Tsuyoshi was stunned for a moment then afterwards became serious.

"So this isn't merely a visit after all. Tell me, Chizuko, how's the Kagayama Clan's condition nowadays? I haven't heard from Kazehiro for about 7 years now." he tried to keep his calm but he prepared his heart for the worst.

Chizuko bowed her head in silence. She doesn't want them to see the painful emotion expressed through her eyes. Tsuyoshi broke the silence once more.

"Well then, let's all head to our place and have some tea, shall we?" he patted the girl's right shoulder and whispered to her, "You need to calm yourself first. I'm sure our house will make you feel cozy." Chizuko nodded in return.

Dad… "Let's go, Tsuna! Kid!" Takeshi said, smiling.

"Ahh… Yes!" Tsuna replied.

"Hey kid! Let me give you a ride. Hop on!"

"Thanks for the ride, Yamamoto." Reborn said as he leaped on Takeshi's left shoulder.

"Haha, don't mention it."

And so they walked towards the Yamamoto residence. Chizuko remained silent during their walk, her head still bowed down. When they reached the place, Tsuyoshi instructed his son to go make some tea while they settled down in the living room. As they waited for Takeshi, Chizuko finally broke her silence.

"I was sent here by my late grandfather…"

"By Hiroyuki-ojisan? I thought he went missing." Tsuyoshi asked. "And by late, you don't mean…"

Chizuko nodded. "Hiroyuki-ojisama already passed away a week ago."

"Hmm… I see." Tsuyoshi's face saddened. Then there was a pause.

Takeshi entered the room, holding a tray with both of his hands. My, the area here is very gloomy and the girl, Chizuko, really seems to have some problem she needs to consult Dad… "Here's the tea, everyone! Sorry for the wait." he said as he gave each one of them their cup of tea.

"Here's yours, Chizuko." he held out her tea but she didn't accept it. Takeshi stooped to look at her face and he was surprised with what he saw.

"Hey! A-are you crying?"

Chizuko wiped her tears. "N-no, It's just that… I remembered something." she raised her head.

"I see… I hope this will help you calm down a bit." He held her hands and gave her the tea. She blushed at his action.

"T-thank you…" she said as she looked at him. Takeshi smiled and she blushed again. He then sat down beside Tsuna.

"Tsuyoshi," Reborn began, "I think it's time to ask her about the situation."

"Reborn!" Tsuna yelled in disagreement.

Tsuyoshi nodded and smiled bitterly as he looked at the girl. "I know that it will be difficult for you, Chizuko, but you need to tell us why Hiroyuki-ojisan sent you to find me."

Chizuko shrugged her shoulders and took a deep breath to calm herself. "O-ojisama said that you might know something about the incident 7 years ago."

"Incident?" Tsuyoshi curled his eyebrows.

"Yes. The event wherein the whole of the Kagayama clan… was annihilated."

Everyone was stunned by Chizuko's statement. No one spoke a word but their expressions showed something more than shock… it was fear.

"T-that's impossible…" Tsuyoshi's voice was shaky. "It… it can't be true. Who on earth could have done it!" fear suddenly turned into anger.

"Who knows?" Chizuko bowed her head again. "I am the last remaining survivor of the clan. Who would've thought that a clan that strong and with a long lineage would be devastated in just one night's time? It was pretty lucky of me that I survived that rampage… but I hoped that I just died like them… like Father and Mother and everyone." She smiled bitterly, forcing herself not to cry as she closed her fists tightly.

Everyone remained still as sadness, mixed with tension, filled the room. Tsuyoshi stood up and walked towards the door. His face was blank. Chizuko tried to stop him.

"O-ojisan! Where are you going? I still have some things to ask from you."

The man replied without facing them, "I'll be back. I just need to get something." then he continued to leave the room.

"Chizuko," Reborn said "Can you state to us what happened that night and tell us, if you can still remember, the faces of the enemies that assaulted your clan?"

"Hey, Reborn! I think that's a bit harsh to ask." Tsuna complained.

"Tsuna's right, kid. It's too sudden to ask her to remember a cruel past." Takeshi agreed.

Chizuko shook her head and with a hesitant voice said to them, "The memories of that night were hazy in my mind after the psychological rehabilitation done to me 6 years ago."

Everyone was shocked again but she continued. "What I could remember is that there were blood scattered everywhere, like a feast of blood has been started. There were groups of men, wearing masks and coats, who slain each one of my family. No one was spared. Women and children, no matter how innocent they are, were killed."

"T-that's… that's horrible!" Tsuna proclaimed, fear emanating from his voice.

"Yes, it was. And I was barely 7 then… such a weakling who can't even help her family in those times. I'm just a burden then… I should've died in their stead…" tears she's been holding before began falling from her eyes. She wiped them off but they won't stop.

"D-don't say that, Chizuko." Takeshi remarked, trying to calm her down.

"I-if you were on my shoes then, I know you'll feel the same disappointment I've felt. I practiced kendo everyday ever since I was 5, thinking that I could help the clan with such skill, but… I failed them. I failed as a swordsman and as one of the successors to the family. I… I can't even face their graves after that…" she clenched her fists tighter.

"You didn't fail as a swordsman, more so, as the successor to your clan, Chizuko. In fact, your father was truly proud of you that he always talked about you in his letters." Tsuyoshi proclaimed as he entered the room, holding a small wooden box with both hands.

"Letters?" the girl was bewildered. Her tears stopped falling.

The man nodded. His voice was solemn as he spoke, "Me and Kazehiro exchanged letters frequently after me and my father moved here in Namimori and even after both of us got married and have our own families. You are his pride, Chizuko… he was so proud that his only daughter was very eager to succeed the family despite her young age and that that child always forces him to teach her kendo even just a little of it… that's the reason why he did everything he could so as to protect you, and the future that lies with you."

Tsuyoshi handed her the box and it contained countless letters that bridged the gap between two old friends for the past years.

"Waah..! There's plenty of it, Dad!" Takeshi mentioned as he saw the amount of letters.

Chizuko sorted the letters one by one, searching for the most recent among them… thinking that it contains some clues from that night.

"Is there anything significant within the letters, Tsuyoshi?" Reborn asked.

"The previous letters were ordinary ones, but the one that caught me was the last one he sent me." the old man replied.

"Where is it, Ojisan?" Chizuko said hastily.

The man took out the letter and handed it to her. She read it aloud so that everyone will know the contents of her father's last letter, the one that was sent before the tragedy took place.

Original Story (c) windwalker035

Katekyo Hitman Reborn! Characters (c) Akira Amano