Chapter 28

Julian looked at his poker cards intently, waiting for the next move Lennan is going to take. It was no joke that Lennan was rather good in poker. Thank the heavens that he suggested that they not bet money on this or Julian would have been bankrupt in the first three games.

It has been two hours since they left Himeno with her biological parents, and he was glad that she had made up with them after six years of proof less resentment. Right now, he was frustrated, thinking too much on how to defeat his brother in poker.

Lennan saw the frustration of his brother, "Can't think of a way to beat me?" he teased.

Julian growled, "Shut up," he shot back. "I'm going to beat you even if it takes me all day, and no interruptions will take place!" he swore.

"Even talking to me?" a voice said.

Julian's head snapped from his cards to see the brunette standing on his doorway accompanied by her foster parents. "Himeno?"

"Ah, so the sleeping beauty has finally come to visit," Lennan managed to mutter.

Himeno went inside, and was puzzled at the older man's resemblance to her best friend. "I'm afraid we haven't met yet," she said.

The brothers looked at each other and both nodded. Julian looked at Himeno, "I would like you to meet my brother, Lennan," he introduced.

Himeno raised a brow, "You're not pulling my leg are you? Last I heard from Byakuran, he's already dead," she said.

"Actually Himeno-san, my brother is telling the truth," he said.

Himeno's eyes widened. "No way…but looking at your faces…well it's a possible logic," she said.

Lennan and Julian both explained to Himeno what had happened fifteen years ago, and how Lennan appeared to be alive all these years. Lennan was surprised that Himeno had listened intently at his story, not even putting side comments like the others would do. She was just staring, silently listening to whatever they wanted to tell her.

Himeno still couldn't believe that Julian's brother was alive and well. To think his supposed death was the reason for this entire catastrophe. But she couldn't stay mad at him. He had amnesia after all. She couldn't blame it on someone who lost his memories due to the same incident. It was too unfair for her.

"I see…" she said. "Have you talked to the Decimo regarding this?" she asked.

Lennan nodded. "Just yesterday when I arrived," he answered. "And I was surprised to say the least. I thought for a moment that he would punch me in the face for causing such disarray, but it turned out quite well on my part,"

"And your face," Julian added.

Lennan grunted, "At least I didn't end up with a scar on the back. That would be a sight to see in swimming class," he replied.

Himeno smiled, "Yup, the two of you are clearly related," she confirmed. Their attitudes were enough to confirm it.

"Speaking of relations, what are you going to do now that you know your birth parents? Surely you have thought about being declared by the Decimo as the Vongola Eleventh," Julian said, changing subjects.

Himeno smiled sheepishly, "Well…I haven't really given it that much thought at first," she answered.

Julian looked at him wide eyed, "So you mean you refused to become the Eleventh?" he said in surprise.

Lennan looked at her, "Considering your vast skills, you are fit to become one," he stated.

Himeno grunted, "Well the question came about rather late…but…" she sighed. "They just haven't given me the chance to answer that," she explained. "When my parents asked it, Decimo-sama just got in out of the blue in my room with Reborn-san and said that he will just have to find another successor," she explained. "They didn't even know my answer to that,"

"Then what is your answer?" Julian questioned. "I know that this choice is not that easy, but at least think about it completely. Knowing Reborn-san, he would talk some sense to the Decimo into thinking that he would just give the family to someone unrelated to him by blood,"

Himeno sighed, "I know that…but…I have to think about it…"

…

"You just had to say that in front of her huh?" Reborn said.

Currently, they were back at the Vongola Base to take care of some things. Tsuna has already met the Suiri family head and the family residing in Italy and they had visited Himeno thirty minutes before. Tsuna knew that he had to leave them for a while, and said his goodbye for the day to his daughter.

By the time they got back at the base, Tsuna has told everyone on what happened that morning. To say the least, they were shocked to hear that Tsuna released those words.

"But she didn't even give an answer yet right?" Yamamoto asked.

"Well anyone can tell that the girl would eventually refuse the position now that Sawada had said that it would be fine for her to refuse the position," Hibari said matter of factly.

Tsuna sighed. He knew that his guardians would also think of this as an unusual thing. It was something that he had to get used to over the years. And now at over thirty, he still can't get used to it. "Look, she has had a good life for fourteen years, and I can't just take that away from her like that in a flash. She needs to decide. If I didn't say that I would find a way should she refuse, then she would have a fair choice. Just because she is my daughter doesn't mean she has to inherit the position without her consent," he explained. "I don't want her to feel obligated and is out without a choice just like I was," he said.

Everyone knew that Tsuna held no sort of social life in the outside world in the early years of his life as Dame-Tsuna until Reborn and the Vongola got in the picture. It was something that he was thankful of the tutor, but it did take a toll out of him with all of the trouble that he had been through because of the family. His life was made because of the Vongola, and it wasn't a choice but a duty as the declared heir as the Vongola Decimo. He didn't want Himeno to suffer the duty thing in her life, but she already has one as an agent, while having the time of her life as a normal kid with friends. He never had friends before he was fourteen, but she has attained friends even before that, something that Tsuna envied her for.

Reborn sighed as he walked out of the door, "Think what you want, it has already been said. Now I have to fix your little mistake," he said and left the door. All of them knew what he was going to do.

…

Himeno sat on her bed, an open book on her lap, but her eyes were focused on the window beside her. Ever since she woke up from her coma, everything has been going crazy. First, her talk with her biological parents and the fact that she actually forgave them was very enlightening on her part. After that, she returned to her room only to be told by her real dad that they were needed in the Vongola Base immediately while his ear was being pulled by the sadistic Sun Arcobaleno. Then the fact about the supposedly dead brother of Julian had turned out to be alive and kicking for the past fifteen years.

She laughed at that memory, that his tutor since fourteen had still treated him as the Dame-Tsuna of years ago. She wondered how someone like him had gotten such a high position as his future.

"From useless to powerful…" she muttered.

"But even though he's powerful he is still plain old Dame-Tsuna," Himeno almost jumped at recognizing the voice of Reborn who was leaning on her open door. She wondered how she never heard the door opening a while ago.

"Reborn-san," she called.

"Thinking about that obligation you need to think about? You have been thinking of your real father, aren't you?" he said as he approached the bed.

Himeno smiled weakly, and looked at the man, "You didn't let me answer that question yet," she informed. "Yes my parents asked me, but when I was about to answer, Decimo-sama had stated that so suddenly. I couldn't do anything but stay quiet for a while."

Reborn became quiet for a while. But then a certain smugness in him was evident on his face, "Then have you made your decision?" he asked.

Himeno smiled, "I believe you know the answer to that question," she guessed.

The man smiled in satisfaction, "I think your decision is a good one. You are not like your father in terms of thinking about it, thankfully. I will look forward on how you do things from now on," he said and left the room to herself.

Himeno smiled and looked at the window. "I hope your prediction is right, Reborn-san…" a smirk then crept on her face, "My life is getting more interesting by the day…"

…

Tsuna looked over his last file of paperwork that night. The doctors had told him that in a few days, Himeno and Julian will be fit enough to check out of the hospital. Just in time for Himeno to visit Ieyoshi's grave for the first time in Namimori. At the thought of the young boy, he looked at the frame on his table showing him, Kyoko and Ieyoshi at the Castle garden. It was the last family picture they have of him. By that time, he was only six. Now he was supposedly turning ten next week, it made her wonder what would happen should Ieyoshi had lived and conquered his weak heart. Even at his young age, he had fought bravely at his sickness, and he was the sweetest boy Tsuna had ever met. He was blessed to have a nice son like Ieyoshi who didn't want anyone fretting over him just because of his illness.

His only regret was that he had not been given the chance to see his sister while he was alive. When Ieyoshi had died, Kyoko and he were the ones who were gravely devastated. The young boy had died with the two of them by his side…

Brushing the painful memory off of his mind, he looked at the window and gazed at the sky. "Yoshi-kun…if only you have met your sister…" he muttered. In a few moments, he was engulfed in drowsiness and drifted off to sleep.

…

Tsuna suddenly opened his eyes to find himself in some sort of hospital room. He didn't know how he got there, but one thing was for sure, this was something weird. Looking around him, he realized he was in some sort of memory the moment he had completely scanned the room.

Beeping sounds of a heartbeat machine was the only sound in the hospital room of one Ieyoshi Sawada who was bedridden and with the life support contraption only helping him to live. His messy gravity-defying orange hair was mussed up on his large pillow, his eyes closed, and his face half unrecognizable because of his oxygen mask. His breaths were uneven and unstable.

His heart clenched as he remembered this painful memory.

The door suddenly opened, and the boy's eyes opened as well, revealing his caramel colored eyes as he looked at his parents and his favorite uncle, Dino coming inside his room. He smiled at them weakly through the oxygen mask. They knew that through it, his smile has been radiant like before. The boy didn't want to see his family so unhappy, that was why he was always putting on a smiling face whenever they see him.

But Ieyoshi knew that this was the last time he was ever going to smile at his parents. He knew that his time has come to say goodbye to them. No one knew, but he knew exactly while playing asleep that he didn't have much time to live, and he accepted that. His only regret was that he was not going to be able to see his older sister that he has heard so much about from his parents, even though they were only with her for three days.

Kyoko was the first one to approach the boy, "Yoshi-kun…how are you feeling?" she asked gently.

Ieyoshi looked at his mother, "I'm fine, don't worry about me…" he replied.

The three looked at the boy with sad faces as they saw his radiant smile. "Hang in there Yoshi-kun, you will be out of here in no time," he assured.

They were surprised when they saw the boy shake his head slowly. "Mama…Papa…I know I will not live that long anymore…" he stated.

His statement shocked the three, "What do you mean?"

"I…I heard what you were talking about me…I have not long to live…and I accept that fact…" he answered.

Kyoko shot up on her seat beside him, "Yoshi-kun, don't say that! Of course you will live longer!" she stated.

"Mama…I think I know myself very well…" he answered as his eyes were slowly drooping.

They knew that sign. "Yoshi, stay strong," Dino pleaded.

"I am strong…strong enough to accept that my time…has come…" he stated.

"Yoshi-kun!" Tsuna sprang up and grabbed one of the young boy's tiny hands, "Please…stay with us!"

But he just kept on smiling as he slowly closed his eyes, the heartbeat machine was showing that his heart was slowly giving up. "Tell…Himeno-nee…to visit me…as soon as she can…"

"Yoshi-kun?"

"…" There was no answer.

"Yoshi-kun?"

"…"

Tsuna's face paled, "Dino-nii, call the doctor quick!"

He didn't need to be told twice.

Moments later, the doctors and nurses were all over the boy with the failing heart. They were trying their best to revive the boy's heart.

Tsuna and Kyoko were near the door, with Kyoko's face buried in Tsuna's chest and him comforting his wife. His guardians were trying not to do anything that makes them vulnerable, hands clenched.

"Yoshi-kun…Yoshi-kun…" Kyoko kept muttering.

The next thing they had heard broke their hearts. A straight beep sound resonate the room full of sad faces of both the doctors and the family of Ieyoshi. But what had surprised them was that gentle smile on his face when they took off his oxygen mask, as if he was having a pleasant dream in his eternal sleep.

Tsuna looked away and held back his tears. This was the day that Ieyoshi had died. He had gladly accepted his death rather than fear it. He knew that the day would come soon, and he had been ready for it for a long time.

Then, in the middle of the scene, he was blinded by a white light. He covered his eyes and the moment he cleared his eyes, he found himself in a garden outside the Vongola Castle, although it was well-maintained which puzzled him. He then noticed a large white gazebo which he could swear was not in the garden. Although he had heard that there used to be a gazebo in the time of the Primo.

"Where…am I?" he wondered to himself.

A soft but familiar giggle reached his ears. Coming from behind, he turned and stared wide eyed at Ieyoshi, smiling his ever bright smile, no wheelchair, and what was more, he had the same features as before, about at the age of eight. "You're just in a dream Papa," the boy answered.

Tsuna couldn't believe what he was seeing. There he was, standing in front of him with his radiant smile in the garden outside the castle. Of course it would be a dream. "Y-Yoshi-kun…is that really you?" he said.

Ieyoshi kept on smiling, "In the flesh, I mean, in the spirit!" he answered.

In just a split second, Tsuna knelt down on his height and embraced the boy. He smiled and embraced his father back, happy to reunite with him after two years. "Yoshi-kun…"

"Surprised to see me?" he asked.

"How…?" he said as he pulled away to look at his son properly, "Why…?"

Ieyoshi laughed, "Well, I am a spirit now, and I can visit any dream I want! Right now, you are asleep in your office. I had thought it was the right time for me to show myself since all of this clamor died down, and besides, I had watched over Himeno-nee since she had been captured," he explained.

Tsuna remembered Himeno's words before she passed out from the poison almost two weeks ago about how he and Giotto had taught her that she did not hate him with a vengeance anymore. "So that was it…it all makes sense…" he managed to mutter, "But how did you take care of helping Himeno yourself?" he wondered.

"I didn't. Giotto-san needed my help, and I gladly accepted," he replied.

Tsuna looked at him dumbly, "Giotto-san…? You mean…the Vongola Primo?" he concluded.

"And Ieyoshi-kun proved to be wonderful help," a new voice joined them.

Tsuna stood up to see up close his ancestor, "Primo…"

Giotto gave him a smile, "Long time no see, Decimo," he greeted.

"But why…? What is all this?"

"I have been watching over Himeno for a while now ever since she turned fourteen. I was responsible for giving her faded memories of the day that she was evacuated. Of course, it was weird for her to remember that in her dreams considering she was just a mere infant, but I had my own ways. I had also met her from the day she had a little accident instigated by the children of the Varia," he explained.

"The soccer ball incident…" he muttered when he remembered what her foster parents had told him on how Himeno had changed her view slightly after the soccer ball accident.

Giotto nodded, "Before that incident, she already found out the truth," Tsuna looked surprised, "She had an agent research about you after her first mission with the Varia children, but that knowledge left her the moment she was hit by the soccer ball because of thinking about it too much. I supposed Fate had decreed that it was still too early for her to find out. After that, every time she is troubled, I had come to visit her in her dreams to lend a hand,"

"And by the time Himeno-nee got out of control with her Flames of Depression, Giotto-san asked me to get her subconscious out of her rampage, and we kind of met after that," he said.

"So you have been a good help to her…thank you so much for watching over her," he thanked.

Giotto smiled, "That is what the traditional Protection ring is for. Old Talbot had infused some of my blood in the ring so that I could protect her myself. I asked it personally," he revealed.

Tsuna didn't need to know how on earth he had done it. "Still, thank you very much. I wouldn't know what I'd do should anything more dangerous happens to her,"

Ieyoshi smiled, "Don't worry! Himeno-nee's trouble about it is now finished!" he assured.

Tsuna nodded in response. It was then when he realized he was fading. "Oh, it seems that it's time for you to wake up," Giotto said.

Tsuna gave the two a smile, "Thank you for your help," he said and faded completely.

Ieyoshi then turned serious, "Yes, her troubles about her identity have come to pass…but there are still more issues to come…" he murmured.

"By then, Himeno would be wiser, but even I can't predict the steps that she will do…"

"Giotto-san," Ieyoshi said.

The man then closed his eyes, and opened them again with a smile, "But we will be there to help her in any way we can," he assured.

Ieyoshi nodded with a smile.

…

Tsuna was snapped awake by a hit on the head. He didn't need to know who did that. "Reborn!" he shouted.

"Wake up completely. Himeno just called saying that she needed to talk to you," he informed.

Tsuna wondered why, but he asked no further questions and rushed there.

…

Himeno was there talking with Julian when Tsuna arrived at the hospital. By the time Himeno saw her father, she smiled. "You look like you've been dragged here," she joked.

"You said that you needed to talk to me," he answered.

Julian then moved the joystick on his wheelchair. He got it just yesterday as to not be pushed off anywhere by Lennan anymore, "I'll leave the two of you alone," he said as he left the room.

The room was then filled with silence only to be broken by Himeno, "You decide to quickly on what will befall the Vongola family," she commented.

Tsuna looked at her, "But I had to do something. I know you don't want to become the Eleventh after what you've been through," he commented.

Himeno laughed softly, "I've been having my life cross a really thin thread for years. And besides, who said anything about me refusing the title?" she wondered.

The man's head shot up and stared at his daughter as if she has grown two heads, "Y-You mean…"

Himeno smiled, "I figured being the Vongola Eleventh would be a fun ride," she stated.

And there it is! Just a few more chapters and I am done with it! It could have been sooner, but somehow some of the works I made mysteriously disappeared, and that pissed me off.

On the happy note, REVIEW~!