A/N: Updates will be very slow, like extreme

Beta'd by Pure Red Crane

Chapter 3

Reborn left the celebration immediately, holing himself up in one of his hidden compartments around Namimori town (after securing an escape route for Fuuta to go into hiding since he knew those in the party would come after him in hopes of getting something to top the hitman). He didn't want to deal with anyone or anything right now, too many things already on his mind. He knew that by leaving the household, he would be open to a lot of questioning the moment he returned, but he couldn't help it. The little hitman just wanted to get away and actually think without distractions, just him and his pulsing thoughts. He needed time to process everything, a lot of time. He sat in his little chair, a table in front of him with a large cup of espresso he had grabbed from a nearby cafe. The hot liquid felt wonderful as it went down his throat, slowly beginning to relax and easing his tense muscles. His eyes were dark and he only had a blank wall to focus on as he pondered.

He had a son, a son that was currently living in Namimori.

Reborn's fingers tightened around the handle of his cup. He actually had a child, one of the many things he had never thought about when he had been an adult. He was a killer, the best of the best, and that left a large target to anyone that was associated with him, intentionally or not. Having a child, or even a real lover, meant he had a weakness and an opening someone could take advantage of. And so, he hadn't wanted one and it was for that very reason he flirted with so many people, sleeping around with mere flings. It was easier to trick people if they believed he just wandered about. Taking another large slip, he sighed.

If he had a son, born or at least conceived before he was cursed, the child had to be at least twenty-eight. No less than that. Wait...

Once he joined the Arcobaleno (before the whole cursing incident), he had stopped sleeping around or it was considered rare, considering he was always busy with his newfound work. Reborn reached up to rub the center of his forehead out of frustration. Just thinking about this whole mess made his head throb. There were too many options and variables on what could have happened and who it was and the list went on. Did this mean his son could already be married with children? Could he actually have grandchildren he didn't know anything about? Oh, the possibilities were truly endless. Reborn honestly didn't want to think about it anymore, but his mind just kept wondering back to it, circling in an infinite loop.

His son could look like anyone since he honestly doubted the kid had taken the bulk of his good looks. Word would have spread like wildfire if there was a man running around with his features or at least similar to his own. The child had to have taken more of his mother's side to blend in perfectly with the public and not be conspicuous to the underground.

There was also the non-human status to take into consideration. What exactly was non-human? What was considered non-human? Reborn felt his head throbbing once more at the very thought, the espresso no longer enough to hold it back. This was so irritating. He had nothing but mere words to go on about. He took another sip to distance himself.

His son lives in Namimori... Well, at least he had a location to start with. Lucky for him, Namimori wasn't too big of a place and most of the families around here stayed pretty united. It would help in marking off names from his giant list.

Still...

Did he really want to see his son? Did he really want to know that he could never really be in his son's life? Did he want to place his son in danger simply for existing? For wanting to know?

Did he want to risk being denied because of his current form?

Reborn rapidly shook his head, tossing those thoughts right out. He couldn't think about that. He didn't want to. Leon crawled down his fedora and settled against his shoulders, giving a comforting lick against his cheek. For a moment, Reborn's lips twitched upward, using his free hand to give Leon a little nudge in appreciation.

"Thank you, Leon, but I can't help it." Sighing heavily, something he had been doing often since the reveal. Reborn placed his cup of espresso onto the table with a sharp click. "I want to know who my son is. I need to know, even when I know I can never be a part of his life."

Leon gave another lick, trying to comfort his master once more.

"I want to know who he is..." Reborn lifted up his fedora and placed it aside, letting his spiky black locks free. He ran a hand through it, sliding them back, before stretching back against the chair, listening as his muscles popped and his bones creaked.

Despite the burning desire, he couldn't leave his student on his own. He had his pride as a hitman on the line and breaking contracts with powerful people was never a good idea. Finding the time to continue Naru's training as well as find his mysterious child would be tricky to balance, but he would be able to complete it.

He wasn't known as the best for nothing.

And when he found his son...

Well, he would decide when he got there.

Reborn smirked. He could always give his son hell if things weren't up to his satisfaction, interfering just because he could. He didn't have to reveal anything, just be a little baby that messed with the man's life. Yes, he could do that. That would suit him just fine and his son would never know the truth.

Inside, however, Reborn couldn't help but feel depressed that he would never be an official part of his son's life.

The next passing week, people were obviously asking about Fuuta's ranks and luckily, the boy had not only able escape but kept silent about the details. It was obvious that everyone was curious and word had definitely gotten around. Who wouldn't be? Still, Reborn shot at anyone that dared to ask him before heading away to continue his search in secret. He doubled Naru's training to keep himself from actually thinking, to distract himself, but nothing really helped. Between watching over Naru and searching, he was too distracted. When he was with his student, his mind wandered to the search. On the other hand, when he was researching for his son, he couldn't stray too far from the Vongola heir less someone snuck in during his disappearance and ran off with the heir. It was a dilemma, a delicate point he was trapped in. Still, he persisted and continued until it reached a boiling point he couldn't handle any longer. He needed to focus fully on one thing at a time, not in-between, and he knew Naru was starting to notice his incongruity.

That finally came to the decision to ask one of the Arcobaleno for a favor. He would rather not, but he needed to. Either one of the two would win and he wouldn't forgive himself if he had to actually choose.

"Reborn, what did you call me here for, kora?"

The hitman glanced up from his spot on the rooftop of the Sawada household where he had been watching Naru interact with his fellow guardians in the backyard. Reborn adjusted his fedora to prevent the sun from getting into his eyes and spotted Colonello landing beside him. Falcon rested on the blond's head, giving a loud screech. The sun Arcobaleno nodded his head and positioned himself closer to the other. "I need you to watch over Naru for a few days until I return."

Colonello tilted his head to the side curiously. He hummed gently, sky blue eyes carefully observing. "This wouldn't have anything to do with Fuuta's ranking, would it, kora?!"

Reborn's black eyes narrowed momentarily, on edge, yet his face remained blank, impassive to the entire ordeal.

The rain Arcobaleno sighed and shrugged his shoulders, rotating to the side. "It's pretty obvious. It has to be related to it if you're handing off the safety of the Vongola heir to me, kora."

The hitman closed his eyes momentarily and tilted his fedora forward to cover his face. He didn't want to admit anything, but Colonello was sharp. Perhaps not the brightest tool in the shed, but he had the experience to back it up. "Yeah, it does." It was short and blunt, nothing to be gained, nothing to be explored.

The blond baby didn't look convinced, but didn't go any further on the questioning. Looking over the hitman, he soon turned his attention towards the blond teenager, Naru. "Alright then, I'll do it, kora."

Glancing up with a flash of surprise in his eyes that disappeared soon after, Reborn almost smirked and spun around in place to look towards the distance behind. He had thought the other would question more on the details, but maybe Colonello knew what he was doing. It wouldn't hurt to give a little bit of information in return and he knew the rain Arcobaleno wasn't the type to simply blab top secret information. "Colonello, I have a son."

The blond automatically snorted, looking like he wanted to laugh. "Yeah, , having a son?" He grinned immediately before it finally clicked. "Oh, wait..." Realization was settling into those features, paling as blood was drained. "No way...You can't be serious! That's not possible, kora!"

"It's possible if the woman was pregnant before we were cursed."

"But that would mean..." Colonello seemed to realize the other details, of the age, of what would occur to Reborn if anything was revealed, and even what might be going through the hitman's head at this very fact. It was like he realized that after being cursed, he could never truly be with his own love, Lal Mirch. He never regretted taking her place though, even years later. "Oh shit, sorry, man. I didn't know, kora." He could understand, being trapped like this with no escape. Having a child involved was ten times worse and considering Reborn's state and background, double the trouble.

"If anyone were to find out, I would be placed in a bad position, so I don't need to tell you that you can't breathe a word of this to anyone. Not any of the other Arcobaleno, not Lal Mirch, not your boss, no one." Reborn folded his arms, his eyes momentarily peering down at Naru and then back at the other. "If you do, you know the consequences, understood?"

Colonello nodded his head, serious in regarding the matter. Reborn was putting some trust into him to keep matters sealed shut and he wouldn't betray that trust. The hitman rarely gave it out and once broken that was the end. "Alright, I got it. Don't worry, I'll give something for the heir to do, kora."

The hitman almost wanted to sigh in relief, but kept a tight handle on his emotions. His face was blank and soon he was running off, jumping over rooftops to a suitable hidden compartment he planned on staying in for the next week. He needed to start gathering information about every single resident in town and from there, he could begin crossing out names and families until he reached a small handful he could personally eliminate. It would take time, but it would work perfectly. He would also need pictures, both of the child and mother. If he couldn't recognize his features in the child, he might with the mother. Grinning with a plan in mind, he got to work.