SHUGO-SHA NO NINGYO

by Yatsu

Prologue

There is a story passed down to every generation of the Vongola family:

There was once a doll maker who had a little shop in a small town. He made beautiful dolls that everyone loved. They were life-like and looked so real, made from porcelain and painted with great care. But out of his dolls, there were six which he treasured the most. He kept them by his side and gave them all names, as though they were his friends. Because of this, the doll maker did not only become famous for his dolls but for his strange attitude, as well.

Soon, word spread about the strange doll maker that made life-like dolls, to the point that even the gods that watched over the village, heard of him and his skills.

One day, the god of all deities came down into the village and visited the doll maker himself. From the window, he saw how much love and care the doll maker gave his dolls. He also saw how the villagers treated him, dismissing him for being different, yet the doll maker remained kind.

On the god's third night in the village, he made himself known to the doll maker.

He said to him, "You are a kind man with great talent, yet I see you lack what every human craves- companionship."

The doll maker was awed by the visit and merely bowed his head to the truth of the words, "I cannot force my companionship on those who do not want it. And I have my dolls, I need no companions, they are enough."

Despite his brave front, the god could hear the loneliness in his voice and so, he smiled, "Then, there is but one answer." He turned to the doll maker's creations, his six dolls carefully propped up on his table, "I shall make your dolls your companions."

Right before his eyes, the god turned the six dolls into humans. The doll maker was frozen in shock, staring at the sleeping humans sitting where his dolls had been.

"In every object, there is a soul." The god said, "I have merely permitted you a power to glimpse the souls of your dolls. In your six dolls, I have given powers of deities. Every night they shall come alive at a sign of affection from you."

The god inclined his head, "As long as you love them, you will hear them. As long as you love them, they shall live." With those words he was gone.

And so, with the blessing from the god of deities and the with his new companions who loved him just as much as he loved them... the doll maker and his dolls lived happily until the end of his days.

"Or so, that's the way it goes in the children's fairy tales," Reborn narrates, taking a sip of his coffee. He looked out of place in his child-sized Armani suit while sitting in a traditional Japanese room. Tsuna is kneeling on the floor, supposedly trying to be a good Japanese host to his tutor, but his legs are getting numb from the position.

Reborn smirks up at him. His demon tutor definitely knows he is suffering. "Getting tired, no good Tsuna?"

Tsuna refuses to give him the satisfaction of being right. He manages to stop himself from sticking his tongue out in retaliation.

"Anyway," Reborn says, getting back to the topic, "The real story behind the fairy tale: Light and dark have been battling it out since long before humans existed. We, the arcobalenos, have kept the balance and watched over the war for a long time, passing down our memories and legacies to every new arcobaleno generation chosen. One day, when it seemed like the balance would tip, Giotto Vongola, a doll maker from Sicily, Italy was chosen to lead the battle against the darkness, along with other chosen doll makers from all over the world. Even back then, there were stories of deities inhabiting dolls as their vessels, protecting humanity against dangers they could not see or perceive."

Tsuna does his best not to nod off at the story. Reborn has told him all of this before. The hitman shoots him a look, making him straighten and clear his throat sheepishly.

"The ability to hear the dolls has been passed down from the doll makers who fought in the war back then. This ability is only passed down to the people who share their bloodline. However, the ability to turn dolls into humans at night are only given to the heirs of the family." Reborn explains, "Soon, that ability will be passed down to you."

Tsuna was told this truth when he was four and his grandfather came to visit him when he was sick. He'd been able to hear the dolls' whispers for as long as he could remember. His dad once told him how surprised he was, when the first words out of Tsuna's mouth was to answer a question Basil, one of his father's dolls, had asked at the time. His dad had gained his ability to hear dolls when he was eleven. Tsuna had the ability the moment he was born- or so his father theorized.

"I've known this for a long time, so can you please get to the point?" Tuna sighs in exasperation, but then he cringes, because back-talk usually got him a swift, disciplinary kick in the head.

This time, however, Reborn merely raises an eyebrow in his direction. He looks at Tsuna like he isn't even worth a kick in the head. The brunet grumbles at him.

"But that wasn't the whole story." Reborn continues.

Tsuna blinks, "It wasn't?"

The arcobaleno shakes his head, "No, there is a part of the story that is only privy to the heir of Vongola. To be told only when he turns fifteen."

Tsuna gives Reborn a startled look, "But I'm fifteen today."

Reborn smirks and takes another sip of his coffee, "Good job noticing that, no good Tsuna." He praises sarcastically, "The Ninth is here today for a visit."

"Yeah, he-" Tsuna begins but then frowns, "Wait, he's not here just because I'm turning fifteen, is he?"

"Well, you're not a total idiot, I'll give you that." Reborn comments into his coffee.

Tsuna rolls his eyes. He is tired of Reborn's confusing words, so he gets up. However, the abrupt action makes pain run up his numb legs. He trips and face-plants on the floor. "Ow!"

Reborn sighs "I take it back, you're a total idiot."

Tsuna sits up and whines.

The night before his fifteenth birthday, Tsuna had a dream…

There was a young, blond man with eyes as blue as the sky. He was dressed in simple, worn, old-fashioned clothes- like the ones from the old Italian shows his mom loved to watch, and an apron smudged in paint and wood shavings. He was sitting on a stool, his table filled with carved arms and legs, there was also some porcelain and marble shaped into various limbs in boxes around him. A thick book was beside him, it looked like a Japanese book filled with doll illustrations.

The redhead on his left, laughed at the concentration on his face.

"I didn't know you could read Japanese, Giotto." The redhead said in Italian. Tsuna was horrible at speaking other languages, but maybe because this was a dream, he could understand them perfectly.

The blond young man, Giotto, frowned at his friend, "I can't." He admitted, "But that's what the illustrations are for, they're drawn really well, Cozarto."

"Hm," The read head hummed in agreement. He watched Giotto struggle with the book for awhile before turning to look at the materials on the table. "You've really put a lot of effort into this. What made you suddenly decide to make a doll Japanese style? I mean your usual style is all right…"

Giotto smiled before he reached out for one of the porcelain shaped like a doll's body on the table. "I don't want to be merely limited by what I can do, Cozarto. Besides, learning different techniques would help me improve mine." His eyes softened, "Anyway, don't you think Japanese dolls are so beautifully made? It makes me want to make one too."

Cozarto looked at his friend fondly, "Very well. It's your life, my friend." He sighed, "So? What are you going to name this one?"

Giotto smiled brightly, holding the unfinished doll close, "Asari Ugetsu."

Then the dream went dark.

"Ah, these things are always so heavy," Tsuna huffs, clumsily making his way towards his grandfather's room on the night of his birthday. He is wearing the traditional Japanese garbs to be worn by the Vongola heir when he turns fifteen. He is donned in black, orange, and brown. Butterflies design the lower part of his kimono, since they were a symbol of their branch.

When he arrives at the door of his grandfather's room, he kneels down, knocks, and bows.

"Yes?"

"Sawada Tsunayoshi," He announces himself, "Grandpa wanted to see me?"

The door slides open and Tsuna straightens to see a bearded man in a dark suit, sunglasses perched on his hair. It is Visconti, his grandfather's cloud doll. Looking at him now, Tsuna sometimes still has a hard time believing he was a doll. The Ninth's dolls look human, but there are times their movements give them away. A little stiff, a little inhuman in the smoothness of their gestures.

"Japanese people are strangely formal." Visconti leans down to offer him a hand, "Come in." He steps aside when Tsuna stands. The moment he's inside, Tsuna is greeted by the sight of his grandfather, sitting on a comfy-looking, leather armchair. His grandfather's room is the only one arranged in a modern Italian interior design, the rest of the mansion is bathed in traditional Japanese home decor.

The Vongola Ninth is surrounded by his guardians, or, here in the Japanese branch, they were known better as Shugo-sha no Ningyo. The legendary guardian dolls every head of the family is said to have. But from what Tsuna knew, only the Vongola head is strong enough to be able to make contracts with six dolls.

"Tsunayoshi, my, you've grown." Timoteo Vongola, the Ninth head of the family greeted him warmly when he came into view. He still looks as kindly as ever and when Tsuna comes closer to greet him, he is pulled into a warm, careful hug. When they pull apart, Timoteo gestures for him to sit down on one of the provided chairs.

"I'm sorry I only had time to see you personally today. I've been busy with some things." Timoteo apologizes, "You're fifteen today, how time flies. Happy birthday, Tsunayoshi."

"T-Thank you." Tsuna rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. He looks at the other people in the room, slightly intimidated to see that they are all listening in on their conversation.

Seeing where his attention is at, Timoteo chuckles. "Oh, that's right, this is the first time you've seen all of my guardians." He starts to introduce them one by one, "You already met Visconti and Coyote Nougat, my cloud and storm guardians, from my previous visits." He gestures to the one who opened the door and the man with a moustache and a fake left arm. The second doll nods at him Tsuna wonders about his fake arm. Couldn't the Ninth just make him a new one?

"This one is my sun guardian, Nie Brow Jr." He pats the closest person to his right. The youngest looking person with a tattoo on his face, gives Tsuna a small smile. "My mist, Croquant Bouche and my lightning guardian, Ganauche III." This time Timoteo gestures to the man with many piercings and weird eyes, then towards a cool-looking laid back guy leaning against the back of his chair. "And…"

One man steps forward, bowing slightly at Tsuna. He had a myriad of scars on his face, his eyes were white and unseeing.

"My rain guardian, Brabanters Schnitten." Timoteo says before his expression turned grim, "Or, well, he's supposed to be."

Tsuna turns towards him in confusion, "What do you mean?"

The scarred man takes a step back and the Ninth sighs.

"I presume Reborn told you why I'm here?"

Tsuna shrugs, "Something about me being of age? And uh, that there was something more to the story of Giotto Vongola?"

Timoteo nods, "The Vongola family now has businesses all over the world. We own many corporations and various other businesses, but back then, we were exclusively only in the toy business. Giotto Vongola, the Vongola Primo, was known for his skills in carving and creating life-like dolls. From that small business, we have spanned wider and kept our relations with the descendants of other doll makers who fought in the war."

The old man smiles, "But only these descendants and a select few people, like your mother, know about the other side to our façade. While we may be one of the most successful, rich family in the world, we are actually under constant war. A never ending battle between the light and dark. It was because of this war that we have been granted the power to fight and to bring to life dolls, all of whom are important to us."

Nie comes forward to bring the two of them tea. Tsuna is so absorbed with the story that he doesn't notice someone had gone out to get them something to drink. He accepts it gratefully.

"Primo had six dolls he treasured and always kept with him. They were known as the guardian dolls, Shugo-sha no Ningyo, for the people here in Japan. They helped him keep the darkness at bay. But the darkness grew stronger, and eventually it adapted and started possessing dolls too. However, with the help of other doll makers, they managed to find a way to exorcise the darkness out of the possessed," Timoteo drinks his tea, "But then, the unexpected happened. One of the Primo's dolls became possessed. Daemon Spade, a bisque doll he made in the image of a military man he'd admired when he was a child, his mist guardian, sided with darkness."

Tsuna's eyes widen and he puts down his teacup on the side table, not wanting to break it, "What?"

"The mist guardian, Kiri no Ningyo, fell into the darkness. The dark becomes stronger when it turns what people love into something hateful, and with a powerful doll on its side, the war took the turn for the worse. With the will of the mist in its grasp, it called forth illusions to fool people into doing its bidding. Those illusioned people were used to control more dark dolls, even though they didn't have the bloodline of a doll maker, they were able to control two, three dolls each. But because they didn't have the bloodline, the power took a toll on their bodies and mind. Some died and others were left worse for wear," Timoteo explains gravely, "During one faithful night, after gathering all of these illusioned people and dolls, the Kiri no Ningyo led the attack against the doll makers. At first, with their experience and because their feelings were not born out of an illusion, the side of Light had the upper hand in the fight. But because they were limited in numbers and in strength, unlike the Kiri no Ningyo who just replaced one human with another and one doll with another, like they were disposable tools. The war began to tip on the side of the darkness. In the middle of it all, Giotto struggled, trying to contain the Kiri no Ningyo, the dolls, and the humans, while trying not to harm them, because in the end, they were all victims of the war."

For some reason, Tsuna gets a flashback of his last dream. A familiar blond man smiling down at an unfinished doll. He wonders if Giotto feels the same as the person in his dreams. Tsuna can see why he would try to save humans and dolls alike.

"But even Giotto Vongola had his limits. He was exhausted from overexerting his powers and soon, he was being overwhelmed by the numerous attacks and negative emotions. There were more dolls than he could exorcise, slowly he was being consumed by his own helplessness and frustration- the dolls were surrounding him, the darkness pulling him down…" Timoteo sighs, "That's when the rain guardian, the Ame no Ningyo, intervened."

Tsuna startles at that, he wants hear more of what happened. He knows that the story ends happily because they are all still here. They can still hear the dolls and the world isn't in chaos. But there is something about the Ninth's expression that told him there is more to the story than he knows.

"Asari Ugetsu," And the name's familiarity surprises the brunet. "Was the first Japanese-styled bisque doll Giotto ever made and he was the fourth of the Primo's six dolls. He was also the rain guardian, the one who washed away and eased all conflicts. He was the one to shield Giotto. With his power, he pushed him away and took on the dolls that overwhelmed him. The other dolls came to his aid… G., Primo's storm guardian and the first doll he made, was the one who reminded him of what they were fighting for, what they were trying to protect. They gave him enough time to gather himself and to fight with renewed vigor."

"And what happened?"

"Well, nothing really changed about the war. They were still outnumbered and the darkness was gaining on them. Some doll makers were slowly being pulled into the darkness, their dolls with them, because they could see they were losing. Primo tried to cheer them on, reminding everyone why they fought, even though he and his dolls were exhausted too. In that moment, the Kiri no Ningyo saw his chance, Giotto had his back turned, he was exhausted, his defenses were low. He striked, aiming to stab him-"

Tsuna leans forward, eyes wide.

"-But it was the Ame no Ningyo he ran through. Asari Ugetsu had seen him and moved fast. He had a talent with the sword and the footwork of a master swordsman. He was the only one fast enough to get in between Daemon Spade and the Primo." Timoteo says and Tsuna's shoulders tense, "Daemon had stabbed him with a scythe dipped in darkness. It swallowed the entirety of Asari's human form. He turned back into a doll."

"Was he-?" Tsuna swallows nervously, "Did he turn into-?"

At the question, Timoteo smiles softly, "Tsunayoshi-kun, did you know, that if a person or a doll held no shred of darkness in his heart, then he cannot be tempted by darkness? Thus, he cannot be turned into darkness."

"Does that mean-"

"Yes, Asari Ugetsu held no malice, no hatred. He loved the Primo and his fellow dolls with everything he had. He believed in Giotto and he only wished for his happiness, as he wished the same for every human and doll. His trust and his love over his fellow dolls, over his own maker, the darkness could not take that." Timoteo explains, "Instead, he fell into a deep slumber, one where no one could wake him. And right in front of the Primo's eyes, he was taken away. Because even the darkness knew, that a doll which held no shred of darkness could not be permitted to return to its true master." He shakes his head, "Giotto couldn't let this happen and he fought desperately. He lost Daemon, he would not lose Asari too. With great effort, one that nearly cost him his life, he called forth everything he had, exorcising many dolls at once, a never before seen feat of power. His dolls fought greatly and overcame many of the puppet humans and dolls. Seeing this, the doll makers fought with renewed energy. It turned the tide of the war at its most crucial point, they won."

"And the rain guardian? The Ame no Ningyo?"

"By the time the war ended, and dolls and humans alike laid unconscious in heaps, it was too late. Several dark dolls had gotten away, and with them was the Ame no Ningyo. He was lost, never to be found again." The Ninth leans back, "Even after exorcising the Kiri no Ningyo, who did not remember most of what had transpired, they found no traces of Asari. Giotto spent the rest of his days, travelling the world, exorcising dolls and looking for his Ame no Ningyo. By then, the Second Vongola heir, Giotto's nephew, had taken care of the doll business he left behind in Italy. It had flourished ever since the war ended. Vongola Secondo was the one to spread the Vongola name throughout Italy, Giotto did the same by travelling. His dolls were beloved everywhere. When he was nearing the end of his days, he came to Japan and with the Secondo's help, he made a Japanese branch under the Vongola's name. Asari Ugetsu was a bisque doll made in the image of Japanese dolls. He had always wanted to see the country that had inspired Giotto to make him, so the Primo made the Vongola Japanese branch, hoping that one day, Asari would come back home, come back to him, and he could show him."

There is silence.

"Even now, the Primo still wishes to find him. On his dying bed, he'd entrusted the search to his nephew, the Second Vongola. The Secondo understood. Giotto was a doll maker who had fought so hard in the war and lost one of his comrades, so, as his heir, he would continue the search in his stead." Timoteo tells him, "His will is carried on by his descendants."

"So, he died here? Is the Primo buried somewhere near here? I've always thought he was buried back at Italy." Tsuna intones sadly, "I've never asked."

"Yes, there is an altar dedicated to him and his dolls in one of the rooms. His ashes are displayed there along with the original dolls'. It's not strange that you have never seen the room, no one is permitted to enter it. In this house, aside from Iemitsu and one designated cleaner or during an important celebration, no one can enter it. You may, once you go through the ritual for being of age, tonight." Timoteo assures him.

Tsuna nods then asks hesitantly, "His ashes… the Primo was cremated? They didn't preserve the dolls?"

"Once he died, his dolls died with him. He requested in his will to be cremated along with his dolls, so that they wouldn't be used by darkness or other doll makers who wanted power." Timoteo answers.

"If his dolls died when he did, then, did Asari Ugetsu die too?"

"No, I'm afraid even in death they aren't reunited."

"How do you know, grandpa?"

Timoteo gestures for his storm guardian to come forth. Coyote is carrying a dark box with gold linings and the Vongola crest on top. He gives it to the Ninth who opens it carefully. Six incomplete rings and one complete one, glints under the room's lights.

"These are-"

"These are a mementos from the First Vongola. Contract rings passed down to his descendants. It was given by someone to Giotto, on the day he gained the ability to hear the dolls whispers. These are presented to the chosen heirs when they turn fifteen, so that they too, may begin their search for their own guardians. When you find the dolls for you or when you create ones that suits you, you'll know which ring to give to them. When you form a contract with your doll, the rings will turn whole. The only whole ring here, belongs to you, the sky ring which connects them all."

Tsuna reaches out and carefully touches the ring for him. His eyes were then drawn to another ring, one which looks more worn out than the others. It is darker and doesn't shine, not even under the room's bright lights.

Coyote explains for him, when he sees where the brunet is looking, "That is the ring for your Ame no Ningyo. It has never been whole, not in over four hundred years."

Tsuna looks up, surprised, "Why?"

Brabanters is the one to explain this time, "When you contract with your chosen six, the rings deem them worthy. The will of the Primo's dolls are supposedly contained in those rings. When the Primo died, and along with him, his dolls, they chose to watch over the Vongola Family. They do so by passing on their will through the rings," He explains, "However, the lost doll, the Ame no Ningyo, remains in this world and is unable to join the Primo. Thus, his ring remains incomplete, until he is found. No other doll can own it, not while the original rain guardian still lives."

Tsuna looks back at his grandfather, "So that's how you knew that the Ame no Ningyo is still alive."

Timoteo nods, "Apart from finding your guardians, Tsunayoshi, I'm afraid you are burdened with another mission. One I, and every heir before me, failed to accomplish."

Tsuna's eyes widen. What could he possibly do that the other Vongola heads could not?

The Ninth gazes at him steadily, "To fulfill the Primo's last wish," He says, "Find Asari Ugetsu, find the lost doll."

That night, there is a formal ritual for Tsuna as he is accepted to be the official heir of Vongola. His traditional garbs had even more complicated accessories to them and it is heavier than ever. On his head, he had on a tall, dark, traditional hat.

His parents are behind him, watching proudly. Both of them are dressed in their own traditional garbs. Reborn is there too, dressed for the occasion, instead of his usual Armani suit. The rest of the household are watching him too and Tsuna feels nervous as he walks right in the middle of the room. This is the first time he enters the Primo's altar room, but somehow, it seems familiar to him. Still, he thinks it is sort of strange and a bit morbid to celebrate his birthday ritual in a room where the Primo's body was put to rest.

In the middle of the room, there is a carefully controlled fire in a metal box and a Shinto priest is mumbling deep Japanese prayers. There is a wooden basin in front of the Primo's altar. The Shinto priest takes a small, long wooden dipper which he dips into water and Tsuna walks forward. He holds out his hands. Water is poured on his left hand and then right hand. The Shinto takes another dip of water and Tsuna cups his left hand, accepting the water again but this time to drink.

Someone approaches him, holding a bucket and Tsuna carefully spits out the water into it. He wipes his mouth with an offered tissue, then approaches the altar with the Shinto priest. Tsuna is given incense, which he lights, and he places three each in front of Giotto Vongola's ashes and the other dolls. One of the jars is empty of the ashes and Tsuna instinctively knows that this is supposed to be for the Ame no Ningyo. He closes his eyes and offers a brief prayer before turning to walk back to the center of the room.

This time, the Ninth, with his guardian dolls behind him, is waiting with the ring box opened. Tsuna looks up at his grandfather's face. The fire throws shadows into his features and Tsuna sees a glimpse of the fierceness in his grandfather that makes him the Vongola's head.

"You have reached the age of maturity for our Family. You will be wrought with trials in your journey to becoming the head of the Vongola. I will watch your progress and be with you every step of the way. With these rings, you will inherit the will of our ancestors and find companions to keep with you, as I and our ancestors have." He says, holding the box out towards the brunet, "Find dolls you can trust and believe in, and those who trust and believe in you, in turn."

Tsuna holds out his hand and takes the sky ring. He looks down at it and slips it on. It is a perfect fit. He looks up at Timoteo.

"The Primo's wish to find the lost doll, his will to keep searching has now been passed down to you, Tsunayoshi." He whispers so that no one but Tsuna will hear. "I'm sure you feel it, as all of our predecessors have felt before, the gnawing sense of being incomplete."

Tsuna frowns, a hand going up to his chest.

"Like an unfinished doll, we feel as though a part of us is missing. By finding the lost one, we hope to be completed. Though our ancestors have tried to fill the void many times," He glances back at Brabanters, "We are drawn to certain dolls we feel are the closest to the Ame no Ningyo, yet without Asari Ugetsu, we still remain incomplete."

Timoteo straightens, "I believe in you Tsunayoshi, I wish you only good fortune through your journey." Finally, he smiles warmly, "Happy birthday."

The ninth bows at Tsuna, his guardians follow, and soon, the entire room is bowing to Tsuna. The brunet swallows heavily, feeling the heavy burden of expectations on his shoulders.

He blinks, "I- I will do my best. Your wishes and the family's will is always with me." He bows in turn, stumbling slightly, "I accept."

Everyone straightens and with an applause, the ritual is over.

But Tsuna's journey has just begun.

Author's notes: Cozarto is Enma's ancestor. It used to be Cozart in this story but when I looked it up at ao3 tags it was spelled Cozarto so we will stick with that. The ritual Tsuna did for his coming of age is something I clumsily put together by searching 'japanese rituals' in google.