Chapter 1

"Tsu-kun, come down and eat breakfast!"

A boy stirred in his bed, pulling his sheets over his head. "Five more minutes, Okaa-san."

He drifted back to sleep, his mind going blank until bright light reached his eyes. His body suddenly felt cold and he hugged himself, trying to get some kind of warmth. He heard his blinds being opened and groaned when even more light reached his closed his eyes. He squeezed them shut, willing it to go away.

"Canepa Tsunayoshi, if you don't get your ass out of bed, I will shoot the living daylights out of you."

Tsuna immediately sat up, forcing his eyes to stay open. "Reporting for duty, ma'am," he said drowsily.

His mother grinned, her killing intent gone. "Go and get dressed. I'll be waiting downstairs."

Tsuna yawned as his mother walked out of his bedroom. He collapsed back into his bed again, snuggling into his pillow.

"Tsuna, now!" She wasn't happy.

He scrambled out of bed and ran into the bathroom, stumbling occasionally. As soon as he was done brushing his teeth and changed into a fresh set of clothes, he ran downstairs and tumbled down unceremoniously with occasional grunts.

"Tsu-kun, are you okay?" Nana said, rushing to his side. "You seem to become clumsier than usual."

Tsuna huffed. "Don't mention it, Okaa-san."

Nana smiled sadly. "You miss him, don't you?"

The brunette placed his cheek down onto the cool floor, feeling almost weary again. "Yeah, I do..."

"Well, best not to dwell on such things," Nana said cheerfully, obviously trying to make him feel better. "You're going to start school soon! Isn't that wonderful?"

Tsuna sighed and stood up, brushing his jeans. "Not in my book. Ow!"

Nana smacked him in the back of his head, her brow twitching. "Well, write it down somewhere because you're going to go to university in the future whether you want to or not."

She smiled. "I made your favorite!"

Tsuna perked up with a small smile of his own, the familiar sweet scent wafting in his nose. "Cinnamon rolls?"

Nana nodded. "After that, we'll be visiting the school nearby."

Tsuna sat down in the kitchen and started stuffing his face with his mother's delicious buns. "What's it called?"

"Namimori Middle."

Tsuna kept close to his mother's side while they walked down the hallways of the quiet school. It was strange to him, as he walked by many classrooms, to see so many his age.

"Calm down, Tsu-kun," Nana said softly. "It'll be alright."

When they entered the principal's office, a teen boy brushed past them, his jacket fluttering behind him. Tsuna stared at his back quizzically before following his mother inside. The office was large but cold. It was neat though with many desks and shelves filled with books. He was tempted to read one of them, but restrained himself.

"Hello, how may I help you?" the secretary said brusquely, typing away at her computer.

"My name is Canepa Nana and I came to enroll my son for school," Nana said with a smile.

"Ah, yes," the secretary said, pulling out a couple of forms.

Tsuna wrinkled his nose in distaste at the amount. Why was this such a difficult process? Wasn't it much simpler to just type his name in and get it over with? Did they have to know everything about him?

"Fill these forms and bring it in tomorrow. I'll get them in to the school's database and contact you with any additional information. Have a good day."

"You, too," Nana said. "Thank you very much."

When they left the stuffy office, Tsuna let out a deep breath. "Do I have to go here?"
"Of course! You can make new friends, Tsu-kun. Think about it!"

"I don't want to," Tsuna muttered. "I was fine with - "

He blocked another punch quickly from his mother. Nana looked at him with cold eyes, the eyes of the former hit man she was. He looked away to avoid her gaze.

"I'm sorry," he said, shoving his hands in his pockets. "I'm just..." He sighed.

He was suddenly enveloped in a hug.

"I know, Tsu-kun," Nana said in his ear. "I'm sorry. Just give this a chance, for me, please?"

Tsuna relaxed in her hold and nodded. "Okay. For you."

Nana smiled tightly when she pulled back. "Thank you, Tsu-kun."

When they open the doors to leave the school, a couple of students pushed them aside, holding their bleeding noses with their hands while mumbling curses.

"I told you that he'd beat the shit out of us," one of them said.

"It's not my fault you wanted to take a detour, you bastard!"

"Guys, calm down. We'll try to avoid it next time."

Tsuna and Nana looked at one another and shrugged. The brunette felt a pair of eyes on them as they passed by the boy from before, holding a pair of tonfas.

Such a strange place, Tsuna thought.

Namimori wasn't bad, but it didn't feel welcoming either. It just felt odd and different. Maybe he was in a prison cell for too long.

Tsuna sighed as he looked over the railing, the town of Namimori beneath him. Such a quaint location to move in. He knew that his mother was originally from Japan despite her half-Italian heritage. It was just...strange.

Hell, he found himself even missing the impassive Jager and the cold, distant Bermuda. But the one he missed the most was Mukuro.

He closed his eyes, the breeze kissing his cheeks gently. If only Mukuro was out of Vendice as well, he wouldn't feel so alone.

His phone vibrated in his pocket. He flipped it open. It was time to go back home.

"This is Canepa Tsunayoshi," the teacher said. "He came all the way from Italy. Treat him well while he's here, got it?"

"Hai!" the students chorused.

"Tsunayoshi, sit over there by Teiji," the teacher said. "Teiji, stand up."

A blonde-haired boy stood up with a yawn. The girls squealed with blushes on their faces. Tsuna blinked in confusion. What was this boy to elicit such...reactions? Was it normal here?

He walked over to his seat and sat down, ignoring the stares. Teiji grinned at him and immediately he didn't like him.

"Yo, the name's Teiji," the boy said.

Tsuna brushed him off. "Nice to meet you," he said blandly.

"Hmm, interesting," Teiji said with a wider grin.

Tsuna's brow twitched. Who the hell was this kid? Was he trying to flirt with him? Either way, he already belonged to Mukuro. No one else.

"Teiji-san, Tsunayoshi-san, please quit the chit-chat and focus on the lesson," the teacher said, flipping a page in her book. "Now, the United States - "

Tsuna zoned out and placed an illusion over himself to fool the others that he was paying attention and taking notes. His notebook was being filled before his eyes and he took that moment to drift off to sleep.

He awoke to the sound of the bell. Ah, school wasn't fun, but it proved to be a good place for a nap. He looked around to see students leaving, waving and talking with one another. He got up and packed his notebook, skimming over the notes before packing it in his bag.

"Teiji," a quiet voice said. "Wake up. It's time to go home."

Tsuna turned to see the blonde boy being shaken awake by a black-haired boy. They looked different but similar in terms of the lips and nose. Twins?

Anyway, he didn't bring himself to meddle in their business. He sneakily dropped his illusion while standing up and left the room silently.

He opened his phone and browsed through it, finding two or three from his mother.

'Tsu-kun, you better not sleep during class~ Mama will know~'

Tsuna shivered unintentionally. Who knew what she would do?

'We'll be eating out today, Tsu-kun. How does sushi sound?'

Sushi? Ah, something to do with fish, he recalled.

Before he could read the last text, he barely dodged a swipe from some kind of weapon.

"Herbivore, no electronic devices are allowed in the school building," a deep voice said. "I'll bite you to death."

Tsuna blinked in confusion. "Bite...me?" He placed his phone away. "Are your teeth that sharp?"

He thought that was an innocent question - well, it sounded innocent to him anyway. The boy narrowed his eyes at him, his weapons ready in his hands.

He dashed forward, swiping one of his weapons at his chest. Tsuna instinctively placed an illusion over his front body. It distorted when the weapon made contact, his torso and stomach swirling around. The boy slightly widened his eyes when he passed through him completely.

The brunette scratched the back of his head. "Mou, I promised not to use it. Anyway, I don't want to fight y - "

He ducked a swipe and quickly moved to the side to evade a swift kick.

"Look, I won't - "

He dodged another strike. " - take my phone - "

He ducked under a kick and jumped backwards. " - out anymore. So calm down!"

Tsuna sighed irritably. "Can this place get any weirder?"

He made a dagger appear in his hand, blocking the boy's weapon quickly. "I'm sorry but I must go now."

He vanished in a haze, out of the boy's sights.

"Try this, Tsu-kun! It tastes very good! Ah, when was the last time I had sushi?"

Tsuna smiled at his mother's apparent happiness. "Eat a lot, Okaa-san."

"Same for you!" Nana said with a grin. She placed more salmon on Tsuna's plate. "Here, eat up!"

The brunette placed the sweet fish in his mouth, savoring the fresh flavor. He sighed in content.

"Do you like it?" Nana said curiously, placing her chopsticks on her lips.

Tsuna nodded. "I like it."

"So, how was school? Did you make any friends?"

"Not really," Tsuna said bluntly. "It's strange there. This whole place is odd."

He made sure not to mention his little confrontation with the boy from earlier. Who knows what his mother would do if he used his illusions?

"Is there something you're not telling me?" Nana said.

Tsuna continued eating quietly. "No."

"Tsu-kun."

He stood up, brushing his school jacket. "I have to use the bathroom. I'll be back."

As he walked down the crowded restaurant, he found the bathroom. Someone brushed his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," a familiar voice said.

Tsuna looked to see Teiji's twin from before. "It's fine."

He walked into the single-use bathroom and turned on the sink, washing his hands, rubbing them more forcefully than usual. When he walked back to his table, he found a tall blonde man talking to his mother.

He was instantly on guard when his mother stood up, slapping a few bills on the table.

"Okaa-san?" he said, approaching her side.

"Tsuna, we're going home," she said stiffly, holding his hand.

"Nana!"

Tsuna turned to glare at the man. "Don't come any closer."

He noticed Teiji and his twin sitting at table not too far from them with a woman who looked on with worry.

While Tsuna and his mother walked down the streets, they spoke no word with one another as they approached their apartment building.

"Okaa-san, do you know him?" Tsuna said, unlocking the door to their small apartment.

"I guess you can say that," his mother said quietly, taking off her shoes. "You should go and do your homework, Tsu-kun. Don't stay up too late though. I'll be sleeping."

Tsuna watched as his mother slipped back into her room quietly. He clutched the handle of his bag.

Whoever that man was, I will protect you no matter what, Okaa-san.

A/N Another story...TT^TT I couldn't help it! They just keep coming!

If Tsuna sounds too out of it, it's because he's not really aware of the outside world as much due to being in Vendicare. I did not read the manga so I'm practically doing whatever I want with them. I apologize if this offends any of you.

Also, a warning. This will contain yaoi and the main pairing will be 6927. Not sure about Hibari.

I don't want to reveal too much since I'm not that kind of person, but Tsuna's main flame will be mist as of this point. Nana used a different surname from 'Sawada' by replacing it with her father's surname, 'Canepa'. It'll be revealed why later on, but it's a little bit of a hint to what happened before she went to Vendice.

Please leave a review if you can! Thank you for taking the time to read it!

See you in the next chapter.