Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn, Akira Amano does.

This chapter is significantly longer (and so is the next) I didn't like this one as much, but that's because I'm not good with dialogue. Well hope you guys like it.~River

Byakuran as the ghost had introduced himself- "Byakuran your new leader and personal ghost Tsu-chan~"- became a permanent fixture in Tsuna's life (though with much more panic and disasters) causing the young teen much-unneeded stress for the fun of it.

Right now he was free from the menace that was named Byakuran and was making his merry way to school, not late because of said menace and that meant Hibari-san didn't yet have an excuse to 'bite him to death' (Yet being the key word in this moment because it most certainly would happen. One did not simply get away Scott-free in Namimori) the school gates and the self-nominated protector of Namimori stood in all his glaring glory his dreaded Tonfa's at his side.

Ducking his head Tsuna scuttled past, letting out a squeak when the prefect's piercing glare swept over him, his hair prickling at the back of his neck Tsuna all but dashed into the safety that was school- Hibari-san was scary! - placing a cool hand over his heart Tsuna tried to blend into the wall and slip into class unnoticed. Life would never be that kind to him.

"Oh look, it's Dame-Tsuna!" Of course, one of his bullies had to notice him. Jerking up Tsuna flicked his eyes anywhere but the bigger students face looking for somewhere to run. "Why are you even here Dame-Tsuna." It wasn't a question and Tsuna felt the habitual fear well up inside him. "It's not like you're worth anything. All you're good for is a punching bag." The taunts were stupid, but they cut him every time, the teachers never did anything to stop the mocking.

Hiding his face with his bangs he swallowed and stepped forward wanting nothing more than to curl up under his desk and sob, he, of course, wasn't allowed this small pleasure the bully from early stopping him with a meaty hand and a steel grip on his bicep. It stung and Tsuna had no doubt there would be a bruise tomorrow. "Where ya goin' Dame-Tsuna? Too stupid to know when someone's talkin' to ya?"

It was an excuse and he was dragged out feet dragging behind him as he was yanked and pushed. Today would not be a good day.

Tsuna was in the nurse's office wrapping bandage after bandage on his skin, now blotchy and bruised from the roughing the resident bullies offered. Maybe he would skip the rest of the classes?

Rising from his seated position and whimpering he did just that (hobbling mostly mind you). The stairs to the roof brought up his, uh 'happening' at his house with Byakuran Tsuna really hoped it didn't happen again. The hobble up was painstakingly slow and his muscles screamed from the activity so quickly after his beating. Standing out in the cool, crisp air was worth it and he would take more beatings just so he could enjoy it. (Not really, don't send more. His body wouldn't survive.)

While usually he would rest against the wall something caught his eye and he deflated shock gracing his features. There was another ghost in Namimori, and why did it have to be him to see them?!

Tsuna's hands still froze, but he didn't scream though he did cast a cursory glance. This ghost was much taller than himself (Granted, most people were) but not quite Byakuran's height, spiky black hair, deep mocha eyes and the school uniform. Tsuna felt the urge to scream again.

'

Inhaling deeply he clenched his fists and stepped closer. Maybe it was friendly? "Ghost-san is there a way I can help you?" The ghost flickered briefly before sending him a smile; it was fake Tsuna could tell and for some reason he couldn't explain it unnerved him. "Ahaha, you can see me?" the ghost questioned lightly tone deceptively calm. Again Tsuna could tell it was a farce the laugh forced and face too tight, this ghost made him feel uneasy.

Tsuna would not back down something was bothering the ghost and he was set on figuring out what so plastering a beaming smile on his face he set off for war. "Yes, it's much easier to notice the anomalies in life instead of letting them wither away. And do me a favour Ghost-san if you aren't smiling sincerely please don't."

There it was an actual honest emotion on its face; confusion.

The smile fell and the ghost stared, eyes cold. "Ghost-san why don't you tell me what's bothering you? It'll make me go away quicker."

"You wouldn't understand I had no reason left to live I was unneeded, useless!" There was no calm facade anymore just a boy that hadn't had anyone to listen. Tsuna placed a hand on the stranger's shoulder pointedly ignoring how it sunk and a freezing aura passed over him, Tsuna would help the spectre it was bad to bottle things up for so long. "I was the one the pulled them along! Got them to where they were, we would have gone to nationals if I didn't, break my goddamn arm!" The ghost screamed clenching its fists as he flickered in and out of focus. "They threw me away blaming me the one that carried them," he hissed eyes wide and flaring in anger. "I was the one that did everything for them while they barely lifted a finger. I just got so angry they blamed, pushed and mocked and then I was looking down," the ghosts rage was gone as he slumped eyes downcast hiccups interrupting every couple of words. "They didn't try to stop me, only watched and whispered and I felt used, a-and then I was here, tape covering everything my b-body on the sidewalk."

Tsuna watched with sad eyes as the being before him broke down tears, creating a blubbering mess of the boy before him without thinking Tsuna brought the person (Because even if they were dead, they still felt like humans) closer to bury their head into his neck the pin-prickling aura clustered around him. The position was awkward as the ghost was much taller than himself and had to bend to fit, icy hands gripping his shirt with abandon tears clearly there but not staining his shirt.

Wrapping his arms as much as he could around the taller boy Tsuna comforted in the only way he knew how.

The two of them had stayed in that position for at least two classes and his shoulder started to ache and his companions crying had calmed to mere sniffles and a watery smile."You're not so bad,"

Tsuna laughed, arms still snugly wrapped around the colders frame."I could say the same for you, and please, my name's Tsunayoshi but call me Tsuna."

The ghost sniffled again before shuffling out his grip with a content expression hand now on Tsuna's shoulders."Then it's only fair you call me Takeshi."

This was Tsuna's second tentative friendship and he thought this one would be swell Takeshi was already much nicer than Byakuran.

Night had come quick enough and Tsuna was snuggled in bed under his comforter a pleasant heat curled around his form. He slept well for a good few hours. A niggling warning in the back of his mind, he paid it no attention.

A sudden cold plastered itself on his body and Tsuna jerked awake scrambling away, he didn't get anywhere far. Looking down with a disoriented scowl he tried to drag himself free from the menace that called itself Byakuran. Arms looped around his waist the bane of his life nuzzled his hip a purely predatory smile on his face. That night Tsuna slept no longer too busy unhinging the ghost from his hip.

This was most definitely his life.