A/N: At this point, every chapter is now in chronological order. As a heads up, Burnt Marigold and Green Eyes are the only stories that will be updated here in FFN, any new or ongoing works from me can be found in AO3. I hope you check me out there too~

Thank you for all the favorites, follows, and reviews for this fic. :)

Nine

Pitter-patter. A rhythmic falling of raindrop filled Tsuna's ears as the tears subsided and shivers wracked his body from emotion that had rattled his tear ducts.

Rub, rub, circle, circle, rub. The repetitive pattern on his back filled his heart with warmth Tsuna thought he had lost. It was the same warmth that had protected him. A warmth that was Reborn's hand on his. And the same warmth that brought forth coldness that coil on his heart because this Reborn, this Reborn wasn't the same Reborn that had stayed with him for years.

This Reborn wasn't the Reborn who looked at him with affection–and love.

This Reborn wasn't the same man that would flick his forehead, touch his cheek with warm regard, or pull his hair when he brooded.

This Reborn wasn't the same Reborn Tsuna spent knowing in ten years.

Despite this Reborn not being the person he had loved, Reborn was still Reborn. He was still the same man who caused chaos everywhere, still the same infuriating and sadistic man insisting on training, still the hitman that had stayed with him since he was thirteen, and still the same Reborn that Tsuna had loved.

Tsuna was helplessly still in love–would always be–with Reborn no matter what form he had. Here was the thing, Tsuna loved Reborn, but Reborn didn't love him, didn't care for him the same way his Reborn had. And that... Now that hurts. Because of those scumbags, those ten years with Reborn, those warm loving gazes Tsuna took for granted, were gone in a poof. He lost Reborn to them, and now that he was back in time, he lost even Reborn's love.

Rub, circle, circle, rub, rub. And yet, this Reborn who didn't love him, chose to still comfort him. He still cared about Tsuna. Reborn was here with him, his small warm hand on his back, and letting Tsuna break down with the silent and firm reassurance that he would stay.

Tsuna closed his eyes. Seeing Reborn breathing and healthy, to feel this warmth, to see him even if he still didn't grow back to his older self yet. It was enough. It should be enough. But... Tsuna… just couldn't help himself.

Tsuna sniffled then scrunched his snotty nose in disgust. "Here, Tsuna." The brunet looked at the outstretched handkerchief on his side then at Reborn's obsidian eyes that bear no judgement for him nor of his earlier actions.

Tsuna took the object with blurry eyes. Tears began to fill his eyes yet again that he immediately turned away and wiped away the evidence of his breakdown.

Tsuna took a deep breath then exhaled. Those scumbags were dead, there was no more threat towards Reborn and his family. Now, it was time to face the consequences of those actions. The brunet finally moved, sitting up and turning towards his tutor with a steely gaze on his eyes towards the still silent hitman who was looking at him as if he was a fragile glass to be handled with care. Which admittedly, Tsuna definitely felt he was. But Reborn's pitch black eyes were looking back at him. The same unwavering gaze that Reborn always gave him since they met. The same eyes that pushed him to be better, to stand for himself and others, and the same eyes that trusted him.

Maybe it was time to tell Reborn.

"I-" Tsuna coughed, the beginning was usually a great way to start right? However, that included admitting about his feelings and he didn't think he could say that without another fit of crying. Tsuna shuddered. No, he didn't want to admit that part. Not yet.

How did people even admit that they came from the future? Could he really do this? Tsuna nibbled on his bottom lip, indecisiveness seemed to war on his mind that he gripped his hand. It's not a matter of whether Tsuna could or not, Reborn should know that Tsuna fucked up in the future.

Tsuna gulped then opened his mouth. Before he could even start with an apology, Reborn took that decision away from him when he spoke. "Tsuna. You should take a shower before you catch a cold."

Tsuna's jaw went slack and he stared at his tutor, wondering if he had heard it right or if it was his brain playing tricks on him. Brown eyes dumbly blinked and Reborn was still leveling him a ticked off look that promised pain if he didn't follow.

Did Reborn give him an out? Tsuna was stupefied. Reborn, the greatest hitman delaying his chance to get an answer to give Tsuna time to compose himself? Tsuna's lips tilted upward into a small smile as warmth curled on his stomach at this rare display of kindness from Reborn.

Reborn might be many things, but Reborn could also read Tsuna like a book and he must have deemed that Tsuna needed time to delay whatever this would be. Tsuna averted his gaze towards the window, unseeing of the raindrops falling on the glass pane as he focused on willing his tears to remain at bay.

His Reborn acted like this too, looking out for him, waiting for him, and what did Tsuna do? He squandered all the chances he could have had and stupidly waited for the right moment that never came. Tsuna wasn't able to confess before… his death. To dig more knives on the wound, Reborn died protecting him and Reborn never heard that Tsuna had loved him back... The brunet abruptly turned away from the hitman and buried his face in his hands.

Damn it.

Tears cascaded from his eyes once again; warm liquid gathering on his palm.

Stupid. Idiot. Coward.

Tsuna wept, his silent cries turned into deep gasping sobs that left his eyes stinging, his forehead aching, and his heart clenching with sheer hurt and cold like there was a hand crushing it. The brunet's hands blindly grasped the fabric resting on his chest and gripped it, and the other forcefully rubbed his arm on his eyes that wouldn't stop producing fat and salty tears he could taste on his tongue.

He needed to calm down. Tsuna was aware of this, but when his tears started it just kept pouring and he was overwhelmed with the sheer action of just wanting to cry his eyes and heart out.

The brunet curled into a small ball, arms crossed around him and nails leaving crescent moons indent on his forearm.

It hurts, so so much. Reborn was gone, and stupid Tsuna was back in time to fix it but this Reborn wasn't looking at him with those warm eyes and the loss of it grew on his heart, clutching it in a bruising hold that leave him aching.

Tsuna was tangled within a mixture of powering emotions. He was mad at those bastards for getting the drop on them, angry at himself for not being strong enough to protect Reborn, infuriated at himself because he still had a chance now. But… It wasn't enough. There was always a but because Tsuna was greedy and selfish.

Tsuna wanted Reborn to look at him with love. Tsuna wanted those times he spent with his Reborn back. He wanted to hear that this Reborn loved him too. He wanted to reply back. He wanted... He wanted...

Will Reborn even love him still?

The brunet's body shuddered and a new batch of fresh tears fell towards the wet blanket clenched under his fist. Tsuna closed his eyes and bit his bottom lip, furiously scrubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. It felt sticky and damp, his face must be splotchy but his body wasn't calming down enough. He was still shivering. Maybe he really was coming down with a cold. Tsuna wetly chuckled.

"Tsuna." Reborn spoke and it was only then that Tsuna remembered he wasn't alone. The brunet peeked through wet bangs and saw that Reborn was standing before him. Oh, he must be waiting for Tsuna's reply. "I-I'll take a shower... later." He croaked in a hoarse voice as an answer to the other question from earlier.

Reborn gave him a reproachful look before he wordlessly crouched down. A small chubby hand rested on Tsuna's head and he began petting his hair. Tsuna's eyes widened. He could feel Reborn's warmth on his scalp and in response he leaned to the touch with a sigh.

That's right, Reborn was here, even if Tsuna acted off these past few weeks he still cared. Reborn cared for him enough that he ran after him, stayed with him, to let him break down, and gave him physical reassurance in the way he could. Tsuna closed his eyes, wanting to savour this moment but he knew he couldn't.

The brunet took a deep breath and when he opened his eyes he stared at the other with determination brimming in his gaze, cutting off whatever Reborn planned to say.

There was no better time to say the truth than now.

"I'm Tsuna... with the memories from the future."

.

.

.

A/N: anndddd thats a cliffhanger. Hahaha.😂 (Only cause its the only part I could end the chapter with or else I wouldnt know how to go with next chapter.)

Kindly leave review, favorite, and follow! :)