greeted with the stern, tired voice of Iemitsu's head of secretary, Oregano.

"Signor Sawada told me to inform you that he doesn't have the time to deal with your matters. He asks that you find a way to deal with it yourself. I'm sorry, young master Tsunayoshi."

Mukuro was the last to meet Basil, and probably with good reason. He had immediately walked in and put up his guard. Chrome was hidden behind him until she was close enough to Tsuna to draw him and Mukuro close, hiding herself behind both of their shoulders.

Chrome did this not out of fear or weakness, but out of comfort; Chrome was self-conscious of her power and could act between when no one was looking directly at her. It was her major weakness but all the guardians were slowly learning to cover up for each other's little faults.

Upon learning exactly who and what Basil was Mukuro didn't hesitate to threaten bodily harm to the boy should he go near anyone in the house- though his words were 'I will impale you and show you the true depths of seven hells if you lay one finger on my dearest Chrome or Tsunayoshi'; Tsuna knew it extended to most of the family also.

"Mukuro, don't harass him." Tsuna asked quietly. He didn't really dislike the teen; he was kind and relatively naive all things considered. He had a good heart; Mukuro was out of line for manipulating him so.

"I feel no love for boy who can't see the truth." Mukuro sneered as Basil's wide eyes. The blue hues were focused painfully on the trident that had stopped dangerously close to his neck.

"Tsuna, you're going to hurt." Chrome whispered. She approached her boss and wove her arms around his waist, hoping to be as comforting to him as he was to her.

"But it needs to be done." Tsuna elaborated, and he withered a little when Mukuro sent him a tired, angry, helpless look. Mukuro only wanted Tsuna safe. For only him and Chrome.

"Why do this for the Mafia; for the bastard that abandoned you?"
"I do it for you, Mukuro, for you and Chrome and everyone else. The mafia can burn for all I care."

Mukuro's expression twisted dangerously then, a hint of the insanity of being reincarnated six times making itself known on his thin lips and arched eyebrows. He leant into Tsuna, pressing his body close and bringing his lips to Tsuna's ear. "That, my dear Tsunayoshi, can be easily arranged."

Then, moving as if the threat was never speaking, Mukuro presented his hand to Chrome and walked off towards the place they had decided to meet up with Ken and Chikusa for some more combat training. The two were still rather susceptible to illusions, and Mukuro would not tolerate a weak link. Just before she left Chrome pressed a gentle kiss to Tsuna's cheek with one last squeeze around his waist.

"I guess we should get to training then." Tsuna sighed, knowing that the next period of time, while Basil was with them would be tense. "Where are we going?"

"To the dead-zone." Reborn elaborated.
"That area of the forest outside of town with no signal? There's nothing but cliff faces and trees there."

"Perfect."

One thing that Basil would say having spent the better part of a day with Tsuna and his band of over-protective, rather violent Guardians is that he had never seen a stronger display of sheer, powerful trust between another group of people. Not even CEDEF had shown such protective, naturally trust between individuals.

Basil hated to be cliché, but they moved like planets and magnets. Tsuna seemed to be the sun; everything he did caused a movement or reaction in the guardians. Each had their place and knew what their duty was. Tsuna seemed so involved with them. It was, well Basil couldn't figure out how to explain it really, because he was humbled, amazed, and also extremely jealous. This was a family, a true-to-god family and he was not a part of it, may never be a part of it. CEDEF leader or not, Basil was an outsider at this point in time.

"Sawada-Dono." Basil asked as Tsuna rested off to the side of the cliff, "How dost thou do it"?
"What do you mean, Basil?" Tsuna asked between pants, "And please, call me Tsuna."

"How dost thou control such brutal guardians? Not even CEDEF hast such closeness."

Tsuna was contemplative for a moment, mulling over the idea. "Honestly Basil? I don't know; all I know is that I am indebted to and love all of my friends. For them I would gladly cut my own throat if their lives were guaranteed."

After another moment of silence Tsuna elaborated and had Basil questioning everything his master had told him about famiglia, and about Tsuna.

"Can my father say the same about CEDEF? Can you?"

Tsuna was not a fool. Not anymore. He was aware of what his father was doing behind his and his mother's back. Tsuna was not happy in the least about being lied to. He wasn't happy about the danger they were put under and he wasn't happy about the selfishness his father displayed in his actions.

The one action that Tsuna was furious about, the one that sent him punching walls and cussing out was his father's decision to take on Basil. Basil, Tsuna knew, was the son Iemitsu had denied himself. Basil was Tsuna's mafia replacement. Someone Iemitsu could care for while still being suitable apart from.

Tsuna also felt pity for Basil; the boy had been taught a strange way of speaking and had been lied to, even if the lie wasn't intentional. But really, how was Iemitsu suppose to tell Basil about Tsuna when the man was never in Tsuna's life to begin with?

Tsuna was determined to get Basil back on track, because Basil was being raised as CEDEF head, and Tsuna could not afford to have an outside advisor that he didn't trust. Iemitsu would immediately be fired from his position. Tsuna would ensure that.

Maybe Tsuna was being vengeful and cruel. But he had enough of this entire charade that his father was putting up. Not once, not a single fucking time had Iemitsu even phoned since Reborn's arrival. He didn't come to seek forgiveness or make sure Tsuna was alright. He hadn't phoned to see how Fuuta, Lambo or I-pin were doing, and still hadn't acknowledged the assassins that were after Tsuna and his guardians. That to Tsuna was the final straw. Iemitsu couldn't find a way back into his heart now. Not after the pain he had made his children go through.

Tsuna stood straight and looked up to the sky, his chest was still heaving but his face was grimacing. Basil stopped his assault for a moment to watch the boss. The boy was sweating and bruised, his clothes were scorched here and there and he was still flickering with the remnants of HDW flames. Though Basil couldn't see it, Tsuna was surrounded by a myriad of strings all glowing with their latest blast of power; each string was wrapped and draped lazily around him, neither were they tight nor loose, interacting and waving in the non-existent air, all in all giving Tsuna an ethereal image of a god, and maybe it was rather ethereal, because who but those who could see the string would believe they existed?

Just as Basil was about to move forward and voice his concerns over Tsuna's posture, Hayato and Takeshi stepped up to their friend with frowns and gentle smiles respectively. Hayato gripped Tsuna's shoulder and started kneading the tense joint, humming when he felt the tension. Takeshi leant on the opposite shoulder and ruffled Tsuna's damp hair in a comforting manner. What Basil realised was that both were creating a barrier of protection that looked to be near impenetrable.

"Juudaime, you don't need to feel guilty over that bastard." Hayato hummed, he had been calling Tsuna Juudaime increasingly more often, and Tsuna just accepted it as a pet name now.

"He may have left to protect you, Tsuna, but he made a bad choice." Takeshi leant more heavily onto Tsuna, knowing the boy needed physical as well as verbal comfort.

"But he's my father... he tried to keep the mafia away, and did for the most part." Tsuna tried to argue, but he wasn't arguing his heart, he was arguing his head. Playing devil's advocate even when it wasn't needed. "But he's hurt us all so much." Tsuna's face crumpled again, and this time he bowed his head in resignation. He could not validate Iemitsu's actions. Especially not his latest ones.

Basil stood awed and completely out of place as he watched the interaction. Basil knew from experience that bosses needed to be strong, immovable walls; they were the measure of excellence for their subordinates and were the face of the famiglia. Tsuna-dono was not that standard. Basil found his deep psyche churning uncomfortably when he imagined Tsuna as his boss one day. Yet, Basil was obviously missing something.

"That is a family, Basil." Reborn stepped out of the shadow of the trees surrounding the practice ground; he approached Basil and ruffled the boy's hair. "This is what you've been missing out on in CEDEF."

"But Reborn-dono, I dost not understand. How dost Tsunayoshi-dono control his subordinates with such a constitution. Surely it hath no value."

Reborn looks on with a pitying look, Basil had the pride to bristle at the look. It has been a very long time since someone has pitied him. Coming from Reborn it's even worse, because the man looks practically grieving that Basil didn't understand.

"Basil, how do you feel when your boss sends out missions of execution with no regret or hesitation?" Reborn asked. He flicked his fedora upwards, trying to convey what he now understood about pride, assurance and humility. Things he lost as a Hitman and gained as Tsuna's mentor.

"I feel assured that I am being guided correctly." Basil spoke strongly with no hesitation.

"And that time that Iemitsu send information that lead to the slaughter of an entire family before realising that he was wrong? How did you feel when he showed no regret and just moved on? You know how many people died; you saw the photos and read the reports." Reborn continued. "You know he ordered the execution of all the orphans even after he realised his mistake. How did you feel then, having learnt that?"

Basil fell silent for a moment, because he didn't know what he felt. His boss had made a mistake, one that few people in the mafia would call him wrong for. There was evidence that the famiglia was a danger- or had been to others- so in one form or another Iemitsu had been correct in his orders.

"It was an honest mistake and had he crumbled I would have lost faith in him. A leader must stick to his decisions."

Reborn had a resigned, grieving look in his eyes as he watched the boy. He could see the turmoil flickering in his eyes. Even one day with Tsuna had the teen questioning everything he had learnt. There was just something about Tsuna that had everyone questioning themselves and their virtue. Tsuna was the sky of change.

"Can a leader with no regrets learn from his mistakes, Basil? Can you tell me honestly that Iemitsu has ever learnt from his mistakes?"

But Basil did not answer. He opened his mouth to defend his Master, having had to try and do so all throughout his visit, but he found his throat closed and his words lost. He could not answer.

Reborn could see it and could only sigh in return.

As Reborn ruffled his hair again and walked towards Tsuna, Basil was once again left questioning everything he had learnt about family, because he knew Reborn. When Basil was young he met Reborn and was immediately aware that the man was out of his league.

There was something about Reborn that would never be attainable by Basil and he left it at that. The Reborn he knew was cold, calculative and would bow to no one. Not even Timoteo. This Reborn was different.

This Reborn was warm, caring, and incomprehensibly loyal to Tsuna. Reborn approached Tsuna and rubbed quick, comforting circles on his back, showing his support and understanding, he whispered quickly into Tsuna's ears and smiled when the brunet sighed and nodded, instantly relieved. Basil could see it, as an outsider he could see the bow in Reborn's back when he was with Tsuna. He saw the sheer drive to improve and protect Tsuna, and the people around the brunet.

Basil was left wondering, not for the first time, just exactly how powerful and what ability Tsuna had to change everyone around him so much.

"Are we done for the day, Basil?"

Basil turned to the softness in the voice. It wasn't so biting as it was on that first day, slowly- or so Basil hoped- he was beginning to find a place in this 'family'. While his deep psyche- the part of him that Iemitsu trained- churned uncomfortably, feeling unsafe with such a 'weak' boss, another part of him hoped with all his might that he would find a place within the family, even if only on the outskirts.

Basil didn't want to be an outsider anymore.

"Of course, Tsunayoshi-dono. Go home and get some rest."

Basil decided, he would watch Tsuna and decide for himself the worthiness of the boy. He had been shown by example just how powerful Tsunayoshi really was, he had gathered and tethered violent, preciously and currently dangerous people to him and they all seemed… happy. Basil wanted that, and if watching them and stepping away from his master was what he had to do, then Basil would do just that. The man, he would realise later, was already losing his respect and his control over Basil even as the sun set on Basil's second day with Tsuna.

"You don't need to call me –dono Basil. Just Tsuna is fine."

Everyone was gathered in the living room eating the take-out they had ordered in for dinner. No one really felt like eating and they wanted to be close and comfortable that evening. So Tsuna was leaning against the middle of the largest couch and everyone else was pressed against him here to there. The children were sitting against or in his lap with their dinner on the coffee table so that they didn't spill it. It was comfortable, warm and everyone was as calm as they could be given that tomorrow was Takeshi's battle.

Tsuna was thinking over his training, his mind thought over the first instance where he successfully acquired Zero-point breakthrough and he was still queasy from the violent reaction Xanxus' string had displayed. Such violence could only mean that Xanxus had faced such a technique before and it had obviously done some terrible things to him and his fate. It wasn't just violence either, Tsuna knew that Xanxus would do anything not to have to face this new technique, because even being near one who could perform it had sent Xanxus' string writhing in pure, concentrated terror that was still settled in Tsuna's belly. It made him practically green to imagine what exactly happened for Xanxus to react so harshly, and as to what kind of monster could have made a child go through that; Xanxus was close in age to Tsuna, and that terror felt grown into the man, not one that was suddenly placed on top.

There was a deep burn in his eyes when he imagined what the look on Xanxus' face would be when the string reacted so viciously, the man wouldn't understand, wouldn't be able to see the danger, but he would certainly feel the crushing tug as the string rippled back to him, trying to distance itself from Tsuna despite being tethered to him. With gentle hands Tsuna gathered the crisp-orange-red string in his hands and tried to soothe it. It was his fault it was so unease after all. As his nimble fingers ran over the string –he would say apologetically, and it felt right to apologise- Tsuna noticed a difference in texture. The string was not smooth like the threads of his friends and the reds that laced his world together, this string was scorched and rough.

He brought the string to his face out of curiosity, his breathe brushed across the string and it expanded a little, as it did, the rushing warmth running towards its owner, Tsuna noticed the melted, scorched, torn and singed pattern. It was painful to see, it wasn't right. The string looked marred and unclean. Tsuna thought that every string was beautiful, but this string was just so sad and lost and he hated to know that whatever had happened to Xanxus in the past had scarred not only him, but also his fate in an irreparable way. It pained Tsuna's soul to think that he may have been able to save this fate had things progressed sooner. Though, he was determined to make a new one to surround and sooth the damaged string. He owed it to the man really, for Tsuna saw something in Xanxus' movements and his eyes that called for help while he pushed and shoved and killed off any potential saviours.

So here it is! The next chapter of KTTSTB. I don't really like this chapter, it feels somewhat disjointed, but I wanted to show a little character progression and also throw Basil into the mix... I think I had too much fun with Basil though and I feel he is far to OoC and probably rather flat... sorry if I've ruined Basil's image for anyone...

Please review, I really appreciate it!

Thank you for reading, I love you all.

~~Bleach-ed-Na-tsu :3