"This place is very big..." Tsuna mumbled, his poor feet already hurting.
"We're almost there, Ju—Tsuna..." Gokudera corrected himself quickly. This was going to take a while, but Tsuna's smile was worth the effort.
"Why is everything so... lonely?" The silence gave him a bad feeling, and to a certain extent, scared him.
"Because this place isn't very frequented, and Hayato gave the news that no further search was necessary, that you were well and in company." Otherwise... it was better not to think about all the disaster that would happen just to find him.
"Hey... hehehe..." Maybe he shouldn't have jumped out of the window... but he wasn't really thinking at that moment...
"We're going to get there..." Hayato took his hand, making him startle with surprise, and then uncomfortable seeing him kneel in front of him and look him in the face. "If you're really tired, I can carry you on my back, if that's okay with you..."
"No need, no need!" Hayato blinked several times, surprised to see him move so fast; he had already reached the end of the shooting corridor. "See, it's not necessary!"
"I've..." Reborn just walked faster to be on par with Tsuna, laughing a little internally at what happened. Had Hayato forgotten that Tsuna was a very stubborn person in the past? In fact, even almost dead of exhaustion, he did not like to be carried by anyone.
"Not so fast, brat, it can make you faint." He was not in a condition to be so upset; rather, he had been awake for a long time.
"I'm sorry..." But they couldn't expect him to act like that's remotely normal either!
"It doesn't matter anymore, brat." Tsuna complained when he was disheveled, and then when he received a slight push. "Open it, if you can." It was a kind of joke, which earned a pout from Tsuna.
"...This thing is heavy..." What was this giant door made of?
Reborn didn't say anything at all, just watched him, and was somewhat surprised to see him enter Hyper Dying Will Mode, refusing to be defeated by a door twice as big as him, and like 5 times wider. Reborn didn't really bother to stop it, and it wouldn't have been necessary either, because it didn't take long for him to open it, panting more or less, and trembling from the effort. Sadly, Tsuna couldn't fully focus on catching his breath, and the only reason he didn't try to hide behind Reborn or Hayato was that he hadn't returned to normal yet.
"What's going on?" Oh my God, it felt like I'd run a marathon..." "Why do they stare at me so much, do I have something on my face?" It was very, very uncomfortable.
"Not really, it's just that you're awake." Reborn pushed him gently again, not commenting on how his flames were extinguished or his gasps. "You won't be able to push hard for a few weeks..." His physical condition left a lot to be desired, but for what he had waited for, it was wonderful.
"But it's cree—OH MY GOD!"
In this, even Reborn was totally surprised. It was not known if it was a good thing or not that Tsuna totally forgot that many people were watching him...
"God, you are so pretty, so cute!" Rukia just let Tsuna hug her, unfurnish her, check her up and down, kiss her forehead, lift her up a little, and generally treat her like a stuffed animal. Flattery was highly appreciated along with cuddles. "You're too kawaii!" The girl had no idea she was kawaii, but it had to be something very positive; Tsuna-sama was smiling from ear to ear after all. "What is the name of such a beautiful creature, huh? It has to be something very beautiful, as beautiful as your beauty..."
No one said anything, the vast majority had hit their foreheads and could only look at the scene trying not to laugh or complain. Tsuna only really had a problem, and that problem was about 4 steps away from Rukia-chan, with a pout, his arms crossed, moving his foot in annoyance and impatience... Tsuna chose that moment, before Rukia-chan could answer him, to notice the noise, and turn his face to see what was going on and who he had gotten into trouble with... Tsuna laughed a little nervously and amused, opening his arms for the boy:
"Do you want to come too? Go ahead..." That expression was the same as: "notice me, senpai," it was very nice...
"Hmp..." And even with that pout, the boy threw himself into her arms, earning a somewhat mocking laugh from the girl.
From the dark corner where he stood, Hibari sighed deeply and looked up at the ceiling...
"You're a jealous kid, huh?" Daisuke's cheeks puffed up more, and his blush increased, but he didn't say anything, making Tsuna smile a little more. "Hehe, they are walking tenderness..."
"Tsu, don't spoil my girl so much, then she won't want to pay off—"
"Your... Your... girl..." From where she was, Rukia made a very ugly gesture to her father, something that Tsuna himself did not see, thank heavens. "You..." "I was going to give her a heart attack, I was just going to give her..." "How did you even manage to have such an incredibly kawaii daughter? You're not that cute anywhere!"
Daisuke tried not to laugh while Rukia nudged him to stop laughing, as it was not fun to see Tsuna-sama in such a panic... I was in denial...
"Just look at her, she's a cute girl. She has nothing of yours, except her soft skin... and the eyes... and..." Tsuna's face changed to one of absolute terror... "Girl, for all that is good... tell me it's not true... tell me that I have not touched what is Satan's property."
"HEY!" What do you mean, Satan? The no—
"Tell me he's not your father, please..." He had already started crying, noticing Reborn's characteristic sideburns on his cheeks...
"Tsuna-sama, he's my dad..." The girl smiled at him very nicely, but poor Tsuna didn't see it, for a simple reason:
"Did you just call me Tsuna-sama?" This had to be a joke...
"Yep~" The girl replied very happily.
Everyone, including Reborn, looked at him in surprise as they saw him stand up like a robot, with a face that had seen death, walk calmly to the table, and take a knife before putting it to his neck. However, no one had to do anything:
"Should I fear for my life, Reborn?" The question was trembling, very trembling, because it was loaded with fear.
"No, not really, she'd kill me if I even insulted you." And it's not like... "It's not the first time you've done this, nor the only person..." She is very tender, when she wants to. Reborn shrugged. "Rather, you're the overprotective one here; people should be afraid of you and not me if someone tries something funny with them..."
"S-Safe?" Tsuna preferred to commit suicide right there than to go through hell itself and then be sadistically killed by his tutor...
"Yes... I'm not going to kill you for this or anything. She is able to defend herself; I don't need to intervene." Tsuna slowly lowered the knife... "By the way... Don't do something like that again." Reborn finished with a sadistic smile, a very dark voice, referring to the knife. The reaction was immediate:
"HIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!" How could someone move so fast in those conditions, they had no idea. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
While Tsuna was hiding under the big table and apologizing again and again, making many laugh or just hit their foreheads with one hand, Rukia and Daisuke could only look at each other without much emotion...
"Is this really what Tsuna-sama was like when she was young?" It was... strange.
"Yes." Reborn said, approaching his daughter and patting her on the back. "A coward, a fearful one, and a useless one..." This time the two of them would have to believe it..." because they were watching it. "Don't be fooled, that's all mental..." He smiled amused and added: "Try to do something funny with those you love, and guess what's going on..."
"Does he kick their butts?" Daisuke suggested, hopefully.
"Does he ask you for help?" Rukia suggested, feeling a little disappointed. She had always admired Tsuna-sama more than her own father.
"Well, there's only one way to find out..." Reborn smiled sadly at this part, no matter what you did to Tsuna, he wouldn't do anything but cry and accept it, but if you messed with his friends... or worse, with these children...
"WOW, what the hell did you hit me for, father?"
"HEY, that's not fair old man!"
"A member of the mafia always has to..." Reborn paused, sensing the change in the environment, just like the rest, except for the children. "Be prepared and attentive..."
The next thing that happened, was expected by the vast majority... or maybe not. Rukia and Daisuke were only able to stare at Tsuna with their eyes bulging out of their sockets of impression. The rest were quite impressed, eager to fight now, seeing the display of power... sadly, Tsuna could not give them a fight even if he wanted to.
"You touch those boys again..." Reborn only smiled more if that were possible, despite being on the wall, with his arms in an iron grip, and a knife in his neck, a slight trace of blood could be seen on the knife. "And I won't just kill you, you bastard."
Tsuna's voice was very, very low, but really dark. Her aura of killing intent was heavy; a normal person would have run away terrified just by feeling it. He had returned to his Hyper Dying Will Mode, and as if none of the situation was enough, Tsuna's eyes expressed deep anger, daring him to do something stupid.
"Ma Ma, calm down a little, Tsunayoshi—"
"You shut up, you unhappy piece of junk." Yamamoto froze, but he kept smiling. Tsuna had never called him that way. "Don't get involved where they don't call you..."
"But Tsunayoshi, Reborn-san was just bothering them, he wouldn't hurt his own daughter, he's not—"
"I said don't get involved..." Yamamoto's smile staggered; those eyes and that voice were very scary, I had already intimidated him... and without much effort. I didn't remember that Tsuna was like this... "I don't give a damn that this bastard is his father. He touches them like that again and I'll make him burn in hell, and that goes with everyone..."
"Wow..." Was the only thing Rukia could say. Forget the disappointment, Tsuna-sama was still great no matter if he thought he was good for nothing!
"Man..." The boy swallowed a little, scared, but he still approached and pulled him by the pants, getting his attention. "He was just playing, it hurt because it took us by surprise..." He smiled as nicely as he could, despite the fear he had, and this made Tsuna relax a little...
"If you say so..." Tsuna looked back at Reborn. "That it doesn't happen again, or you won't live to tell the tale. I don't give a damn who you are..." No one, absolutely no one, will mess with these children... The next thing he said, he left even Daisuke cold: "I won't let them go through what I go through, no matter the price. I hope you think, you idiot."
Having said this, Tsuna let go of Reborn, and threw the knife on the table, stabbing it into the wood. And of course, Tsuna would have ended up under the table if Daisuke hadn't hugged him before he returned to normal. Well, not only Daisuke; Rukia jumped on him, with little hearts in her eyes. Reborn only sighed mentally and half-pushed Tsuna so that he would not be knocked to the ground, thanks to the force of the jump.
"You are amazing, Tsuna-sama!" Poor Tsuna could only look at her, and make sure he didn't let her fall, and try not to be kissed in the face over and over again by the girl... and failing.
"Eto..." Shouldn't he be doing this with his father? "I think... you're wrong... nice..."
The father just watched. Of course the children loved Tsuna. Tsuna was always the most overprotective, playful, and kindest of them all, not to mention he had a great weakness for children... I took time from where I didn't have to be with them... It was incredible that, with all that, Tsuna didn't have a child of his own...
"Why are they so cute?" Tsuna asked them with a pout after managing to let him go. "By the way, what are their names?"
"I am Rukia, Tsuna-sama." The girl couldn't be happier because she just couldn't.
"...You can just call me Tsuna, you know..." That sama made him uncomfortable...
"Nope, it would be a lack of respect."
"Gokudera-kun..." The aforementioned shuddered, and raised his hands in surrender.
"It's not my fault, I didn't teach you that!"
"Guys..." Now it was the rest of the guards present who raised their hands in surrender. "Reborn..."
"It wasn't me, Tsu." Reborn said, a look of annoyance on his face. "At least he doesn't call you Chu anymore..." Tsuna's face no longer held a pout, but a look of horror. "The dwarf over there used to call you Tuna-chan." If the old one was priceless, this one was indescribable.
"I'm not a fish!" After the 5-second pout, I ask Daisuke curiously. "How did you end up calling me Uncle? We're not... we are not related by blood..."
"Daddy told me you were my Uncle." Was the simple answer...
"Your father..." Tsuna muttered expressionlessly, trying to imagine Hibari talking to—actually, imagining Hibari peacefully talking to anyone was already difficult. "You know, it doesn't matter, I can't imagine." Hibari, from his place, sent intentions to kill, but Tsuna was not affected, thanks to the tenderness in his arms (they did not let him go). "You can just call me Tsuna, if you want..." Dude sounds weird.
"Come on, Tsuna-ugh... Boys, take it to the table, I'll bring the video games, remember to be delicate..." Those boys had inherited, perhaps too well, their parents' murderous intentions.
"Awwwwww!" And perhaps Tsuna had inherited something from the—" "I don't notice anything wrong" with his mother... No, wait, I did notice it because she was laughing at him. "They're so cute, don't you think, Hayato-kun?"
"...Of course... only you are loved." And his parents as a joke...
"All of you were like that with me at the beginning..." This was said with some annoyance, and tiredness. "This will sound a little bad... But apparently, only I have the ability to tame devilishly dangerous people without dying in the attempt. And no, don't give me that face, Hayato-kun, you almost killed me when we met!"
"...Now that I think about it—"
"No, just not. Learn how to win the hearts of these children, it shouldn't be that hard." This was said with a pout, which was removed when dragged by two children with great force.
"Ma Ma... Tsunayoshi has—"
"It's Tsuna!, T-S-U-N-A!" Tsuna complained, even though he was dragged away, annoyed.
"Ma Ma, okay..." While Hayato just sighed and went to get the other guardians and the video games, Yamamoto went to sit down with Tsuna and the children. Reborn just came out, he had to talk to certain doctors...
"So... ice cream or chocolate?" If I ate a little more, perfect, I had to regain weight.
"Ice cream and chocolate!" The three of them replied with smiles stamped on their faces. One of them pointing a gun at him and another smiling at him with a sadistic smile.
"Can I accompany you, Yamamoto? It will be quick..." The last thing was said for the children, who had already given him a bad face.
"If you want..." Yamamoto held out a hand, which Tsuna did not hesitate to take.
Within a few minutes, they were both in the big kitchen. Honestly, Tsuna was intimidated with just the size, and it wasn't surprising when the largest kitchen he had ever seen was a one-room... And that was at least 7 times bigger than that.
"This was done by the chefs a while ago for you, before we asked them to leave for a while, to give you a—"
"Yamamoto..."
"Si, Tsunayoshi?" Why was it—
"First, it's Tsuna, call me Tsuna." Why did everyone call him Tsunayoshi now? It was infuriating. "Second... Don't smile if you don't want to smile, okay? I'm not going to play your game."
"Huh, but what are you—"
"Look, Takeshi..." Takeshi stopped smiling; Tsuna only called him by his name when it was something very serious. "I know you probably think I'm stupid, and I don't blame you, I'm stupid..." But I'm not as stupid as you seem to think.
"Tsunayo—"
"IT'S TSUNA!" Takeshi took a step back, well... "If you call me by my full name again, I'll ignore you." Takeshi blinked; he didn't remember that Tsuna ever got angry about—ah, he never called him Tsunayoshi at that time... "I'll be stupid, I admit it without embarrassment, but I'm not so stupid that I don't realize what you like to put—" Tsuna was going to say "happy smile on your face if I wasn't alone", but for some reason what came out was: "A perpetual smile with a clown face on your face, and as if that wasn't enough, you act as if it's all a game, a joke, you lie half the time, a comedian act that isn't funny. It's not funny, not at all. When I want you to be honest, you lie to my face with a stupid smile, thinking that I won't realize how stupid I am. Well, you know what? I know. I know each of your lies, I know each of your actions, I see behind your mask, I've done it for years..."
"..."
"Ha, and to think that I thought that at least with me I would be honest at least once a day... but no. The others notice, sometimes, they get upset, of course, but they don't tell you anything, because they think you're like that. Honestly, Tsuna didn't know because he wasn't scared or worried about..." what came before, the solo continued. "I know you're not like that. If you were, I wouldn't have had to go and remind you of the good things in your life before you decided that jumping off a building was a good idea." Again, Tsuna didn't know where what followed came from: "You'll call me a hypocrite, I know you're aware that I also wear a mask, but you know... my mask has been a thousand times better than yours. You only know I wear one because you wear one, but mine has always been better... I have maintained it for many years, even before I met you. You never told anyone, because no one would believe you... didn't you?"
"Your..."
"In all honesty, I never understood why the hell you put that ring on your finger. Gratitude? Probably. Masochism? Maybe. You've followed me and supported me for years, you've trusted me for important things, you've helped me, you've made me feel better... but you've never really trusted me, not totally. If you trusted me, you wouldn't wear that stupid clown mask in my presence alone, just like now. What you should have done was thank me and move on with your life; obviously you're not happy here. I don't know what the hell I was thinking to let you be here for... how many years? A lot. Of course, here you'll tell me that if you're happy... aren't you?"
"...Tsuna..."
"I'm not that stupid, Takeshi. Half of your smiles are fake. Before you... became my guardian, they were even less... If you were really happy, that mask would be unnecessary and you wouldn't wear it. And don't come to me with the idea that you're already more than used to it and that you'd be unable to put it down, because we know that's a total lie. I'm tired of you lying to my face, with a stupid smile stuck to your face." The next thing that came out, again I didn't know where, and this time I scare him, but I couldn't help but agree: "And you know what? I'm even more tired of putting a stupid smile on my face and telling you that everything is fine, that nothing happens, in front of everyone, when what I really want is to ask you how stupid you think I am. Call me a hypocrite, if you want, I don't care, go ahead... but I have to remind you of something, failed clown: it's not a lie that I admired you, and it's not a lie that I had many more reasons than you to commit suicide, and even that remains. If you do something stupid, I'll save you and send you to Japan, and close all the doors for your return, do you understand?"
"...But Tsuna, you can't—"
"But I can." Tsuna was scared of himself at the time, and he felt sorry for Yamamoto, who was more than devastated by now. "You wanted you to be my best friend, Takeshi..." but we are only known. Remember who I am, Takeshi, remember it..." He showed his ring, and with much bitterness added: "I should have asked you to return that ring years ago; I still don't know why I don't do it now..." It's obvious that even after 10 years, you're not happy with me, you're not happy here...
"Tsuna, listen, I—"
"Even I am not happy here; I have rarely been happy here!" While Tsuna didn't know where that came from, he felt it was true. "A lapdog, a funny clown, a screamer, a hopeless crybaby, a fart with a twisted sense of humor, a bloodthirsty sadist, and a shy girl..." He laughed darkly, even though all he wanted to do was cry. "Everything, absolutely everything is the product of a perfectionist and sadistic narcissist..." With false humor, and this time it was totally him: "And do you know who I am? I'm the great idiot who believed that all this would work... a dreamy Magikarp with an Everstone..."
"Tsuna, stop at once!" Good heavens, had Tsuna felt this way all this time? "I'm only acting this way because I don't want you to see me sad now! I stopped wearing that mask years ago! I—"
"Yes, of course..." Tsuna half sang, smiling bitterly. This wasn't him, but at the same time... "Liar, you're a liar..." He wasn't dumb enough to fall again... "Maybe he doesn't have the slightest idea where half of what I told you came from... but I know it's true. I even feel like I've lifted a weight off my shoulders, and..." He smiled more bitterly. "Inside me, I know you're lying to me. Something tells me that it's impossible for what you're telling me to be true... you know what else?" After this, he was going to go to some corner to cry, because it hurt, it hurt a lot... "You're a hypocrite, they're all hypocrites!"
While Tsuna wasn't sure why, Takeshi had an idea, and he wasn't wrong:
"All the time... all the time... I have to keep a smile on my face, be kind, be affectionate, not get upset..." Crash!, goodbye blender. "and it's not enough... you can do bad things, but I don't... you can get upset and kick ass, but I don't... And yet, I have to protect them... Regardless of the cost... and what do I gain from it? Honestly... I don't know what I'm working for. I don't know why I did it... why did I think everything would be better?"
"...You would have spoken..." Takeshi was not an idiot, in truth he was not talking to the Tsuna of 10 years ago, he had spoken at the beginning, but as he was talking... especially with that bitterness, that rage... that was the Tsuna that they had unjustly abandoned speaking through him, who did not remember the last 10 years of his life, approximately... "Come here..."
Before Tsuna could react, or say anything hurtful to him again, Takeshi hugged him to his chest tightly, and stroked his back, waiting for what he knew was going to happen, and what Tsuna needed at that moment. He didn't have to wait for anything to happen, but it still made him feel incredibly guilty... Tsuna shouldn't cry, he shouldn't have any reason for it... and even with these tears, Takeshi knew that Tsuna had a lot more stuff locked up and bottled up... Surely, this was the most serious thing, as far as they, the Guardians, were concerned... because... Tsuna was right, he had been fully aware that Tsuna was wearing a mask, but he could never say exactly what it was based on... but he never believed that Tsuna knew that he wore one, and incidentally saw behind her as if he did not use any. It was for that very reason that Tsuna exploded so ugly with him... it was normal, he would have done the same, if he had seen behind Tsuna's mask...
"I'm sorry, I'm really sorry..." "How could he apologize to someone who had respected his wishes for so long, patiently waiting for him to stop hiding, and then abandon him in such a cruel way for something so...?" "I didn't mean to hurt you..." "And I had probably hurt him for too long, unintentionally..." "I promise not to wear that mask anymore..." alone... forgive me...
Takeshi was well aware that Tsuna would forgive him, perhaps he was even forgiven, without doing anything. Tsuna was someone very kind, or at least... that was what he believed. How much did they know about the real Tsuna and how much was a mask? He would not be surprised if the real Tsuna was simply sad, or bitter... the masks were simply to hide something, and he wouldn't be surprised if Tsuna only hid sadness and fears... especially after Reborn taught her to hide her emotions...
"Feeling better?" They were going to kill him; not only had they been there for at least an hour, Tsuna had red eyes...
"...I'm tired, and it hurts here..." He pointed to his side, not daring to press, sorry for everything he had cried and everything he had said.
"Ah, the effect of relaxants..." and other drugs is running out. "Doesn't it bother you if I carry you? This way we will avoid pressure on the wound..."
"No..." He didn't care at the time, he was tired.
"Endorsement." Tsuna didn't weigh anything, and it wasn't the first time... At least I had the consolation that I was conscious this time. "Always want the ice cream?"
"If it's not annoyance..." It wasn't, but that didn't mean I wasn't surprised... I thought I wouldn't want to eat anything now.
"Hold this." And mentally I add: "and don't choke".
Without thinking much about it, I take him to his room. I hadn't been there since... a long time ago, but I didn't want to take him to the infirmary, he would be more comfortable in his room, and they didn't want any... event like the one before. If he could move around and make such a mess, then he shouldn't need to be in the infirmary... right, he could always ask Hayato later...
"You eat quickly..." There was half left... and it was not a small rate...
"It's ice cream." Was the simple answer, as if that explained everything. And perhaps in Tsuna's mind he did.
"...Tsu—"
"If you don't want to be here, you can leave..." This came out a little bitter for some reason.
Takeshi slowly closed his mouth, and looked at Tsuna with a new light and some horror. That wasn't the first time I'd heard that phrase, actually, it was maybe a little too common... but it was the first time I had heard it from a non-smiling Tsuna, and it was the first time Tsuna had said it at first... and not at the end of a conversation. It was also the first time that Tsuna didn't add some baseball-related event, or some comment about any of the other guys, to make him joke or something similar, or that he was busy with paperwork (the most usual). So many times that he heard that same phrase, and never did he think that Tsuna wanted to tell him exactly that: that he could leave if he wanted to. He wasn't the only one to whom he had said exactly that same phrase... but perhaps it was to him that she said it the most.
"...Do I really give that impression, Tsuna?" The impression that I didn't want to be here, I hoped not...
"What impression?"
"That I don't want to be here." Wasn't it obvious?
"Good question." I really hadn't thought of it that way. "I only told you because I don't want you to feel obligated to be here, especially after that..." If it's uncomfortable for me, I don't want to know what it's going to be like for you. Uncomfortable was an understatement...
"I deserved it, I admit..." He deserved much more than that... what kind of friend was he? A very bad one in his opinion...
"And do you have children?" No one ever told him how many children there were...
"Hey... Heavens... not yet..." He wouldn't be surprised if Tsuna managed to get the "new" children attached...
"I see..." Sir, this was uncomfortable, too uncomfortable!
"Sleep, when you wake up we'll play Mario Kart, or anything you want, okay?" And as if his words weren't enough, Takeshi placed a hand over his eyes. "Sleep~"
Partly, it was a joke, because honestly... Tsuna had slept a lot, so I really didn't know if Tsuna would wake up the next day or not...