The atmosphere in the room was dark, suffocating, as the cloaked figure uttered, "Bring Mukuro Rokudo out."
From the door across the room, Mukuro was dragged in, the chains on his legs and arms clanging loudly against the floor. Despite the restriction and the rough treatment of his guard, Mukuro was smirking arrogantly when he finally reached the center of the trial room.
"You're not going to wait another month to have my trial this time around?" Mukuro jeered. "How disappointing."
"Enough," the cloaked figure said. "Normally you wouldn't have your trial this soon, but someone wanted to make you a deal. After reviewing your case, we found that to be acceptable." Done with what he wanted to say, the cloaked figure stepped back and that was when Iemitsu stepped forward from the shadows.
Mukuro's eye zeroed in on him. Eye, because his other red one was sewn shut to prevent him from using it.
Iemitsu smiled lightly at Mukuro, and he made no attempt to hide the cold look in his eyes or the satisfaction he felt at seeing Mukuro down.
After all, he tried to harm his son.
"Vongola's Young Lion," Mukuro murmured after a beat too long. His single eye darted to the cloaked Vindice, and then back to Iemitsu again. "You Vongola are fond of deals, aren't you? Is the first one you had not enough?"
At those words, Iemitsu felt his smile turn a little thinner, a little colder. Mukuro Rokudo was dangerous, and it wasn't only because of his abilities. His mind was sharp and entirely too keen for someone who wished to bring the Mafia down onto its knees by taking over his son.
Iemitsu should destroy him.
In a flash, the cloaked Vendice was in front of him and Mukuro was frozen in place. Mukuro's visible eye was widened ever slightly.
"Vongola Consigliere," the Vendice before him said, a bandaged hand held out in front of Iemitsu's chest as though that could stop him if he really wanted to initiate a battle. As always, it was intriguing to see what individual Vendice had up his or her sleeve, however. The energy that this one emitted from his hand felt cold. "You are here to make a deal, no more, no less. Please refrain from displaying such killing intent again in Vendicare, or we will escort you from the premise."
Those words brought Iemitsu back to himself.
"My bad," he said, backing off. He took the effort to consciously rein in his will and flame, but the damage was done. Even with the cloak on, Iemitsu could sense the Vendice's tension. Iemitsu had stepped away already, but the Vendice still had his hand up, creating a physical barrier between himself and Iemitsu. "I slipped up. That won't happen again."
The Vendice kept his hand in place for a moment longer, before finally lowering it. "Make sure it doesn't," he warned, and Iemitsu admired his iron will to turn his back towards him to walk back to his original position like his hand hadn't had trembled when facing him.
"My bad," Iemitsu said again, turning towards Mukuro. The illusionist was a little better at hiding his wariness and shock. "Where were we again?"
Mukuro twisted his lips to a sneer. "At how you're trying so hard to get me where you want me to. Was that posturing part of the plan as well?"
Iemitsu laughed, boisterous yet sheepish. "You can't blame a father for being protective of his son," he said, eyes sharpening as he finished, "so if you'll excuse me."
"And yet you are here," Mukuro mused, even as Iemitsu could practically sense the wheels spinning behind his single eye.
"My Tsuna-fish so rarely asks for anything," Iemitsu said slowly. "How could I bear to not grant it when he actually does?"
"Oh?" Mukuro said, exaggerated curiosity in his voice. Yet Iemitsu was sure not all of it was feigned. "I've harmed his friends and tried to take over him. He defeated me, and now I'm in the company of these lovely prison guards. What more could he want from me?"
"He wants you to join his family," Iemitsu said, and he was treated to the sight of Mukuro shell-shocked and speechless. Iemitsu would have felt vindictive if his feelings towards this matter didn't align so closely to Mukuro's, albeit with the addition of fury on his part as well. "You don't deserve understanding or second chances, but my son wants to grant them to you anyway."
Mukuro was quick to recover. "Kufufufu, I hate the Mafia and now he's telling me to join it? I don't know if he is sadistic and wants to torture me, or is he stupid for letting pity guide him into thinking he's helping an enemy."
"And the thought of him genuinely wanting to help you despite knowing better never cross your mind?" Iemitsu said, his voice hard.
Mukuro stopped laughing abruptly as though he had been slapped across the face. He stared at Iemitsu for a long while, before saying, "I would have never ended up here if not for him."
"You ended up here because you went after him," Iemitsu corrected. "Vongola made a deal with Vendicare to lead the Vendice to you, on the condition that Tsuna and his friends fight you first. That means that the Vendice wouldn't have been able to act until Tsuna does, except Tsuna would have never approached you first." Not unless Reborn lead him into it without Tsuna knowing until it was too late, Iemitsu mentally amended. "Do you know what that means?"
Iemitsu met Mukuro's single back eye, and waited for Mukuro to comprehend the implication before he delivered the final blow. "Had you never approached Tsuna, never harmed his friends, never forced his hand, you would have been free. The Vendice couldn't have gone after you without Tsuna moving first, and Tsuna only took action after you did. Mukuro, you had brought your own downfall upon yourself."
"Shut up," Mukuro snarled even before Iemitsu finished, uncharacteristically impatient and emotional. Iemitsu had no doubt that with his hint, Mukuro could have came to the same conclusion even without him spelling it out. "All you told me was that once again, the Mafia had set me up. What makes you think that would convince me to join it?"
"I don't want you to join the Mafia and neither does my son," Iemitsu said, and forcibly continued before Mukuro could interrupt him. "I repeat, Tsuna wants you to join his family." Mukuro froze again at those words, but Iemitsu continued. "I don't agree with it. I think you are dangerous and the farther you stay away from my son, the better. But" - Iemitsu's words softened - "that's not what Tsuna wants, so I'll try to respect that."
Especially since I didn't even ask him before setting him onto the path of a Mafia Boss, Iemitsu didn't say.
It was scary how fast Mukuro recovered, and how easily he sensed weakness and latched onto it.
"Respect, you said," Mukuro drawled slowly, focusing his single eye on him as though he could see through all his secrets. For a second, his black eye looked red. "Yet, I wonder how is your relationship with him. Or, is there even a relationship?" He paused in mock thinking, before smirking at Iemitsu. Iemitsu itched to wipe that smirk off his face, preferably with a few punches re-enforced by Sky Flame. "After all, in my glimpse of his memory, I had never seen you there." It shouldn't have felt like a stab in the heart, and yet it did, especially coming from a blind spot.
Mukuro laughed at whatever he managed to read on Iemitsu's face. "Sorry, did I hit a sore spot?"
Iemitsu clenched his hands into a fist, nails digging into his palm, and forced himself to breath. He was abruptly aware of the Vendice around them, especially the one with the cold energy that seemed to want to kick him out the moment he slipped up instead of giving him a warning like he actually did.
It felt dirty using what Tsuna told him through Reborn in this way, especially since he had no doubt his son wanted to use it to persuade and not to threaten, but Iemitsu never said that he wasn't vindictive or that he played fair.
Iemitsu turned to the Vendice with the cold energy. "Hey, when is the trial for the two guys captured along with Mukuro again?"
The tension in the room rose.
"You're asking about those tools?" Mukuro asked, aiming for detached wondering and failing by a few marks, even as the Vendice answered, "In half-a-year. Their offense is minor in comparison to all the other offenders Vendicare is currently housing."
"Since Mukuro doesn't want to a deal with Vongola, why don't Vendicare complete a deal with me regarding those two instead?" Iemitsu asked casually with cold, cold eyes.
"Kufufufu, you're trying to threaten me with those two?" Mukuro asked with an incredulous laugh. He sounded like a desperate man grasping for straws. "It won't work. You're overestimating their worth to me."
Iemitsu met Mukuro's eye. "Am I?" he asked.
Mukuro gazed back steadily. "Yes," he said, and it was amazing how nothing else betrayed him but the minute twitching at his jaws before he spoke.
"If you say so then." Iemitsu shrugged as he turned back to the Vendice. "You heard him," Iemitsu said, and if glares could kill, he would be dead five times over even without Mukuro's red eye uncovered. The chains that cuffed Mukuro's hands rattled for a second before stilling completely. The silence that followed was deafening.
Iemitsu could suddenly see Nana, who always smiled no matter, frowning at him, chastising him to play nice, that her Iemitsu wasn't like that. He blinked and the image of his wife and her voice disappeared.
Iemitsu turned to Mukuro, who raised an eyebrow at him, waiting. From the smirk on Mukuro's face, Iemitsu didn't know if he should conclude that Mukuro had caused that brief scene in his mind, or Mukuro had merely sensed him faltering once again and wanted Iemitsu to considered him as the cause. He knew which one Mukuro wanted him to think, however.
Iemitsu whirled back to the Vendice with a tick in his jaw. "Vendice, here's my offer to Vendicare. Mukuro Rokudo will be Sawada Tsunayoshi's Guardian via proxy for life, in exchange for Mukuro's vow to Vendicare to not escape again. In return, Vendicare will" spare the lives of Ken Joshima and Chikusa Kakimoto, giving them life in prison instead, Iemitsu was tempted to say, except induced by Mukuro or not, the scene of Nana chastising him did affect him more than he was willing to admit. So instead, with an inner sigh, he finished with, "absolve Ken Joshima and Chikusa Kakimoto of their crime and set them free."
Both Mukuro and the Vendice were staring now. Iemitsu gazed back at them steadily, refusing to regret his choice or his words. "Well?" he prompted.
Mukuro was the first to respond. "Kufufufu, his Guardian?" he said. "You're just making it easier for me to possess him."
Iemitsu looked back at Mukuro. "He's my son," Iemitsu said, like that was a good enough endorsement of Tsuna's abilities and it was. "He won't make it easy and neither would his friends and families." Neither would I, was left unsaid, but loudly projected through the warning glint in Iemitsu's eyes.
Silence hung between them for a long moment, before a smirk finally curled on Mukuro's face. "You're a fool," Mukuro said, and Iemitsu knew an agreement when he heard one.
Iemitsu turned to the Vendice to see him staring in a compact mirror in his hand a few feet away from them, still close enough to watch them and interfere in a moment of notice. The bandages he had wrapped around his head made it hard for Iemitsu to read lips, but the vague movement around the area of the mouth could at least confirm that he was talking. The Vendice's body language, normally controlled to the point where one Vendice could switch with another with no one knowing better, was now mutely projecting a sense of disagreement.
"The Vendice doesn't like the idea," Mukuro murmured with amusement, gazing in the talking Vendice's direction.
Iemitsu casted a quick glance in Mukuro's direction, briefly wondering at this man that exchanged his life for his two companions, before a smirk spread across his face as he turned back to the Vendice. "But whoever he is talking to does."
The Vendice talked with the compact mirror looking device for another two minutes, before coming back with the bearing of a determined man, and nodded in agreement. Pride bloomed in Iemitsu's chest at the thought of having done something for his son, even as worry soon took hold as he wondered how wise would it be to have Mukuro as Tsuna's Guardian. Mukuro looked indifferent at best upon hearing the agreement, but there seemed to be a tension at his shoulders that was released.
The Vendice excused himself as soon as he gave them the news and slinked away to an adjoining audience room. "To write up an agreement," he claimed with the voice of someone who wanted to sabotage the very agreement he was writing up, and then he was gone.
Five minutes later, the door to the adjoining audience room opened. Iemitsu thought he saw a flash of black and white pattern before the door closed behind him. The Vendice came back with a document in hand and slumped shouldered. Iemitsu guessed someone convinced him that their agreement had to go through. After all, Vongola wasn't a family to cross with.
They signed the agreement after looking over it, and it was set upon. Vongola will get Mukuro as Tsuna's Guardian for life via proxy, Vendicare will get Mukuro not escaping again, and Mukuro will have Ken and Chikusa set free as innocents.
As Iemitsu headed back out of the Vendicare, he passed by someone in the hallway. The person looked utterly normal, with brown hair and brown eyes, and yet something about him made Iemitsu turn back around. The person was young, he saw, but possessed a regal aura around that commanded authority and respect.
The word Jr. was on his forehead.
Xxx
Yusuke groaned and rolled over to his side, but the noise continued bouncing around his head. "Arg, shut up, shut up, shut up!" Yusuke shouted, bolting up from his bed. "You're driving me crazy!"
From across the apartment in the kitchen, Gokudera sniped back, "You shut up. What bit you in the ass this morning?"
Even the smell of delicious in the apartment wasn't able to completely assuage Yusuke's annoyance. He threw his covers off his body and stalked up to Gokudera. He was making - Yusuke squinted at the time - brunch. It was 1 pm.
"Gokudera-san," Yusuke stressed, emphasizing on the honorific that he was using sarcastically. "Can you please, please, shut the fuck up? You've been making this weird noise ever since I started coming back to sleep here after the whole Kokuyo debacle. I've been tolerant long enough, don't you think? If you don't like me sleeping in my own apartment, you can just fucking say so. Don't mess with my sleep."
Gokudera was raring up for an argument even before Yusuke finished speaking. "The fuck do you mean?" Gokudera asked, bristling as he turned his attention away from the pan. "Do I look the passive aggressive type? If I have a problem with you, I would have been all in your face about it like you right now!"
A furrow appeared between Yusuke's eyebrows. "You mean it wasn't you making that noise?"
"What noise?" Gokudera asked, exasperated. "The only noise I hear right now is you screeching in my ears."
"Are you deaf?" Yusuke asked, annoyed now. "It's right -" Yusuke blinked and focused at his ears, but the noise was gone. "The hell?"
"You're definitely hallucinating," Gokudera declared, turning his attention back to his brunch. He scooped it out of the pan. "That, or you're picking up a fight."
"This is so weird; it was there like two second ago!" Yusuke insisted, but Gokudera merely shook his head.
"All that sleep is getting into your head," Gokudera said, pointing the spatula at him. Yusuke stared at him. "I haven't seen you do anything in the house besides sleep."
Yusuke looked away sheepishly with a cough. "There's nothing for me to do," he said, his words trailing off.
"What were you doing before?" Gokudera asked, for once sounding like he was trying to help. Yusuke mentally applauded Gokudera taking the first step to become a better person, so he tried to seriously think of an honest response.
The only thing that popped into his mind was the image of a baby with sideburns, an amused smirk, and calculating eyes with a fedora propped on top of his head.
"Reborn," Yusuke uttered aloud without thinking, and Gokudera casted him a weird look.
"What did you say?" Gokudera asked, and Yusuke coughed, before deciding to rephrase his answer.
"Reborn usually bothers me, but he's kinda ignoring me at the moment," Yusuke said, trying not to sound as peeved as he felt. "Not that it's not my fault, it is, so I decided to give him time to cool off, but now it seems like he has completely forgotten about me."
Gokudera was staring at him by the time he finished speaking.
"What?" Yusuke snapped, feeling strangely defensive after this unexpectedly honest and sincere revelation.
Gokudera shook his head after a moment. "Nothing," he said, his voice surprisingly devoid of the sniping or mockery that he was expecting. Gokudera rarely sounded soft, so Yusuke didn't expect any of that from him, but he did sound a little less prickly than usual when he said, "Reborn-san is working on a project, you can say, with Juudaime and me now. It's busy work."
Yusuke would deny to the end of his time that he perked up upon hearing those words. "Yeah?" he asked, perhaps a little too eagerly, then said, "What are you working on?"
At that question, Gokudera beamed. "I'm moving out of this apartment soon enough," he said, sounding so gleeful that Yusuke wondered if he should be offended.
"You don't have to sound that happy about it," Yusuke said with a sigh, realizing that the one person who he had semi-constant interaction in his stay at Namimori was now going to be gone.
Gokudera smirked at him, wide and proud. "Of course I have to be!" he exclaimed. Yusuke half-expected him to claps his hands in front of him and sigh dreamily. "Juudaime bought a house for me!" Before Yusuke could even think of a comment to that, his face darkened as he added, "Along with that stupid cow, I-Pin, Fuuta and" - his face abruptly blanched - "my sister."
Yusuke thought it was a waste that Gokudera wasn't an actor, his emotions changed so fast. Then he registered what Gokudera said.
"He bought a house?" Yusuke asked with a low whistle. "Damn, kid."
Gokudera nodded like his Juudaime deserved this praise and dozens of more. "Juudaime is amazing," he said, "that even Vongola Nono had to acknowledge him."
So the money came from Nono, Yusuke thought. That made sense, although he had to wonder at Tsuna and his relationship with the Mafia. Despite his reluctance to fight or even join the Mafia, it seemed like he was being dragged in anyway.
Yusuke wondered what Gokudera would do the day Tsuna honestly declared that he didn't want to be the Decimo. After all, Gokudera admire Tsuna's character and strength as much as he admired the influence and power of Vongola that Tsuna had at his backing.
Then again, he mused, that day may never come. After all, Tsuna seemed to be getting used to the idea of becoming the Decimo at least, if he was willing to accept and use the money Nono sent him.
Speaking of money… Yusuke casted a speculative look at Gokudera.
"What?!" Gokudera snapped at once upon noticing Yusuke's gaze.
"Before you move, help me with something?" Yusuke said. At the bemused furrow that appeared at Gokudera's forehead, he said, "You know those earning from the stocks? Help me cash in some."
Gokudera's eyebrow rose. "Did you gamble and lose all your money because Reborn-san is ignoring you?"
"No!" Yusuke exclaimed, "where did you even get that idea?"
Gokudera shrugged, like that was an answer in itself. Yusuke's forehead ticked, before he decided to let it go.
"I ran out of cash," he explained. "Normally I would get my accountant to help me with it, but he's busy at this moment."
"Accountants help you get money from the bank nowadays?" Gokudera asked, incredulous.
Yusuke shrugged. "This one does."
"Why do you need to cash in stock earnings?" Gokudera continued, sounding more bemused by the moment. "I'm sure you have some kind of bank account that you can withdraw from."
Yusuke looked away and mumbled. Gokudera raised an eyebrow at him. Yusuke sighed and decided to get this over with. "I said, I used up the money I had in my current account and I don't have any information about my other ones. You'll have to transfer money into my account so I can withdraw it, or directly withdraw the money for me."
Gokudera stared at him for a moment before bursting out laughing. For the first time in years, Yusuke could feel heat rising up to his cheeks.
"Shut up," Yusuke grumbled.
Gokudera couldn't stop. "You're a grown man," he said between chuckles. "It's like babysitting a spoiled rich kid. Even I feel sorry for your accountant."
Yusuke shrugged, willing his embarrassment away. "He gets paid, you know, and has a crazy high rate too."
Gokudera gave him a spectacle look, but finally dropped the topic. "I'll send you the money later if you give me the routing number. You have that at least, right?"
"Yeah, I do," he said, with a proud smile. "One last thing then: keep the stocks." Gokudera opened his mouth to argue. "Deal is the same, plus I need you to continue sending me money until my accountant responds to me."
Gokudera flicked Yusuke an annoyed look. "Of course."
"Hey, I'm paying you," Yusuke retorted, before asking curiously, "So when are you moving?"
Now it was Gokudera's turn to grin. "In three days."
Xxx
Nana didn't see the furniture trucks come in, but she knew that it did the moment Fuuta, Lambo and I-Pin shrieked in delight and ran out the door.
"It's here, it's here!" Lambo shouted, jumping along with Fuuta and I-Pin. Happy as he was, he didn't pay attention to where he was going and tripped just when he was at the door. He slowly crawled up to a kneel. "Got…ta st...ay calm…" Nana knew he had to be telling himself. Nana was walking towards him from the kitchen when Fuuta and I-Pin finally noticed they were missing one person and came back.
"Come on, Lambo," Fuuta said, pulling Lambo back up to his feet.
"Broccoli head, you alright?" I-Pin queried.
"Idiot, I'm not broccoli head!" Lambo immediately shouted, pain and tears forgotten. "I'm going to reach the truck first. Hahahaha!" Lambo stuck his tongue out at Fuuta and I-Pin and promptly ran off.
"Lambo, no!" I-Pin shouted, running after him. "You can't do that!"
Fuuta watched them for a moment, giggled, and hurried after them. "Wait for me, Lambo, I-Pin!"
Nana smiled. She was happy to see Fuuta here and in a more cheerful mood. She was worried that Fuuta wouldn't make it in time for the moving date, only to received a call from a blocked number three days ago.
Beaming, Nana picked up the call. "Iemitsu!" she enthused, pleasantly surprised that he called when he already did so six weeks ago.
"Nana!" Iemitsu replied, just as happy as she was. "I miss you, my wonderful wife."
Nana giggled, her heart warming. "I do too," she said back softly. Unintentionally, the words slipped out. "I'm so happy that you called."
There was a pause after those words. To anyone else, those words would have the same meaning as 'I missed you,' the implication that you care and thought about the other. For Nana and Iemitsu, however, it implied something different. Nana was certainly happy that Iemitsu called, but the underlying unintended implication was because you rarely do so because of work.
Nana's heart ached for a second, in the special place of her heart that she reserved for her husband. She ached to be able to see him face to face, to hold his hand, to have his arms wrap around her protectively.
But most of all, her one wish was for Iemitsu to visit them sometimes, often enough that their son could recognize his face and voice. Often enough that their son would remember that he has a father. Often enough that the all three of them could be proper family
It was too much to ask for, she knew. So instead of hoping for something impossible, every time after Iemitsu called her, she just hoped that he would call again soon. Once a month was the goal she was aiming for. Just once a month. For him to call her at least once a month so they could chat a little about what's going on in each other's life. She knew Iemitsu couldn't say much, especially not about his work, but she honestly just wanted to hear his voice sometimes.
Nana never told Iemitsu of her wishes, never said them aloud, not wanting to guilt him in trying to fulfil them when she knew her wishes were impossible.
She suspected that Iemitsu heard them anyway. After all, they did always have an understanding of each other.
"Nana," Iemitsu whispered, his voice achingly soft. Full of longing. "You know I love you, right? I would do anything for you and Tsuna."
Nana nodded, her grip around the phone unrelenting. She forced herself to giggle, and smiled wide enough to hurt. It hurt.
She smiled. "Of course I know, Iemitsu. I know," she uttered back, the words ringing true in her voice and in her heart. "I love you too."
"Great," Iemitsu said, his tone sounding more distant now. "Nana-dear, I have to go soon." Her smile dropped. "I just called to tell you that the kid, Fuuta, is on a plane to Japan now. His plane will arrive at five o'clock and someone will bring him from the airport to our home."
Breath left her lungs. "F-fuuta-kun is coming back?" she asked, wanting to confirm and not yet letting herself hope. She remembered asking Tsuna and Reborn about when he will come back, and receiving headshakes in return.
"We don't know, okaa-san," Tsuna had said, exchanging looks with Reborn.
"He needs to testify for Mukuro's trial first, Maman," Reborn had said. "He will be back after it takes place. As for when that will be" - Reborn shook his head - "I'm afraid even I don't know."
"He must be so scared," Nana said, pressing her lips together in a thin line. "First he gets captured and now he must stay in custody until the trial ends? Can't we at least visit him?"
Reborn shook his head.
Iemitsu laughed warmly. "Yeah, Nana-dear. Last time you told me that you were worried about him, right? Now you don't have to worry anymore; I'm sending him back to your side. The trial ended early and favorably too. Tell Tsuna that for me, can you?"
"Tsuna's in the house today, dear," Nana said with a quick smile at the good news, and the rare opportunity for the father and son pair to talk. "I'll go get him -!"
"Don't bother, Nana," Iemitsu said, "I need to go now. Just tell him for me."
Nana's stomach dropped. "Iemitsu," she started. 'It'll be very quick,' she didn't have the time to finish.
"I really have to go now," Iemitsu said in a rush. "I love you both!"
"I love -" The line went dead. "you too," Nana finished in a whisper, but no one was there to hear.
Fuuta arrived at their house later in the evening, as promised by Iemitsu. By the time Nana finished checking up on Fuuta and turned back to his escort, he had already vanished without a trace.
During Fuuta's first day there, he was very reserved and quiet, even by his standards. He seemed scared, constantly looked around, and sometimes covered his ears as though afraid to hear something. Tsuna stayed with him for the night, and when they woke up the next morning, Fuuta seemed better. Unlike the day before, when Lambo and I-Pin asked him to play with them, he actually went. Gokudera stopped by to help them pack what the kids had in the house and move it next door, and when Lambo and I-Pin excitedly claimed they wanted to go also, Fuuta went with them.
At some point, they must have explained to Fuuta that not only was the huge house next door for Lambo and I-Pin but it was also for him. Once they came back, all of them clambered into Tsuna's room. Tsuna was learning Italian from Reborn, but postponed it with Reborn's permission when he found out that they wanted to look at furniture catalogues to order furnitures for Fuuta online. Lambo and I-Pin's were already ordered, after all.
Nana somehow got roped into it, and together, they selected what Fuuta would have in his room. They also ordered more decor for the house itself.
Fuuta seemed startled and guilty at the cost of everything when Tsuna went to check out the items, but Tsuna merely smiled and said that he wanted to spend money on him.
Nana had to bring Fuuta out to wash his face and then have some cookies when he began to sniffle at those words. She didn't know how necessary those cookies were since Fuuta began giggling after the kids blamed her spluttering son for making Fuuta cry, but it was fine as long as Fuuta was happy.
"Okaa-san, did the furniture arrived?" Tsuna asked, coming down the stairs with Reborn on his shoulder.
"Tsu-kun!" Nana said, smiling widely. "Yes, it's here now."
Tsuna smiled back. "Let's go help them move in then. Onii-chan and Yamamoto said they'll come by later, and" - her son face's flushed slightly - "Kyoko-chan might stop by as well."
Nana gazed at the house next door, where Lambo, I-Pin, Fuuta, Gokudera and Binachi would be living now. Ryohei, Yamamoto, and Kyoko would also be visiting, and of course, Reborn and Tsuna would still be by her side.
Nana was still very aware of the missing piece in her life and in her home, and while the kids wouldn't be able to replace Iemitsu in her heart, they have a place there in other ways. With them there, she wouldn't be alone and she wouldn't let them be either.
Hello everyone. Hope you had a happy holiday. The promised chapter about Gokudera, Binachi, Lambo, I-Pin and Fuuta living together is next chapter. If you have a prompt/request to make, you can still do so. If not, that's fine too. Regardless, if you have time, please leave a comment/review on your way out. Thanks!