Summary: Read above

Beta: momorona

Rating: T might change to M in later chapters

Disclaimer: Only the plot of this is my idea

CHAPTER 4

At the last spoonful, rather than eating it obediently, little Tsuna shook his fluffy brown head and made disgruntled gurgling. Instead, he pushed the spoon up towards Reborn with a hopeful look and a cheery 'Da'. It appeared that the toddler was trying to indicate that Reborn should eat it too. Seeing that the man had been feeding him the entire time, it made the young brunet want to do the same. It should be fair, right? He wanted to have a go too!

"Da!" A determined look.

"…"

Reborn merely stared back down with a passive gaze. Was the brat even serious? He could clearly see a small frown starting to show up upon Tsuna's brow together with a little pout. That cheery smile wouldn't last for long. Any minute now and the waterworks would start. Was he even given a choice to decline? No. There was no way he would want a repeat performance from earlier when Reborn tried to carry him. He sighed through his nose, allowing the spoon to slip past his parted lips just as Tsuna cheered happily, his tiny hands clapped together in sheer delight. Seeing his young charge's happiness from such a simple deed made the hitman wonder if he was starting to go soft from trying to avoid the other form crying.

Him, going soft? Nah.

It was laughable enough as it was if the rest of the former Arcobaleno were to hear of this. Many had feared him due to his well-known reputation as the number one Hitman. So if one were to hear of him going soft all because of a toddler, they would find it impossible to believe. Even he knew that. Reborn mentally told himself that he just wanted to avoid the same mistake. Nothing more, nothing less.

With breakfast done, dirty dishes sitting on the dinner table, and a well-fed toddler bouncing energetically on his lap, Reborn wondered how he was going to investigate the place further. He doubted leaving a bundle of energy alone would allow him to start on anything, knowing how clumsy Tsuna would be. Furthermore, the toddler would put anything reachable straight into that mouth of his. Reborn had already witnessed that first hand and had stopped the young brunet just in time, each time. It would also be questionable to leave a toddler locked up in a room alone. He hadn't checked every corner in this house yet. So that would most likely be out of the option. Who knew what would be hidden, ready to be uncovered? It might even be dangerous to a naïve young brunet if Tsuna tried to grab whatever it was in there.

Just thinking about each alternative would end up back to square one. It would lead him to a dead-end whenever Reborn tried to come up with a solution. And he had a hunch that Tsuna wouldn't be able to sit still, seeing how vigorous the toddler was bouncing on his lap. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to carry him around, despite how distracting it could be, but still possible to do his part in this household. And besides, it appeared that Tsuna did not mind the arm around him now that breakfast was over. Was it likely that the brat liked to be carried?

But that was a problem in itself now that Reborn had figure out the solution for the first part. How should he go about it? The hitman tried to rack his brain for anything he could think of on how parents handled their children. Was there a special technique in carrying them? Just how did one go about on something like this? He remembered Iemitsu wouldn't stop blabbering about how cute his son was each time Reborn had come across the man during a meeting with Vongola Nono. Nothing helpful on handling a toddler. Tch. Seriously, there was no point trying to recall further on all Tsuna related conversations he had with the head of CEDEF. But before he could think more on it, the toddler suddenly struggled to turn around, though with difficulty. Reborn watched, wondering what the other was up to.

It didn't take long for Tsuna to be in the position he wanted. So when the young brunet appeared satisfied just by facing the man, he peered up at Reborn, tiny hands already fisting the material of his suit. The sight itself managed to give him an idea.

Maybe, just maybe…

Would it work?

With that same arm around Tsuna's small body, he stood up from his seat. The sudden movement in itself immediately caused the toddler to have his little limbs cling onto the man like a Koala to a tree. Reborn decided to give his new found theory a go, standing there by the dining table and watching quietly for any response from the other. With little adjustments here and there, where Tsuna's butt was supported by his hand, the man was pleased that no crying was involved after five minutes. He could even see Tsuna's large brown orbs glancing around in wonder. With Reborn's great height, the curious toddler was able to see more, fluffy head turning from side to side towards random directions.

This isn't so bad. Seems like I have managed to accomplish something.

Pleased, the hitman strode out of the kitchens with Tsuna.

"Dis?"

A tiny hand stretched out towards the closest object sitting on a beautiful oak bookcase. It was impressive in size, taking up an entire wall and currently filled with dark leather hardcover books as well as some… unusual items placed there. Currently, they were in another room which appeared to be a small study opposite the bedroom he'd found them in. Little Tsuna tilted his fluffy head to the side curiously despite being unable to reach for a questionable object. Reborn had made sure not to allow the toddler to touch anything within reach, no matter how harmless it might appear. Better safe than sorry.

"Yes, this." The hitman corrected his pronunciation, observing closely at it in deep thought. It was currently on the top shelf like a decorative item. But just what was it doing there of all places? "…it's a bar of soap." Every new discovery got weirder and weirder each time.

And why was a bar of scented soap on a bookcase? Then again, there was also the fact that its soap dish was overturned on top of its said counterpart. Was there some meaning to it? It certainly looked odd in itself enough among the dusty thick tomes. And the more Reborn tried to comprehend this, the more he couldn't figure it out. So deep was he into his thoughts that he had just realized that Tsuna had been trying to get his attention.

"-da! Dada!" The hitman didn't even notice that it almost sounded like 'Daddy'.

More constant tugging onto his suit as the same tiny hand tried to reach for something shiny on the second shelf. Reborn's sharp eyes immediately caught sight of what it was and made no move to go nearer.

…this time it's a butter knife?

This was starting to get too confusing, like random puzzles pieces that clearly did not fit into the whole picture. Though Tsuna on the other hand… Anyone could see that the toddler wanted to have it. It seemed this was a first for Reborn to learn that his young charge was quite fascinated with shiny objects. A teaspoon, a tablespoon and now a butter knife? He wouldn't want to think further if it got to the actual cutlery or a fork. Even the hitman knew well enough that those things wouldn't be safe for one who kept putting objects into his mouth. It would be a disaster if Tsuna ended up hurting himself. Then where would Reborn be? He would be tried for neglect as an unfit guardian, most likely, if that were to happen.

"DADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" Tsuna wailed.

"No."

Reborn was firm in his answer, giving the toddler a look that he would not change his mind. But he didn't like it whenever Tsuna got upset. A crying brunet would be too distracting for the hitman to focus on his task. At least, that was what Reborn told himself whenever things got out of hand with the toddler. And as for Tsuna, the sight of those eyes immediately had him cowering, feeling smaller if possible compared to his tiny frame by the hitman's arm. There was also a small, unhappy pout as the young brunet sulked quietly, not looking towards Reborn's way. The hitman peered down at the other for a moment in silence.

At least he's not crying.

Reborn returned his attention to the unusual items on the bookcase, studying the design, arrangement and the area where they were placed at. If the soap and its dish were placed at the top shelf, and the butter knife at the second, then that meant there would be another odd item at the bottom. Reborn crouched down, his sharp onyx eyes observing every single detail at the untidily stacked tomes. They appeared untouched, judging by the way a thick layer of undisturbed dust had settled upon the surface. And further down to the other end of the shelf, he could see more books. But… wait a minute.

Squinting a little as he moved closer, towards the hidden corner of the shelf. There appeared to be some small, unidentifiable objects covered in dust. They looked shrunken, dull in colour, which Reborn wasn't able to tell, and… were they rotten? He continued to stare at the disgusting sight for a moment or two before a thought occurred to him.

Hmm… didn't they look strangely like tomatoes?

So all three shelves had some weird object being placed there. Rotten tomatoes on a bookcase and a plant full of them back in the top cabinet's kitchens. Perhaps there was some link to these? Somehow, right at that moment, little Tsuna tugged painfully onto his right sideburns. Reborn winced slightly.

"Oi, dame Tsuna, don't pull that." The hitman tried to pry those tiny fingers apart from trying to rip it off him. Reborn then brought his attention back to the toddler. "What?"

Tsuna squirmed in the man's hold, frowning. "Pee pee…" And he squirmed even further.

"Hold it in. I'll see if I can find the toilet." Reborn quickly stood up, mind already on the alert for the first sign of the bathroom. He left the study they had been in.

Just where is it?

"Pee! Peeeeeee!" Tsuna whined louder, upset as he squirmed even harder. Reborn almost lost his hold on him.

"Oi, oi, oi! You're going to make me drop you if you're not going to stay still, dame Tsuna!" The hitman almost growled through gritted teeth as he hurried his pace. His eyes kept darting aimlessly around him, searching for their destination. But there was no sign of it. There were just too many rooms to keep count.

Just where is the god damn bathroom already?! And why isn't there one out of this huge place?!

Was that a staircase?

"Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!" Tsuna screamed, crying just when Reborn burst through a wooden door and found it at last. Yeah, right at the second damn floor too.

The hitman immediately carried the toddler straight to the toilet bowl, his large hands holding underneath those arm pits while also pulling the too-large t-shirt up. And right in the nick of time, Tsuna peed into the bowl, his small feet standing on the toilet seat while Reborn supported him from behind. There were quiet hiccups and sniffing coming from his young charge, that fluffy head bowed. And while Reborn was waiting for Tsuna to finish his business, he had a sudden image of himself, a hitman helping a kid with his peeing. It was such a weird image to picture if one was to come across them and witnessed this scene. Weird indeed.

And seeing nothing underneath that too-large t-shirt, told Reborn that the other was poorly clothed. Sawada Nana shouldn't be that bad at parenting from what he knew after living with them for some time. So it shouldn't be it. And what was with the choice of clothing attire Tsuna was given? It looked more like the toddler was neglected. And Reborn did not like this. Not one bit at all.

Once this catastrophe was dealt with, he would make sure to check back on the Sawada household again. It couldn't be that he had missed out some parts when the hitman did a background check on them. Even Iemitsu wasn't horrible enough of a father to be this way to his son too.

"Dada?" called a small meek voice before him.

Reborn broke away from his thoughts. "Hmm…?"

"Noh pee pee." Tsuna answered in the same tone, tilting his fluffy head back to peer up at the man. Such innocence radiated off him in waves at that large doe eyed look.

The corner of Reborn's lips lifted slightly. "Hmm, you're done I see." Automatically, he helped Tsuna off the toilet seat and led the toddler towards the sink. He was just about to clean their hands when he paused by the running water from the tap. There seemed to be a bit of a problem.

There was just no soap.

Didn't I see it earlier…? Isn't it at the bookcase?

In replacement of the said cleaning substance, Reborn instead used shampoo when he found a bottle of its contents in the bathroom. And at the sight of bubbles, Tsuna squealed in delight, his tiny hands already splashing soapy water here and there. The hitman would have told him off for making them wet but currently, Reborn's mind was elsewhere. If the soap with its dish was on the top shelf and if it was linked to the second floor to indicate as the bathroom, wouldn't that be the same for the other two?

Does this mean the bookcase is like some map in itself of this place?

It somehow made sense, if he matched the tomatoes together; bottom shelf meant the ground or first floor. And with this, it must be the kitchens. But wouldn't the butter knife be more fitting, seeing as the soap and its dish was at the top shelf, meaning the bathroom at the second floor. So if the butter knife at the second shelf represent as the kitchen at the first or ground floor, then what would the tomatoes be as? Would it perhaps be some sort of underground greenhouse…?

Wait, underground?

A/N: I AM SO SORRY FOR THE LONG ASS LACK OF UPDATE. TAT PLEASE FORGIVE ME. orz *sobs* Being an animation student is tough… I didn't even get to draw khr much, ugh.

Anyway, hopefully the clues Reborn kept coming across wouldn't confuse you readers too much. X'D He's starting to fit them bit by bit but it's a slow process. However, good news is that Tsuna is starting to consider him as his father. Oh and he's also starting to speak a bit XD I wonder if anyone had noticed that Reborn is starting to naturally fit in as the role of a father figure. He just doesn't realize it yet. Lol. And gosh, this story has a lot of endings I could use. Whether there's a villain responsible for this or not, who the villain is, the motive, the mastermind being not the villain at all, etc. it has so many possibilities! 8'D

Hurr hurr hurr, good luck guessing, my dear readers~ But it's still early for the end yet.