Now. While I still have no intentions of writing a European sequal to 'Whims of a Road to Nowhere.' I did need something else. Something simpler to take my mind off of my wanderlust. And while I still feel a deep connection to this little spin-off, it's a different kind of need and one that hurts as much, but it's different.

And I really just wanted to explore the little tidbit I left.

SO with that said, please again suspend your disbelief. This is only somewhat realistic, because travelling with animals is incredibly difficult. Some of the animals I'm giving to the guardians aren't exactly travel-savvy…this is KHR and I'm using some artistic licence. So…enjoy!

Picking up Strays

Summary: You should never travel alone. It can be unsafe, but most of all it can be lonely. Tsuna had always had his dog, Natsu. So when his friends started bringing strays into their camp, Tsuna could only be happy. He'd never really been good at saying no to puppy-dog eyes anyway. Spin-off of 'Whims of a Road to Nowhere'. NON-Mafia AU.

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Natsu – Newfie Lab.

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"Shit shit shit shit shit." Tsuna sprinted through the back alley of some diner in some god forsaken pit town. It smelt of urine and garbage, but it was dry.

Tsuna hated the rain. Well perhaps hate was a bit much. He liked the rain, liked the sound of it on his windows, and against the tent when he set it up quick enough. But he hated being caught in it.

Tsuna stooped in the muck, scowling as he checked his pack. Last time he'd been caught in the rain his stuff had been soaked. Apparently he hasn't put his cover on properly.

Movement caught Tsuna's eyes. It shouldn't have, the alley is pitch black and there is very little light. But a little squiggle moves from under the garbage bins.

Tsuna picks up the little pup, probably over a pound already, a hot little mass of black. It's eyes aren't open and Tsuna doesn't know what to do.

He searches around, and finds a heart-breaking sight under the bins. The mother laying emaciated with wide unseeing eyes. Around her four other pups, none of them moving.

A high-pitched whine shivered through Tsuna, and he could only wrap the puppy in his shirt and clutch him to his chest. "Shh, shhhhh. It's alright. I'll protect you."

And not caring about himself getting wet, the puppy was protected, and his bag was covered, Tsuna sprinted out of the alley. He had seen an emergency animal hospital at the edge of town. It should still be open.

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Tsuna sleeps in the woods beside the clinic. He nursed the puppy, praying that he'd pull through. The pup responded well, drinking all the milk he could. And growing quickly.

Soon enough his eyes were open and Tsuna saw opportunity.

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Natsu's feet are huge, so Tsuna knows he will be an extremely large dog despite his tough start in life. He's a newfie lab, his coats enough to tell Tsuna that, but he had the energy and strength of six. A bear of a dog, so and at six months old Tsuna teaches Natsu to carry his own pack, so that Natsu can take pride in his strength and help Tsuna more.

First thing the puppy does is roll in the mud. Suddenly Natsu is brown and not black.

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Eight months and Natsu is so sick that Tsuna thinks this is the end. He thinks he's ruined the dog and he cries as he sprints into a sushi-shop, hoping someone in there will help him. Or at least send him to a vets.

Natsu must be a prayer embodied in a dog, because the man is a dog lover and helps Tsuna heal almost more than he saves Natsu. Natsu was company that Tsuna never thought he wanted on his travels, and though he almost kills a part of Tsuna's heart when he gets sick, Natsu also brings Tsuna to Tsuyoshi and he finds a home and support there.

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Natsu grows to reach Tsuna's hips almost a year, and he snarls at an intruder for the first time, spitting and making it known that he will not allow a danger around his pack.

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Almost two years old, and winter sets in hard as Tsuna and Natsu travel across Owensound in Canada. They camp out in layers with a fire burning low. Natsu has always slept next to Tsuna. Before he was strong enough to life, Tsuna had clutched him to his chest to keep the pup warm and safe.

Natsu returns the favour at two, at three, at four, five, six. For the rest of his life. Natsu keeps Tsuna warm on the coldest, wintery nights as they travel. Natsu keeps Tsuna protected when wild dogs and men come searching for an easy mark.

Tsuna got a cause in Natsu, a companion, and a loyal friend. He got a guardian, and proof that he wasn't alone.

Natsu, in return, got a master and a soul-mate. A dog only ever loved one, and Tsuna was that for Natsu.