AN: Phew! Figuring out the Japanese Eras and timeline was a pain in the butt, but I managed it. Here are the dates in case anyone is confused:
1587: Giotto's birth year.
1607: Vongola's founded.
1616: Elena's death. Giotto moves to Japan.
2007: Current year.
Also, the idea for Toji knowing Reborn and Flames goes to lazyguest on AO3. I just added a few details.
And before I forget, TW for PTSD. At least, I hope I managed to portray that Gojo is traumatized. Other than that, enjoy this big chapter!
"Yeah, I heard about Vongola," Satoru taps a finger against his chin as he recalls what he knows about the name in question. "They have a fashion line?"
"Among other things, yes," Tsuna nods. She twists her fingers nervously. "It's one of their legal businesses."
"Legal?" Satoru raises an eyebrow at the strange use of the word and the tone his friend said it in. "What, there's also illegal ones?"
"At the moment, yeah."
"And how do you know that?"
"Because it's the Mafia Famiglia and I'm its' future boss?" she phrases it like a question, but it comes out more like a statement as she shrugs awkwardly.
Satoru does a double-take at that. He thinks of the joke he said at her house earlier in regards to her secret: What, you're a criminal or something? He spoke it in jest, to hide his nerves, but to think he has hit a nail on the head with it? Mafia, truly? "You gotta be kidding me."
"I wish I was," Tsuna admits with a grimace. "But my bloodline and Timoteo-san decided otherwise."
The name sparks a memory before Satoru's eyes.
He's fourteen. He's stuffed in an uncomfortable suit that is hot and itchy, his face is stuck in a fake smile aimed at the people just as fake, and ultimately, he's just bored to death. He would much prefer to watch Digimon or play games in his room than this, but Mother says since he's the Strongest and will be attending Jujutsu Tech next year, he must begin to socialize more as when he becomes Gojo Clan Head, it will be part of his duty to be at things like this where he will have to speak even to non-sorcerers with a lot of money in their wallets and a big ego.
So that's what he does even if doesn't feel like the Strongest, or human but rather like a trophy on display as the adults scheme and manipulate around him with pleasant smiles and words. Such is his world. Maybe Jujutsu Tech will be different?
He snorts quietly at the naive thought that enters his mind. Highly unlikely. When you're a human God above rest, everyone and everything is the same.
No matter the place. To hope otherwise is foolish, and Gojo Satoru is never foolish, even at fourteen.
"Pay attention, Satoru," Mother's precise and sharp voice cuts through his boredom like a knife through butter. "You should be aware of who your opponents are."
"Yes, Mother," he responds dully, looking in the same direction she does. An old man with a mustache and dressed in a suit is coming towards them rather fast, despite the cane he has with him.
"Timoteo-san," Mother says pleasantly once the man is close enough. Satoru sneaks a glance at her expression: he knows that one — she uses it whenever she has to interact with someone who she thinks is beneath her notice or irritates her to her limit. Once she reaches said point, the air around her turns icy, and everyone feels it. Satoru wonders idly what the man has done to get under her skin so quickly in the seconds of meeting each other again. "I see you're in good health. What brings you by to Japan?"
"Fuyumi-san," Timoteo-san returns in kind, though his greeting is a bit more genuine as he smiles in his mustache. "I see you're doing wonderfully too. As for why I'm in Japan – family matters and I'm meeting a colleague here."
Mother hums. "I've heard what happened to your sons. My condolences," she says, a non-sequitur. "Tragedy to outlive your children thrice."
She doesn't mean it, Satoru thinks as he catches a flash of grief in the old man's eyes. She has done so, to simply to needle him to make him bleed. Gojo Clan Head, everyone.
To his credit, Timoteo-san composes himself quickly as he smiles faintly. "Thank you. Truer words have never been spoken," his brown eyes move onto Satoru for the first time. "And this young man is?"
"My son Satoru," Mother places a hand on his shoulder, subtly moving him forward. "My pride and heir. Satoru, this is Timoteo-san, an acquaintance from Italy."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Gojo-kun," Timoteo-san says. "How are finding this gathering?"
"Boring," Satoru answers bluntly.
"Satoru!" Mother hisses reproachfully. Her nails dig painfully into his shoulder and Satoru suppresses a wince.
Timoteo, in contrast, laughs.
"It's fine, Fuyumi-san, I appreciate the honesty," the man assures, mirth dancing in his eyes. "It's refreshing, actually. You know, Gojo-kun, I have a surrogate granddaughter around your age. Perhaps they can become friends, Fuyumi-san?"
"Perhaps," Mother allows, but her lips become a tad tighter and thinner, which means: no meeting this girl.
Ever.
Afterward, Mother pulled him into a lengthy lecture on how he must never interact with Vongola in any shape or form as they are beneath him. To think he would meet Vongola and said surrogate granddaughter anyway over a simple accident roughly four years later.
Mother will have an aneurysm if she ever finds out.
It's so hilarious that he can't help but burst out laughing to their confusion and disbelief.
"Sure, laugh it up, will you?" Tsuna asks him half-tired, half-sarcastic as she and others observe his laughing fit. "Because it's so fun to have a mafia friend."
"Sorry, sorry," he apologizes as he clutches his sides that ache and wipes tears from behind his glasses. "It's not you, I just remembered meeting Timoteo-san before and how he mentioned having a "surrogate granddaughter". Who would have thought we would meet because of one little kid, huh?" he finishes with a glance at Lambo.
"I'm not little, I'm nine!"
"Still a kid."
"Back to the topic, brats," Reborn cuts in, nipping their yet another squabble in the bud. "You've met Nono before?"
"It was once and a very brief meeting," Satoru clarifies. "What's more important, how did Setsuna-chan end up as an heir? I thought Timoteo's sons were…" he trails off, mimicking slashing his throat.
"They were," Tsuna agrees. She sighs heavily. "He also has a fourth son, adopted, but he wasn't suitable for the position, which he didn't like. Man, that was a mess," she comments with a shake of her head before saying, "but I suppose I should start at the beginning."
Satoru hums in agreement, preparing to listen.
"According to the records, it all started when two friends Giotto and G–don't ask why he's called that, I have no idea," she informs Satoru with a shrug, who was snickering at G's name before picking up the story again, "anyway, they decided to do something about crime in their town since the law was pretty useless."
"By founding a mafia family?"
"It was originally a vigilante group," Tsuna corrects him. "Giotto and G started it at the suggestion of their mutual friend, Cozarto Shimon, who also later founded his family. Since they were orphans with no noble blood to speak of, it took them a while, but they managed to get things going and named themselves Vongola in 1607."
"So far so good," Satoru comments, taking a drink from the juice they brought with them. All this taking is making him thirsty. "How do Flames come into this?"
"Because of this," Tsuna raises her hand to show the ring with Vongola engraved on it, the guys, and Chrome also had rings with big gems, their color corresponding to their Flames. Satoru noticed them during their second meeting, but wasn't aware of the meaning behind them or that they house ghosts apparently. Until now, that is. "During the time Giotto was looking for comrades for his goal, he met Sepira Giglio Nero. She was…" Tsuna tilts her head to the side, looking for the accurate word, "... a seer, I suppose?"
"That a thing?"
"Yes, but only Giglio Nero Famiglia has this ability," Tsuna confirms. "Anyway, Sepira saw a vision and knew she could trust Giotto with the rings that are part of a system we'll talk about at a later date. So she did, teaching them about the Flames, and Giotto and his friends became Primo and Guardians."
"Guardians?" That word again.
"Tsuna's Flame type is pretty rare despite Vongola bosses before her all having it, "Reborn says. "It has a harmony factor and is very sought after, so when Vongola Primo assumed the mantle, his friends all took the role of protectors."
"So those that have rings are Guardians?"
"Yep!" Lambo pipes up from beside I-Pin. "I'm a Lightning Guardian, and protect Tsuna-nee by zapping the bad guys!"
"Even you?" Satoru is incredulous. Who decided a nine-year-old kid would be a good Guardian even if he's powerful?! He turns to look at Tsuna.
She understands even without seeing his eyes. "Yes, even him. My father decided he would fit the role," her voice is full of old bitterness as she says the words, lips pressed thin. Kyoko rubs her friend's shoulder in comfort. Looks like daddy dearest is a sore subject. That makes sense, Satoru would have been upset too if he were in her shoes, for it was too close to jujutsu elders. "Lightning Flame is the hardest amongst the Dying Will Flames of the Sky, so it's mostly used as offensive and it's said Lightning Guardian draws enemies to themselves away from the Family."
"Makes sense," Satoru says. He shudders good-naturedly. "I don't envy the guys hit by that Flame, brr!" that gets him a smile, and Lambo puffing his chest out proudly. "What about others?"
"Why don't you try to guess?" Haru suggests with a bright grin. "We make a game out of it, hahi!"
"You're on!" Satoru accepts the challenge, because how can he pass it up?
He decides to start with Takeshi, since outside of Tsuna, his Flame is most familiar. "Well, Takeshi's Flame is blue and moves like water. It also has a very calming effect."
"You're spot on!" Takeshi says with a laugh. "It's Rain Flame and its factor is tranquility."
"Calming things down, are we?"
"That's Rain Guardian's role," Yamamoto glances at Gokudera and says cheekily, "Though Gokudera disagrees about the "calming things down" part."
"That's because you're a baseball freak," Hayato snarks before scoffing. "That idiot was easy, but what about me?"
"Something stormy," Satoru says without hesitation. "You also have other Flames thrown in, but Storm is your dominant."
"Right again," Gokudera admits reluctantly. "Storm's factor is disintegration. It destroys."
Like his Cursed Technique Reversal: Red or even Hollow Purple, Satoru notes to himself, instead saying out loud: "I know, aren't I amazing?"
"If you're so amazing, guess turf top's Flame type then."
"That's easy – Sun. Same for Reborn-san, though I'm sure what it does."
"Its' factor is activation," Reborn reveals. "We can heal and can enhance ourselves, though we must be careful not to overdo it," Looks like even he was curious to see if Satoru would guess all types correctly. "But there's still Hibari, Mukuro, and Chrome's type to guess."
"Chrome's looks like mist, same goes for Rokudo; as for Kyoya-kun, his is akin to a cloud."
"For someone who only just now learned about Dying Will Flames, you got it all right," Mukuro muses. "Guess that's the power of Six Eyes. But other than that, yes, Chrome and I cast illusions and Kyoya-kun's factor is propagation."
"I'm a quick learner!" Satoru says, winking. "Are there other Flames besides yours?"
"There are. There are Flames of Earth, which is our opposite, but only Shimon Famiglia can use them. There's Night Flames, its' users are Vindice only."
"That's a lot of Flames," Satoru comments, making a mental note to inquire about Vindice and Earth Flames later. "So, Primo learned about Flames. What happened next?"
"Vongola rose in power, and Primo was named the strongest boss," Tsuna picks up the story again. "He was adored and feared in equal measure; about nine years passed like that. And then…" she trails off, expression turning somber.
"And then…?"
"Vongola was attacked," it was Chrome, who speaks up. "It wasn't without casualties; Elena, Daemon Spade's fiancée was killed."
"It turned out to be a breaking point for them," Gokudera adds, just as somber. "Spade, misunderstanding Elena's last request, betrayed Giotto. Giotto, feeling he had played a part in Elena's death, stepped down."
"I see," Satoru murmurs. He can't help but draw a parallel between Giotto and himself, and Spade and Suguru. Was it the fate of the strongest to be betrayed, as those they trust end up twisted by losses, and they are not able to do anything to help? He chases the thought away. "Who took the mantle after that?"
"Ricardo. It's in his reign that Vongola was starting to become a mafia family," Reborn says. "Daemon stayed as his Mist Guardian. Alaude also stayed, but to oversee them at Primo's request. Others went their separate ways."
"What about Giotto?"
"It was 1616. Asari received a letter that his father was ill, so he rushed home. Giotto tagged along. Since he wished to settle in Japan, he changed his name to Sawada Ieyasu."
Sawada…? It clicks in his mind, her words about a bloodline deciding otherwise. "So, that's why you were chosen."
"Yeah, Giotto is my great-great-great-grandfather," Tsuna says, then adds. "It also didn't help that I displayed strong Flames since I was a child and took after Giotto. So when Nono's sons passed away, I was named a future boss."
"And everyone was okay with a woman being in charge?" Satoru asks. It's not hard to imagine, but it's certainly a rarity in Jujutsu Society.
With Mother being an exception, of course.
"Female bosses are not rare. Vongola's eighth boss was a woman, and Giglio Nero is mostly led by women, so they are okay with me taking charge."
"Except those old farts who don't like that you are set on returning Vongola to its' roots," Hibari comments with a smirk.
"Except those," Tsuna mirrors the smirk. "But family secrets aside, you still haven't told us what kids you decided to adopt and why, Satoru."
This is it. No more stalling. The original reason why he came to them.
Just like when he told them about jujutsu, Satoru's expression changes. Only this time, instead of being deathly serious, it becomes eerily blank as he stares into space, not at anyone in particular. Like a statue.
It sends shivers down her spine, this foreign expression her friend. Looking around, she sees she isn't the only one who noticed the drastic change in Satoru. They tense, exchanging uneasy glances, but don't comment.
For now.
At last, Satoru begins speaking. "Age doesn't matter to Jujutsu Sorcerers," the words come out empty, factual in Gojo's low voice. "So even while we are in school we get sent on missions destroying Curses and whatnot. In my second year, Sugu–" he stumbles on a name long enough for them to notice before catching himself with a swallow, —"my classmate and I were sent on an escort mission, being the Strongest and all," Satoru's lips twist into a sneer, breaking the mask since the start of this explanation. Tsuna is eerily reminded of Mukuro whenever he mentions Estraneo. "We almost succeeded when Fushiguro fucking Toji appeared, and everything went to shit."
Fushiguro Toji…Wait, wasn't that the guy who almost got accepted into Varia?
"You know him," Satoru states, still in that hollow voice of his, having seen recognition flash on their faces.
"Only by reputation," Ryohei says, his tone of voice a normal volume due to the severity of the situation. "Reborn met him, though."
"It was only once," Reborn says, playing with his sideburns. "I was on my way to Namimori when we crossed paths."
Reborn is enjoying his last cup of coffee before making contact with the Sawada family when someone whistles beside him. "Never thought I would see Arcobaleno in our parts. Should I consider it a good fortune?"
Reborn looks at the speaker. Heavily-built body, muscles trained to perfection, calluses from the weapons, scar at the corner of his lips. Black shaggy hair. Green eyes.
It is obvious who it is.
"Depends on what you consider good fortune," Reborn sets his cup down, making eye contact with the man, "Zenin Toji."
"It's Fushiguro now," Toji corrects the killer with a scowl, the purple hue of a Cloud Flames making itself visible at the reminder of the family that cast him aside like trash. "I took my wife's surname."
"Congratulations on your marriage then," Reborn says easily, not paying heed to the assassin's irritation. "Does that mean Sorcerer Killer will be leaving the stage?"
"Soon," Toji stands up to leave, hands in his pockets and Flames back under control. "I don't want Aoi or our future kid to end up in the crossfire if I'll continue my work."
"Smart choice," the Arcobaleno comments. Much smarter than Iemitsu, that's for sure. He finishes his coffee and pays, preparing to leave. "So long, Fushiguro."
"Same at you."
"And that was it," Reborn finishes.
"Well, that, and Xanxus throwing a hissy fit when the guy refused to accept the position at Varia about a year ago," Hayato snorts.
"Well, of course he refused, he was too busy killing me and a fourteen-year-old girl!" Satoru shouts suddenly, stunning everyone into silence. He takes a shuddering breath. "Well, as I was saying, he was too busy being killer-y," Satoru's hand goes to his chest. He doesn't seem aware of it as he rubs the spot absent-mindedly. Then, an unhinged grin blooms on his face as his mood changes yet again. "I reminded him what mistake it was."
Tsuna suppresses a shiver at the sight of it. It's clear what Satoru is referencing to. She's used to death by now, but the look in Satoru's eyes gives her goosebumps. The last time it happened they were facing Vindice. She doesn't feel sorry for Fushiguro Toji if he went against this Satoru.
At all.
"So, you took vengeance against the guy," Takeshi, bless him, breaks the tension and doesn't let Satoru get lost in his bloody fantasies with the question. "How do kids fit into this?"
"They are his," Satoru says, his attitude back to normal. Mostly, because that crazy glint remained. "A son and stepdaughter. I want to take them in."
Taking in the kids of the guy who nearly killed you and clearly fucked you up? Satoru is the fountain of crazy ideas on a good day, but this one takes the top. And certainly not good for his health.
Their friends have a similar thought because Chrome speaks up, "Um, Satoru-kun, maybe it isn't such a good idea."
Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say because the atmosphere turns freezing and without air, akin to an infinite cosmos. Satoru's presence and his Limitless seem to crush them as he stares at Chrome, his eyes glowing even from behind his glasses.
"And pray tell me why, Chrome-chan, it is a bad idea," he asks calmly, but it is the calm before the snowstorm is unleashed. He never spoke to them like that, let alone to Chrome, with her he was gentle as unspoken understanding passed between them. But there's a first time for everything as they stepped on an unknown landmine. "Do you think me weak, unable to care for someone? Is that it? "
"It's not that, you dumbass!" Her Storm Guardian chokes out against the pressure. "Stop! You're scaring Chrome and hurting the boss, idiot!"
It seems to snap Satoru out of it as Limitless stops pinning them in place. Everyone gasps, taking large gulps of air. Satoru, for his part, starts to shake.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…" he mumbles, wild-eyed, as his hands tremble.
"I'll show you "didn't mean to," Hayato growls, standing up with dynamite between his fingers.
"Stand down, Gokudera," Reborn orders.
"But–!"
"Stand down, Hayato," Tsuna repeats, voice a little bit hoarse. "It was an accident," once her Storm complies reluctantly, she turns to Satoru. "This is why we think it's a bad idea, Satoru. You're hurt."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I. Am. Fine." he punctuates through gritted teeth, hands tightly curled into fists as he gets himself under control. "Are you going to help me or not? If not, I'll do it myself."
"We are," realizing he isn't ready to talk about his obvious trauma, she backs off for now. Better to focus on another important thing for now.
"Why are so insistent on taking them in?" Kyoya asks a valid question next, arms crossed over his chest. "To repent for killing their father?"
Satoru scoffs. "I don't regret killing that bastard. It's because if I don't take them in, Zenin will sweep in."
"The son is Zenin by blood," Reborn points out. "It's their right as Toji comes from this clan."
"That's true," Satoru agrees blandly. "It's their right, not only because of blood, but also because Toji sold him for money once he suspected Megumi would have a Cursed Technique. They will twist him beyond recognition and separate him from his sister if I don't act quickly. "
Sold his own son for money? Her eyes widen in shock – and she isn't the only one as the girls gasp, Reborn and Gokudera curse in unison as does Ryohei, and Hibari and Mukuro narrow their eyes in distaste.
Satoru has trauma and the children will remind him of it, but if it's to save them from the worse fate, she understands why he does it.
She would have done the same in his place.
"We must help them, Tsuna-nee!" Lambo exclaims urgently. Some things went over his head in today's discussion, but even he understands that people buying kids is bad news. "I don't want them to go to the nasties!"
"And we will," she promises. Her eyes blaze with Sky Flame as she meets Satoru's eyes. "What do you need us to do?"
"To prepare a safe place for them and such while I deal with the clan side of things," Satoru says. "Well, that, and help to raise them because I have zero experience in that area."
"Would you look at that, legendary Six Eyes not perfect at something," Mukuro teases, though his eyes remain serious. "Why not just set them in Gojo Clan house? You have a lot of those."
"I do," Satoru agrees."But Namimori is relatively unknown, and I want somebody to be there for them in case I'm away on a mission."
"You got it then. We'll take care of house hunting and other details."
"Thank you, everyone."
"Don't thank us yet," Reborn says, sweeping dirt from his pants as he stands up. "Let's go home, everyone. It's late, and we promised Maman to be home in time for dinner."
"Mama's food!" Lambo jumps to his feet excitedly at the promise of Nana's dinner. "C'mon, snow baka! Race you and I-Pin home!"
"You're gonna lose, brat!" Satoru as always is up to the challenge, and before anyone can say anything, the three take off, leaving dust in their wake.
Tsuna shakes her head at that as she and the others start gathering their things. "He's such a big baby sometimes."
"He wouldn't be Gojo otherwise!" Takeshi says with a laugh.
"That's true," Tsuna agrees as they leave the shrine at a more leisurely pace, remnants of their snacks in their arms. "Still…"
"What bothers you, Tsuna-chan?" Kyoko wonders.
"Satoru and Fushiguro kids," she elaborates. "He isn't saying it, but that encounter with Sorcerer Killer left him traumatized, and he's suppressing it. He even refuses to say his classmate's name. And now, he's taking in his kids? That isn't healthy."
"Says a person who's friends with people who tried to kill her," Kyoya says, with a glance in Mukuro's direction. "That's pot calling the kettle black, omnivore."
"Touche, Kyoya," Tsuna admits with a smirk before turning serious again. "Point is, something broke in him; that was clear as soon as I saw him. He's falling apart, guys."
"Then, it's a good thing he has you all to catch him, then," Reborn says. "I will also research Toji's wife since she's the sole guardian after his passing."
Tsuna sighs in reply, agreeing with his logic, glancing at the sky. Reborn has a point, but the true question is…
…will Satoru allow himself to be caught?
The mealtimes at the Sawada Residence are always a lively affair. Today's dinner isn't the exception, as Satoru sits at the table between Fuuta and Bianchi, eating Nana-san's delicious food. He listens to the chatter and chaos a bit before clearing his throat, deciding now would be a good moment to break the news.
"I'm sorry for the interruption, Nana-san," he says, setting his chopsticks down. "But Setsuna-chan and I have an announcement to make."
"Ara? What announcement?"
"You see, kaa-san," Tsuna begins. "Satoru was entrusted to take care of two kids by their father as he's… no longer able to. Would it be alright if they live with us for a little while Satoru settles some matters?"
"Of course, the more the merrier!" Nana-san flashes him a bright smile. "That's nice of you, Gojo-kun! How old are they?"
"Tsumiki is six, and Megumi is five."
"Two girls then?" Bianchi asks with an arched brow.
"One of them is a boy," Satoru clarifies. "His father just had… a unique taste for names."
"I think it would be nice," Fuuta says, interested in meeting new friends.
"We are all in agreement then," Tsuna says. "They are civilians, so no Poison Cooking, bombs, or our typical shenanigans. Capiche?"
"Does that mean I can't meet them, then?" a smooth voice asks. Satoru nearly jumps out of his skin as a man in a suit and wild blond hair materializes out of Sky Flame.
That's the second one today. Seriously, don't they have better things to do?
"Giotto-san!" Nana-san reprimands with a worried glance in Satoru's direction. Her worry soothes his nerves.
"Yes, that includes you and others, Grandpa," Tsuna explains patiently, then addresses her mother, "Relax, Mom. I told Satoru everything. Plus, Asari-san already scared him today."
"I wasn't scared!" Satoru denies fervently, as Nana relaxes.
"Yeah, you merely thought you were going nuts," Lambo cackles.
"Details," Satoru waves him off.
"It's a shame I can't meet the kids, though," Giotto pouts. Honest to god pouts. Though, that pout disappears quickly as he turns to Satoru. "Gojo Satoru, right?"
"That's right," Satoru nods a little hesitantly. "Sawada Ieyasu?"
"You can call me Giotto," the ghost says with a smile and that smile is a mirror of Tsuna's. He looks at her.
"You know when you said great-great-great-grandfather I didn't expect a guy that could pass for your father."
"Effect of being bound to the Vongola Rings after death," Giotto explains as he preens at the compliment. "But thank you. I consider her my kid too. Which reminds me," he asks with a grin that doesn't mean anything good. "Does that mean I'm a grandfather since you're taking Megumi and Tsumiki in? Aren't you too young to be technically married to Gojo-kun and with kids already?"
"Grandpa!" Tsuna blushes to the roots of her hair as the occupants of the room explode in laughter.
Satoru laughs along with them. The knot that has been in his chest, ever since he chose to take on this endeavor, loosens a little. They haven't turned him away and even agreed to provide help and everything he would need. That's more he could have asked for and he's truly grateful.
There's hope he won't screw those kids up.
Much, that is.