Chapter 14

"Nari-chan~!" Byakuran popped behind Ienari as he served Irie his order a few minutes before.

The blond jolted in shock and glared at the white haired teen behind him. "Byakuran, please stay away from me. You're a nuisance." he said with a deadpanned voice.

Byakuran pouted, looking like a kicked puppy. "Nari-chan is mad…"

"Of course he's mad." Irie said as he stared blankly at Byakuran.

"Aw~ you started to eat without me Sho-chan!" he said with a pout as he observed that Irie was on his second cake plate.

"If you hadn't taken your sweet time, I wouldn't have," Irie said as he bit into more of the delectable dessert that Kyoko had recommended. "And I wouldn't have stricken a conversation with the girls here," he said as he looked at Kyoko, Haru and Hana's table just beside him who were giggling (except for Hana).

"You're too slow for your own good, Marshmallow," Ienari commented as he brought the girls glasses of water.

Byakuran clung to Ienari again almost immediately, "Nari-chan! Sho-chan is replacing me!"

"I wouldn't be surprised if he did." Ienari replied with the same deadpanned voice, signaling that he was getting annoyed by the second.

"Meanies, the lot of you!" Byakuran said, shedding crocodile tears.

"Ara, Nari, is this the other friend you and Tsu-kun mentioned?" Nana walked by as she took a good look at the white haired teenager.

"He's…my former classmate too, his name is Byakuran," Ienari introduced, ignoring the 'friend' part of her sentence.

"Nice to finally meet you, Sumeragi Nana-san. Ienari wouldn't shut up about you and your cooking when we talk about our parents," Byakuran said casually.

"Hey!" Ienari exclaimed indignantly. "Stop embarrassing me!"

When Ienari looked at his mother, he could see that she was indeed delighted that he talks about her with other people. Ienari had always been hidden by his father from his mother. That much he knew. Divorce settlements normally states that they either have joint custody or visitation rights. With the income that Nana had eight years ago, it was impossible for her to take a flight to Italy and back, thus, making her unable to visit Ienari from time to time. His mother may think that he resents her for asking for a divorce, but it was not the case.

Xanxus had told him that they were both at fault, yes, but that doesn't mean that he should stop loving the woman who raised him and Tsuna without the presence of her husband for nine years.

"Oh, and Nana-san, Reborn wanted me to tell you that he needed to talk to you earlier after his talk with me," he informed.

"Oh? Alright then! Have a good time boys," Nana bid as she left for downstairs.

When she was gone, Ienari glared, "Byakuran you bastard…"

"You're easy to get flustered, Nari-chan. So similar with Enma-kun." Byakuran blurted out of the blue as he sat down.

Irie's eyes widened and stared at Byakuran, "Byakuran-san!" he hissed.

"Huh? Who's he?"

It was normal for others to ask who the person is, but to Irie's shock, the one who asked that was Ienari himself. The worry in his head was replaced with suspicion. "You…don't know anyone by that name?" Irie asked.

"No…not that I know of," Ienari confirmed.

When Irie glanced at Byakuran, he gave him a look that meant to just go along with what Ienari was saying. It seems that Byakuran tried out a theory that he wasn't aware of. "Ah…never mind! He's a former classmate of mine, and Byakuran met him once, so…"

"Ah, I see. Well then, is there anything you want to order?" Byakuran opened his mouth to speak, when Ienari held up his hand, "And ordering every single dessert here is forbidden. The last thing Irie-kun needs is you on a Sugar Rush."

"Fine." The teen said, complying, not wanting to incite the wrath of Irie the next day.

As the three interacted, no one noticed the look that a certain brunette and prefect from behind them. Except, perhaps, the girls and the white haired teen.

…

"I'm sorry I forgot to give Ryo-nii the files,"

"It's fine. You were busy moving, so I figured that you would somehow forget," Tsuna assured Nagi over the phone. They had just gotten home after closing up, and their visitors returned to their hotel to leave the next day. "By the way…what is the situation with him?" he wondered.

Nagi sighed. "Well…as far as rumors run…it would be possible that they would search for Ienari in a disguise. They're still scouring Northern Europe."

"How long until they get that done?" Tsuna wondered.

"About six months or so? Then it's to the south, west, and then east. It depends on if they follow their intuition or if someone tips them off. They're already asking around intelligence organizations."

Tsuna hummed in approval, "Then it's good that our contacts took the time to create fake scents."

"I know that the Decimo is Dead rumor worked to our advantage when it comes to the nosey ones, but…" Nagi muttered. "It doesn't do any good that some of them believes that you are being trained as the next Decimo."

He almost wanted to laugh. He would have if it was not a serious matter to begin with. A lot are trying to find their location, but thankfully, the Vongola is doing its best to ward them off. They knew the consequences should the family secret get out, and the first one to kill them would be the Sun Arcobaleno.

"I know. But as long as the allies don't think so, then I would be safe. The last thing I want to happen is to someone putting a hit on my head,"

"Don't go on jinxing it Tsuna. Remember what happened last time."

Tsuna settled on to laugh lightly. "Yeah. I remember that incident." He turned around to hear soft footsteps behind him and went back to Nagi. "I have to go. Just send it to me via courier." He hung up afterwards.

Just in time, his father showed up behind him. "So you too are investigating this," Reborn said.

Tsuna nodded. "When I first heard of what happened to him, I had a hunch that the reason is something big. I know for a fact that Ienari is strong enough not to turn to suicide, so I asked Viper-san a favor. To get any records that he can about Ienari in all the sources he could get. And Nagi had been sent those files." he informed. "But I'm yet to get a hold of them. I have to act quickly if I want Ienari to recover fast before it comes to bite him at the back before he even fully recovers…"

"Tsuna, remember, the only thing we can do is to support him, and find the truth. We can't force him to remember." Reborn reminded. "Don't go overboard."

"I know that Papa! But if I don't move, I might…" Tsuna bit his lip in frustration. "I…don't want to be a useless brother anymore…"

Reborn sighed and pat Tsuna's head in comfort.

For years, ever since the divorce, Tsuna has been beating himself up in not being able to be there for his little brother to support them. Instead, a rift had appeared between them. Tsuna had been trying hard to become the big brother of the Rehabilitation Faction ever since recovering at the end of middle school, but the hitman knew that even though Tsuna could be that way, he could never find a way to be the big brother his own younger brother needed.

In all honesty, Tsuna had been nervous about the fact that Ienari would be living with them again, now as a brand new family with Reborn replacing Iemitsu as the father figure. So far, Ienari didn't feel left out of the family, which was good.

If there was one thing that Tsuna feared, it was being seen as a useless brother by none other than Ienari. Since they were children, Ienari had always been the one saving his big brother from the bullies, and its effects in their psychological upbringing was abysmal. He understands that Tsuna didn't want to be that way anymore, which was why he accepted that person's offer two years ago.

Just thinking of that memory makes his skin crawl…

But he put himself to rights to console the brunette, "Tsuna, listen to me. Ienari is not the same kid who drifted away from you when you were nine. You're on good terms again, aren't you?"

"Yes…"

"Then for now, there is nothing to worry about." Reborn said, "Besides, if Ienari really is in a pinch, he won't keep it to himself for long."

His words somehow sent some sort of assurance in Tsuna as he nodded in understanding.

"Okay…" Tsuna replied.

But there were still something bothering the brunette, and Reborn knew him enough to just leave it to him.

Whatever it is, Tsuna can solve. He taught him what he knew for five years, after all.

…

Rome, Italy

The Cavallone Decimo, Dino, sighed as he looked at the files that were needed at the end of the day. Romario had locked him up in the office, with the windows temporarily barbed, and four cameras were watching his every move in the four-cornered room.

The only companion he has was his stereo set playing operatic pop and a mountain of paperwork on his desk.

This was the only way for him to finish his paperwork before he flies to Namimori in eight hours, and it was something that Dino hated, but knew he had to do for the sake of his family. At least it was not bigger than the Vongola Nono. His family was more rambunctious than Dino's would ever be. One of the things he was thankful for.

Although most of his paperwork consists of the covers that his family had to put up in order to appear legitimate as horse breeders, and manages equestrian camps and all things related to their family namesake.

With that, he assured himself that today will be the day he would visit Ienari for the first time since hearing about his hospitalization. Reborn had advised against him visiting the younger Decimo, saying that if an outside family member sees him step into the hospital and they look into the patients' records, then there would be questions that they were not willing to answer. As much as possible, they were minimizing the number of people they had to silence permanently.

He had just gotten a message from an unlikely source yesterday, introducing himself as Marshmallow.

He didn't need to be a genius to find out that it was the Gesso heir. He's seen Ienari's contact list, and the number that is registered under that name is Byakuran's.

The Cavallone and the Gesso Famiglia were financial allies, setting up legitimate businesses that helped each other for three generations. It was also the Gesso Settimo, Byakuran's father, who helped him with his new financial schematics when he was solving the financial issue of the Cavallone Famiglia.

He had met Byakuran once before, a poor boy diagnosed with Marie Antoinette Syndrome after being tortured repeatedly after his kidnapping and the murder of his mother when he was ten, the boy grew up to be…a kid with a few screws loose, but anyone with eyes could tell that he was very intelligent and cunning.

The message in his secure mail specifically stated to not mention anything related to the Simon Famiglia in front of Ienari. Dino didn't know why Byakuran issued that advice.

Out of all the people Ienari has met, he was rather open to Dino, and it was something that he was proud of. After all, he was the only connection Ienari has to Nana and Tsuna when he found out that Nana was in a relationship with Reborn. To put it bluntly, he seemed like a messenger bird to Ienari telling him of the status of his mother and older brother in Japan in secret. Dino never really understood why Iemtisu would ban Ienari from making direct contact with them, but he knew it was none of his business.

So it goes to show that he also knew what happened between Ienari and the current boss of the Simon Famiglia, Kozato Enma, and what had become of it.

"But to think it would end up like this…" Dino muttered to himself as he continue his paperwork, all the while, Romario was setting up the private jet for his boss' trip to Japan in a few hours.

No matter what, Dino had to see Ienari and warn him about the Simon, with memories or no memories.

…

Namimori, Japan

"Are you sure you don't want me to escort you at the airport?" Ienari asked Byakuran early the next day.

"Nope~! We'll be using the private jet, so no worries!" Byakuran reasoned over the phone. "Besides, think of the risk we'll take. If someone finds you here, then there would be trouble, no?"

"When you put it that way…" Ienari said. "Then I suppose I didn't need to wake up this early for you. I can sleep away until afternoon,"

"Oh? Have a date with the strawberry-blond girl I met yesterday?" he teased.

"Say what?" Ienari demanded. "I don't see her that way," he denied, knowing where he was going with the conversation. Since meeting Kyoko, Ienari has caught her catching glimpses of Tsuna every time he passes by their table every Saturday.

He felt a bit bad for the girl. She must have not known that his brother was dating Hibari—much as he liked to deny it.

Byakuran laughed at the other line, "Really, it's time for you to go out there,"

"I'm not going anywhere. Besides, I have no time for women when I'm still here…not even friends."

"…Hey, aren't you taking things a bit far? Just because the Velasco Famiglia's heir did that to you and…" Byakuran trailed off.

Ienari stiffened at the mention of the person that Ienari hated the most, and the main cause for him to not just not make friends in the academy, he was also the reason he lost his best friend.

"You don't have to remind me." Ienari muttered lowly. "I don't want to remember the bastard who betrayed me and made me lose my best friend."

Byakuran was silent for a while, but then spoke with an apologetic tone, "Sorry about that. It just got to my head when I received news a week ago from Spanner taking summer school," he explained.

"What news?"

"This summer, the Velasco heir had been in the academy summer school for failing some subjects. During that time, it seems that he assaulted a student helping out the teachers after classes. He's on the verge of expulsion for that,"

"Assaulted in what way?" Ienari asked.

"Physical and sexual. The last part was just an attempt though, thankfully."

"Wait…who was the victim?" Ienari asked. "It's strange for you to bring this up when I don't want to know what has been happening to that son of a bitch." He was aware that he was cursing, but when it concerns a bastard he wants to kill, then to hell with language!

Byakuran sighed, "You won't like it…"

"Try me."

"…It's Yuri."

"Shit." Ienari cursed, remembering the kind classmate he has that was never one to listen to the rumors that the Velasco heir and his cronies had spread out. He was so nice, it was a shock to everyone that he was the younger brother to heir of the Giegue Famiglia of Russia.

Ienari met Yuri a few months after moving to the Vongola Castle. When the meeting between the Giegue and the Vongola had arrived for the first time since Ienari moved in, he met the two sons of Don Alexei, the Giegue Settimo, the eldest, Ivan, and the youngest, Yuri. His and Yuri's acquaintance turned into friendship, and before long, Yuri Giegue became Ienari's best friend. Or former best friend, after what happened with the Velasco heir.

"Yeah. You're telling me."

"Fucking bastard…I knew he wasn't straight. I caught him making eyes at Yuri hundreds of times…" he managed to mutter. "And I warned Yuri many times before, but he wouldn't listen…" a pang of regret and guilt coursed over Ienari.

"He didn't get that far with the second one. Good thing that Yuri had a lover who is also an assistant to the teacher."

"Say what?" Ienari said unconsciously. "Yuri has a boyfriend?"

"Yep. When he saw him, he beat the crap out of Velasco. Would have died if he wasn't stopped by Yuri."

Ienari scoffed. "Thank God for small mercies then. Yuri has always been a kind soul. He found a good man, didn't he?"

"The captain of the football team and the eldest son of the Trad 6 boss' right hand. He transferred last year, so you wouldn't know him since you and Yuri had that miscommunication, so yeah, he's a strong guy. Velasco won't live that long, I guess."

A satisfied smile was plastered across Ienari's face, "Yeah. He would last with his sanity intact if Don Alexei and Ivan will let him off the hook for assaulting his little brother. As if that would happen." They had seen first-hand how protective the Giegue heir is to his little brother while he was still in school. What's more is that Yuri is the favorite child of the Giegue boss. Someone attacking him will warrant the suspect a death sentence.

"I'll tell you the details on what happened in the aftermath when I get back home."

"Yeah, you do that. And send my regards for Yuri. We might not be…close anymore, but he is still my friend, no matter what."

"You know, I'm quite jealous that you call Yuri your friend, while Sho-chan and I don't have that kind of privilege." He whined.

Ienari rolled his eyes, "Just send him the message, will you?"

"Will do." Byakuran conceded, "See you soon." He said as he hung up the phone.

Ienari sighed as he flopped back on his bed. He really didn't want to remember his early academy days in the academy pre-Marshmallow early in the morning. But the memories kept on flowing back in his head. Sighing, he tried to get back to sleep, all the while, trying to forget the past that is pre-Marshmallow.

TBC

Not really a good chapter today, but I did put a glimpse of Ienari's past pre-Marshmallow! Sorry for the quite short chapter. But I had to set things in motion before I run out of scenes to put in.

About the Marie Antoinette Syndrome, how else could I justify Byakuran's white hair? And yes, I have a tragic backstory for our precious Marshmallow Lunatic.

I'm sorry if this is a bit late. I did promise to update this at the end of July, but I was without internet for a week.

I hope you haven't lost interest in this fic though.

Oh, and if you hadn't read Shinto Priest Sawada yet, give it a go!

See you!