"Tsuyoshi, my old friend, how are things going on your side? Well, as for us, everything is calm. The cherry blossoms surrounding the household are now in full bloom. It's very peaceful here, though it seems that it would not last long…"

"How's your boy, Takeshi? I read from your previous letter that he joined the Little League. My, he's quite a sporty kid, eh? Much like us when we were young. I hope me and my little Chizuko can come visit there so together we can watch him play and maybe, see him strike a bunch of homeruns. As for my daughter, she's practicing kendo almost every hour that makes Sachi dead worried. That wife of mine… I've already told her that it is our child's fate, to succeed me as the next heir of the clan. I'm also worried for Chizuko, as well, but the child's so eager that it seems no one can stop her. I know her ambitions will benefit the family in the future and maybe, even more than what I can give now. She has the potential in every angle, making me feel proud that I'm his father. Feels like I'm bragging again, huh? Just like those old times we had…"

"The wind has stirred again… a commotion will commence soon. I can sense it. Things might go wild like hurricane shaking off anything that tries to impale it, thus, I have my men ready for that forthcoming event but… I still feel uneasy. I guess I'm just nervous like I always am especially during such times, as you know, my friend."

"That lad… if only I had the power to stop him from leaving then… how could I overlook such an important thing as that? But I know he'll come soon and I do hope this time I can do anything in my power to revert him back. Though he was adopted, he's still part of our family. My… it seems that I'm muttering foolish words again."

"Tsuyoshi, I have a favor to ask from you. If anything happens to me and to the clan, please let Chizuko stay with you. I'll leave her in your care. This is the last thing I might plead from you, my friend, and I trust that you heed to it."

"Time has gone swift but I know that ours is an eternal bond, unbreakable and unchangeable throughout. Thanks for everything, old friend. Until our souls resound once more."

K. Kagayama

"Father…" Chizuko sobbed heavily, her tears covered the last letter Kazehiro wrote 7 years ago. Her mind was in a daze. She held the letter close to her heart and muttered, "E-everyone was prepared to die that day. I… I never realized that that was the last day I'll saw everyone's smile. Why… why didn't Father tell me anything? Was it because I was still young then that I wouldn't understand the things he will say? Or was it because —"

"It is for the reason that he wanted to protect you, Chizuko." Tsuyoshi said as he knelt down and hugged her. "He said it in his letter right? You are the hope of your clan. He entrusts everything to you, though it will pose a heavy burden since you are still young now."

"B-but why me!" Chizuko declared, frustration hinted on her voice as she continued crying. "Why do they have to shed their blood for me? If only Father told me that something like this would happen, then I should've fought alongside them… so that I wouldn't regret not doing anything for them… like what I'm going through all these years."

"Chizuko, calm yourself…"

"If you were there in the battlefield, would you be able to do anything with the kendo skills you had before?" Reborn asked seriously. She bowed her head and looked the opposite way. "A kid sent to battle with nothing but basic knowledge on fighting would only be a burden to those who are eager to risk their lives on the line. And what kind of father would be willing to serve the life of his young child to the hands of the enemies? Don't think little of your father, Chizuko, and don't be full of yourself just because you are considered to be your clan's prodigy."

"Reborn…" Tsuna muttered. "Wait… she's a prodigy!"

"Yes. Kazehiro told me through his letters that during kendo practice matches, Chizuko would always take the lead and win against her partners who were much older and stronger than her." Tsuyoshi stated as he looked at them.

No wonder she could swing and slash like that a few hours ago… and her reaction time was impressive too, Takeshi thought while gazing at her.

The old man turned his head and faced the girl in his arms, "The kid's right, Chizuko. It may be true that you are skilled with the sword, but considering that it happened 7 years ago, you really couldn't do anything. You were still young and innocent, after all."

"But… but I want to… I just want to —"

"Hush, my child. Your mind is still confused from the revelation you heard today. I suggest you go and rest now." Tsuyoshi remarked as he wiped her tears away. The girl nodded and the old man helped her rise up. The two of them left the room and Tsuyoshi led her to one of the vacant rooms in the house.

"I never thought someone could suffer a lot of pain like what she experienced." Takeshi said, breaking the silence that originated when the two left.

"Yeah…" Tsuna replied. "To lose your family in such an early age. I wouldn't even know what I'll do if that happens to me. No… I wouldn't let that happen to everyone!" His voice now filled with resolve.

"That's why you need to give your best when we are training, No-good Tsuna!" Reborn declared. "You are the next boss of a prestigious Mafia, the Vongola Family. Everyone is counting on you, especially your Guardians, so never forget your duty."

"But I just hope that our training wouldn't always be Spartan-like." Tsuna sighed. "Ahh… My body hurts after every session that I couldn't concentrate on studying even if you forced me to, and just thinking of it now makes me feel the pain again."

"Hmmp! You aren't just impatient, but you're also nagging about trivial matters!" Reborn pounded Tsuna's head with the 10-ton hammer. "You must instill in your head that a Mafioso always lives in danger thus, you must always be prepared for the worst."

"I know, I know… but do you really have to hit me with that hammer! …And I never even agreed to become the next Vongola Boss." he replied while touching the bump that formed in his head, his eyes were in tears.

Takeshi chuckled at the scene. "Ahaha… so you're playing the mafia game again?"

He still thinks of this as a game… More than innocent, he really is very oblivious but despite that, he's a great asset to the family, Reborn thought.

"N-no, Yamamoto. This is a not a game, this is something serious." Tsuna answered as he regained his composure.

A few minutes later, Tsuyoshi came back to the living room…

"How was she, Dad?" Takeshi asked.

Tsuyoshi sighed. "She already calmed down and is now sleeping in one of our guestrooms."

The two boys released a sigh of relief. Tsuyoshi sat beside his son and started an important conversation. "There was something within Kazehiro's letter that bothered me… I wonder who the lad he was referring to is. He never said anything about adopting someone in his previous letters." He massaged his shoulders.

"So, do you think Chizuko knows the man Kazehiro wrote on his letter?" Reborn inquired.

"Yes… there is a great possibility that she knows him. They're a family-oriented clan, after all."

"B-but there is a chance that she's already forgotten about him after the psychological rehabilitation she has undergone before, right Reborn?" The mafia boss said hesitantly.

Reborn nodded. "Yes. She must have programmed herself to forget about that person… or it could also be that she never saw him when the assault was happening. We really could never tell and it's not beneficial to make wrong assumptions."

"Then that means… Chizuko's the only one that knows who murdered her clan." Takeshi proclaimed.

Everyone nodded in agreement. "The answers to her questions lie within her after all… but there is something that prevents her from remembering anything. I don't know whether I can consider that situation as good or bad but for now, we must help her live a normal life." Tsuyoshi stated with firmness in his voice. "That's the last thing I could do for my best bud and also to abide the request he has written on his last letter."

It was already late when Tsuna and Reborn decided to go home. There was deep silence between them as they walked. Their minds were still puzzled about Chizuko's past and the man who was deemed responsible for the murder of her clan. Finally, due to the awkwardness of the situation, Tsuna broke the peace.

"R-reborn, will Chizuko be okay from now on? Knowing that Yamamoto's dad doesn't have a clue about what happened, I wonder what she's going to do next?" he asked with worry strained on his voice.

The baby remained silent. It seems that he's not aware of the young man's presence.

"Hey, Reborn! Are you listeni — "

"Tsuna… I think Chizuko's involved with the Mafia." Reborn remarked urgently. Both of them stopped walking.

"Ehh…! Why do you say so?" he gasped as his eyes widened with disbelief.

"Kagayama Kazehiro… from what I remembered, he was one of Nono's Japanese messengers to the Family. His job as a writer was just a front to hide his missions governing the Mafia."

"Nono… you mean Kyuudaime? A-and a Japanese messenger?"

Reborn nodded. "His father, the one named Hiroyuki as said by Chizuko, was scouted before to be Nono's Storm Guardian… but he humbly declined it. The reason for it was unknown, though it seems that the decision involves the Kagayama Clan as a whole."

"But that's impossible! Ahaha… I guess you're thinking too much today. Vongola Japanese messengers and Chizuko's grandfather being scouted to become Kyuudaime's Storm Guardian, where did you hear rumors like that?" Tsuna faked a laugh, trying to dismiss what he heard.

Reborn angrily took Tsuna's right hand and bent it forward. "I'll telling you something serious here, you No-Good Tsuna!"

"Give up, Give up, Give up~!" the young man cried out as the baby removed his hold. He looked at Reborn, frowning, "Jeez… I just couldn't believe what you said but if that's the case, then we could just ask Chizuko tomorrow about this and tell the othe —"

"We mustn't let the others know about this yet, and don't dare to ask Chizuko about what I told you here, too."

"W-why is that?"

"I have a hunch that the murder that happened 7 years ago… is something related to the Mafia."

"E… Ehh!" Tsuna's face turned grim. But… but how could that be even associated to the Mafia..! He thought.

"I don't have a clue either." Reborn answered, reading his thoughts. "I guess both the Vongola Family and the Kagayama Clan have secrets of their own to hide. At any rate, we must be cautious about Chizuko. She may or may not know anything about the Vongola Family and the Mafia. We can't let information about the Family leak out, or else it would cause painful trouble."

"I understand. But it felt wrong to be suspicious of her, after all that she said and acted a while ago."

"You really are soft, Tsuna." The baby grinned and jumped on Tsuna's right shoulder. "I guess we must hurry now, or Mama will really get worried."

"Oh crap! I hope she won't scold me for coming home late." Tsuna muttered as he run in full throttle.

Original Story (c) windwalker035

Katekyo Hitman Reborn! Characters (c) Akira Amano