Chapter 4

The change on the baby's face was barely noticeable. "Canepa?"

Tsuna thought about casting an illusion and waltz out the room with no worries, but who knew what this baby would do to Jun? No matter how he thought about it, somewhere deep in his guts, he knew that the baby might actually injure the boy. He sighed internally. Why couldn't he just stay at Vendice for the rest of his life and play with unicorns or some other shit? Hell, he would even listen to M.M.'s mindless ramblings on how to pick the right shoes and how to match it with a dress or something.

"I don't like repeating myself," he said finally, keeping his face blank. He thought that he was pretty good at it, courtesy to his Mama, but he couldn't help but think that the baby could see right through him.

"Are you related to the Alegri Famiglia?"

Tsuna blinked. "Alegri Famiglia?"

Jun widened his eyes and tried to come in-between them. "Um, guys, let's just break it off, okay? Reborn, just leave him alone. He's only a friend, a friend."

His desperate words fell on deaf ears. Tsuna reacted quickly when he saw Reborn pull the trigger. He melted the bullet into ashes again, his arm protectively in front of Jun who flinched.

He narrowed his eyes. "I don't know who the hell you are but I suggest you go back to where you came from. I won't hesitate to kill you."

Jun gripped his arm. "W-what? No, Tsuna, you can't kill Reborn." He coughed into his arm, releasing his grip on the brunette.

"You can't kill me," Reborn said.

Actually, Tsuna unconsciously knew that he wouldn't be able to kill the baby, much less hit him. It didn't really concern with the fact that he was a baby, it was more on feeling. It was an annoying yet, strangely, real feeling, a foreboding of some sorts.

"I might as well try," he said.

"Then - "

Someone knocked on the door. Reborn's gun instantly morphed into a green chameleon, which crawled onto the baby's shoulder. Tsuna blinked. It wasn't an illusion. It looked legit, and Tsuna was instantly alert.

"Jun, I brought some snacks," Jun's mother said. "Is Reborn-kun inside?"

Jun coughed awkwardly on the back of his hand, his eyes trained on Reborn who gazed impassively at Tsuna. "Please, come in." There was a desperate tinge in his raspy voice as his mother walked inside, holding a small tray in her hands.

She smiled, placing it on Jun's table. "My, it seems like you're having fun. What is your name?"

"Canepa Tsunayoshi, but I prefer Tsuna." His response was polite and a bit forced.

"Hello, Tsuna-kun," Jun's mother said with a smile. "Jun, are you feeling better? You forgot to take your medicine. Here."

She handed him a cup of warm tea, which the boy took gladly. Tsuna bowed his head, causing the woman to blink in surprise.

"I apologize, Sawada-san, but may I bring Jun out for lunch?"

It was better than being in the presence of that little brat. He saw something dangerous flash in Reborn's eyes, but he brushed it off.

Jun's mother gazed at him in wonder before chuckling softly into her hand. "Already? Maa, you boys grow up so fast. Why didn't you tell me, Jun?"

Jun blushed and waved his hands frantically in front of him. "Okaa-san, it's not what you think! We're friends, just friends!"

He coughed into his arm and blew his nose with a tissue. He sniffed, fixing his glasses. "Besides, I'm sick. I can't go, Tsuna. I'm sorry." Then he smiled in a reassuring manner. "I'll be fine, Tsuna. You don't need to worry about me."

Tsuna pursued his lips into a thin line disapprovingly. "But - "

"He's a big boy, Canepa," Reborn piped up, munching on a cookie. "He can take care of himself."

Tsuna glared at the baby, daring him to do anything under his watch. Out of frustration, he walked out, casting an illusion of himself behind him to give them the impression of him politely taking leave.

He walked out the door after slipping his shoes on and walked down the streets to the shopping center. He still had to buy some groceries - and avoid a certain baby stalker on his trail.

Well, at least, he wasn't hanging on Jun.

The supermarket was cold as fuck. Tsuna rubbed his arms to keep warm, looking through the meat aisle. What did his mother want again? Pig? Cow? Both? They all looked the same to him from the way they were displayed, all red and...the same. He thought that cow meat would be black and white, but even he found that thought incredibly stupid. Blood was red and most living things had blood so...forget it. He wasn't gonna go through with this.

"The one to your right."

Tsuna jumped and turned around to see Reborn sitting in his shopping cart. His outfit was...interesting. Instead of wearing a black suit and his hat, he wore a blue shirt and black shorts with a pair of sneakers. He wasn't going to ask.

So he ignored him, snatching a small pack of meat...to his right. He threw it carelessly in another empty cart and rolled it away, his eyes twitching in irritation.

At least, he didn't put anything else in the other cart.

"The produce section is the other way, Dame-Tsuna."

Tsuna restrained a curse, looking down to see the baby in front of him, sitting in the child seat as if he never moved. It wasn't an illusion...

Reborn slightly smirked. "Of course not. I'm the greatest hitman in the world. I don't need illusions for such petty things when I'm already strong myself."

"What do you want?" Tsuna muttered, turning the cart around. His eyes narrowed. "You didn't hurt Jun, right?"

"He's not worth my time," Reborn said, his eyes blank.

Tsuna glared, warningly.

"Meaning I didn't hit him."

Tsuna saw a great array of colorful food coming in his vision, mostly green. He looked at the list his mother gave him and crossed off pig meat. Oh. The next few lines were mostly vegetables. Carrots, lettuce, peppers, and so on. He blanched as he mindlessly wheeled through the aisle.

In Vendice, they weren't allowed to actually make contact with the outside world or be informed of the variety of things developing outside. Despite him and his mother being somewhat of a favorite to Bermuda and Jager, they were still neutral with all of the prisoners. His mother tried hard to teach him the many things he was missing about the outside world. It was difficult, though, without any visuals of some sort and his mother couldn't create illusions like him. She could only heal.

"Dame-Tsuna," Reborn said, "do you even know half of what you're trying to buy?"

Tsuna scowled a bit, slightly embarrassed. "You can leave, you know. The door is right there."

"You can't tell me what to do."

"I don't care," Tsuna snapped. "This is extremely abnormal. By now, you'd be considered a stalker."

Some shoppers started go stare at him, but he focused his attention on Reborn's blank eyes. The baby's gaze didn't falter.

"I will not hesitate to kill Jun."

Those words caused Tsuna to flinch and glare heatedly at the baby. Before he could say anything, he heard, "Tsu-kun?"

He turned around to see his mother running towards him with a frantic look in her eyes. She sighed in relief once she came towards him, placing both hands over her chest.

"Youkatta," she said. "I thought you got lost since you were taking too long. I called you several times and you never answered. Are you having any trouble?"

Tsuna looked back at his shopping cart. The child seat was empty. He saw his mother tense slightly, but managed to keep calm and relaxed. Reborn wasn't completely gone. He knew that the baby was probably observing them from the shadows.

So, trying to distract themselves, he held up the list sheepishly. "Okaa-san, could you help me? I can't tell the difference between a carrot or a lettuce."

A gentle almost sad smile broke out on his mother's face. "Of course, Tsu-kun. Follow Mama. Don't get lost." She ended in a teasing tone, giggling to see Tsuna blush in embarrassment.

He couldn't help but smile lightly though. Despite their shortcomings, he still loved his mother deeply. They only had each other and were quite content with it. His mother's care was also the reason why he didn't think much of his father. The man was shrouded in mystery but he didn't care. His father wasn't even involved in his life and that didn't give him a reason to love or hate him; and his mother wasn't all that keen on talking about him so that was another thing.

"This is a carrot, Tsu-kun," his mother said suddenly, snapping him out of his thoughts. She held a long orange food in her hands. "This is good for your eyes and..."

Tsuna let her ramble on about the many functions and uses of the vegetables. He was a little bit busy with keeping themselves from Reborn's sight.

While they were walking home, Tsuna noticed his mother taking a small detour from the direction of their apartment. He didn't question it until she took out a gun from her waist and turned around, holding it like it was some sort of second skin.

"Okaa-san?" he said, his eyes slightly wide. He knew of her former occupation, although only a bit disturbing, he accepted it quite openly. His mother was still his mother, no matter what she did.

"I know you're there," his mother said, her voice hard and cold. "I won't hesitate to shoot."

There was no answer. She pulled the trigger at a tree, her stance never changing. How she even had that gun with her was beyond him.

Reborn hopped down the tree, unscathed and in his original attire; although, Tsuna saw a faint trickle of blood on his cheek where the bullet must have grazed him.

The baby's eyes hardened, his chameleon transforming into a gun. "You are Canepa Nana, am I right?"

His mother narrowed her eyes. "Reborn, the Sun Arcobaleno."

Arcobaleno? Didn't that mean 'rainbow'? Sun wasn't a color unless it - He shook his head. Focus.

"You were taken to Vendicare fourteen years ago," Reborn said. "How did you manage to be free from what you did?"

Nana smiled bitterly. "That's none of your business. If you're here then that means the old man must've already chosen."

Curiosity piqued Tsuna's interest. What did she mean? Reborn tipped his hat with his gun. "I don't take lightly when someone insults Nono, especially in my presence."

"You're outdated," Nana said simply before shooting him again.

Tsuna blinked as Reborn swiftly dodged the bullets and appeared in front of Nana, getting ready to kick.

He was about to create an illusion until he felt someone grab him from behind. He struggled in the person's hold as he was dragged into an alleyway.

"Tsuna!" Nana said, a dangerous glint in her eyes.

Reborn took the opportunity to kick her swiftly in the stomach. Tsuna formed an illusion of himself in the person's arms and ran to his mother's side.

"Okaa-san!" He knelt down next to her and helped her up. He glared at Reborn, making a scythe appear in his hand. "I will kill you!"

"Nana!"

His mother tensed as her face became ugly in spite. "Iemitsu..." She breathed the name out with venom.

Jun's father stood there, Tsuna's illusion fading away. The man pursued his lips in a thin line. "Nana."

"Do not say my name so casually, Sawada," Nana said, aiming her gun at his chest. She suddenly pushed Tsuna to the side and flipped backwards to avoid a bullet from Reborn.

Tsuna used his blade as leverage, balancing on the handle of his scythe efficiently, before landing on his feet.

"Nana, please listen to me," Iemitsu said pleadingly.

His mother looked strange. Her eyes were empowered by great fury and hate and it terrified Tsuna. Who was this man? What did he do to elicit so much hate?

"Just one question," the man said, raising his hands. He glanced at Tsuna and the brunette suddenly stiffened. No, could it be...? Was this man...his...?

Nana laughed bitterly as her grip tightened around her gun. "Do you really think he would be related to you? You're full of filth."

Tsuna slammed the ground with the butt of his scythe, the ground cracking open. It split, revealing lava underneath. Reborn hopped away, holding onto the branch of a tree, while Iemitsu took a step back, a piece of the ground he stepped on crumbling into pieces. Nana smirked coldly, raising her gun and fixing it at his chest.

"This is for Ayame, you bastard!"

She was about to pull the trigger but Reborn jumped towards her, aiming a kick at her head. Tsuna quickly intercepted him by creating a pillar of lava come in between them. Reborn used the momentum to turn to the side, avoiding the hot red liquid. He landed on the ground and ran towards him.

Tsuna used his scythe to block a sidekick, grunting slightly from the sheer strength of the baby.

"Don't worry," Reborn said lowly. "I'm not even using ten percent of my strength."

Tsuna flung him to the side and created a small black hole that start to suck Reborn in when he heard a shriek.

"Okaa-san!" he said, looking for his mother in the chaotic scene. His scythe disappeared as he ran towards his mother who was choking Iemitsu with her hands.

"Do you know how much Ayame suffered because of you?" Nana said, placing more pressure on the man's throat. "Because of you she couldn't lead a normal life anymore. Because of you she died!"

Iemitsu desperately tried to fling her off but she stayed strong. Tsuna took a hold of her arm and pulled her gently, his eyes wide.

"Okaa-san," he said, almost desperately, "let's just go home."

Nana stiffened and turned her head to face him slowly. "Tsu-kun?"

Realization dawned on her features and her fingers loosened around Iemitsu's neck. "That's right. Home. We have to go home, Tsu-kun."

She stood up shakily and picked up her gun, placing it back listlessly around her waist, covering it with her jacket. She walked numbly to the dropped groceries, her eyes in a small daze, far away.

Tsuna looked down at Iemitsu. "Why did you grab me?"

The man massaged his throat with a wince. "I wanted to know the truth."

Tsuna glared. "I don't want to see you ever again. If I see you pull another shit like this again, I won't hesitate to kill you or Reborn."

The baby was by Iemitsu's side, his eyes hidden under the brim of his fedora. "You can't order us around, Dame-Tsuna."

Iemitsu raised his hand to silence him, ignoring the piercing gaze from the baby. "I apologize. Tsuna, right?"

"Don't come near my mother ever again," were the brunette's last words before he quickly caught up with Nana.

"Tsu-kun, Mama is very tired," Nana said as she lied down on the couch, the back of her hand placed on her forehead. "There's some leftovers in the fridge. Heat it up and eat, okay?"

Tsuna shook his head. "I'm not hungry." He dabbed her face with a wet towel to wipe away the dirt.

"Tsuna."

He didn't say anything. Nana sighed wearily, her eyes fluttering slowly. "I'm sorry, Tsuna. I...overreacted."

Normally, he wouldn't ask questions or pry, but he had to know. Who was Sawada Iemitsu? What was his connection to his mother? What was he talking about when he said he wanted the truth? Most importantly, who was Ayame? And what was it? The Alegri Famiglia?

Before he knew it, it slipped from his lips. "What's the Alegri Famiglia?"

His mother bolted upright, her eyes wide as she looked at Tsuna's blank face. "How did you know?"

He couldn't really lie to her. "I heard it from that baby."

Nana scowled. "Bastard can't keep his business to himself."

Tsuna blinked. Now that he thought about it, his mother rarely cursed unless she was at her limit, which was pretty rare since she was cheerful most of the time.

"Forget it, Tsuna," she said. "You don't need to know."

Tsuna furrowed his brows in frustration. "You can't keep me from the world like this, Okaa-san."

"This is for your protection, Tsuna!"

"How am I supposed to know anything if you won't even tell me what you're protecting me from?"

"Because I can't! I just can't."

"Okaa-san, please, tell me. I promise I won't do anything stupid or - "

"No is no and that's final!"

Their voices were rising and possibly shook the whole apartment. They were standing now, shouting at one another.

"Why don't you trust me? All my life I've been sheltered from this world and I don't know shit about anything! It took me weeks to use a cell phone the right way!"

"Don't you dare curse in this house or use that tone against me, Canepa Tsunayoshi. Your cell phone has nothing to do with this and I promised that I would teach you all these things before I get a job."

"Then just tell me," Tsuna said in a pleading tone. "Tell me what's going on. Who is that man? What is the Alegri Famiglia? Who is Ayame? Just what the hell is going on?"

"I told you, Tsuna, it's nothing to worry about!"

"Well, I might as well be worried about it since it concerns me one way or another!"

"It doesn't concern you!"

Nana's eyes were ablaze in frustration and anger, but Tsuna ignored it, pressing her on. "From the way I see it, it does concern me. That man even asked about me and - "

"You're not my son!"

Those words rang in his ears as he blinked, trying to register what she just said. He...wasn't...her son?

Nana placed her face in her hands as she fell backwards onto the couch. "You're not my son."

Tsuna stared at her, wide-eyed. "What...?"

His mother didn't say anything as she ran her hands through her hair, staring at the ground. "Ayame...was my older sister. She - She is your real mother."

This wasn't going through his head properly. He wasn't her son. He wasn't her son. He wasn't her son. He took a step back, dropping the towel to the ground. His eyes looked at her in confusion and disbelief.

He attempted to smile. "You're joking, right? It's not even...April."

Something in his guts told him that it was indefinitely true - and it hurt. His chest ached and he was getting light-headed. The silence only confirmed it.

"I'm not, Tsuna," Nana said quietly. "I'm sorry..."

He shook his head. This was all a lie. It was just a bad illusion. Yeah, only a terrible illusion. But he sensed nothing.

"It's real, Tsuna." Nana stood up, her eyes close to tears. Such broken eyes. "Please, Tsuna, let me explain."

She reached out to him but he smacked her hands away, his eyes growing fierce. "Don't touch me."

The tears fell and he looked away to avoid the sight of his mo - No, this woman. He ran towards the door and dashed into the halls, bumping into a someone.

"Tsuna," he heard behind him.

He ignored it as he ran out into the dark streets, the street lamps being his only light on the dark path. He didn't turn back once.

"Ayame...was my older sister. She - She is your real mother."

He stopped in a small forest, leaning on a tree while panting heavily. He didn't know how far he ran, he didn't know why he stopped. He just wanted to get away, to leave this terrible world.

All he could do was scream into the darkness that surrounded him and seemed to swallow him whole.

A/N Not really a clear background about Tsuna and Nana's past, but it'll be cleared in the next chapter. I decided to give a bit of insight rather than dump everything on to you, guys. ^^

Never expected that though, did you? XD

I apologize for any inconsistency, but since it's Memorial Day weekend over where I am, I'll probably have more time to write and look over what I wrote! ^^

Thank you for the reviews and favorites! Much love, much love! 3

Review Reply to Guest: Nana's hatred is briefly mentioned here and the mentioning of her sister will be a bit of a hint as to why she hates him. And, yes, Teiji is gay for Hibari. XD Personally, I think Kyoko is an extremely bland character. More like a cardboard cutout actually so I don't really see why the students would have a crush on her. She's just...pretty (and I don't think she's pretty, haha). I apologize Kyoko fans. TT^TT Besides, Teiji is pretty much outgoing and not afraid of what people thinks about him (except for Hibari). XD

Thank you for reading! Please leave a review if you can!

See you in the next chapter.