A/N: *sneaks in quietly* Please enjoy! Without further ado~

Katekyō Hitman Reborn! does not belong to me

Tuna and the Beast: Catalyst

"Excuse me, good sir." Iemitsu reflexively twisted his neck toward the unfamiliar voice. With a hyperactive presence like Haru's it was hard to notice the still figure. The young gentleman was a bit worse for wear, but it seemed to fit his ominous expression, "The word around town is you are in search of a beast?" He nodded slowly. He was a bit dumbfounded that someone approached him about the monster.

"I think I can be of assistance."

"Help? How can you?" Iemitsu asked incredulously; the man was so worn out from fighting the disbelief. He glanced over at Nana, who was chatting brightly with the baker's son, Takeshi. He's Tsuna's age. It hurt. What had been most difficult of all was fighting against his very own wife, the woman he loved so dearly more than anything, about their son—the part that completed them as a family.

"There is nothing that I need to say that can't be shown." Pushing back his coat, the blue-haired man revealed the deep wound that sheered through his thigh. Haru gasped as her knees buckled slightly, unaccustomed to the severity. The worst that ever happened in town was usually an unsuspecting kick by a spooked horse.

The inventor's eyes widened, "You fool! How can you even stand there like that? My cottage is not too far a ways off, we'll do what we can until Shamal, the village doctor, can come see you. He's a lecherous bastard that rarely sees men, but with a bit of coercion he'll pull through." Heterochromatic eyes weakly smiled in response. Despite all his ointments, the gash would still have to heal through natural body processes. He would bid his time though, eagerly awaiting the satisfying moment he could dig his trident deep into that wretched creature's throat, watching it choke and splutter the last fleeting moments of life in excruciating pain.

"Haru,"suddenly turning to the young maiden, "I'm not sure Tsuna's mother is in any mental state to accept what our new guest may have to say. Could you please keep Nana busy while we assess the damage at home?" Puffing her chest out, the girl mock saluted the elder before quickly jogging off.

Sighing, the burly man addressed the stranger. "I'm embarrassed to say, but I haven't even gotten your name yet or introduced myself. They call me Iemitsu."

"Rokudo Mukuro, traveling apothecary."

"Fellow," Iemitsu looked away forlornly, but his fingers gripped tightly around the newcomers shoulders as though the very act would inspire hope, "...we need to convince the villagers." Bright blue eyes swiveled back into focus, "Convince them of what I could not."

Days had passed and the trees continued to shed dried out leaves from their now naked branches. The prisoner gazed through a large window, his breath fogging up glass routinely. He sighed, the diameter of the frosty cloud enlarging. Although Tsuna felt more at ease, certainly more so than the first night of capture, he couldn't keep his mind off of his family. He spent many afternoons wondering how they were holding up without him. Sometimes, he would bitterly imagine the couple happier—better off—without their no-good child. Other times, worry etched into furrowed brows and dug deep into his heart. What of his dad? Burning eyes branded his memory. The final moment of contact before father and son were torn away from each other was so clear in his mind: picturesque almost.

Despite all his emotions, Tsuna felt no ill-will or malice towards Xanxus. For, within the depths of beast's hard exterior, something was reaching out—no, reaching inside through his own guarded walls. He pressed delicate fingers against the cold window. And he was reaching back.

"Tsuna," the beast called out shyly, to the astonishment of the honey eyed boy. Tsuna turned around, his hand leaving an imprint on the window.

"Follow me." The shyness dissipated quickly, just as the condensation against the glass had. The boy obediently did as told and descended the stairs with a grace unbeknownst to either of them. Before his feet even touched the last step, enormous paws moved down the hall, a few large strides ahead.

Was Tsuna imagining things or had the beast gained a tiny sprig in his gait?

The pair walked in silence down an unfamiliar and heavily dusted path.

"You said you liked to read?" Xanxus suddenly asked, gruff as usual.

"Wha-I-uh-YES!" Tsuna managed to stutter out after a moment of confusion.

The furred being stared at him, contemplating through slight agitation. Squirming under his gaze, the youth awkwardly worked his way toward making eye contact. When he finally did, Xanxus rolled his eyes and pushed open an inconspicuous door the frazzled brunet hadn't noticed.

The room was warm and inviting, blessed by the sun through beautifully elaborate stained glass windows. It smelled familiar, yet novel, the smooth mixture of tree pulp and dried ink beckoned the bookworm, who at first inched his way with unsure steps. Honey eyes swiveled onto the Beast, glimmering with poorly concealed excitement. Not a second after receiving approval, a silly grin blossomed out. Xanxus scowled. Like an adorable fucking puppy. By then Tsuna swiftly drew his attention to the oak book shelves. One book in particular beckoned out to be read. Regal text engraved itself finely onto the jewel toned cover. The book sighed (figuratively—to the relief of the young man, who did not wish to wind up in an awkward situation with another animated object) when the fanatic cracked open the large tome. Nimble fingers thumbed through thick pages, relishing the texture of woven paper fibers. They really don't make books like they used to, a soft smile graced boyish lips, even the printed words lift up from the pages.

The very tips of his fingers skimmed lightly over the beginning sentence.

Long ago, in the kingdom of Varia, stood a luxurious tower—

"Runt." Xanxus interrupted almost regretfully-the horned being had never witnessed such delight. He could see how each word was savored like droplets of ambrosia.

Tsuna hmned distractedly back. Regret gone. The monster stalked over with a profuse concentration of irritation radiating from the tips of his fur. He effortlessly threw the gawky lad, who let out a squawk, over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. Not that Xanxus would be caught dead carrying a sack of potatoes. That was peasant work.

"What do you say?" Growled out the red-eyed beast.

"I was reading that?" Tsuna stupidly blurted out from within the nest of the beast's fur.

"Wrong."

Despite knowing he was looking a gift horse in the mouth, or in this case looking at a beast with razor sharp canines in the mouth, Tsuna let out a nervous laugh. He stopped immediately when a furry left ear twitched in annoyance.

"I say...thank you very much." He started out slowly out of fear, yet unable to contain the warmth from spilling out of his voice like liquid honey.

"Master."

"Hah?!" The puffy haired boy grimaced, warmth quickly dissipating.

"You say thank you very much, Master," Xanxus sneered haughtily, with a touch of a surprising playfulness.

Red cheeks betrayed him, could the Beast just put him down before his heart gave out from this erratic thumping? Tsuna huffed in exasperation as he buried his face into the soft coat of the large being. The beast smelled of redwoods and moistened earth, like the forest near his cottage after a light shower. For a second the very scent took him back home and soothed the homesick boy.

The brunet was knocked out of his revere as the horned monster began to leave the library, said boy began to panic as he watched the books become smaller, "Wait! Where are you going?"

"Hungry," was the eloquent response.

After a brief silence, the captive quietly asked, "Can we come back to this place right after dinner?"

The "we" did not go unnoticed by the solitary creature, whose heart dared to skip a beat and flutter with unfamiliar emotion. The lightest of an up quirk to his jowl indicated a response.

And so after dinner Tsuna led the way back to the grand library. The sweet burnet was so enraptured that he all but pulled the beast along by his massive forearm.

"Do you have a favorite book Xanxus?" Inside the vault filled with the treasurers left by so many authors that lived way before him, Tsuna felt at ease, no longer afraid when he spoke to the beast. He had called the monster by his name, possibly for the first time. The word rolled off his tongue feeling, just as the library had been to him, foreign, yet entirely familiar.

"If I did once, I can't remember now." The dark being answered cryptically. He was merely the ghost of the man he had been, ironically haunted by its memory. A curious expression graced the features of Tsuna's soft face as he moved his hand to touch a whiskered cheek. It was gentle and inviting, a presence that could only encompass the eighteen year old that stood before Xanxus.

"We'll find you a new one," he declared amiably, and then turned his back to resume searching for a book the two of them could enjoy, leaving the beast in the wake of the moment that had just transpired. Large paws brushed over the spot human hands had cupped, it still buzzed. He quietly observed the effortless way Tsuna maneuvered about the books. There was something special about the young man who shared his company, and not because he was the only person in forever who had seen past the beast's frightening appearance. He was kind. Very much so. Once upon a time, as a man, he would have found that very kindness sickening; he would have seen it as weakness.

A protective instinct washed over Xanxus. He wanted so desperately maintain whatever it was they had, let it remain frozen, but just as the red flower wilted under the bell jar, so would this. Nothing was forever.

Suddenly the horned being shot up and grabbed Tsuna's outstretched arm, his massive hands surprisingly careful, as though the boy was made of porcelain.

"Xanxus?" Letting himself get pulled to the center of the private study, honey eyes filled with mild alarm, "What about the book?"

"Forget about it for now." The demeanor of the dark creature had changed, he was softer, yet quietly frantic. Time felt like it was slipping away from him—sand mercilessly falling between the cracks of his claws.

"Dance with me." The demand was hardly an order, but a vulnerable request.

"I-I," Tsuna blushed at the unexpected command, he didn't know how to, let alone act as a follow. He doubted Xanxus would be anything, but a lead. A large paw pressed surely against the small of his back, pushing their bodies close. The other loosely took his hand, which rested in the fold of the open palm easily as though it had always belonged there.

They moved awkwardly at first, because youth's clumsy feet stumbled about, unsure of the directionality of the slow waltz. As Xanxus danced to the silent music, he looked completely human to Tsuna. Expression relaxed, unfazed by the movement.

How he even remembered how to dance, was lost on Xanxus. As a boy, before his cruelty had settled in like cement into his heart, his parents had taught him to dance. He had been a little less oafish than his current partner. The brunet nervously smiled, and slowly began to relax as he realized how simple it became to allow the humanoid creature to guide the couple's way across the floor. He couldn't yet bring himself to look into the eyes of the beast and instead focused on the lighter tufts of fur at his chest. Had Tsuna ventured to, he would have seen a vast longing in the deep ruby orbs.

Xanxus removed the paw from Tsuna's back as the other lifted up to turn him into a spin—to which he was not prepared for. His gawky legs knotted over itself as he stumbled backwards and crashed ungracefully onto the floor.

A tiny throaty chuckle escaped from the jaws of the beast, "Clumsy brat."

Gapping at the creature from the floor, the fallen boy cried out indignantly, "I wasn't ready!" Ignoring the complaint, Xanxus chose instead to sit beside the pouting brunet.

"And to be fair, I haven't danced since…" Tsuna trailed off sadly. The last time he could remember was when he was about seven during the harvest festival; his mother had to lean over to reach his child stature. When his father selfishly tried to cut in, cherub lips began to tremble, but the inventor, quick on his feet, swooped up his son so the three of them could all dance together. By the end of the night, when the embers were but a mere glow, the young Sawada was hand in hand between his adoring parents. Giggling joyfully as the lovely couple swung their only son back and forth.

Crimson eyes studied the tiny body slumped in defeat. He knew the prisoner was thinking of his family. He wanted this young man by his side always. Wishing at that moment his will would harden, yet try as he may, he couldn't find the power to. Tsuna unwittingly had chinked the monster's armored heart, and rooted himself deep into its cracks.

"I need to see my parents. I have to know how they are doing," Concern and determination shimmered in his eyes, "I just have to."

Xanxus remained silent. Boiling beneath his initial fury was the pain of rejection, which he tried his best to leave unacknowledged, but he couldn't.

Between clenched jaws the brooding beast hissed out, "You think you can just leave whenever you shitty well please? You are my prisoner, it doesn't fucking matter what you need to do."

"I will come straight back to you." The captive said, seemingly unfazed, but on the inside he was terribly frightened of the unspoken violence brewing within the depths of the monster's red eyes, "Trust me."

The horned being loomed dangerously above the small human as the miasma of panic threatened to poison his mind. You're going to lose him forever. He could feel it sludge down and wrapped around his trachea.

"You promised yourself to me." The hoarse reminder sounded so weak to the creature's furred ears, and though naturally prideful, he couldn't care less. He had stopped caring the minute Tsuna had given up himself in his father's place.

The raw emotion had almost disconcerted the chestnut haired boy. He couldn't bear the weight of the words. It told him how lonely the mysterious creature had been. How alone he felt gambling away his only human companion. Finally, after the agonizing tension, the beast spoke again.

"I'll allow you to see them." He whispered quietly, halfheartedly hoping the human would not hear so he could easily take back those words that betrayed his heart. But Tsuna had heard them; they rang clear into his ears.

"You...will?" The sentence was spoken carefully, an attempt to push down the hope that clumped inside the captive's throat.

The beast would not look up, and it ached Tsuna's kind soul, "You have my word that I'll come back."

He reached out—like how he previously did inside the library—but with entirely more purpose, as though the tips of his fingers would seep out his intentions to reassure the wolf-like creature. "How else would I find out which book is your favorite."

That night the two of them stayed beside another on the rug of the library, the horned being not wanting Tsuna to leave and Tsuna wanting stay, but neither admitting so. Comforted by presence of the rhythmic exhale and inhale, the beast was reminded that he was indeed alive. That this was no illusion and that—yes—he was once a man even if he would never be one ever again.

A/N: I apologize for the long wait, I know how it is like to read an unfinished story, but I'd also like to remind ya'll that many many things can and will come up in life that may prevent someone from being able to resume a story. I really appreciate the reviews; they are highly motivating. For those of you that have stuck with me, thank you very much. That being said, since it has been way too long, my writing brain is a bit rusty, hopefully the style hasn't changed too drastically and hopefully I've written true to the characters. I prrooommiise I'll have the rest uploaded soon (I didn't promise last time XP so you can't say I'm lying!), I'm in the midst of studying for finals (but I'm procrastinating) so wish me luck.