EDITED: March 11/19

FIRST: Thank you to everyone who reviewed, put this on watch, favorites, or happened to put me on follows. I need to start hopping on hotmail more often. Now I know I usually put in a list, but there wasn't enough time so I'll add that list in chapter 14.

SECOND: I should really mention now that however much it might look like I plan out my chapters, I... sort of do, if lists of bullet points and really vague and by-the-seat-of-my-pants 'plans' count.

THIRD: 1827 is prevalent in this, I know. I'm kiinda sorry about that since I'm not being fair to readers who aren't fond of Hibari or really want more with the other characters. Beyond chapter 12 there isn't much blatant romance-wise, it's mainly bonding. There are hints here and there, however, and characters begin to acknowledge that they care for Tsuna in a more-than-friendly way. For the most part this story is about the growth of Tsuna and the rest of his group. TSUNA'S acknowledging of his friends feelings for him, well, I picture him as preferring denial toward drama and possibly breaking hearts (his or others). The Kokuyo Arc marks when Tsuna will begin to ease himself into the idea that he is what at least some of his friends (to his knowledge) want.

x-X-x-X-x

"The first step toward change is awareness. The second step is acceptance." - Nathaniel Branden.

The week started off strange but at least it was interesting.

It began with the arrival of a tiny Chinese kid his Intuition told him was a little girl. She saved him from the massive doberman that had mutilated his arm when he was younger, and in return he offered to buy her a candy at the store before he had to run to school. She happily took the reward and later he had to dodge some truly horrible mysterious attacks from her that came in the form of smelly air-punches that could curl the nose hairs of the dead, but then Hibari's appearance caused her to enter a strange trance that Tsuna panicked over until Reborn plainly said she'd blow up the school when she reached zero on her countdown, then he yelped and used considerable Sky-Lightning enhanced strength to toss her straight up. The light show was spectacular, and she landed feet first on his head when he tried catching her.

Ignoring the raging pain on the crown of his head, as it was nothing to broken bones, Tsuna picked up the dizzy kid and smiled at her as he invited her to sleep over at his house. His madre loved having people over and always made a lot of food, so having her there would be no problem. I-Pin was her name and the girl accepted this with a bow she jumped to the ground to perform some intricate martial arts moves. It was impressive.

The next day was chaos from the get go, especially after his mother sheepishly left him to look after the kids so she could go to a piano recital with friends. At least Tsuna had Fuuta there to help soothe I-Pin and chase the mischievous Lambo out of the kitchen so Tsuna could convince I-Pin, once and for all, that Lambo is not a Broccoli Monster since they are not real, but if he keeps trying to scare her come tell him and he'll put the boy in a time out. Five minutes later Tsuna had Lambo tied up and seated in, as well as facing, a corner with the threat of having all his candy thrown out if he so much as turns around. I-Pin had brought a book to Tsuna and Fuuta and the both of them were trying to teach her some Japanese, much to Reborn's obvious amusement.

This is when Gokudera and Takeshi came to visit, all to do artsy homework together, and the Storm Guardian was not having an easy time of it. Since gathering in his room and trusting Fuuta to watch the children ten minutes ago, Tsuna and Takeshi had quietly worked with their clay while not making it obvious that they were observing the bomber grow more frustrated.

"Um... Gokudera-kun, would you like some help? I-I could help..."

The bomber looked ecstatic. "Juudaime! I would be honored! But I don't think I can accept too much help, you know? It's supposed to my project, I wouldn't want anyone somehow blaming you for me cheating!"

"The teacher's instructions were that you had to use the clay... either as the sole material for your subject or as a part of it..." The Decimo grinned as an idea hit him. "You could make the Mt. Fuji out of cardboard and spread the clay over and add texture with a pencil or make something better."

Gokudera looked up hopefully. "Really? You're a genius, Juudaime!"

Cue red and embarrassed face.

"Er, s-so, you keep working on that, 'kay? I'm going to clear my desk so you can work over there without any distraction from Takeshi and I." Gokudera looked like a happy puppy without the ears and tail, and Tsuna pretended his face did not increase in heat as he quickly cleared his desk cluttered with notebooks, sketchbooks and scattered eraser bits. "There! I'll get you some stuff to use, so you should try sketching out exactly what you want the project to look like!"

As Gokudera stood and sat at the desk with a pink face and notebook in hand to doodle his idea, Takeshi had a little grin on his face since he figured it would come to this. Tsuna had been eyeing Gokudera's increasingly frustrated efforts with concern, and the guy could be so thoughtful. He watched the young Sky leave to fetch materials and threw a paper ball at Gokudera. With Reborn off doing who knows what elsewhere it was a good time to say something.

"Hey, Gokudera, could I ask you something?"

"What, sword-freak?" Gokudera did not look away from his paper and pen.

"You like Tsuna too, right?"

There was a distinct ripping sound and Gokudera crumpled his ruined page and chucked it at Takeshi with accuracy, but the boy only caught it with a grin.

"You bastard, what are you insinuating?" Gokudera was ready to throw pencils at the swordsman and not his bombs only because he was in his Juudaime's room. "I am nothing more than a loyal subordinate who will lay down his life for the Juudaime, I'm not some pervert!"

Takeshi tilted his head with a confused smile. "It's okay if you like him, Gokudera. And you're not a subordinate, you're Tsuna's friend first! He'd be really sad if he heard you talk like that."

The Storm flinched slightly and bared his teeth despite knowing that to certainly be true. "Doesn't change the fact that I'm not a pervert..." A jolt ran through him and he stood up to stalk toward the seated Rain and loom. "If you hurt the Juudaime I will take great pleasure in blowing you up, you pervy sword-freak."

Takeshi lost the usually constant little smile and stood to loom better by dint of being taller. "If I hurt Tsuna then I expect you to hurt me in return because he's not the type to get back at his friends. And the same goes for me; make Tsuna bleed, or make him cry, and I won't be such a nice guy to you."

A silent staredown followed before Tsuna's footsteps came up the stairs and the two Guardians resumed their previous positions with nods of dual agreement because Gokudera wanted the favor repaid if he, for Kami knows what reason, ever, ever hurt the boss.

Tsuna entered his room with Reborn sitting on his shoulder and froze at the strange atmosphere. Nothing looked different, from their positions to their body language, but there was something plucking gently at his Intuition. He exchanged a look with Reborn and the baby shrugged, so Tsuna set down a cloth bag of snacks by his low table and handed Gokudera tough construction paper, lengths of cardboard, glue, and a plastic cup full of little art stuff to give Mt. Fuji texture and color. The Storm looked gobsmacked and his jaw was dropped, so Tsuna snickered and used a soft touch to close his mouth with a smile.

"If you take your time I know you'll make it really good, Gokudera-kun!"

Takeshi grinned as he watched the Storm's face go quite red as he stuttered and grinned a thanks before diving into the work. Tsuna had a smile on his face as he sat and pulled out the packaged snacks he brought. When he looked up and saw Takeshi looking sunnier than usual considering he was doomed to deal with maths as soon as he finished the creative project, he decided to ignore the oddness. His Intuition wasn't saying anything bad or good so it wasn't anything to worry about, right?

With Reborn perched on his shoulder and slapping him with Leon-ruler every time he made a mistake in molding his clay to look like a lion with with careful movements and simple wooden tools, Tsuna expected the evening to be as quiet and peaceful as possible even with Lambo out of his corner and with Fuuta watching over him and I-Pin. Unfortunately it couldn't stay peaceful because as he was detailing the mane he heard a question that he had been worrying over for a while now.

"Juudaime, may I be your Right Hand man?"

Tsuna swallowed hard and slowly looked up from his sculpture to see Gokudera twisted in the chair and half exposing the complicated mountain he had made from tape, a toilet roll from the recycling box, glue, and carefully cut cardboard. It looked promising so far and he had faith in Gokudera's work when the bomber was keeping a level head. The Storm had a serious expression devoid of vexation or expectation, he was ready to accept whatever his answer may be.

"Um..." What was he supposed to say!? Choosing anyone at this point could cause strife, he was certain of that. Did he really have to choose a Right Hand? Couldn't he just rely on everyone?

"What about me, Tsuna? I've been pretty good about this Mafia Game, right?" Takeshi laughed sofly but the look on his face, coupled with a slight smile, was no less serious. "I think I'd make a good Right Hand too. I've got sharp senses."

Tsuna turned to Reborn and the baby was smirking! Smirking, damn it! How helpful.

"Um, y-you see..."

His bedroom door slammed open ("Papa, papa! Lambo-san wants to play!") and he barely held in the sigh of relief as he deftly scooped up Lambo and caught I-Pin by the back of her shirt with one finger, keeping the both of them from ruining his and Takeshi's clay sculptures (with the later being a baseball bat and a tanto).

"Lambo, I-Pin, you could have ruined our hard work, and do you know what that would mean for you? I-Pin as well, since you're staying for a while you're subject to the same rules as him."

A string of Chinese followed and Reborn helpfully translated: "She says: It means appropriate punishment for misbehavior, Tsuna. I'm sorry for chasing Lambo."

Tsuna shifted so he held both the kids in his arms and sheepishly nodded at a grinning Takeshi and an irritated Gokudera before leaving the room and coming face to face with a worried Fuuta.

"Papa! I'm sorry, they're both so fast!"

"It's fine, it's fine ! Lambo and I-Pin know they'll have time-outs in their own corners if they behave too badly. Let's set them up with some playdough and paint."

"Okay, I'll help you get Lambo-kun into the bath later!"

When Tsuna returned to the room he swallowed his nerves and stuttered lightly through saying that he wasn't ready to choose one person to trust with anything and everything, and not because he didn't trust anyone. How could he choose one friend over the rest when he knew they were all perfectly reliable? Contrary to what he expected (well, he was right about Takeshi laughing it off) both had no problem with that. Gokudera starry-eyed and promised Tsuna he wouldn't break his trust, not if he really had the same amount of faith in him as the rest of his group.

Later that night Reborn had surprised Tsuna by asking him why he trusted Gokudera just as much as the rest. Put into words it seemed silly to the Decimo, but he had always trusted his instincts and they said that Gokudera was just as trustworthy as his friends. The same loyalty, if more bold about it at times. Reborn told his student to keep following what those Vongola instincts tell him because they could save lives someday. Just don't get a big head about it. Tsuna promised since he wasn't one to be arrogant or a show-off.

Concerning one little Chinese girl, two days became two weeks and it seemed I-Pin had become a permanent fixture in the Sawada household like Lambo. Reborn later informed Tsuna that the girl had gotten permission from her master and legal guardian to stay with Tsuna and his Famiglia.

. . .

An interesting week of strenuous training passed. Reborn called in a favor with a 'friend' that went by the name of Fon. This 'friend' being an infant with a red pacifier had Tsuna worried for his own health, but the small martial artist had an adorable monkey named Lichi who liked to ride in Tsuna's hair during the times he trained with Fon. Somehow that made things a lot more bearable.

I-Pin was ecstatic and turned out to be the protege of the 'infant' martial arts master and spent an hour chatting in rapid Chinese and pointing at Tsuna now and again and making attack moves mimicking what he performed with Hibari. Fon and Reborn got along well enough, as neither was at each others throats or argued much, but there was occasionally this edge to the air between them and Tsuna got the feeling that there was a lot of history there, good and bad.

Tsuna thought to ask about Nobu, thought to text and try to call the flamboyant oddball some more, but there was that twisted part of himself that thought the worst and it hurt more than he was willing to say. If Nobu really had abandoned him at the first chance to give up teaching such a No-Good loser, if Nobu really left him behind, Tsuna knew he'd be more than a little broken. Fortunately it was an issue still up in the air and until Nobu told him to his face that he was No-Good to teach he wouldn't let his insecurities do much more than sting. He had to be better than that. Nobu wasn't Iemitsu.

Studying under an MA teacher barely 1'3" in height was a challenge at first as Tsuna had to adjust to sparring with Fon before learning. Fortunately with Sky-Lightning enhancing his brain the Decimo adjusted quickly enough to keep the Leon-jig to only twice that week.

Tsuna asked Reborn why he called in Fon. The reason was that while Reborn can continue sharpening Tsuna's reflexes, reaction time, speed, and strength, he couldn't do much to improve on the martial arts aspect of his training before the hitman's arrival. Reborn had master skill in Krav Maga, Aikido and Jiu-Jitsu, three arts that Tsuna had mastered, so the clear choice was another top-notch martial artist he could trust to give the future Decimo the best. Before Tsuna could ask about Nobu Reborn said that Nobu was busy with something.

Meaning he was in contact and completely ignoring the student he had promised to keep tormenting until he took the title of World's Third Strongest martial artist.

That just made the young future boss feel wonderful.

. . .

It was a Friday evening and the sun was setting. Fon was letting Tsuna rest for 30 minutes with an indulgent protein and fat rich snack made of chocolate, nuts, and other stuff making it delicious, especially with milk. He and his protege were in a farther corner of the spacious Sawada backyard and training quite diligently. Both tiny fighters were blurs and it was interesting to watch. With his tutor using his fluffy hair as a seat again he decided to voice a question.

"Nobu's alive, right? You wouldn't hide that from me."

Reborn jumped down to the veranda and gave Tsuna a deadpan look creepy by default. "Don't be so stupid."

"Right. I had to ask. But is... is there a reason he's been away for so long?"

"Yes. I asked him to step back and let me take over training for a while, but now he's busy with two other projects and suggested Fon when I told him to come back and train you."

"Ah. Tell him I'm breaking his nose next time I see him. He hasn't answered texts, messages or phone calls, and it's... it's really been bothering me, him being away like this. I used to train with him every day of every week... I miss him."

Reborn had an odd look on his face. "Describe how you feel when you think about him being away, now."

"Uh... it kinda feels like there's something missing, even when I'm not thinking about him. Why?"

The hitman petted Leon. "You have Guardians in Yamamoto, Gokudera, Ryohei, Hibari, and Hana, and that includes Kyoko. If any one of them disappeared for a prolonged time you would feel the same thing."

Tsuna frowned and touched his chest. More and more he was feeling the so-called bonds between him and his Famiglia's Flames. It was a soft presence, always there but difficult to sense without an hour of meditation. There were fourteen connections in all, and only one felt lukewarm and soft as a gentle breeze- Mist. His mother?

"I see... um... is it possible form a... you called it Harmonization before, right?" Slightest nod from infant. "Is it possible to form one with my mother?"

Reborn blinked, frowned and then nodded. "When a Sky is born to a parent with active Flames of different type, or when that parents awaken a mismatching Flame of the Sky, it can happen. If your mother ever had a Harmony with Iemitsu's Sky then she probably broke it herself, whether consciously or not, and Harmonized with you. He would have felt the break if it was sudden, so maybe mamma was a real Mist and subconsciously hid the break. He's not the sharpest tool after all, but you know that very well."

The infant's eyes then narrowed as he looked at the tree across the wide back yard. "Although, he'll visit again, probably at an inconvenient time. If there was ever a connection then he'll notice it being broken when he touches her. He may be able to disrupt the Harmony, and this would hurt your mother just as much as you, and damage her ability to use her Mist. It's considered inhumane and borderline illegal to force a Guardian bond to break. It's started a number of bloody fights in the Vongola's history."

Tsuna had at first been stuck on how his mother was a 'Guardian' too, and then his head caught up with the last of what Reborn said and his entire demeanor changed. A wave of Sky pulsed in time with his sudden rage and racing heart and it coiled around him in a visible aura, but it did not go any farther. Still, Fon and I-Pin stopped their fight to look over when they sensed something edging into bloodlust. "He's a silly, stupid man that would try to do just that if he knew he lost her. I'm sure of it."

Reborn frowned and jumped onto his students shoulder and yanked on a hair, bringing the boy back to himself. "Iemitsu is strong, no doubt, but against the world's greatest hitman, the world's greatest martial artist, and an anger fueled you, he'll have to be suicidal."

Tsuna paused, halting the protest that nearly left his lips at being included with him and Fon, but experience has taught him that being 'stupidly modest' brings a ruler to the cheek or a Leon-ball flying at his forehead. He bit his tongue and nodded, then released the white knuckled-grip he had on his training outfit. Distracting himself, he began meditating with Sky and Lightning to separate energies into one hand and the other. Five minutes later, while Reborn was off terrorizing someone or making big insects do his bidding, he sensed more than heard Fon approach with I-Pin trailing behind.

"What bothers you, Xuéshēng[student]?"

"I... I have no faith in my father." Tsuna gently flared his Sky and Lightning one after the other in time with his heartbeat. "He hurts my madre with his absence, and he's been gone for eight years. He visited once when I was twelve, and that's suspicious enough considering my friends got kidnapped that day." There was guilt and anger warring in Tsuna. A childish part of him felt bad for insinuating his father was the culprit, and at the same time he felt completely justified in assuming the worst. He couldn't look Fon in the eyes. "That man isn't worthy of my madre, and I'm scared he would... get too upset if he learned he isn't the Sky that she's Harmonized with."

"Skies can be quite territorial, whether they are aware of it or not." Fon spoke in a neutral and calm voice, but anyone with Reborn's ability to read others, or a Vongola Intuition, could tune into the displeasure that the Storm Arcobaleno felt. "As pitiful as it may be, given that you were but a child when your power first manifested and was soon after sealed-," Fon held up one tiny hand, staying questions. "Reborn told me about you so I could be prepared. Now... your father may have experienced Sky Dissonance, something you could think of as the opposite of a Harmonization. Other elements can experience Dissonance with any element, but between two Skies it tends to be more vicious.

Tsuna's heart stuttered and his two flames died in his trembling hands. His father might have disappeared because he felt that Dissonance? Did he know? Either Iemitsu left with full intentions to preserve Tsuna's life, or he drove himself away on pure instinct. The reason only partly mattered, all that really stood out in his mind was the cold of Intuition that said he would probably have to fight his No-Good father at some point. Knowing his luck Iemitsu would be 50 times as strong as Hibari the demi-human, and as strong as Reborn. He'd die, Tsuna the loser, the Health Hazard and most looked down upon student in all of Namimori Chuu history, would die at the hands of his own father depending on circumstances.

"Tsuna!" Fon jumped to his students shoulder and slapped the boy, drawing watery and terrified hazel eyes on him. The Storm Arcobaleno tried to instill as much firm belief in his voice as he could. His small hand, warm and steady on the boy's cheek, calmed Tsuna most. "You and your mother will be safe. Reborn and I will not let him hurt you or her. As strong as you are, and as mature as you can be, you are still a child that will not be killed under our watch. They will pay most dearly if they even try."

For someone with difficulty placing trust in others easily, it was almost disturbing how natural it felt to believe in Fon, to the point where he knew tiny martial artist would go through with it. Tsuna swallowed hard and nodded with a soft thanks, then summoned Sky to his shaking hands to concentrate on twisting the amber flames into a coil. I-Pin sat and watched this, smiling and clapping whenever the thick 'rope' of Sky reached farther than four feet, and for the next few minutes until a thought that had been nagging at Tsuna demanded to be asked.

"What do you mean by Synchronize? I mean, it's probably different from Harmonizing with different Flames, but..."

"The Sky is a mysterious Flame, as you will discover for yourself, I'm sure. Compatible Skies will form something like the Harmony only... I hear it is different for each pair of Skies. Most often it is like a spiritual balance, or a kind of understanding born from the exchange that occurs when two Skies let their Flames meet."

"Thank you, Fon-sensei, I think I understand a little... but I have another question. Could Sky Flames mimic properties from another Flame? Like... like Sun for healing?"

"Of course. Skies connect with the six other Flames because you could say that Sky is a complete and natural combination between the six that results in the mysterious power to Harmonize with the rest, and which enables skilled, or gifted, Skies to adjust the properties and appearance of your Flames. Most who have the ability come into it through trauma, and regardless of the how, it takes serious dedication to master Resonance with the other six Flames."

"What about my Sky-Lightning Flame? When I was first shot with the Dying Will Bullet it was supposed to be Sky only, except..."

"That is not Resonance, Xuéshēng, that is two separate Flames combining as one."

"Th-then when I achieve full Resonance the color...?"

"Yes, the color of your Sky will change somewhat according to which Flame you're Resonating with. The steadier and stronger the Resonance the stronger the Tranquility or Constructing trait will be. You should remember, however, that Resonance can never replace the actual Element."

Tsuna smiled. "Right. I did it once... to save my cat after she was tortured. It was the same day I awakened my Lightning... Now I have a goal, Fon-sensei, thank you."

"I'm certain you can do it, Xuéshēng." Fon patted his cheek and hopped off to lead I-Pin back to the training corner. Before he walked away though he smiled up at him. "You have a will that can move mountains and part seas. You just need to believe in yourself. It's one step to becoming stronger."

Usually such things were just pretty words to Tsuna, but more and more, just a little bit, he was beginning to see some real value in himself. In no way did he believe the moving mountains and parting seas bit, but he knew there was some little kernels of truth there. Belief is strong, as strong as Dying Will, and, really, this lack of faith in himself is a challenge he'll have to overcome.

One baby step at a time.

o o o

Tsuna often wondered if the Kami were testing him with Reborn and every new horror that happens.

Two weeks passed where Reborn, probably after having a talk with Fon, ceased with physical training on "their time" and concentrated on more Flame exercises and meditation training. He was given 'Special Vongola Crystals' of many types and clarities, and he was to practice filling them up with flames until they glowed. It was slow going but Tsuna could see pretty dark blue chalcedony for Mist and the ruby for Storm were both having less and less orange as he practiced, something he was thrilled about.

(Training his Mist-Affinity, also known as Resonance, was undertaken with great fun and care because it was his mother who taught Tsuna how to manipulate Construction-type Sky. It wasn't an easy process as he needed the indigo crystals to make his mimicked Mist, but Tsuna's Illusions improved in toughness and intricacy. He just had to work on crunching down on the time it takes for him to make an illusion, and then he could begin trying to summon Mist-type Sky without the aid of his chalcedony.)

Back to Trouble and Sadistic Kami's.

The young Decimo took I-Pin, Lambo and Fuuta out for shopping with promises of a treat if they all behaved, meaning if Lambo stepped out of line he would have to sit in the corner and watch them all eat yummy sweets. The tiny Bovino was surprisingly good at mimicking a stone statue as he sat quite still on Tsuna's other shoulder, clung to his hair, and kept that big mouth shut aside from the occasional mutter of "Candy, candy, candy!" as Tsuna grabbed some things to put in the cart. Leaving the candy part of the mega grocers for last, Tsuna told the children to pick something out before he grabbed two boxes of chocolate and coffee mochi ice cream on everyone's way out. Passing a bakery and seeing Kyoko with Haru had him entering to greet them.

It was apparently Cake Day, for her and Haru. Something Tsuna understood as he had something of the same due the next week. The way both girls, especially Kyoko, became flustered and embarrassed over being caught in the bakery was cute and funny, but Tsuna soothed their nerves by cheerfully admitting he has his own Chocolate Indulgence Day.

The girls and Tsuna bought sweets with the Decimo having indulged in a red velvet cheesecake to share between him and the children because, well, he's man enough to admit he's weak to the puppy-eyes of well behaved kids, especially when I-Pin clasped her hands in a prayer-like manner. It was pretty adorable, he couldn't not give in, especially since neither had done a thing out of line. An uneventful trip back home, soon everyone was settled in his semi-neat sketchbook and paper messy room to eat. Somewhere in between, as Tsuna was downstairs grabbing a bottle of milk tea for himself while Reborn gave the girls and Fuuta hot tea, he returned and stopped short at the curly haired pretty-boy sitting in his seat and eating his slice of cheesecake beside Fuuta. He walked over with a frown and tugged a loose string on his wrist warmers.

"And you are?"

The teenager, probably no older than Tsuna, stood with a polite smile. "Young Vongola, it's me, cry baby Lambo. Thank you for taking care of me ten years ago. I know I was such a handful, but I've really matured."

Lambo of the future was oblivious to Tsuna's slight tension. He knew he shouldn't expect to be called 'papa' by an independent teenager, but there was a tone in this Lambo's voice. Like he wasn't close to Tsuna and might not care all that much. He was just another person in his life, no more important than the next guy. The polite, almost dismissive tone twisted something in Tsuna's chest and his Intuition spurred him on to hold out his hand to Lambo with a fake sweet smile. Kyoko, Fuuta, Reborn and even Haru could see that this wasn't the usual smile he held for any of his kids, this was... caution? Fear?

The teenage Lightning smiled a bit brighter and clasped hands with Tsuna, and immediately the Sky knew what was wrong. This wasn't his Lambo, this one had the same Flame but the Harmonization was non-existent and it made the boy pale even as he continued to smile and shake his hand for two seconds longer. He invited Other Lambo to finish the cake and contented himself with his cold milk tea because his stomach couldn't handle anything richer. Questioning glances from the girls and Fuuta, and an X-Ray stare from Reborn could not get him to talk and he simply took out his phone to text hitman.

T.T: This isn't my brat. He's a different Lambo, the Harmony bond or whatever, the CONNECTION, it isn't there!

R.T: Relax before I knock you out with a mallet. You're acting freaked out and wimpy.

Tsuna glanced up and spotted worried looks from the girls and a nostalgic smile on Other Lambo.

"It makes me feel old seeing you like this, young Vongola. You're... kinda different in the future, but right now you're the same nervous kid I remember from childhood."

The girls frowned and Tsuna wondered how this even happened. Feeling like Future Information was dangerously close at hand, and not at all because he was irritated and scared, the distinct click of gun safety being flicked off had flinching at the sight of a gun. Unfortunately he wasn't completely cowed, he straightened up and gained a challenging glint in his open eye.

"Trying to be diplomatic and ignoring you back isn't working I see, it's time for you to experience just how good I've gotten in the future, you crazy hitman!"

Lambo stood, pulled out shiny looking horns and put them on. Reborn put his gun away now that the older cow brat wasn't in danger of saying unnecessary things, and as the smell of ozone entered the room the hitman turned his attention to Tsuna to see how he dealt with this. He wasn't disappointed. The Sky stood, a pulse of his flame flaring and catching Other Lambo off-guard enough for the shorter teen to grab the Bovino by the ear and glare up at him.

"You are in my room, Lambo, what gives you the right to try and fight here? Right here where Kyoko-chan, Fuuta, I-Pin, and Haru-chan are! I thought you were raised better than that."

This looked shocked silly and was staring at Tsuna like he was an alien. "Oh, uh, r-right, Vongola! I'm sorry! Please accept my apologies! And p-please let go!"

Tsuna relaxed and gave the childish teen what most in his Famiglia judged to be his own warm-the-world smile, and Lambo went bug-eyed and pointed at him, startling the Decimo.

"Mamma! Y-you just looked like mamma! How are you even-"

Poof! His Lambo reappeared and looked disheveled and weepy. He glanced from Reborn to Kyoko and Haru, and when he settled his big green eyes on Tsuna he sniffled and tugged on his tail.

"P-papa? Tsuna is the great Lambo-san's papa, right?"

Tsuna froze as his mind raced to come up with why the hell his bambino would question that, and then he felt a flash of anger toward his older self, no matter which far away alternate future. So what if Lambo could probably drive a saint to drink? So what if the kid still has a lot of issues from early life to deal with? When Lambo called the Wrong Tsuna papa he should have just went along with it for the Kami-damned five minutes! He wasn't a silly teenager, he was the boss, the man that should be watching out for the Famiglia.

This Tsuna quickly grabbed Lambo into a tight hug and rubbed his back. The hum of a Harmony between their Flames was far more soothing than Tsuna would have thought, and Lambo broke down wailing about the Bad Decimo letting Bakadera throwing him in a dark room and locking him in alone. With a heavy heart and a burning desire to slam a Lightning-Sky tonfa down that older alternate self's throat, as well as Other Gokudera, Tsuna sat with Lambo on his bed as the girls and a surprisingly somber looking I-Pin watched and listened. Fuuta climbed onto the bed and quickly tickled Lambo and in very little time the happy Lightning was back and sitting on Fuuta's shoulder and demanding cake to make him feel better.

With the return of a happier Sky by that sight, the atmosphere lightened and the girls shared cake with I-pin. Distracted by keeping Lambo from smearing cream cheese icing all over his face and in his hair, Tsuna missed the exchange between the three girls and shared special buns. He jolted out of Papa-Mode when his Intuition sent a icicle spearing his heart and he flinched, turning toward the girls just as they fell back in a faint, dropping a pair of bitten buns. Tsuna cried out and was kneeling over them in a second, feeling their pulses (weak and fluttery, Kyoko feverish). He could feel his Flame rising with his panic and flooding his bedroom with a cold instead of heat now.

"They're barely breathing, their heartbeats are weak! Th-they're dying Reborn, help me, please!"

"It's a type of poison cooking," said Bianchi, stepping into his room elegantly.

"I figured that out, Bianchi-san, but how can we save them?" Tsuna's hands were twitching and he drew his Sky in close the moment he saw his own breath leave in a thick puff of vapor. The natural warmth of the room immediately returned. "If they die like this I won't be the Decimo!"

Reborn threw an eraser at his head, making him yelp. "Relax, Baka-Tsuna, I-Pin must have an antidote, right?"

The little Chinese girl quickly pulled out a paper bag, but only one large pill fell out. Tsuna's stomach twisted and when Bianchi said it was a test of love he glared and sent a pulse of Sky directed at her carrying his rage and fear. This had the professional hitwoman shuffling back several steps with a pale face. Privately Reborn was pleased Tsuna had such a Killing Intent, whether the boy realized it or not.

Reborn was intrigued, if not impressed enough to smirk, when Tsuna made his decision and had Haru swallow the pill. The Decimo turned to Kyoko as his Sky flickered violently and lost color, lightening to a more golden orange shade cloaking his hands. There was a hard determination in the lines of his youthful face, the will to die to save one of his best friends, and the room was flooded with warmth as Sky of a Sunny edge burst to life on his forehead. He then laid one hand over her heart and one on her stomach and, through sheer will and mental pleading, connected his Flames with her own. The process he only half planned out was helped by her Sun burning hot with the instinctual effort to fight the poison.

He wasn't going to lose her, he wasn't going to lose anyone, and Kami pity the bastard that tried to take one soul in his slow-growing circle of friends.

There was a soft gasp from the unconscious Kyoko as her Sun and Tsuna's Resonating Sky merged and then there was a gorgeous and blazing Sun Flame on her forehead, and seconds later the sick flush of her cheeks and waxy complexion faded. Tsuna watched, eyes hooded from HDW and face pinched as he could feel how her Flames were jumpstarted and kept from going berserk by his. Seconds turned into a minute before Kyoko's eyes fluttered with the fading of her Dying Will Flame, and she saw Tsuna, pale and weak but smiling, move away from her.

That flame was on his head again, the one that appeared when he fought Hibari and it meant he taxed himself to a semi-debilitating degree on occasion, but now, as she sat up and reached for Tsuna, she could see it was much worse than ever. His eyes rolled back and he fell into her waiting arms, his Dying Will Flame flickering to nothing. Her heart lurched when he felt almost cold as she held him close, murmuring his name and stroking his hair. I-Pin and Lambo scurried over, tears flowing down their faces and Kyoko offered them reassuring smiles.

"Reborn-kun, what's wrong with Tsuna-kun?"

"He pushed himself too far by forcing a full Sun-Resonance and connecting with your Flame to save your life. It isn't so much Flame Exhaustion as the limits of his control and ability being pushed and broken through on top of triggering a Hyper Dying Will on his own again. He'll be out for two days at the least."

"Is there anyway to speed up recovery? Maybe one of my Sunny Pills?"

The infant nodded. "That may help. Bianchi, please put him to bed."

"Of course, Reborn~!"

x-X-x-X-x

With the reviews, I always appreciate anyone pointing out mistakes in the writing. I don't get all huffy over faults being pointed out, I want to improve you see. :)

There is nothing I can think to put here... aside from I'M SORRY AGAIN for being late updating. I mean to update on every Wednesday unless I mention updating on Thursday. I was stupidly flaky, dang it.

I'll be answering reviews I never got to before after updating. Sorry about that. I need to stop doing what I'm apologizing for, so I will work on that.

EDIT: Mar/11/19. Fixed some of the writing, like the exchange between and Tsuna, and just finding typos I missed before.

**CANON-Lambo: I hope I made it clearer this time around but that was Amano's Lambo, not the future Tsuna's-little-bambino Lambo. Tried fixing that interaction up more, and about him seeing Nana in him when he smiled? CdC!Tsuna has Nana's warm smile. As for Lambo returning to the present upset... Well, the alternate Vongola's future isn't very bright at the moment, and TYL!Gokudera would be incredibly stressed and angry all the time I imagine, so his reaction to a very "weird" tater-tot Lambo is unfortunate but something I could see happening if tensions were high enough.