Chapter Text
Chapter six
Who Is Family
One moment he was slipping over the window sill, barely holding onto Yamamoto and Gokudera, the next there was an explosion. Tsuna felt his feet leave the ground and in fear tightened his grip on Yamamoto’s and Gokudera’s shirts. He was surprised they hadn’t ripped by now. But a lucky moment came rarely for him so he didn’t question that. He held on as he was lifted and soon was floating in the sky safely over the pool. He didn’t dare look away from his grip either. He vaguely remembered this happening to him a long time ago. But that felt like a lifetime ago.
Not soon enough, for Tsuna, they were safely on the ground and he sighed happily that they didn’t fall into the pool this time. After taking a moment to orient himself to being on the ground, Tsuna moved to check up on the two teens that were still unconscious.
“Thank god. They’re safe.” Tsuna sighed again in relief. He was glad that no one gotten too badly hurt. He was glad that he hadn’t really had to fight Hibari-san. He was grateful enough for them surviving this.
‘So things can go different.’ Tsuna thought.
‘Huh? What do you mean?’ Tsunayoshi asked.
‘Things were a bit more ... chaotic the last time.’
‘More than this?!’ Tsunayoshi screeched.
Tsuna winced as he felt Tsunayoshi’s voice throughout his mind. It was like hearing a loud noise, but it was only inside his head. He didn’t know how things worked, with him having Tsunayoshi in his head and all but, it really was going to end up with him getting a headache. Tsuna sighed.
He was glad he didn’t have to go Dying will mode and destroying school property or lose his cloths. He forgot to bring any extras like before.
“Tsunayoshi Sawada!” the dark voice made Tsuna shudder and freeze, his body huddling up shakily and trying to become as small as possible. Memories of when this tone had been used before resurfaced for a short moment.
‘No, no no no NO NO NO!’ Tsuna and Tsunayoshi whimpered. ‘He’s angry. He’s really angry at me.’ They cried internally. ‘He’ll kill me!’
“Face me, Big brother.” Takiru said ordered. But Tsunayoshi was too scared and Tsuna couldn’t control his body anymore. “You’re really pushing it Dame-Tsuna!” He growled, taking hold of Tsuna’s arm he forced the brunette to turn and face him. “You kept the noisy brat. Fine! I’ll deal with that. You talked back to me. Fine, I let that go too. But disobeying a direct order… you really are pushing it, Big brother.” He growled again shaking the scared brunette.
“I’m sorry Takiru-san. I’m very sorry. He was going to hurt your friends.” Tsuna tried to explain.
“So you want to play HERO, Tsuna?!” Takiru yelled out, pushing Tsuna to the round. “You would disobey me for them?!” He growled out.
“They could have broken their necks or arms from that fall." Tsuna continued to beg, watching his younger brother for any sign of forgiveness. Takiru stopped, his face shadowed and expression hidden. “Hibari-san wouldn’t have forgiven our intrusion easily either, Takiru-san.” Tsuna trembled as he tried to reason with his younger twin.
"You made me fight, Tsu." Takiru whispered softly looking away from him. Tsuna only barely heard it. He didn't know how to react to that, nor did Tsunayoshi. This seemed to have never happened before.
'He is calling me 'Tsu'. Tsunayoshi whispered in his mind. 'He hasn't called me that since we were children...' Tsunayoshi's voice faded away in a soft whisper as Tsuna felt himself shiver. Shame filled him as he realized that it was true. He had chosen his friends, who hadn't accepted him in this dimension, over his own flesh and blood. However the next moment he felt ever more conflicted. They weren't just friends to him either. Yamamoto and Gokudera were family; the same as Takiru. Whether they accepted him or not in this world didn’t matter.
Tsuna felt him fight against himself as these emotions conflicted inside. Tsunayoshi was crying too. Making no sounds but he felt it like a stormy sea inside. Tsuna wanted to make it all stop. His heart felt so heavy. He didn't know which way to turn, who to ask. He wanted Reborn to tell him what to do. But then again Reborn wasn't here to help him, he was here to help Takiru become the next leader of Vonogola. Somehow that made things somewhat more painful. The sharp sting filled his chest and all Tsuna could do was sob softly.
"Don't you cry Dame-Tsuna." Takiru growled before turning away from his brother. He looked at the other two teens just waking up and coming to a decision. Lunch had long been over and now all the students and teachers were safely inside their classes away from all the drama.
Tsuna gulped, swallowing down his tears as well. Takiru wouldn't be happy with him disobeying him anymore that day. He had to do everything he needed to, to keep Takiru from doing anything drastic.
"I'm sorry" He mumbles looking away from Takiru.
"Whatever." Takiru growled looking at the now fully awake teens. They came to the quick conclusion to stay quiet and not ask anything at the time. Seeing Takiru so angry, they knew that they were in trouble. "For now, I'm taking them to the infirmary." He glared at Tsuna as he said this. "You go to class and stay there. Don't you leave it without me, understand?" He grounded out before turning to face Reborn. “Reborn. Keep him out of trouble.” Yamamoto and Gokudera silently followed him to the school infirmary.
"Thank you." Tsuna whispered softly, knowing Takiru was too far away for him to hear those words and he felt a pang of guilt rise again. Feeling worry and pain for a brother who keeps on bullying him, not for a moment Tsuna thought it wasn't right. Not for a moment the torture put through came to his mind. The only thing he heard was what Takiru had said. "You made me fight, Tsu." Tsuna shuddered. "I'm sorry." The words disappeared before they were taken far.
The bell rang informing every one of the end of school for the day. Tsuna sighed. Neither Takiru nor the others had shown up after they had gone off to the infirmary. Tsuna worried if his friends were that badly hurt. But the last time they had managed to go home on their own and Tsuna wondered.
‘I should have interfered sooner, before the entire thing had happened. That way Hibari-san wouldn’t have gotten involved. Takiru-san wouldn’t have had to fight and wouldn’t have gotten so angry… Oh No! Would he punish Gokudera and Yamamoto for not being able to defeat Hibari-san?! But Hibari-san is in a level of his own. Nobody can just take him on!’ Tsuna cried internally.
‘He’s angry with us too. We’ll get punished when he comes back.’ Tsunayoshi whimpered.
‘By this point I think that’s inevitable.’ Tsuna sighed again.
"Well done, Tsuna." The nasally voice of a very familiar infant reached Tsuna's ears startling him out of his thoughts. Tsuna looked up at the baby hit-man who stood on his table, watching him with unreadable dark eyes.
"Reborn-san." Tsuna whispered surprised that he was being praised by the baby Hitman.
"You protected your Family." Reborn informed him since the questioning look didn't leave Tsuna's face.
"I interfered and now Takiru-san is angry with me. Anyways, it isn’t my family." Tsuna let Tsunayoshi speak with the hit-man instead of him.
"You protected those who are meant to protect Takiru, hence protecting your brother as well. And as far as I know he is still your family is he not?" Reborn replied.
"But-" A hit on his spiky haired head stopped him mid-sentence making him hold his wounded head instead. "Itte…" He looked up at Reborn who was looking away from him, to the class room door. He looked thoughtful and somber. Tsuna was surprised. He had never seen Reborn this worried before.
"Family is meant protect each other. Not please just one person, even if it’s the boss. A family like that, will not last long." Reborn's words were dark and at that moment Tsuna felt cold, a shadowed memory falling in front of his eyes.
The muffled sounds of gun fire and explosions was heard and the next instant it was muted. Pain filled his chest and head and for a moment, a short moment, Tsuna couldn't breathe.
"Dame-Tsuna." Takiru calling his name dragged Tsuna back to the real world in an instant. Dragging in a deep breath he looked up at the taller teen looking at him from the doorway. "It's time to go home." He didn't look angry anymore though and that made Tsuna smile a little. But the feeling of him having betrayed Takiru didn't disappear completely.
"Hm." Tsuna nodded in affirmation before getting up. Reborn jumped on Tsuna's head and stayed there as he headed to Takiru. "Let's go home Takiru-san."
When Tsuna, Takiru and Reborn made it to the school gate they were welcomed with the sight of both Gokudera and Yamamoto waiting for them.
"Jyuudaime." Gokudera called quietly.
"Maa, Takiru. Thanks for taking us to the infirmary." Behind Yamamoto, Gokudera looked at the ground, ashamed that he got beaten.
‘Huh? Takiru-san wasn’t with them?’ Tsuna asked himself.
"We don't know what happened after we were blacked out, but you saved us. Thanks." Yamamoto smiled at Takiru somewhat uneasily.
"I didn't save you." Takiru growled at them, making them and Tsuna tense instantly. "You bring Dame-Tsuna into any fights again... and I'll kill you myself." He threatened them before looking at Reborn who sat on Tsuna's fluffy head. "I don't care if Tsuna was protecting me or family. Dame-Tsuna listens only to me. Deal with it, Reborn." Reborn pulled his fedora down shadowing his eyes from the rest. "Tsuna, you'll be punished when we get home." Takiru directed at Tsuna who stared at him wide eyed.
"Go home." Takiru glared at Yamamoto and Gokudera before starting to head home.
"I'm sorry." Both teens looked at Tsuna who watched Takiru walk ahead. "I didn't mean to make everything worse." Tsuna looked down and away from them. It seemed that he had made things worse between his brother and his friends.
"Tsuna-" Yamamoto was suddenly interrupted by a fuming Gokudera.
"Why can't you just leave it like you had before? Don't interfere with things that have nothing to do with you, Damn Copy! What kind of Guardians are we to Jyuudaime if we can't protect ourselves? Next time leave us be! And just be the damned useless person you are and stay out of it! Jyuudaime is angry again just because of YOU!" Gokudera yelled at a shocked Tsuna and ran in the opposite direction of Takiru.
Tsuna watched him go. Pain filling his chest and heart breaking at what Gokudera had said. He knew he shouldn't have interfered with this, but there was no way he couldn't. He couldn't stand and watch his friends even if that was in another dimension get hurt. They were still that person. Tsuna shut his eyes tightly closed and he heard Tsunayoshi whimpering inside. The pain increased as the remembrance of Takiru's disappointment in him.
"Tsu- Tsuna!" Yamamoto called worriedly. The little brunette looked to be in so much pain. "Maa, don't mind him 'kay? He's just a bit depressed, ne Tsuna." he said quickly trying to make the little brunette open his eyes and show that he was fine. "Thank you for saving us, Tsuna."
The words from Yamamoto had Tsuna looking up at the baseball player. "I'm sorry." He mumbled not really feeling any better. He saw Yamamoto becoming more worried, but he hurt too much at the moment to smile.
Tsuna looked up at the Disciplinary committee room window. His hyper intuition was telling him someone was there, and sure enough Hibari watched the little group at the gate. A shiver passed through him. 'Hibari-san is the same too. He's like himself from my world.' Tsuna looked away and walked away from Yamamoto. 'Maybe I should let Takiru take care of his family. I'm only making things worse for them. I didn't want to be a Mafia boss anyway...'
"Tsuna..." Yamamoto called softly, but Tsuna ignored him and continued on. He was needed beside Takiru. He needed to stand right next to him. Unless and until he was no longer needed, that was where he will stay.
The next day began early for Tsuna. He stayed still a moment. His mind trying to remember the dream he had. It felt like he needed to remember, to know. However the dream remained elusive and strayed farther away he tried to catch it in his mind's grasp. He only remembered gunshots and explosions. And a deep phantom pain in his body. The feeling disappeared soon enough, the sounds tapered off and the only things he could hear were his breathing and birds singing outside.
Sighing Tsuna sat up in bed and instantly felt more awake than he would normally in his own body. He wondered why.
'I'm used to getting up at odd times to do what Takiru asks of me.'
'I guess your body being used to it is why I am too.' Tsuna smiled at the thought.
'Tsuna, shall we make breakfast?' Tsunayoshi asked quietly.
'Hmm. Takiru likes our cooking, no?' Tsuna said as he changed and got ready for the day.
'Yes. He does. Lucky, ne?'
'Yes.'
Tsuna quietly made it downstairs being careful not to trip on his way down the stairs or be loud to wake anyone else. A relieved sigh escaped him when he made it to the bottom of the stairs safely. Tsuna went straight to the kitchen to begin his preparations to make breakfast.
"Let's make something everyone will like?" Tsuna spoke softly to himself and Tsunayoshi. He felt the serene calmness in Tsunayoshi. It seems doing these simple movements to make something everyone will love was something Tsunayoshi really enjoyed.
The sounds of gunshots were heard from upstairs as Tsuna readied the plates. He shuddered remembering Reborn's wake up calls.
"Maa, Taki-kun and Reborn-kun are having fun playing together." Behind him Nana said happily.
'She thinks they're playing?!' Tsuna sweat dropped. 'I guess that's what Mama thought back home too.' Tsuna sighed. Nana had come earlier into the kitchen to prepare breakfast only to see Tsuna already in the middle of it. So she had decided to be his helper instead.
'Mama shouldn't be brought into all of the troubles Takiru and we are getting into.' Tsunayoshi said sadly.
'Ah! You're right. So it's good Mama thinks we're playing ne?' Tsuna smiled before turning back to Nana. "Mama, I'm going to get ready." Tsuna went up to his room to quickly change.
"Baka Takiru." Not too long after Reborn's voice was heard as Takiru and Reborn entered the kitchen.
"Oh. Good morning, Taki-kun, Reborn-kun." Nana called happily to her, as she sees them, children.
"Good morning, Mama." Reborn replied.
"Morning." Takiru sat at the table without saying anymore and started eating without waiting for anyone. He paused for a moment looking at his plate, inciting Reborn’s curiosity. But before he could question the brunette he continued to eat as if he never stopped.
Reborn watched the silent brunette for a moment more before continuing with his own breakfast. He had not been able to decipher what actually goes in his student’s head as of yet. What he had noticed though was that at times he contradicted himself terribly. And mostly these times were when his older brother was involved in any way.
"Lambo-san wants to eat!" There was a scream from upstairs and Takiru twitched.
"Too loud." He grumbled before tucking himself into the food again.
"Yes, yes. Let's eat." Tsuna was heard calming the loud child down. As he entered he froze for a moment seeing Takiru already eating. In his arms Lambo tensed afraid of the angry teen. "Good morning, Takiru-san." Tsuna said watching his stronger twin. However he didn't receive any acknowledgements from him. Tsuna sagged a bit, a bit of the depression returning.
'Takiru...' Tsuna heard Tsunayoshi whimper and shook his head. He needed to stay strong that day. Takiru hadn't given him any sort of punishments the other night. However he had completely ignored the smaller brunette since reaching home. Not even looking at him.
"Good morning, Reborn-san." Tsuna said turning to look at the Arcobaleno happily digging into the breakfast he made.
"Good morning, Dame-Tsuna." Reborn called back.
"Lambo-san scared..." Tsuna looked down at the shivering child in his arms.
'He's still afraid of Takiru.' Tsuna thought.
'We were both scared back then, Tsuna. It was your will to protect him that made me able to stand in front of Takiru without apologizing instantly and leaving him. I am still afraid of facing Takiru and Lambo is still only a child, so it's understandable ne?' Tsunayoshi pointed out.
'Ah, that's true.' Tsuna thought.
Cautiously he sat down next to Takiru putting Lambo down on his other side, away from the silent brunette. "Lambo, eat your breakfast okay?" Tsuna patted his head before completely settling in his seat. "Good morning Takiru-san." Tsuna said softly without looking at his younger brother. Takiru didn't answer and continued to eat the food. Tsuna knew it would be like this that day. Tsunayoshi had told him and the memories of the very few times this had happened had helped as well. Although that had made Tsunayoshi almost cry the night before.
"Taki-kun, Tsu-kun made your breakfast today." Nana spoke softly watching her two children somewhat distressed.
Takiru stopped eating at this. He stared at the food. Tsuna went stiff at this, not knowing how Takiru would react to that information. His heart thudded loudly in his heart and felt Tsunayoshi's anxiousness mix with his own.
Suddenly Takiru started eating again. Not saying a word, like he hadn't heard what mama had said. But then he wouldn't have paused. Tsuna felt the cheer run through him. Takiru had begun accepting his apology. Tsuna started his own breakfast after smiling at Takiru and his mother. He will try and make things better. Takiru would be dealing with a lot in the upcoming days, Tsuna knew. All he could do at the moment was to help him any way he can.
There was a nagging feeling in Tsuna’s head. Like, he was forgetting something very important. But he didn’t know what that was. Tsuna shook his head after a moment. This was not the time. Right now, he needed to be there to help Takiru.
Tsuna followed Takiru as they both headed to school. Breakfast had gone quietly after that. Although Lambo only began eating after Takiru had gotten up to leave for school, Tsuna was just glad that Takiru hadn't made it worse with Lambo since Tsuna had him stay.
"Yo, Takiru-kun, Tsuna." Tsuna looked at the person who called to see Yamamoto Takeshi coming towards them. He had his baseball bat on his shoulder with his book bag and the usual happy wide grin on his face.
Tsuna watched Yamamoto for a bit before looking away. 'His smile doesn't reach his eyes.' Tsuna thought before softly answering him. "Good morning, Yamamoto-kun." Takiru just nodded at him once before continuing to head to their destination.
"Ciaossu." Reborn said from where he was walking on the fence.
"Yo, kid. You're coming with us too?" Yamamoto asked smiling at reborn.
"My job is to always stay with Takiru." Reborn said with a smirk on his face that made Tsuna shiver and Takiru snort. They both knew Reborn was getting ideas in his head, ideas that would get them into a lot of trouble.
"You're welcome to leave if you want." Takiru said unemotionally.
"And get you into trouble you can't get out of? Baka-Takiru, I will make you the tenth boss of Vongola." Reborn replied. Behind them Tsuna sweat dropped.
"Haha. So the kid's working hard to make Takiru-kun a great boss. That's great isn't it, Tsuna?" Yamamoto said happily.
Tsuna laughed weekly, nodding his head at Yamamoto. It was impossible. Yamamoto still took this as a game, didn't he? Tsuna sighed mentally. He hoped things will go well for everyone.
"AAH! It's you!" The recognizable voice came all of a sudden from in front of them. Tsuna froze for a second.
'Haru!'
'Miura-san!' They both thought at the same time.
'You know Haru?' Tsuna asked Tsunayoshi.
'We've met but, she was angrier with Takiru than me.' Tsunayoshi said.
'Huh? How come?' Tsuna asked.
"You are still so cruel to Reborn-chan." Haru yelled at Takiru, who just ignored her. "Reborn-chan why don't you stop staying with this mean jerk and come stay with me?" Haru asked Reborn with tears in her eyes. "I'll take good care of Reborn-chan."
"I can't leave Takiru since I have a mission to make him a great mafia boss." Reborn said in his uncannily cute way.
"Reborn-chan is so loyal to you! Why aren't you good to him too! Bastard!" Haru yelled.
'That's why…' Tsunayoshi supplied as Tsuna sweat dropped again. It was how he had met Haru too.
"Maa maa. Calm down. We're just playing a game." Yamamoto said trying to cool Haru down.
"And this is the kind of games you teach children?!" Haru yelled louder at Yamamoto and for a second Tsuna felt pity for him, that was of course before Haru turned on him next. "You do too, don't you?! You're always playing with them too!" Tsuna looked at her stunned.
'She's the same.' He thought somewhat wistfully as Haru turned to scowl at Takiru before leaving.
'So she met you like this?' Tsunayoshi asked warily.
'Yeah.' Tsuna said feeling exhausted already.
'That doesn't seem like a nice way to meet at all.' Tsunayoshi grumbled.
Tsuna couldn't stop himself from smiling at that. It didn't matter too much to him how he and Haru had met. What did matter was that Haru had become part of his family. Happy and smiling with Kyoko-chan and making special meals for them while taking care of Lambo, Ipin and Fuuta. Bringing the shy Chrome into their little group as they went shopping, mostly including a smiling Bianchi. Maybe in this world Haru could stay safe and away from the dangerous world of Mafia.
Takiru ignored the loud and irritating girl that seemed to have taken to following them because of Reborn. He swore that Reborn did this on purpose, bringing more trouble into his life. He continued to walk as the girl disappeared from sight.
"Maa that was surprising." Yamamoto said from behind him hands held behind his head. Tsuna smiled warily at Yamamoto before following Takiru again. Reborn didn't say anything and jumped on Takiru's head.
Takiru glanced at Tsuna once again before focusing on the road. Things were becoming more hectic and Dame-Tsuna was getting more involved in them than before. This annoyed Takiru more than anything. Leaving the incompetent older brother behind on his own had led him to be at the scene where Hibari Kyoya had been fighting his subordinates. Even if Tsuna wanted to apologize to him, it's been so long since he had had a real reason to. 'Dame-Tsuna. Let's see how far you are willing to go.' Takiru thought.
From the corner of his eyes he noticed a new food stand on another road as they crossed it. There was a little child sitting on one of the customer chairs and the stall keeper looked very odd. Rolling his eyes for thinking everything was a trap by Reborn, Takiru ignored it as they continued. It can't be that reborn would fling more than one problem on him as of yet. He hadn't even gained all of his so called 'Guardians' yet. Once that was done then maybe… Takiru felt his eyebrow twitch at the thought of all the trouble to come in to his once quiet life.