Warning(s): Negative!thoughts

Notes: "Japanese" | Thinking | [Tsuna's written msg]

Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn; Amano Akira does. If I did, it would be more sadder and dark.

Author's Note: Hi guys! It's been a long time since I last updated, huh? 2 years now... I'm sorry! I just couldn't find the motivation to continue after I was stuck in a long writer's block. I won't guarantee that I would have a consistent updating schedule but like, I'm back?

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"It's a conversation for later," Reborn finally responded, controlling himself from taking his gun out and shooting the smiling Dino.

Tsuna tilted his head to the side for a moment, eyes blank but Reborn knew that something was being processed in his brain. His suspicions was confirmed when he felt tendrils of sky flames against his own.

Tsuna only did that when he wanted to verify something. Most likely, that was how he verified the sincerity behind the words.

The brunet eventually nodded, his eyes darting back to the perceived threat.

"That's my former useless student," Reborn dutifully said, hoping to ease the tension that had built in the brunet. "He will become your guardian."

Tsuna's eyes didn't leave Dino.

Tsuna's eyes never did leave Dino.

Throughout the ride, the silent brunet followed every movement of the blond as if he were a hawk. No matter how many times Reborn or Dino assured him, the other refused to ease.

Reborn sighed, wondering exactly how to approach this. He wasn't like Fon or Aria, who would have already gotten into Tsuna's heart. He preferred direct approaches, brutal honesty.

Then again, if he were to do anything at this point, it might just give him the opposite results of what he intended.

"U-Um, T-Tsunayoshi?"

Reborn's eyes snapped towards his former idiot student. Dino, himself, was wincing, hands slowly raising as if surrendering.

Tsuna himself had his guard raised the moment the blond spoke. Eyes wide with fear, hands clutching his notebook tightly, back ramrod straight, tension oozing out of the brunet.

"I promise," his former student began. "I promise I won't hurt you. I don't want to hurt you. I don't even know you... Just what would I gain from hurting you?"

The brunet didn't even hesitate— [Satisfaction]

The temperature instantly dropped. Reborn's face darkened, noting from the corner of his eye how Dino's hand twitched. Neither were happy with the answer, nor with how quick it was.

"I won't get satisfaction from hurting you," Dino finally gritted out, forcing himself to calm down before he spooked the already spooked child further. "Do you think those who hurt you are satisfied after the act?"

Tsuna could only stare confused. Of course, others were satisfied. They always looked proud of themselves, laughing as they taunted him. Teachers never helped, no matter how much he begged. Students never stopped, no matter how much he begged.

Many times, his bullies would leave with a 'Ah, that was fun.' How could they not be satisfied?

It seems, however, his pensive silence was enough for the two mafiosi. Dino really wanted to set Enzo in this stupid town. Oh, and Tsunayoshi's parents.

"I am a mafia man," Dino said, hands falling in his lap. His eyes closed wondering if this would help the brunet understand what he was trying to say. "A mafia boss, in fact. I'm sure you're aware of it but people don't do anything unless they benefit from it."

It was only when he received a nod from both his about-to-be-brother and former tutor that he continued. He already knew that Reborn was aware of where he was heading, but he didn't want to say something that would ultimately set the boy back.

Not when he was actively responding.

"Consider a mafia boss to be even more arrogant than your bullies," Dino continued. "Far more arrogant, with more stress and problems than any average being. We don't do anything by ourself, rather we get those who work for us, those we trust, to do it."

Dino's eyes flashed for a moment, "I can assure you now that I won't whip you, or touch you, because I don't have to. If I really wanted something to happen to you, then I would get somebody else to do it."

"With that being said," Reborn cut in immediately, drawing both his students attention. "I won't let Dino even touch you. I killed your previous caretaker because of what she was doing. Not because I had a grudge against her. I have no qualms in making sure that Dino doesn't hurts you further."

"Not to mention that I can't even win against Reborn," Dino said blithely. "Forget touching you, I won't even be able to take a step towards you. I'm sure you know how well Reborn can read minds."

Tsuna couldn't help but nod, having noticed how well Reborn could read him.

"Yeah, well, he'll know what I'm planning. He always does," Dino ended with a pout.

Reborn rolled his eyes and turned towards Tsuna, "You trust me, right?"

He received a nod after a moment.

"Then believe me when I say that my former student, who will be your older brother in a few hours, is an useless idiot who loves taking care of kids like you. He would sooner kill himself before he even thinks of hurting you."

For a moment, there was a long silence before— "Reborn, are you sick?!"

The baby glared before he huffed, opting to focus on the contemplative Tsuna.

"You can use your flames," Reborn offered, knowing that the fastest way to get the brunet to trust anyone would be through that. Flames rarely belied the intentions of the wielder. "Dino's a sky too."

[Flames? Sky?]

...Reborn may have forgotten that the boy had been a civilian up until now and that though, he may have been using it unintentionally, he knew nothing about the mafia world or flames.

"How much do you know of Bonding?" Reborn started off.

[We don't know how it happens or why it happens, but people sometimes are just meant to be together. You find your Bonded through Touch.]

"That's true, but the Mafia has a better explanation for this phenomenon," Reborn began. "It's also kept only to the Mafia because if this knowledge is widespread then it can cause chaos. Lots of people can be hurt because of it."

Dino smiled as he took over from his former tutor left off, "In the Mafia world, we call this Bonding, Harmonizing. And it's because of what we call Flames or rather the Dying Will Flames."

"It's a manifestation of your resolve," Reborn continued. "In the schools, you were probably taught that random people can be bonded, people they've never met before and then become long-term friends, right?"

Tsuna nodded.

"This happens because of the Flames. Flames are like fingerprints or voices, each flame has a distinct characteristic. There are 7 types: sky, cloud, mist, lightning, rain, sun and storm," Reborn explained.

"Storm Flames are red in color. People who have these flames are highly offensive, sometimes bordering on impulsive," Dino elaborated. "Rain flames are blue and like the name suggests, it's similar to water, thus people have soothing characteristics."

"Sun flames, which I have, by the way," Reborn said, lighting his hand up with flames to directly show Tsuna what he meant. "As you can see, Sun flames are yellow in color and are used to heal people."

"..Reborn uses it to kill though.." Dino muttered under his breath and promptly met the ground courtesy of Leon Hammer.

Reborn huffed before he looked towards Tsuna, "Any questions so far?"

The boy shook his head.

"Then we have Lightning Flames, which are green in color. And again, like the name suggests, it has properties similar to that of lightning. Next, Cloud Flames are purple in color and people with these flames are usually very independent and distant. Hibari Kyoya has Cloud Flames," Reborn added at the end, seeing his student perk up at the name.

"Hibari Kyoya is the literal definition of a Cloud," Reborn said before his mind wandered to Skull. "Well, most Clouds are like that."

"Anyways," Dino said rubbing his head, "then there are Mist Flames, and are indigo colored. These flames can create illusions. I swear these are the trickiest people to deal with."

"Lastly, there are Sky Flames, orange in color," Dino softly continued, his hand lighting up with flames, seeing how the child practically stood up straighter, drawn directly to the glowing flame. "Skies hold the harmony factor, pulling the other 6 types, or guardians as we call them, closer. These flames are very rare, and most of the time, skies are very inclusive. Understanding and accepting the other 6 guardians."

Tsuna crawled closer, eyes still drawn to the flaring orange flame. A silent question in his eyes

Dino smiled at the behavior and explained, "When two skies are present, they can feel each other with their flames. You have sky flames too, and manifesting them like I did can be difficult but it completely depends on your resolve—"

He paused abruptly, when the silent boy's arm suddenly erupted in flames. Almost on instinct, Dino moved to control the raging flames with his own.

Dino almost expected rejection from the flames [because flames can certainly reject you if the owner did]. He didn't expect the flame to immediately calm down. [Only those who trusted each other greatly could calm other elements and even then, it took time.]

Nor did he expect Tsunayoshi to suddenly go listless in his hold, eyes dazed.

"...Uh Reborn?"

"The boy hasn't had physical contact in years," Reborn explained, sitting off to the side sipping tea. Dino wondered if this had been planned. "He's not used to the Flames. Especially Sky Flames who are eager to bond with him."

"..So?"

"He's flame drunk right now."

"..."

Tsuna woke up feeling very warm and light, feelings unlike of what he usually felt.

Pain had been his best friend for a long time, the physical reminder etched onto his body. All he knew were of mocking words, painful touches and loneliness.

He'd long since given up on experiencing warmth. That's why it was such a surprise when he felt.. not pain.

He also didn't expect to be laying next to the blond mafia. For a quick but brief moment, Tsuna thought of running away. But just as quick as that thought came, it disappeared just as quick.

He doesn't knows where it came from but suddenly, he felt like he could trust the other... Oddly enough, he didn't want to run away from the warm [gentle] touch.

"It's because your flames harmonized with his. Or rather, accepted him."

He turned towards the squeaky voice.

Reborn.

"Good evening Tsuna," the baby said, nodding. "You've been asleep for about 2 hours now. I see that pipsqueak Dino also fell asleep during that time."

Tsuna stayed silent, wondering how he should communicate. For some reason, he really didn't want to leave this gentle warmth.

"I can tell what you're curious about Tsuna," Reborn said, as though he was able feel his frustrations. "Everything ties back to Flames. If you were in school, they would have declared you as having partially bonded with Pipsqueak Dino."

Tsuna blinked at that. It was that easy to bond with somebody?

"Not everyone can bond," Reborn shot his thought down immediately. "It's based on... compatibility for a lack of better terms. The simplest way to explain it is that your Sky Flames really liked Dino's and Dino's wanted to know you anyway which was reflected in his Sky Flames. That's why, both of you were able to bond, because both of you wanted to."

Tsuna felt like somebody had removed the couch from under him. He.. wanted to bond with somebody? When all he'd known was pain? Why?

"Don't think too hard about it, Tsuna," Reborn cut through his frazzled mind. "You may have bonded, but it is only partially. It isn't the type of bond where you'd trust him with all of your heart, but rather that you recognize he isn't a threat to you."

"Think about it this way Tsunayoshi," Dino spoke up groggily behind him. "Your Flames let you know if somebody means harm to you or not. If your Flames are okay with the person, then you won't feel afraid of the person. Just like how you're not afraid of Reborn. It's because your Flames have deemed him as not enemy"

...That was easier to think of.

Reborn came closer to him, settling next to the overwhelmed teen.

"Don't think too much about it Tsuna. It's also partially because you've shied away from physical contact that your Flames are eager to bond with those who aren't a threat. But you won't fully bond with someone unless you trust them 100% and breaking a partial bond is much easier than a full bond."

The explanation soothed Tsuna, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly.

The baby hitman patted the other's fluffy hair, the brunet leaning into the comforting touch.

"Go to sleep, Tsuna," he said. "That's enough information for today. We'll deal with everything else tomorrow."

The last thing Tsuna registered when he fell asleep were low murmuring, a tiny hand patting his head and another around his waist. For the first time in many years, Tsuna felt warm and unbeknownst to him, a small smile graced his face.

Author's Note: The quality of the chapter may not be as good, but I'm just getting myself back into the feel of the story, so please forgive me and give me some time. Hopefully, I was able to get my point across in this chapter that though you have to touch in order to find your guardians, Flames aren't known in the civilian world. Only Mafia knows.

But the civilian world does have an explanation of its own: Bonding. The act where you just click with someone. Civilian explanation: You just bond randomly, no explanation of why it happens. Mafia explanation: Flames are the cause of everything and it's not random. You need compatibility and trust. Only compatibility OR trust = partial bond. Trust AND compatibility = full bond.

If it doesn't makes sense, feel free to contact me on Tumblr where I'm more active: finoalcielo~ I don't exactly check as much.