Woopsies this was supposed to go up yesterday.

~o~o~o~

Chapter 3

She ran through dark alleys, not looking back. She could still sense them behind her. The adrenaline pumping through her, she decided to jump over the next fence- yes, there was a dead end after that, and she could fight properly there. It would probably take them a bit longer anyway to climb the fence in the first place, which would let her gain some extra time to catch her breath.

She made it into the three-walled alley, and picked up the nearest object closest in shape and size to her preferred weapon. A steel pipe. It was a little heavier than she liked, but it would have to do.

Hearing them approach, she took a defensive stance and tried to clear her mind.

A whistle. "Wow, you're prepared."

"What do you want." Without moving her eyes, she focused on her peripherals to try to find a way out after she was done.

"Just want'o make sure you know that you shouldn't be hanging around here. It is our territory."

There were three- four.

"I didn't do or see anything." She said.

"Yeah well, we've seen you around. You beat some of us up, and to be honest, 't intrigued us. Boss kinda wants you in. So we're gett'n you in."

She dropped her stance but stayed tense. "What's in it for me?"

-x-

"Well. That was a bit weird." I yawned as I sat up.

What exactly was all that? It wasn't a nightmare…

"Hmm…" I held my chin in mock-thought, "don't know don't care."

We had settled into something much like a routine, if you could call it that. Tsuna knows to just talk constantly in relation to what we're doing, and I try to focus on actually doing it. I still listen, since I have no choice, but sometimes it results in me stabbing something by accident.

But what if it was important?

"If it was important we'll dream of it again or we'll remember it later today." I said. I was trying to pull my blazer-sweater on.

We had been this way for a week, give or take. A very... unique experience I must say. I'm just happy that he didn't come into my body instead. Not that I know what it looks like, but that slightly feminine feeling is still there.

Airi can we go back to sleep?

"Oh come on, you made it like two days without complaining."

But I wake up because of you in the first place! He whined.

"'S not my fault for falling off the bed."

But you do it on purpose! I felt him throwing a mini tantrum in my head.

"If you're not awake I can't think, I thought we'd been through this before." I attempted to tame my hair. Nope. Impossible.

But when I wake up first-

"You did that once."

My face scrunched up slightly. It's still not fair.

"Whatever." I finish trying to fix my hair when there's a knock on the door. "Yeah?"

"Oh, Tsu-kun, you're awake." Tsuna's mother sounds slightly surprised. "Are you going to start taking your studies seriously?"

"Not really. I've just been falling off the bed lately." I gave her my best I-am-definitely-your-son smile.

On purpose, an inner glare.

"Oh, let it go already." I mumbled.

"Eh?" I remember his mom's still there.

"Oh, uh, nothing! How come you came to my room? I was just 'bout to head down anyway." It was way earlier than she would have come if I was about to be late. Or she's way too carefree.

"Right, I nearly forgot! This came in the mail today," She handed me a piece of paper. "I gave them a call right away!"

It's for a home tutor...

"I will raise your child to be the leader of the next generation. I am young and good looking – full of himself, this one." Tsuna and I deadpanned in synchronization.

"As long as they have a place to sleep and meals, they'll teach you 24 hours a day for free!" She exclaimed happily.

"Your mom the frugal type?" I whisper to Tsuna.

She likes sales, so maybe? But it smells like a scam..

"It smells like a scam," I voiced Tsuna's words.

And I don't need a tutor!

"And I don't need a tutor." I repeated. "But he says he's good looking, maybe-"

I don't wannaaa!

"Ugh, fine, geez." I look up at Nana, "I'm going to go eat now, don't wanna be late."

I head for the stairs.

...why are you staring them down?

"I am determined to not fall today. You should make an effort, too, it's your fault in the first place." I carefully put a foot on the edge of the step-

AH!

"GODDAMMIT TSUNA!" I reach for the handrails, to no avail, as I fly down the stairs. "I hate you..." I muttered, once my head was firmly planted on the floor at the bottom of the stairs.

Ow...

"Ciaossu!" I turn my head towards the squeaky voice behind me.

A baby?

"The hell's a baby doing here?"

He's wearing a suit, too.

"So you're Tsuna?" The baby asked.

"Not exact-" I bit my tongue, "I mean, yeah."

That hurt... small tears sprang up in my eyes.

"Starting today, I'll be looking after you." He shot me a questioning look.

Who is this baby?

"Who are you?" I tried to ignore the feeling in my stomach. I have no clue what it means, but it doesn't make me feel any good.

"Don't worry, Dame-Tsuna."

How does he know my nickname!?

"Maybe he came up with it himself; it wouldn't be a stretch, what with our dramatic entrance." I reasoned quietly.

The baby gave me another weird look, which set off the response Tsuna had given me. "W-why do you know my nickname!?"

"Gathering information is a basic skill, Dame-Tsuna."

He keeps saying Tsuna, Tsuna- my name is Sawada Tsunayoshi!

"It's a flipping baby, don't get so worked up, gee- uhh, stop saying 'Tsuna, Tsuna', my name is Sawada Tsunayoshi-" a small foot collided with my cheek. "This is what I get for saying what you tell me to..." I mumbled as I held my cheek.

Just then Nana came down the stairs. "Ara? Where are you from, little boy?"

I felt like his eyes kept landing on me, even though I couldn't see their whites. "I'm the home tutor, Reborn." He flashed a card saying the same words.

"Home tutor?" I heard Nana's voice behind me.

Reborn?

I felt laughter bubble up inside me, "Tsuna, wait- ahahahaha!" the uncontrollable laughter escaped me.

He can't be a tutor, he's just a baby! his laughter continued both in and outside of my head. Ahh, my stomach hurts!

I felt like a small meteor hit my head- Reborn's foot.

"Ow." I voiced both myself and Tsuna.

"Ah, Tsu-kun, if you don't hurry you're going to be late!"

I groaned. I was going to be early today, too.

\=^=/

"I'm off!" I ran out of the door, much like I had had to the past week.

"Tsuna, you should seriously keep yourself in check, it's your fault we're in this much pain." I said. I had gotten more used to not thinking, although Tsuna and I made an agreement that since it was his body, he had the right to control what happened to it. So I had to voice out his responses, whether I concurred or not.

So did you really believe he was a tutor right away?

"Ugh, maybe not, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna say it! He made my stomach hurt, unless you didn't notice?"

Oh, that was a gut feeling? I thought maybe I was hungry.

"God, Tsuna. Learn to tell the difference between- who's- AH!" I felt a sudden weight on my head. Of course when I did, Tsuna-itis hit, causing me to trip over my feet and, fall.

"Hmph, you noticed. Well done." Reborn smirked as he stood above me.

"Who are you?" I asked. Tsuna had been nagging, anyway.

"I'm a hitman."

Yeah, right – what's under- AIRI! Tsuna yelped inside my head as I registered the small dog's tail under my hand.

Fear filled me, and I could not remember ever being so frightened- well, I couldn't remember much in the first place – but my body instinctively pulled away and tried to put as much distance between the dog and myself.

"Stop being so frightened, it's a chihuahua for god's sake." I said. This probably looked odd to others, seeing as my facial expression was maybe the epitome of fear yet my voice was semi-steady. It didn't even sound like self-encouragement.

But they're scary!

I sighed. Meanwhile, Reborn was taming the 'beast'.

"You're a loser who get panicked easily in a crisis. You're probably the only middle school student on this planet to be afraid of chihuahuas." he said.

"Yeah well you're probably the only baby to be a home tutor," I muttered. Maybe Tsuna had a reason to be deadly afraid of chihuahuas. Reborn wouldn't know.

"Aww, how cute!" I heard an admiring squeal from down the road. I got up and dusted myself off, while Tsuna interjected with his – obvious – comment.

It's Kyoko-chan!

"Please do not go on another worshipping rant, it really hurt last time." I pleaded.

"Ciaossu." Reborn said.

Kyoko crouched in front of him, "Good morning!"

"Should I prepare myself...?" I counted down.

Kyoko-chan is so cute! Tsuna said, right on time. I looked up as another girl approached us, this one a little bit... less flowery.

"Is he your little brother?" She asked while breathing heavily.

"Uh, no." I said. I didn't need Tsuna on that one, although he answered at the same time.

"Why are you wearing a suit?" Mine and Tsuna's attention was brought back to Kyoko.

"Because I'm in the mafia."

The mafia? What's this kid even saying?

"I am not saying that, that is going to get us in pain." In the first week, this was the first time I went against Tsuna's words. "You're not my boss, but it is your body. But I feel pain too. I now grant myself the right to pass a filter through your quick responses."

Well, fine.

"That's so cool!" Kyoko exclaimed.

"Tsuna we're gonna be late. Hibari smacked us last time and we made it the moment the bell rang. I don't think we're gonna make it this time. Tsuna." I didn't want to leave without him giving me the a-okay.

You try having a whiny teen inside your head. His head.

But, Kyoko...

I exhaled loudly, and then Kyoko took note of the same thing I did.

"Well, I'm going to be late for school, so see you later, little boy." She waved as she walked off.

"Ciao ciao!" Reborn waved back.

"Ah! I'm going to be late too. See you later!" The other girl walked off too.

"Can we go now?" I asked quietly.

I guess we should-

"Tsuna, you have a crush on that girl, don't you?" Reborn turned to look at us.

"Technically..." I started.

He can't just refer to her as "that girl," that's Sasagawa Kyoko, the school idol!

"I know." I was going to wait for him to finish his rant, until I realized that the little baby tutor was staring at me through narrowed eyes, again.

It doesn't concern him!

"Yes, yes, I'm quite..." I cut myself off. He was looking at me far too closely for my liking. I should probably start watching my volume.

He continued on as he watched me, "I'm your tutor, so I need to understand all your relationships."

I never hired him! Tell him to leave me alone!

I tried to answer by moving my mouth the least. "You are aware that I'm your middle man, and that should be an us, not a me. I'm experiencing everything first-hand."

Airi! He whined.

"God, you are so- ugh. Leave us alone already, we never hired you!" I said while keeping back the urge to crouch so we'd be closer to eye-level.

"Who's we?" He asked. I froze.

"I meant I, my, me- grammar isn't uh, good. Nothing wrong!" I put my hands in front of me in true Tsuna-fashion. I had found myself doing it earlier in the week without realizing. I just stayed frozen while I waited for him to respond. That had been bad.

He just looked at me warily, before seemingly dismissing it. "So, have you confessed to Sasagawa Kyoko yet?" he asked.

"As if," I said, while Tsuna stuttered in my head D-don't be stupid.

"Why?"

"Because she's the school idol, obviously."

And she would never consider me.

"And she would never consider me." I repeated dutifully.

"Your test scores average out to 17.5; you can only get to the third level of the vaulting horse; you can't even spin on a horizontal bar."

"Really?" I hadn't tried the last two.

"So it's because you're a useless 'Dame-Tsuna'?"

Right.

"I suppose." I shrugged.

Wait, why does he know so much!?

I felt like I was reading from a script at times.

"Why do you know so much."

He held a comically large magnifying glass. "Your eyes tell me everything."

That doesn't make any sense!

"Ugh... I'm going to be late?"

Tell him to stop asking about Kyoko-chan! I could die happy if I could date someone as cute as her.

"Stop asking about Kyoko-chan and I'd be really happy if I could date her. Seriously? First we have to fix this" I motioned to myself, "then you and I can die happy, sheesh.

He ignored me, but I know it's a waste of time even if I do confess.

"Stop ignoring me Tsuna," I hissed. "But I know that it's a waste of time even if I do confess."

"That's a strong loser complex." Reborn said.

"I know right, that's what I said!" I agreed.

He shot a look at me.

"Shit."

Tell him to stop already, we're going to be late.

"Stop already." I can't think. I can't come up with a way to avoid this. Tsuna has been ignoring me even though I am very literally him- how do you even- I breathed deeply.

"I guess it's finally time." Reborn's magnifying glass turned into a rainbow-coloured blob.

"What."

It turned into a gun. "Die."

Ehh?

"You'll understand if you die."

"What are you talking about-" Tsuna and I said.

A shot went off.

Searing pain.

~o~o~o~

Soooo we met Reborn, yay A+.

Bu-ut, this is going to be one long fic if I can't even get through one episode per chapter. Eh, we'll see.

Again, lots of communication happens between mind and body, yes? So many one liner paragraphs.

Anyway, yes, the lines are practically the same as in episode 1, but considering this is the type of story that only alters the main storyline, be prepared to face Katekyo Hitman Reborn! all over again with an overarching extra plot.

Next chapter, the dying will bullet's effect on our special little situation, dun dun dunn. Oh and Mochida, yes.

Review please~