Trigger: N/A
Warnings: N/A
Important Stuff:
Small OC Cheat Sheet
Spirits:
Zephyr -The wind spirit that Reborn met in the Spirit World.
Kamikawa - The origami spirit that Reborn exchanged information with.
Engetsu - Silver kitsune that Reborn met in the Spirit World. Knows Ayame.
Meishi - A green falcon that lives in the Sawada Household
Farran - the woman who challenged Fon
Ienari's Guardians:
Matsushita Hachirou - Ienari's best friend. Captain of the Judo Club. Lightning Guardian
Akemi Kaori - President of Ienari's fanclub. Black Hair, Purple Eyes. Sun Guardian
Kakusu Hideki - Former student council president, son of politician. Red Rimmed Glasses. Mist Guardian
Koujin Fuun - Ninja assassin. Dark purple hair, crimson eyes. Kunais as weapons. Cloud Guardian
Inmen Hisen - Mochida's cousin. Ienari's crush. Hime-cut black hair and ocean blue eyes. Rain Guardian
Mochida Kensuke* - Hisen's cousin, captain of kendo club. Storm Guardian
Others:
Hibari Koumei - Kyoya's Father. Interpol Agent.
Hibari Yun - Kyoya's Mother. Deceased. Fon's sister.
Sawada Hidetada - Giotto's son. Twin to Yoshimune
Sawada Yoshimune* - Giotto's son. Twin to Hidetada
* - canon character
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Start of a Beginning (A Humble Dream)
Somewhere along the way, Vongola forgot its roots; that it started off as a humble dream of a young boy who wanted everyone he loved to be free from fear, who wanted to throw off the chains of poverty, who wanted to protect those he loved with from the dark things that lurked in the darkness.
He wanted his family and friends safe and free.
But freedom meant many different things to many different people.
So what started off a beautiful dream twisted and grew into a mockery of itself. Instead of helping the less fortunate, money was gathered for the sake of gathering money, greed in its finest. Instead of being a symbol of freedom, they became a symbol of fear. Instead of protecting others from the things lurking in the darkness, they became one with the darkness.
It started off as such a humble dream.
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Lost in History (Yoshimune and Hidetada)
Sometimes, people forgot that Giotto had twin sons as well: Yoshimune and Hidetada. Yoshimune took after Giotto, in both appearance and mannerism, a soft-hearted and gentle boy. Hidetada was a bit more prideful, more headstrong, taking after his mother who burned so bright, so fast, before bowing to death.
With the death of his wife, and his obvious appearance as a foreigner, living in Japan had not been the easiest. They were scattered like petals on the wind after Daemon's betrayal, the wound festering and left unhealed. Forgiveness would be a long time coming for the others, but Giotto was mostly resigned, despairing that somehow he had failed his Mist.
So his sons grew up with their broken father, with a broken family, with a stolen heritage and a bloodstained history to inherit. Yoshimune shied away from the strangers who threw stones at him for being different. Hidetada, on the other hand, burned with anger, at the way his father and brother were being treated.
Sometimes Hidetada asked his father about Italy, about the beautiful country that his father spoke fondly of. Giotto would tell him stories, cautioning Hidetada of his mistakes, of the bloody history Giotto had left behind. Sometimes Hidetada wondered why they didn't just go back there. Surely it must be better, for their family. There was very little tying them down in Japan with their mother and her family dead. They could go back and take back was rightfully theirs.
His father had a family, a family that Hidetada proudly defended with honor. In the time of where people still valued family name and honor, people mocked him for being a half-blood from a no-name foreign family and Hidetada would spit back at them.
It all came to a boiling point when the twins reached their majority.
"Family," Yoshimune told his brother, pleading with him to stay.
"Honor," Hidetada said in reply, determined to travel to Italy.
Giotto despaired at the way his two sons fought, trying to bring peace to the two of them. In the end, Giotto still believed in freedom and he let Hidetada go.
But honor meant different things to different people.
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For Honor (Rightful Heir)
Sawada Hidetada arrived in Italy and found Vongola when he was 25. It was nothing as he expected, but he was determined to claim his position as the rightful heir and clean up the dark legacy.
Daemon merely smiled. Ricardo looked at him warily but didn't turn him away.
When Ricardo suddenly died and his only son far too young to inherit Vongola, Daemon dropped the Vongola Sky Ring into Hidetada's hand. When his father's transparent image popped out of the ring, Giotto's expression twisted in horror that it was Hidetada who had inherited Vongola next, Hidetada felt the first bit of regret.
Then five years later, Daemon dead and his father's image in the ring who couldn't even look him in the eye, Hidetada wondered where it had gone all wrong. For honor, for his father's honor, for his honor, he had wanted to redeem Vongola, but under Hidetada's influence, it was Vongola's honor that had grown, stained an even darker crimson red.
Under Giotto, Vongola Primo, Vongola was established. Under Ricardo, Vongola Secondo, Vongola expanded, growing all throughout Italy. Under Hidetada, Vongola Terzo, Vongola became a household name that everyone feared.
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Safety
"Tell me, Reborn, what makes you feel safe?"
Reborn scoffed at those words. "What is that supposed to mean?" he asked.
Ayame watched him, sipping at her sake. "Then answer this. Why Tsuna? Out of all the Skies you know, you pick Tsuna as your Sky. Why not Dino?"
Did he need a reason? No. Harmonizing with a Sky was a rare and welcomed event. Reborn liked Dino, respected Nono, hated Iemitsu and none of them clicked, not in the same way Reborn had with Luce, with Tsuna. (But he could admit that Tsuna was an even better fit than Luce.)
"You wouldn't understand," Reborn said. How could she when she didn't have Flames? When she didn't feel that call of harmony, the call of a Sky.
"What wouldn't I understand? Ayame asked, eyes flashing angrily. "The singing of harmony, the click of a perfect fit, the warmth, the leader I would follow to the ends of the earth?"
Ah. Maybe she would understand then. "You don't have Flames," Reborn said.
"I do not," Ayame agreed. "Doesn't mean I don't know what it's like to harmonize with Tsuna." She poured herself more sake.
"Skies are safety nets," she said. "They're the reason why you can do dangerous and crazy things, knowing that they will catch you if you fall. They're leaders, that pillar that reaches to the sky, the ones we will follow to hell and back. But safety means different things to many different people."
Reborn frowned, trying to figure out where she was going with this.
"Giotto's safety is freedom, from the society's rules and laws, from preconceived notions, from shackles of fate and destiny. Vongola suffocated Giotto, the Vongola Rings chained him down, it was no surprise to find out that he lost control over Vongola," Ayame said.
"Dino's safety is bonds and friendship. Give him a friend and Dino will move mountains for them and them for him. It can be outside of his famiglia, you are an example of that. Those bonds are his strength and inspire loyalty in others.
"Ienari's safety is power. The more power he has, the safer he feels. Those that follow him, feel similarly. When they have power, they are invincible, unstoppable. The more power, the better," Ayame said, her words growing more and more bitter. She stared down at her cup; her expression twisted in grief.
"I've never met them, but if I had to guess Iemitsu's safety is distance. The farther away he is of something, the safer it is. Sometimes it works even in reverse, which makes him such a contradictory man. Nono's safety is probably famiglia, specifically his," Ayame finished, drowning the rest of her sake and pouring herself another shot.
Reborn stared at her, eyes wide. The puzzle pieces were beginning to click together. His mouth went dry in realization.
"And you Reborn, you don't need freedom, you're as free as you want already. You don't need it to feel safe. Similarly, you don't need bonds. You've been alone for so long that you've always relied on yourself for safety, never trusting someone to have your back. What use is power to World's Strongest Hitman, the pinnacle of your current job? Distance doesn't impact you, always traveling and free floating wherever the wind takes you. You were never a part of Vongola, so Nono has never managed to call out to you," Ayame said.
"So Reborn, what makes you feel safe? What do you do to feel safe?" Ayame asked him, staring at him. Her golden eyes glowed in the night. "Why did you come back here?"
Reborn stared back at her, dumbfounded. He had come here because… because… it was home, he realized with a start. That was a word he hadn't thought about in a long time. Reborn didn't have a home. He had houses, places where he slept. But a home? The last time Reborn remembered having a home, his mother was still alive, waiting for him with a warm meal and a friendly smile.
When had the Sawada Household become home?
Pleased by his reaction, Ayame's lips curled into a fond smile. "Tsuna's safety is home. It's different than the others because while things like freedom and power mean different things to different people, home is an idea that encompasses many different meanings in one. Home is… home is a place for the weary to rest, where the strong can be weak, where the pretenders don't have to pretend, where the weak are protected and sheltered, where the broken can heal. A warm and safe place, filled with unconscious love, a shoulder to cry one, where you're accepted for who you are without any judgment.
"What makes Tsuna the more powerful Sky, is because everyone needs a home. The other Skies, the people they harmonize with are the ones who share similar mindsets. But a home accepts everyone, which is why even Mukuro who hated us all when he first arrived was equally welcomed as the outcast that Hayato was. Tsuna calls the misfits, the loners, the outcasts," Ayame said, expression fond.
Reborn drew in a sharp breath, another realization snapping into place. "The reason why Tsuna's harmonization didn't override Ienari's in Namimori. Normal civilians have homes, a place they're comfortable, Tsuna provides them with no extra comfort. But normal civilians do crave power, a notion that society is geared towards to always be strong."
"Yes," Ayame said. She rested her chin on her hand, swishing her cup once more, watching the liquid spin and spin. Reborn didn't say anything, still staring at her in shock as the silence rested between them.
Reborn's head swam as he soaked up that knowledge. It was a surprisingly easy explanation now that he looked at it. Luce's safety was probably… motherhood or parental support. He had drawn enough parallels between Luce and his own mother that it wasn't such a farfetched notion, that he had been craving that kind of support. But eventually one had to leave the nest, which explained why Tsuna's Sky was far more fitting.
Was it really such an easy idea?
"Did you know," Ayame mentioned offhandedly, "that you can interrupt a Sky's Harmonization in a permanent fashion when you seal someone's Flames?"
Shit.
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Drag Me Down
Ienari grinned as he climbed higher and higher. Today was the day he was going to conquer this tree. If he could climb all the way to the top, he could show his father that he was strong and able just like him.
"Ienari!" Tsuna called up at him. "Be careful!"
Ienari stuck his tongue out at his twin and ignored him. What did that crybaby know? He kept hiding Kaasan and didn't want to get to know Nonno who according to Tousan came all the way from Italy to visit them.
Reaching up for the next branch, Ienari's foot slipped and he tumbled, falling and falling. He panicked, fear gripping his heart for those few precious seconds of falling. Flailing, he reached out, summoning an orange warmth that seemed to cushion his fall.
"Ienari!" Tsuna shrieked, rushing over to him. He reached out to Ienari, hand extended to help Ienari up.
Ienari froze, feeling something deep wash over him. Heavy and thick, it dragged him down like he was drowning. He struggled against it, gasping for breath.
"Ienari?" Tsuna asked, frighten as he stepped forward.
Ienari gasped as the feeling increased as Tsuna approached him. "Go away!" he cried, tears beginning to leak from his eyes. His breath grew ragged as he struggled to breath. He slapped away Tsuna's offered hand.
"Ienari?!"
Ienari felt himself being picked up, recognizing his father's strong arms. He hunched into himself as his mother took away Tsuna, the drowning feeling beginning to recede.
"Hmm," Nonno said. "So young." He reached out and Ienari saw a flash of orange before Nonno touched his forehead and his world grew dark.
When Ienari came to, Nonno was gone and Tousan had left for another work trip. Kaasan hovered, worried about him and whenever Tsuna tried to approach him, all Ienari could remember was that suffocating drowning feeling and could no longer stand to be in the same room as his twin.
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Harmony
"Are you telling me all of this could have been avoided if Nono had never sealed Ienari's Flames in the first place?" Reborn hissed, angry. He cursed Nono to hell and back, losing all respect he had for that man.
"Hard to say," Ayame said. "We'll never know how the world would have turned out if Ienari and Tsuna had finished properly harmonizing when they were five. Maybe most of this could have been avoided, or it could have simply manifest in a different way." She let out a soft sigh.
"But there was no denying that Ienari was afraid of Tsuna, that Tsuna was this terrifying monster in his eyes and since he considers power to be his safety net..." Ayame said, trailing off.
"The only way to be safe is to be stronger than the monster," Reborn finished, seeing his student in a completely different light. He thought back to when he had given Ienari those personality tests. Ienari had said Tsuna was nothing but trouble, had he meant monster instead? It would have changed the context of what he meant completely.
Ienari was afraid of Tsuna.
The idea was almost downright laughable if it wasn't so sobering. Ienari was trying to confront his fear over and over again by attacking Tsuna, the only way he could understand because they weren't properly harmonizing, because they were torn asunder in a way they couldn't even grasp. Tsuna learned to be afraid of Ienari, of his twin's hurtful words and hits, never understanding why until Ayame had wandered into his life, a vicious cycle of fear.
And Nono, for all his good intentions, was the very cause of this.
"This hardly excuses Ienari's behavior," Ayame said.
"But it does explain it," Reborn said. No, Ienari could have reacted in many different ways, but he didn't necessarily have to go as far as abusing Tsuna for it. But there was no denying that their relationship was doomed from the start.
"Then what happened when they were eight?" Reborn asked.
"There are two incidents when they were eight," Ayame said. "I will be surprised if you don't know the first one. It occurred shortly before I met Tsuna. He and Ienari were kidnapped by enemies of Vongola."
Reborn frowned. He had read that report. "I thought the CEDEF had gotten to the group before they actually harmed them." It was one of the closest attempts on Tsuna and Ienari. Iemitsu had mentioned bringing his family to Italy if they had gotten so close to them. But shortly after that, all the attempts on the Sawada Family dropped (which if Ayame had come to town then, would make sense).
"No, from what Tsuna had told me there was a point where they had been taken," Ayame said.
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Kidnapped
Ienari trembled. He didn't want to be here. A group of men had grabbed them this morning and tied them up. Ienari refused to look to his left where Tsuna was tied up just like him.
"We should be able to fetch a pretty penny for these two," one of their kidnappers said, leering at Ienari. "I bet they'll pay plenty for them."
Fear gripped Ienari's heart, squeezing tight like a wrung-out lemon. He didn't understand why they wanted them. His eyes closed as the man reached out to stroke his cheek, the putrid stench of smoke and alcohol on his breath.
"Don't touch him," Tsuna cried out.
Eyes still glued shut, Ienari didn't see what happened next, only that the temperature of the room skyrocketed. Alarmed, his brown eyes flew open and all he could describe was a scene from hell. Orange flames danced, burning everywhere. The men were gone, turned to ashes, leaving nothing but Tsuna standing in the middle of it. Orange flames danced across Tsuna's arms, his eyes glowing orange.
Demon.
Monster.
Tsuna reached forward, the ropes binding Ienari burning away and Ienari hiccupped at the heat. His heart pounded faster and minute the ropes were gone, Ienari shoved Tsuna as far back as he could. "Monster!" he screamed.
He took off, never looking back.
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Awakening
"That was when Tsuna woke his Flames," Reborn said.
"And Hyper Intuition. He remembers the incident with startling clarity, but the onrush of Hyper Intuition left him… detached. It took years of piecing the incident together to pinpoint that this was the logical escalation point of Ienari's abuse," Ayame said, eyes distant.
"Hyper Dying Will Mode makes the person feel as if their body was breaking, yet that they were prepared to take on anything as well as to be unafraid of their body being destroyed," Reborn remarked morbidly. "I can only imagine that at eight, Tsuna was left very confused and unprepared for it."
"Is that what they describe Hyper Dying Will Mode to be? I had no previous knowledge of Dying Will Flames before coming to Namimori," Ayame admitted. "Spirit Energy manifest in so many different ways that I will spend the rest of my life mapping and researching them all and will only scratch the surface. Until Tsuna met Giotto, I had no information to draw upon, halfway to determining that Tsuna had awakened yet another variation and that we would have to build from the ground up all the weakness and strengths of his ability."
Reborn blinked at that confession. Dying Will Flames were a bit of an open secret, just widespread enough through all of Europe that he was finding it a bit strange that Ayame had never heard of them before.
Picking up on his disbelief, Ayame merely shrugged. "I'm not all knowing. There are over a hundred million different variations of Spirit Energy currently and many are passed down from family to family, but even that varies. My own ability has never been recorded in my entire family line, whereas Fuuta's family ability has only varied in terms of strength. To the extreme, there are entire communities that are created and isolated in a way people only stumble across them by mistake. I have little care for the European countries so…" She trailed off, lost briefly in thought.
"The second incident then?" Reborn probed.
Ayame's expression twisted, growing dark. "Tsuna wishes to explain it to you. In fact, you'll probably hear it from him as soon as he comes back. Don't push too hard; it's something he has been working the courage to do so," she pinned him with a swift glare.
Reborn merely clenched his teeth as once again the reason was jerked away from him. (A small part was warm that Tsuna was willing to tell him in person, but it was driving him up the wall.)
Ayame let out a soft huff, reaching for the sake bottle once more. "In a general nutshell, it was bad. I don't dare to think what could have happened, had I not been there."
"How bad?" Reborn asked.
"Ienari would have gotten his wish to be an only child."
Reborn drew in a sharp breath. His heart ached at the mere thought of losing Tsuna like that. Unbidden the bridge incident rose in his mind. It seemed that was twice that Reborn nearly lost his Sky before they had even met.
"And what happens next?" Reborn asked, letting the second incident rest in the back of his mind.
"Nono will most likely bring Ienari to Italy to finish his training," Ayame said. Her gaze sharpened, the gold glittering in the moonlight, a warning. "And you need to make a choice."
Choose wisely went unsaid.
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Daybreak
The sun broke the horizon, ushering in a new day. To the ignorant, the sleepy town of Namimori was heading into another normal routine. To the knowing, this was simply the lull, the break in the waves, sensing the tsunami building in the distance.
"Good morning, Nono."
Nono broke his gaze away from the window. "Hello, Reborn."
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Arrival
"Enjoy the plane ride, Tsuna?"
Tsuna narrowed his eyes. "Alright, why did you come back early?"
Ayame huffed and crossed her arms. "Don't be so suspicious."
"Neesan."
"I just needed to talk to Reborn, alone," Ayame said irritably.
Tsuna sighed softly. He still didn't understand what exactly she had against Reborn. She still refused to budge on the exact reason why. But since they've kept a tense truce, he hadn't done anything to force the issue. "And where is Reborn?"
"At the hospital."
Tsuna's eyes widened in surprise. Did she put Reborn in the hospital? "Neesan!" He flew out the door, not waiting to hear what she had to say next.
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Count Your Sins
"You have my thanks, Reborn. Ienari has truly grown strong," Nono said with a smile.
Reborn merely tipped his head, settling onto Nono's hospital bed. For once, his words choked in his throat, unable to form them. At the core of everything, Nono was ignorant. Not innocent, no the sealing of Ienari's Flames had caused so many issues, no matter his reasoning behind it. But he was so ignorant. He didn't know what was happening in Namimori. Even now, to Nono, Tsuna was the frail older twin who didn't know anything about Vongola and Ienari was a shiny rising star.
He didn't know how blinded he was, by Tsuna and Ayame's plan.
(It was brilliant, Reborn could admit in the privacy of his mind. Nono was fooled, all of Vongola was fooled. No one was wiser.)
Nono knew nothing about the issues between the twins, knew nothing of the attacks in Namimori or how Tsuna's Sky Flames burned brighter than anything Reborn had seen before.
Reborn wanted to yell, to demand an explanation as to why Nono had sealed Ienari's Flames, to cause the Sawada Family such heartfelt grief. (Because Tsuna was his Sky, Nana was so welcoming and understanding, and their differences aside, Ienari was still his student.) There were mafia dons and there were Vongola Dons and Reborn had thought Nono was different. (Such a foolish notion, idealistic and stupid, whatever made him think such a thing was possible in the darkness of the underworld?)
Everyone had feet of clay.
Reborn wanted to know, had so many questions and yet they remain beneath his tongue. He didn't dare to ask, didn't want to question. (The pedestal was already crumbling and Reborn knew if he trodden too far, that plan that Tsuna and Ayame had worked so far to complete would also unravel.)
"Do you intend to still bring Ienari to Italy?" Reborn asked.
Coward.
(But he was also only human.)
Nono nodded. "The Shadow Court's attacks seem to have stopped, but it will be easier to protect him in the long run. As long as Ienari agrees."
"He will," Reborn said confidently. Vongola meant power and Ienari craved nothing less.
"Will you return as well?" Nono asked mildly.
Technically, Reborn's contract was up. If Vongola was going to take Ienari into their protection, there was no real need for a 'tutor'. Especially since Reborn was not a part of Vongola in the first place.
Reborn closed his eyes. A choice. A decision. A crossroad. Constantly, people asked. Ayame asked. Giotto asked. To stay or go.
Stay or go.
Stay with Tsuna, the good and bad, the potential enemies, the potential tainting. Or go, back to his old life, lonely and powerful, and so far from the closest thing he could call home.
It was an easy choice. (It was a difficult choice.)
But Reborn knew his answer.
"No," Reborn said firmly. "There is something else I must see to."
Nono smiled at him. It was warm and gentle (and so easily part of the deception, an act of a grandfatherly old man). If Reborn didn't know better, he would have easily mistaken Nono for a kindly old man who was hospitalized. "That's too bad," he said.
The door to Nono's hospital room slid open. There in the doorway, Tsuna leaned against the frame, panting. "Re-Reborn?"
"Tsuna?!" Reborn stood, surprised. Why was he here?
Tsuna froze, eyes snapping to Nono. "Ah… it seems I misunderstood. I thought Reborn had been admitted to the hospital, not that he was visiting someone…"
"Hoho, you must be Tsunayoshi," Nono said with a smile. "I don't suppose you remember me."
Tsuna gave him a shaky smile. "I do… it's been awhile Nonno."
Nono smile at him, still warm and friendly. "I should apologize for keeping your father away so often."
Tsuna pursed his lips. "It is largely his choice as well," he said softly. He smiled. "Tousan works hard."
Nono nodded. Reborn on the other hand, jolted in realization, the sense of wrongness. The smile on Tsuna's face looked false and hollow, simply polite with no real joy.
Tsuna bowed. "I'm sure you need your rest. I won't linger. It was good to see you again, Nonno."
Nono smiled back. "It was good to see you as well."
Reborn mentally frowned at the awkward tension in the room and said nothing as Tsuna closed the door and left.
"I wonder if Iemitsu or Ienari told him the truth about Vongola," Nono said mildly. "Tsunayoshi seemed rather angry."
Reborn tipped his hat. Tsuna had every reason to be. "I do not blame him," Reborn answered honestly.
Nono gave a tired sigh. Reborn took it as a sign to take his leave as well. The cards had been dealt and for better or worse, good and bad intentions, they lay as they fell, a game that was already concluded, even if half of the side was still unaware.
Reborn would bow out, fold his hand. He would trust Tsuna's lead instead.
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Don't Look Back
Dino stared down at the cup of coffee that Romario had brewed for him. The bitter smell reminded him of Reborn. He sighed, thoughts heavy. Last night, it had been confirmed. Ienari was Decimo, the next successor. Last night was the last time Dino could afford to delude himself. It was amazing that Reborn hadn't tossed him into remedial training.
He barely built any relationship with Ienari in all the time Dino had spent in Namimori. Given how close their famiglias were, that was a terrible mistake.
But…
He pulled out the golden charm that Ayame had made for him, rubbing his thumb over the soft material.
Reborn had taught him to trust his gut and all this time it was Tsuna that Dino felt drawn to. He pursed his lips. It wasn't a good move to drop an alliance with Vongola. He leaned back in his chair, resting his arm over his eyes.
There was no reason to stay in Namimori more. Ienari was most likely going to be brought back to Italy and Dino had a duty, a responsibility to his own famiglia. He couldn't just… continue on with this whimsical desire.
"What do I do?" Dino asked.
"Let your heart rule your head," Romario said.
Dino looked at his right-hand man. "It won't benefit the famiglia," Dino said. "In fact, it could set us to war with Vongola."
Romario merely shrugged. "We will deal it as it comes. All we want, Boss, is for you to be happy. And if it makes you happier to relocate the entire famiglia to Japan, then we will deal with it." He gestured to the golden charm Dino was holding. "If nothing else, do you not have something you need to discuss with Miss Ayame before we leave?"
Dino looked at charm, closing his eyes. Ayame with her crushing loneliness and heart so large. Ayame with her fiery temper and quiet thoughtfulness. Ayame with her sharp mind and gentle hands.
"Better to have loved and lost than never loved at all," Dino said.
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Weight
Xanxus woke, cursing darkly. He lost. He fucking lost to that piece of trash. How?!
Weight. Somehow, for a brief second, his body had felt heavy, sluggish as if something was pressing down on him. Enough for his guard to drop and allow that fucking trash to take a hit. Xanxus snarled, blood pounding under his skin. He didn't accept this, he fucking didn't.
Someone had tricked him. There was no way that that scumbag had that ability. This was unacceptable. He would find out who was responsible and destroy them.
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Leap of Faith
Reborn found Tsuna waiting outside of the hospital, kicking his legs idly as he sat. "Tsuna," Reborn said. He paused, swallowing dryly.
Tsuna smiled at him; this one was familiar, warm and friendly like usual. "Reborn," Tsuna said. "Finished with Nono?"
A leap of faith. Trust was a hard concept for Reborn, something he rarely ever gave away. But trust was a two-way street, where would it take him?
"Yes," Reborn said with a nod. "He still plans on taking Ienari to Italy. I've informed that I will not return with them."
'I'm staying' went unsaid.
There was clear elated joy in Tsuna's eyes at that response. Reborn felt the rush of Sky Flames, the deep and overwhelming feeling that beckoned him and welcomed him home. Tension swept away at the boundless affection and acceptance. How could he have ever doubted this?
Tsuna hummed, delighted. "Thank you," he said, gratitude reflecting in his words.
Reborn hopped onto the wall, sitting next to Tsuna. He hesitated for a brief second before asking, "How do you really feel about Iemitsu?"
The joy fled from Tsuna's face, a tired and weary look replacing it. "It's complicated, I supposed. I understand why he did it, why he doesn't come home, but I haven't forgiven him."
"For becoming involved with Vongola?" Reborn asked. Vongola had always known about Giotto's family line in Japan. But it wasn't until Iemitsu had joined that they had become interested in them again.
Tsuna shook his head. "No. For not coming home when I was dying."
What?
-smiles-
As previously mentioned, the conversation Ayame and Reborn had was what sparked this entire fic into life. It took so long to get here, but I'm so proud that I've made it at least this far. How many of you picked up on the fact that Tsuna's Harmonization overriding Ienari's was never mentioned back in chapter 12? We touched upon the themes of home and power in this fic which I'm sure plenty of you picked up on. 8D There are still choices to be made, but Reborn has made his.
Please leave a review on your way out. What did you think of the safety and Sky Flames conversation?
See you next month.
General Notes
See Chapter 27 Descendant (Come Back Please) for Daemon teasing Giotto about Hidetada.
See Chapter 5 Lullaby and Chapter 12 Secrets of Namimori for Ienari falling out of the tree.
See Chapter 21 Drowning, Chapter 28 Drowning for Ienari's feeling of drowning.
See Chapter 14 Dino for Dino encountering Tsuna's harmonization for the first time.
See Chapter 12 for Reborn wondering why Tsuna's harmonization hadn't override Ienari's
See Chapter 4 Trouble for Ienari's quote about Tsuna being nothing but trouble.
Tsuna and home have been mentioned frequently together throughout the entire story. Likewise, Ienari and power had been mentioned frequently together.
Yoshimune and Hidetada, Giotto's twin sons have been mentioned frequently together throughout the story. Canon wise, only Yoshimune exists.