Hello Everyone~! It's been a very long time since you've heard from your baka-author, huh? Gomen! I had bits and pieces of this story that I just couldn't for the life of me, write the bridges to connect. But, that's all over, ne? Please enjoy the story after I thank you all for your comments and pushes to help keep me on track!

Darkness7913-san: Thank you very much for your comment! Tsu-kun hasn't yet met Fon but he will soon! I hope this chapter helps you grow more attached!

1827-san: Once again, please accept my apologies for how absolutely long it has taken me to update, I apologize wholeheartedly! BlackBird is also my favorite Katekyo No Hitman fanfiction and I hope despite my long absence you continue to love this story.

Epikku Neko-san: Hello! Thank you for your comment! All I have to say, is yes, yes, and a strong maybe. Connections with Checkerface? Hmmm… That is yet to be seen…

Sacredfire44-san: Haha! Thank you for your interest and your awesome theories! For your awesome comment, here is a hint. Fear.

hyraM-san: Thank you very much! Hopefully the long wait didn't deter you!

Jean Sumar-san: Don't worry! This story is definitely back!

xxXAki00KyoXx-san: Thank you for your exuberant cursing in the defense of my Tsu-chan! Enjoy!

Nuria Sato-san: Aw… You're making me blush here….

AyumuMatsuoXII-san: So sorry for making you wait but also thank you! Your comment was one of the most motivating!

Allen94-san: Haha, thank you! Nice to know my audience has some variety!

Haku's Tears-san: Wahh, you should be very interested to find that Josh Gorban does in fact make an appearance in this chapter. And hopefully, all your hopes and dreams will come true *wink**wink*

N1ghtdr34m3r-san: Thank you very much for your motivating comment!

MashiroAzuki-san: Thank you so very much for your comment and I'd like to clarify that it's not so much that Kyoya wants Tsuna to be his lover. More it's he's seen Tsuna tested and survived and still so very kind. Tsuna has been baptized in fire and blood and still came out the other side wanted to help others. He is an enigma for Kyoya much more than anyone else has ever been and even more he is a friend with a strength never seen. Kyoya wants to be whatever keeps Tsuna safe and keeps him by his side. Anyways, enough of my rant! Thank you for your comment!

JustCarlieBruh-san: Thank you very much for your comment! Those are all things I also look for in a fanfic! I'm glad to have made you fangirl.

Nyoom-san: Thank you very much for your consideration and your comment. I am very happy that my story is something different for you and if you have any tips for me about how to handle the topic even better I would be very grateful! Thank you very much!

Okay! That's a wrap people! Thank you so much for your comments and here is your last chapter review and your new chapter. Also Alert this fanfic will also be moved to ArchiveOfOurOwn.

Previously on Angelo Cielo

….

"Tsunayoshi," Kyoya's voice broke through the soft comfort they were enjoying and Tsuna tensed.

"...Kyoya?"

"I expect a full explanation immediately." Kyoya said. The words I deserve one went unsaid but noticed.

Tsuna winced. Kyoya hated illegal things but he'd been willing to put it behind them as long as Tsuna never did anything to dangerous. Hacking into the school, while annoying was fine. Hacking mafia? Dangerous. Too dangerous for his Herbivore. Tsuna prepared himself to confess one of his darkest secrets."I... Lied. I never stopped and I'm much deeper than before. I'm sorry Kyoya."

.

.

When Reborn saw a window of opportunity, he fucking grabbed it. Sawada Iemitsu was coming back to the Sawada Residence on the twelfth- tomorrow evening. Which meant he was on a plane right now flying across the country. How fantastic, absolutely wonderful! With Iemitsu on a plane there were so many things that man didn't know.

He didn't know that the Varia had just attacked his sons' middle school in an attempt to kill or capture his oldest (really Tsuna anyone who knows you, or you're fucking eyes, knows that was you). No, Iemitsu was not privy to that knowledge. And that made Reborn absolutely giddy on the inside because you know what else Iemitsu was now not privy to? The Status report Reborn had sent to Nono. It made Reborn want to shiver in delight at how well this was working out. Somehow they had skillfully navigated around Sawada Iemitsu who would have put a stop to everything Reborn had worked for.

"So," Reborn drawled with a smile, "Here we are. Now, nothing I say leaves this room, understand?"

Reborn smiled and then dropped the bomb. "Tsuna's in the mafia." He was even prepared for the splutters of disbelief and only smiled against them. "Tsuna and.. Ieyetsu are the descendants of the first boss of the Vongola, the biggest and most influential mafia famiglia anywhere."

"Sawada Tsunayoshi needs people to protect him from people like Sawada Ieyetsu. He needs people loyal to him, willing to lay down their lives to protect him. He needs family. And I hope you are all willing to become his family. His guardians."

.

.

Tsuna remembered a time when he was a child where he had meet Xanxus Vongola long, long, before the boy knew the truth and before the cradle incident.

"Ne, Xanxus-nii, sometimes my Papa can make me mad too. But I know Papa loves me and I shouldn't be so hard on him. So whatever your Papa did to make you angry, you should forgive him because I'm sure he didn't mean it. After all, he is your Papa, right? He raised you and loved you and never, eveeeer gave up on you, right? So I'm sure he doesn't hate you and if you go back and say sorry everything will be okay again, okay?"

Then Tsuna hopped up and hugged Xanxus around the neck. "Tsu-kun is really going to miss you, Xanxus-nii because he knows he promised to be the best little brother in the world but he won't see you for a long, long time…. Demo, demo ne, if Xan-nii can wait for a little while Tsu-kun promises to fulfil his promise, okay?"

.

.

Nono sighed. "Oh, dear Tsu-kun, Iey-kun did this to you?" he mumbled to himself, remembering the adorable five year olds he'd met. "How the times have changed and run away from me."

"This will be much more difficult that I expected."

I pray you survive this, dearest grandson, Nono thought.

If not whole than at least not alone.

.

.

Walking to class, Gokudera found Ieyetsu. Anger burned in his stomach but in his mind, he remembered the plan. Oh God, this sucked. He sped up to catch up with the teen.

"Dia di Shi!" he called as he ran up. Ieyetsu turned around, hiding his hatred under a thin layer of plastic. He smiled pleasantly.

Gokudera caught up to him eagerly. "Hi! I'm Gokudera Hayato from the Tempesta family! Once I heard you were becoming Vongola Decimo I flew right over, Dia di shi! Please give me the honor of being your subordinate!" Gokudera bowed his head in askance, hiding his delinquent expression.

.

.

Tsuna ran off to detention, mandated by Kyoya.

Hana sits next to him.

"You missed school for a week, right? You must be behind. Your mama was worried and asked me to help you out when you got out of the hospital." Hana lied through her teeth. Tsuna shook his head, no he didn't need that at all.

"You do," Hana insisted, "Your mama asked me too." With that she cracked open a book. "Who knows, it might help."

.

.

"Tsuna," Reborn squeaked. Tsuna looked up and noticed Reborn next to a blond haired foreigner. "This is Dino Cavallone, an idiot student of mine who says you did him a favor."

Tsuna tilted his head. He doesn't remember helping out blond haired strangers. He faced the foreigner with Lambo clutched to his front, his arms crossed over the child.

Dino chuckled nervously. "Er, Hi. I'm Dino. I heard from a good friend of mine that you saved his life recently."

Dino laughed. "Well, you heard him! Sawada Tsunayoshi, we are forever in your debt. If you should ever need anything, anything at all, just call this number," Dino handed him a paper, "and consider it done."

Tsuna looked at him incredulously.

"Also," Dino laughed, "It'd be a real honor if I could call you my little bro. Is that alright?"

.

.

It was early in the morning when Sawada Nana woke up. She woke up smiling and humming happily as she went down to cook breakfast for her family when the doorbell rang. Nana shuffled over in her night dress and wondered curiously who could be at the door.

She opened the door and her mouth dropped open in horror. Iemitsu stood at the other end bags in his hands. He dropped them and exclaimed with a wide grin, "Nana-chan!" as he grabbed her around the waist and spun her.

"Iemitsu," she said faintly, "You're home."

.

.

Currently on Angelo Cielo

Thunk.

Thwack.

Thunk.

Thwack!

Thunk.

Thwack!

Thunk.

A breath, deep and centered.

Thunk.

Thwack!

Thunk.

Thwack!

Thunk.

Thwack!

I've got to get my batting average up. Yamamoto thought distractedly. If he didn't get his average up then they'd look at him the way they did again. With those expressions of disappointment and satisfaction of his lack of perfection.

Ieyasu told him, he probably just wasn't trying enough. Though the boy was probably pure evil, he might be right about this. Ieyasu was a star Soccer player, he knew how to be successful. So, so maybe, Yamamoto really wasn't trying hard enough. Maybe he could be better. Ieyetsu certainly thought so.

He gripped his bat tightly, wishing, deliriously wishing, that he could just give this up.

But he loved baseball, he truly did. He had poured his whole heart and soul into it. His dad came to every game. H-his mom, she'd taught him how to throw a ball, he loved this game.

But he hated being on a team. He hated the constant pressure their thoughts but on him, the constant unrelenting anxiety. For once, couldn't he be free? For once-

Thunk.

Crack!

Thunk.

CRACK!

"Takeshi, are you alright out there?"

"...Takeshi?"

The slide of the screen door, his Dad's soft footsteps. A soft gasp.

"Takeshi! Takeshi are you alright?! We've got to get to the hospital! Don't move! I think you broke your arm, I'll call an ambulance, it'll be alright, son, it'll be alright."

Be careful what you wish for.

….

Far away, hiding in a room of undisclosed location, the closest to being the safest on Earth, sat a little boy with a striped scarf and a very large book. Where he was, the sun was just barely cresting the tops of wide brimmed green trees and it was cold and still quite dark.

He blew on his hands, light brown hair falling into his eyes.

With trembling lips and eyes too old and too wise to belong to a child on the cusp of manhood, he took out his very large book. Twelve and with eyes too large and dark, Fuuta De Stella opened the book and instantly everything became weightless.

He closed his eyes wishing, if only for a moment, that this time he would find a place to be safe.

He'd already tried looking for the safest place on earth, the safest people on earth, the best hiding places on earth, he'd tried everything.

But it was time to try again.

Fuuta closed his eyes and ranked.

Somewhat sardonically, sarcastically, hopelessly, he started with,

"Kindest Person on Earth."

….

Nana Sawada remembers a time when she had truly loved Iemitsu Sawada. She'd been young and naive and had worked in a flowershop. Her mom was a policewoman and her dad was an arms dealer and Young Igarashi Nanami was a florist with a beautiful smile and a body that could incapacitate a man in seconds. Sawada Iemitsu had walked into her shop one late April day looking beautifully disheveled and cheerful. He'd been wearing a plain black suit, with the jacket unbuttoned and flapping in the wind and a pair of sunglasses he'd set atop his head. His blond hair was bright and shining in the sun and Young Igarashi Nanami had almost fallen in love with him immediately.

Almost.

But she didn't. Instead, she'd simply smiled slightly at the sight of him and turned back to her arrangement for the Yamamoto wedding.

She hadn't. But he had. Iemitsu Sawada took one look at her and saw a beautiful Calla Lilly amongst a sea of flowers. He'd never seen anything more beautiful and innocent then the girl with the long brown hair and bright eyes, smiling to herself, in a flowershop. For a man steeped in the blood of the Mafia, Nanami Igarashi came to him like his Saving Grace. He found redemption in her smile and peace in her happiness.

Iemitsu suddenly found himself extending his trip to Japan by nearly half a year as he wooed Nanami Igarashi the most beautiful girl in Japan.

So,yes. Nana could say there was a time where she loved Iemitsu with all of her heart and soul. But she could also say a time like that had passed a very long time ago.

Nana had been eighteen and naive when she'd met and married Iemitsu. She was now thirty-four and wise and had no time for men like Iemitsu had turned out to be.

She wished she had the courage to tell him that.

"I-Iemitsu! I'm- I'm so glad you're home!" the words tasted bitter in her mouth. Like lies upon lies upon lies.

Iemitsu looked at her and his eyes were like dark coals and tunnels and everything she had ever hated and feared. He was shadowed by death, by Mafia, by blood and silver and gunpowder. Nana hated it.

As she looked at him, she couldn't see the man she once knew. The idiot with bright blond hair and a booming true, laughter.

Nana thought about herself. About all that she had accomplished, everything she'd learned to defend herself and her child. She thought about the lonely nights in her cold Queen sized bed. She thought about the sparse phone calls and seething looks he sent to her baby. She thought hard about Sawada Iemitsu.

She thought about Reborn and Ieyasu and her boy whose eyes were so bright now. She thought about her boy whose eyes shined like stars and thought about his silent moon who protected him everywhere he went. She thought and thought and in that one second where Iemitsu opened his mouth to boom at her she realized something very important.

Igarashi Nanami was not raised to be a coward.

"Iemitsu we need to have a talk," came out of her mouth and she didn't try to bring them back when he looked at her in shock. Instead, she nodded decisively. It was time. It was time to stop subjecting her son to this thing that entered their home with a key and too many bags for it's one day stay.

She lead him over to the kitchen table and sat down heavily. She didn't touch him. She looked at him and thought.

Iemitsu Sawada had seen a beautiful Calla Lily in a sea of flowers. Beautiful, innocent, and delicate. And maybe, once upon a time Nana had been that flower, had been that innocent naive girl. But now, Nana is thirty four and has evolved into a bouquet of rhododendron and snapdragons. She has become a fierce, protective mother, a dangerous, strong woman and Iemitsu had never noticed.

But now. Now, Nana Sawada is thirty four and an adult. An adult with children to look after who depend on her for safety. And she can not let them down. She can't. Nana Sawada is thirty four and she is a mother god damn it.

She took a deep breath.

And so began a quiet conversation in the dark lull of her kitchen.

A quiet conversation that was years overdue.

….

Bravery is rewarded.

…

Iemitsu Sawada knew he was a coward.

He knew he was a coward by the way his hands shook all the time. Every day. All the time. For five years. Ever since that fateful day where he found out his Tsu-kun was something else, something powerful and raw and merciless.

His hands shook.

But he had to smile. He had to smile and be boisterous. Had to be loud and proud and happy. He tried.

But Tsuna frightened him. Terrified him. He found it was hard to love a child you were afraid of. So he stopped. He stopped loving Tsuna. He gathered it all up and placed it on Ieyasu. Blinded himself with his own love.

He stopped trying to see Tsuna, stopped trying to talk to him because his hands shook, and his voice quaked. He stopped coming home as often.

Slowly, Tsuna disappeared from his mind's eye. Became more of an annoyance than his child. Until he was reminded that he was responsible for that terrifying thing.

He didn't know what he was more afraid of. Tsuna or Tsuna dying. All he knew was that his hands shook.

So when hospitals came calling, he flew to Japan to insure the continued existence of the thing that paraded around as his son.

He hands shook so he kept them in his pockets and never touched the small being huddled up on the hospital bed that looked up at him with hopeful eyes the first few times and then terrified ones after then.

Because Iemitsu found it hard not to tell the thing what it really was. Hard not to snarl and spit vitriol at it. Hard to control himself in the face of such fear. So he didn't. He couldn't. He said things that he'd never say to anyone else to the small being. Things that made it shiver and shake and cry. Things that made Iemitsu feel powerful. Because he could make such a powerful and terrifying thing cry. Because he could make his hands stop shaking as long as that thing cried, as long as it flinched from him, as long as it feared him.

He never touched it but he found he didn't need to. All he had to do was speak and it would flinch like it did when Ieyasu touched it. He knew Ieyasu hit it, beat it, hurt it, but he struggled to find anything wrong with that. He struggled against the vicious satisfaction that settled in him when he saw its skin littered with bruises.

Tsuna wasn't a person it was other. Ieyasu meant more than it did.

(He knows, deep, deep down that this isn't right. That something is wrong. But that voice is so very tiny in the face of his screaming fear. His coward rules over him. Of that he is sure.)

Iemitsu is a coward.

So when his wife sat him down with solemn, pitiless eyes and spoke calmly and carefully of a divorce something deep inside of him loosened, just a bit, with relief.

…

Cowardice is condemned.

….

Tsuna woke up gasping. Nothing felt right. He felt unsettled, skittish in his own skin. He looked around the room. Reborn lied in his hammock, eyes wide but unseeing, settled in sleep. Lambo laid curled up on Tsuna's bed, I-pin, who had crawled in after them sometime in the middle of the night, snuggled into Lambo. Everything was fine. Everything looked fine. But it felt wrong. It felt like something had stepped over the threshold of his house with mal intent.

The Cowardly Lion has returned, his intuition giggled. Ah, but Mother Tigress holds her ground.

Tsuna blinked. His father was back. But…. his mother had intercepted him? Had stalled him or something?

Probably enough for Tsuna to leave.

Tsuna sighed and got up to dress quietly in the dull light of his window, dawn barely peaking.(It's always darkest before the dawn.)

He opened his door with barely a squeak and climbed out silently, unaware of Reborn's now wide and wake eyes following him.

Reborn watched as Tsuna escaped from his own house and frowned. He took could sense the ill feeling Iemitsu gave to this house. Could feel his sickness in a way Reborn never had before.

Iemitsu. Reborn's eyes darkened. He had words for that man. (COULD HE EVEN BE CONSIDERED A MAN?)

Lambo squirmed in his sleep seeking the comforting burn of his brother's flame. I-pin, sensing his distress, whined, brow furling.

Reborn sighed.

But first, the children. Reborn climbed out of his hammock and meandered over to Tsuna's bed, hopping up to sit on the edge of it. He looked at the children and let his flames become something comforting, something alive and warm instead of burning and dark and dead inside.

He watched as they settled, soothed by the heat of Reborn's warm flames that he'd previously held at a distance.

His lips twitched. What was Tsuna turning him into that he was comforting children in the wee hours of dawn?

Reborn laughed, eyes twinkling.

He'd rather not know.

(Probably something amazing.)

…

Compassion is coveted.

…

Tsuna slipped into school two hours early. Everything around him is calm and still, the natural wildlife barely waking. Namimori isn't quite put together yet. The front gate is still in crumbles but Kyoya is nothing if not efficient. He expected that it would be finished in less than a week.

Tsuna passed by the gate and took a moment to just breath. He tried to gather himself for the day ahead. Ieyasu was going to be merciless today. He was going to give Tsuna everything he had in terms of hate and pain and Tsuna would just have to take it. Ieyasu would be filled with rage at not being let back into the house and yesterday Tsuna had only survived because of his quickness, because of Kyoya, because of the attention that was on him.

It wouldn't be like that today.

Tsuna took a deep, shuddering breath and tried to anchor himself.

Bravery is rewarded, Sky his intuition whispered, sounding more elated and alive than Tsuna had ever heard it. He tried to ignore it but it was insistent in a way it had never been before. Bravery is rewarded! Something new, Sky. Something new.

Tsuna shook his head, trying to get the dizzying voice to quiet. It was loud in his head, louder than it'd ever been.

Be brave, Sky.

Tsuna shook his head with a sigh. He looked up at the broken Nami-chu and headed inside, trying to ignore the voice that tried to make something as long dead as his hope flare.

Be bold.

…

The school day started sluggishly. Tsuna waited until the receptionist is in the office to get his new official schedule that took him out of Nezu-sensei's shrewd, hateful stare and headed to homeroom. Reborn had moved their classroom to a different room, since their last one had been ever so big for no particular reason.

His new homeroom was a snug room, smaller than the average classroom enough that it only fit maybe fifteen desks. Tsuna sat all the way in the back where no one would bother him and where he wouldn't bother anyone else. He should be safe here. The school bell gave a shrill ring and suddenly the hallways outside his room were abuzz with chatter, laughter and hard footsteps. Tsuna shrunk in his seat.

Reborn opened the classroom door first. He waddled in, in a red pinstripe suit looking remarkably like the devil (not that Tsuna would ever say) and jumped on his desk to stand confidently at the front of the class as the students filtered in. His eyes narrowed in on Tsuna immediately. Tsuna can physically sense the irritation flowing off of the pint sized hitman as Yamamoto Takeshi walked in and Tsuna is instantly struck by the overall feeling of broken from the boy, emanated not from his cast laid arm but from his eyes. Yamamoto's smile was still as picture perfect as ever, his laugh the same to everyone but Tsuna. Tsuna, worriedly, watched him carefully searching for more cracks or maybe survivors amongst the wreckage.

Following Yamamoto was Kyoko Sasagawa, her brother Ryohei and a disgruntled Mochida. The hitman never took his eyes away from Tsuna and Tsuna could feel the sweat start to dribble down his neck. Next, walked in Hana who spots Tsuna with a laser like focus that Tsuna had thought only Kyoya was capable of. Before he knew it, Hana is plopping all her books down on the desk to the left of him, baring her teeth at Mochida who sat in front of her. Yamamoto meandered over to his right side and drops down into his seat, sprawling out with a forcibly relaxed laugh. Kyoko and her Brother sit two seats ahead of Mochida close to the front row and Tsuna watched as Kyoko gently chides her brother for getting into yet another fight. Ryohei laughed it off with a bashful blush but Tsuna can see a glint of steel in his eyes. Whoever Ryohei beat up, it was important to him.

Tsuna almost thought this was everyone until Gokudera Hayato walked in. With a fearsome glare and no school books to speak of, he made his way to the back of the class, glaring the entire time. He sat ahead of Yamamoto and refused to look at Tsuna. Tsuna smiled sadly but this was for the best, after all. In fact it would probably be the best for everyone if they didn't sit near him like this. They were all clustered in the back of the class, crowding Tsunayoshi in a way that made his heart glow just a little warmer, but also made his stomach drop with dread. If anyone saw this, if anyone walked in, it would look like they were all friends. Tsuna wasn't allowed to have friends, it was against the rules, it got people hurt. Tsuna shrunk down in his seat, Reborn's calculating button eyes on him the entire time.

Finally, the bell rang. Tsuna jumped, not expecting it but Reborn started class like nothing was wrong.

"Saa," he clapped, "For starters, everyone move up two seats. The front row here is empty and I don't want to have to shout to get to the rest of you, understand?" Reborn's eyes glinted in a way that suggested not understanding wasn't an option.

Reluctantly, everyone in class moved up two seats until Kyoko and Ryohei were in the front row and every one else cascaded back from that.

"Good, good. Now onto the first business of homeroom. We have a great opportunity coming up for all students. So, listen closely, this year, next week, this school will be holding its first and only talent show and everyone is expected to perform. I will give you fifteen minutes to think through your performances. To make it more of a challenge I am requiring that this class perform as a group, all of you. Everyone is expected to contribute equally. Good luck, you're going to need it."

With that, Reborn hopped off his desk and exited with a smirk.

…...

It's Mochida who says anything first.

"Well this blows."

"Mochida!" Kyoko chides him, making the boy turn scarlet and then scowl.

"Well it's true, isn't it? A talent show? What the hell! And we're supposed to work together and be what, a circus?"

Yamamoto laughed hollowly. "Well he does have a point there, Kyoko. What are we supposed to all do together and perform?"

"I can extremely do a mock fight!" Ryohei offered.

"I have my kendo sword, I could show off a few moves." Mochida would love to show off in front of Kyoko.

One by one, everyone pitched in various talents they have that could be useful but every one was a talent not suitable for the group. Tsuna stayed quiet, observing and waiting for his part to be picked so he could get on with it and be finished.

Unbeknownst to him, Gokudera eyed him shrewdly, the young Italian remembering the thing that made him love Tsuna in the first place. His singing.

"Alright, alright!" Hana said breaking up the calamity, "That's all well and good but none of those things are things that can be done together. We have to find something we can all do together and contribute equally too."

Everyone was quiet then. No one could come up with something they all good do together and well because Reboyama-sensei would kill them if they lost in his name, of this they were all completely sure of.

Gokudera's eyes suddenly widened in realization. Something they could all do together.

Like, perhaps, a band.

And he knew a perfect lead singer.

"Tsuna can sing."

The room goes deathly quiet. All air has escaped Tsuna as he quickly turned his betrayed stare on Gokudera, who stared back with a calculating wickedness.

Everyone turned their gazes to to slowly hyperventilating teen they had unknowingly surrounded.

Mochida, as always, is the first to break the silence.

He laughed.

Loud, cruel sounding, chuckles.

"T-tsuna? Singing? That mute can't even talk let along sing."

"Mochida." Kyoko's voice is a sharp pin prick.

Mochida immediately stops laughing.

Good, because Hana's has her hackles raised, red in her eyes, she is ready to go on attack for Tsuna like she's some dumb mad dog. Whatever, for Tsuna she would.

The room is silent again.

"Actually…" Yamamoto suddenly mused. "I remember that! When we were younger Tsuna was in a talent show, right? He… sang, right?"

He was having a hard time remembering, a hard time getting passed the haze of depression that had dropped low on his mind.

Kyoko remembers, eyes brightening.

"I remember that!" She turned to Tsuna, eyes slow burning embers of sincerity. "You had a very beautiful singing voice."

Tsuna very slowly, turned a bright, bright crimson, his throat so tight he could barely breath. He kept his head down, hands lying dead in his lap as he struggled to control his hyperventilating.

That Tsuna, who sang in front of others, freely, and without fear, had been buried and dead for many years now.

Gokudera, realizing what he'd done to Tsuna, also opens himself up too.

"I can play the piano. And the violin."

Silence for a moment.

"I can play the drums." Mochida offered up.

"I can play the tamborines!" Kyokoy cheerily offered.

"...I can dance." Hana decided.

Yamamoto laughed. "Great! I can sing back up!"

"I can EXTREMELY play the guitar."

Kyoko clapped excitedly.

"Then it looks like it's settled! We are starting a band!"

Tsuna slowly, very slowly, shook his head. All eyes went to him, went to the boy with shaking hands and fingers and soul. Worriedly, they watched as his white knuckles clutched his desk. Very, very slowly, he got up from his desk and walked out.

He was never singing in front of anyone again.

….

Tsuna went to the roof, heart beating too fast and his intuition howling at him.

So cowardly, Sky! So weak, so tiny! It snarled at him.

When will you be brave, Sky? When will you show Skylark that he has not wasted his time caring for you?

Moresly, Tsuna shook his head. I can't, he cried out.

Yes. You. Can! I have know you all your life, Sky, I know you are capable of amazing things if only you would wake up and let the world turn for you. Let fate spin her thread in your favor!

Tsuna's face scrunched up in suppressed tears.

You have lived your life in pain, Sky. You know it! You know there is nothing to fear from it. But… but wasting away, Sky, you know it terrifies you. To live your whole life and never become anything.

For once, Sky, let yourself fly.

Tsuna doesn't know if he can't. But his blood, and his skin, and everything in him, screamed at him to try, to reach out and throw himself off something high and hope he flies.

His lips quivered, his blood hummed a symphony.

Try, Sky.

Okay.

Okay.

His blood erupted in flames.

….

Tsuna returned to his classroom and it was quiet as he stood by the door, everyone's eyes on him. He licked his lips and didn't look up, nervousness in everything he did. He took a deep breath and tried to clear his throat but it got stuck in his windpipe and he panicked because he couldn't do this, he couldn't do this-

Bravery is rewarded, Sky. his intuition whispered, feeling more like a hand on his shoulder than a voice in his head.

He took a deep breath, stomach knotted in anxiety and it pushed him.

Be Brave, Sky.

He could do this, he could do this, he could do this, he could do this, he could do this, he could do this.

With fingers bone white on the door frame, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes they were tinted gold and his face was hard and determined.

Be Bold.

"Okay." he whispered.

Then he cleared his throat and lifted his head and said it again.

"Okay."

And his whole body erupted in flames and jubilations as his classmates stared at him in shock and surprise.

With trembling steps, he entered the classroom and closed the door behind him.

He gave them a tentative smile and did it again.

"I-I have j-j-just the song in m-mind."

…..

Frustrated tears in his eyes, Fuuta tried again. This was a ranking that he'd already tried but he couldn't help but try again.

"Bravest Person on Earth."

With a start, Fuuta realized it had changed! Fuuta had never seen a ranking change like this.

"Sawada Tsunayoshi." He whispered to himself. A hint of an idea was coming to him. It was so terribly absurd though, so absolutely impossible.

"Kindest Person on Earth." he ranked again.

Again, the name Sawada Tsunayoshi popped up again, shining at the top of his list.

Fuuta gave a delighted laugh and did it again.

"Home of Sawada Tsunayoshi."

Namimori, Japan.

"Safest place on Earth."

Namimori, Japan shone proudly at number one where it had not previously been.

With a delighted laugh and tears coming out of his eyes, Fuuta threw himself back and laughed until he cried.

"I found you," he whispered. "Home."

…

Ieyetsu couldn't find his dumb fucking brother. He'd prowled the school in the morning, searching for that piece of shit that thought he could disobey him. His mother had taken that useless waste of space's side and she would pay for it dearly.

But first, his brother.

Lunch time rolled around and he still couldn't find his brother, but he did find Yamamoto Takeshi.

Ieyetsu let a dark grin cross his face.

If he couldn't break his brother's bones then maybe he could break someone else's spirit.

…

Yamamoto was feeling something close to happiness. Something close, to being fulfilled even without baseball.

Tsuna had spoken! To him! Like he was worthy!

It took the breath out of Yamamoto. He knew how much that took out of Tsuna, how much bravery, how much trust. And Tsuna had gifted it to him. Had gifted his trust and friendship.

Though his arm made his thoughts dark, thoughts of Tsuna made it easily bearable, easily liftable.

He could survive like this. Even better, perhaps, with some time, he could thrive.

"Yamamoto!" He turned realizing his lost thoughts had lead him to wandering.

Ieyetsu was coming towards him, waving, eyes filled with fake concern.

"Hey, man, what happened to your arm?"

Yamamoto's laugh was strained, he knew even before it came out of his throat. A weakness Ieyetsu would capitalize on. "Ma, ma! Nothing serious, just got into a little confrontation with a pitching machine! No worries, I'll be all healed up soon!"

"Good," Ieyetsu said, forcing Yamamoto to meet his dark eyes. "I would hate for you to be a burden to your team."

Yamamoto's heart stuttered in his chest.

"I mean," Ieyetsu continued, "Not to offend or anything! But… everyone knows how your batting average has been going down. The baseball guys were talking about it, it's been putting a lot of strain on them."

Everyone knows? Yamamoto thought dazedly.

"They've been talking about whether or not to kick you off the team. And I guess, with this injury, it's a sure thing now."

Yamamoto's heart dropped.

I… won't be able to play baseball?

His eyes grew duller.

"Ah! Sorry Yamamoto!" Ieyetsu slapped him on the shoulder. "Didn't mean to dump all that on you! I'm sure it'll all be fine! You just worry about healing up, okay?"

Yamamoto swallowed dryly. "Ah… yeah."

"Great! I'll see you later!"

Everything was fuzzy, nothing was in focus, nothing clear, nothing good. Yamamoto felt like a film had been dropped over his eyes, a weight pressing down on him. His chest felt like a carved out and empty place with nothing in it.

I… won't be able to play baseball?

Then what was he even living for?

…

Suddenly, at lunchtime, Tsuna's intuition screamed in agony. Tsuna who had been with Kyoya (who was oddly irritable. Committee members had been dropping like flies and Kyoya's inability to protect them from that hidden threat was destroying him from the inside.)

No! No Rain no! Stop, stop, stop, stop! Don't let him do this to you!

What's wrong? Tsuna thought panicked.

His intuition moaned in pain. The Dark One, that coward,his intuition spat. Has dealt a blow to the Rain. He needs you Tsuna! He needs you.

Who needs me? Tsuna asked.

His intuition moaned and quivered like the Rain's pain was dealing it pain.

He needs you.

"I-I have to go," Tsuna whispered to Kyoya, clutching his head. Tsuna stumbling out of the Reception room and into a passing by Gokudera. He shook him off and stumbled to where his intuition was leading him, wincing in pain. Unbidden, heart thumping in fear, his mind reminds him of Nagi.

…

Nagi Sarun transferred into Sawada Tsunayoshi's class on July 18th. She'd had a purple butterfly clip holding her bangs and long hair fanning down her shoulders. Clad, in a skirt, a white shirt, and a light, dark blue cardigan she had shyly met his eyes.

Tsuna remembers, because this is the day he decided to ruin her life.

It wasn't on purpose but it might as well have been, because that one action of his had sealed her fate, landed her in the hospital in critical condition and effectively cowed him back into his rightful position fearing Ieyetsu.

He remembers because he thought that this one would be different, that maybe he could have this one friend.

He remembers because, later, as he's crying over photos of Nagi and him at the Beach, he will repeat to himself, burn into his brain, that he can never, never be happy. Never, never have a friend.

He remembers.

He remembers how this one action sealed her fate. He remembers because he will never, never allow himself to forget. He remembers because this is the first life he ruins.

Tsuna smiled at her,

and that was the start and finish of Nagi Sarun's life. So abruptly, so suddenly, so unexpectedly, Tsuna killed her.

…

Sometimes Kyoya tried to convince Tsuna it wasn't his fault. Tried to scream it into his soul, into his head that no one kills someone with a smile.

But when Ieyasu is your brother. When Ieyasu is the monster in the night, the thing that makes your heart go cold. When Ieyasu is the one watching your every step you can.

You can.

It's- it's not fair but Tsuna's right. It's not right but Tsuna is right. That one moment he locked eyes with Nagi Sarun and smiled Ieyasu set out to kill her and he did, he fucking did.

And Tsuna broke into thousands of tiny little pieces and Kyoya has never been able to put him back together again. All he's ever been able to do was tape together one side. Painstakingly, slowly, Kyoya taped Tsuna together. But for every piece he held twice as many slipped through his grasp.

And Kyoya- he just- he just can't. He doesn't know what he'll do if Nagi Sarun ever wakes up. He's barely holding Tsuna together which he can't do anymore.. And if, if, Nagi Sarun wakes up and does hate Tsuna, does blame him-

He just, he just can't imagine a world like that.

A world without Tsuna because Nagi Sarun kills him.

He can't.

He won't.

So yes, somewhere deep in his twisted mind, he hopes he prays Nagi Sarun dies because if she did then maybe Tsuna would finally be released from all the guilt and pain he held inside for her. Maybe the shattered pieces could finally start to mend together.

But, Kyoya doesn't get his hopes up.

He himself, is shattering Tsuna, ripping the tape apart, stomping on the shatters.

If both he and Nagi leave, what would become of Tsuna?

He doesn't want to find out.

(God please, don't let him find out.)

….

Tsuna won't let Rain end up like Nagi, never again.

…..

"Yamamoto's going to jump off the roof!"

Tsuna's breath caught and a distressed whine came from his throat surprising the heck out of Gokudera who had been dogging his every step. Gokudera was thankful that the noise the crowd was making covered it up.

God help them if it didn't. The classroom was one thing, but out here, where Ieyetsu could hear, while Tsuna was still weak? It make Gokudera shudder.

And before Gokudera could blink Tsuna was running, out right sprinting through the crowd, bobbing and weaving desperately through the throng trying to get to the roof. He sprung up the stairs taking them three or four at a time, the sheer panic he felt was drowning out everything. It was his twin who did this, his god damn twin. Done this to his Rain, his, had hurt one of Tsuna's.

No more.

And that was when he shoved open the roof door, revealing another throng of students he honestly didn't have time to shove out the way not when he saw Yamamoto, balanced precariously on the roof edge, arms almost casually draped over the fence as he tried to keep his breathing steady.

Suddenly, Tsuna did not care what Ieyetsu would do to him if he did what he wanted. He didn't. There was so much more at stake than his own life now. Yamamoto's beautiful future was about to be shattered and Tsuna just couldn't allow that.

All of a sudden, a tingling went up his spine and it was like Tsuna breathed live fire. It didn't hurt, but it empowered him. He could see now, suddenly, everything, his muscles were tensed and he suddenly knew what to do.

He sprang onto the ladder leading to the rise on the roof like a monkey, acrobatically climbing up it and flipping himself onto his feet. From there he leaped down in front of the crowd, hidden by the building rise. And then he clamored over the fence, palms a little sweaty. Still hidden by the rise, he did what he did best and only hoped that the crowd would be to stunned to move.

He reached a hand deep inside of himself, to all those nights alone on the roof, crying, singing himself songs just so he could get through. He tried to reach down there and pull something, anything, up.

He wanted to reach Yamamoto, tell him he understood, yet at the same time beg him to stand up.

And then he found it.

Hall of Fame, The Script

"Yeah, you can be the greatest

You can be the best

You can be the King Kong banging on your chest"

It was like the people had frozen, listening to his voice. He wanted to back out, stay in the dark, leave. But then he found Yamamoto's face, streaked gently with tears, eyes desperately searching him out. So he swallowed and kept on.

"You could beat the world

You could beat the war

You could talk to God, go banging on his door

You can throw your hands up

You can beat the clock (yeah)

You can move a mountain

You can break rocks

You can be a master

Don't wait for luck

Dedicate yourself and you gon' find yourself"

Yamamoto's eyes found him and Tsuna locked on, desperately shoving Yamamoto's future into his face. Trying to show "I believe in you." This is what Tsuna had imagined for Yamamoto and he desperately hoped that Yamamoto would make it happened. So he strengthened his voice, hardened himself, and nearly screamed out his feeling.

Standing in the hall of fame (yeah)

And the world's gonna know your name (yeah)

'Cause you burn with the brightest flame (yeah)

And the world's gonna know your name (yeah)

And you'll be on the walls of the hall of fame

You can go the distance

You can run the mile

You can walk straight through hell with a smile

You could be the hero

You could get the gold

Breaking all the records they thought never could be broke

Yeah, do it for your people

Do it for your pride

How you ever gonna know if you never even try?

Do it for your country

Do it for your name

'Cause there's gonna be a day...

When you're standing in the hall of fame (yeah)

And the world's gonna know your name (yeah)

'Cause you burn with the brightest flame (yeah)

And the world's gonna know your name (yeah)

And you'll be on the walls of the hall of fame

And he begged again.

Be a champion, be a champion, be a champion, be a champion

On the walls of the hall of fame

Be students

Be teachers

Be politicians

Be preachers

(Yeah)

Be believers

Be leaders

Be astronauts

Be champions

Be truth seekers

Be students

Be teachers

Be politicians

Be preachers

Be believers

Be leaders

Be astronauts

Be champions

Standing in the hall of fame (yeah, yeah, yeah)

And the world's gonna know your name (yeah, yeah, yeah)

'Cause you burn with the brightest flame (yeah, yeah, yeah)

And the world's gonna know your name (yeah, yeah, yeah)

And you'll be on the walls of the hall of fame

(You can be a champion)

You could be the greatest

(You can be a champion)

You can be the best

(You can be a champion)

You can be the King Kong banging on your chest

(You can be a champion)

You could beat the world

(You can be a champion)

You could beat the war

(You can be a champion)

You could talk to God, go banging on his door

(You can be a champion)

You can throw your hands up

(You can be a champion)

You can beat the clock(yeah)

(You can be a champion)

You can move a mountain

(You can be a champion)

You can break rocks

(You can be a champion)

You can be a master

(You can be a champion)

Don't wait for luck

(You can be a champion)

Dedicate yourself and you gonna find yourself

(You can be a champion)

Tsuna was shaky with tears as he finished gasping and he could see Yamamoto was much the same but he wasn't done. With that unearthly flame in his soul he risked his everything and stepped out of the shadows. Trembling he reached the fence and climbed over, acrobatically making his way to Yamamoto. He held the eye contact the whole time, terrified if he looked away Yamamoto would drop out of the sky. Edging his way over, he grasped Yamamoto's hand, entwined their fingers and looked him deep in his tear filled eyes. And this one, this one was just for him.

You are loved, Josh Groban

Don't give up

It's just the weight of the world

When your heart's heavy

I...I will lift it for you

Don't give up

Because you want to be heard

If silence keeps you

I...I will break it for you

Everybody wants to be understood

Well I can hear you

Everybody wants to be loved

He slipped Yamamoto's phone away from him and flipped it open and showed him the background as he sung his next words. The background of Yamamoto, his mom, and his dad.

Don't give up

Because you are loved

Don't give up

It's just the hurt that you hide

When you're lost inside

I...I will be there to find you

Don't give up

Because you want to burn bright

If darkness blinds you

I...I will shine to guide you

Everybody wants to be understood

Well I can hear you

Everybody wants to be loved

Don't give up

Because you are loved

You are loved

Don't give up

It's just the weight of the world

Don't give up

Everyone needs to be heard

You are loved

Tsuna panted lightly as he finished, the heat ebbing away. Quietly, he said into Yamamoto's ear, "I-I think you are the most amazing person I have ever met. You are always smiling, even when I know you don't want to, you just try to chase away the darkness with that smile." He caressed Yamamoto's cast with a forlorn look, "I-it's a broken arm. Broken bones heal in time and come back stronger. B-but Takeshi, look down."

…..

And he did and his breath caught and he almost choked on air. It all seemed so high now, the concrete looked unforgiving, and the wind was brutal, bashing against them. And yet here, standing beside him, on the other side of the fence, was Sawada Tsunayoshi who'd sang him two songs when he wasn't even supposed to be able to speak, this, this was more than trust or bravery. More than Tsuna had ever given. This was suicide and determination and will and resolve. And Tsuna was spending it all on him holding his hand and telling him he was amazing. Thin little Tsunayoshi with bruises all up his arms and neck that looked like a gentle breeze could knock him over. Bearing the weather and almost certain death with a single slip. For him.

"Now look at me." The brunet commanded softly.

He did, and in front of Tsuna's face was his phone with a picture of his mom and his pop, and him.

"He's only got you left Takeshi. It will kill him." Tsuna's face was deadly serious. "Baseball is precious to you, but it is a team sport Yamamoto. It is not all on you nor should it have to be. This right here is your battle field, against yourself. Tell me Takeshi, will you lose? Because down, is where you'll go."

And Yamamoto found he didn't want to lose. He didn't. Standing in front of him as a precious rare thing, that had almost sent him into shock with it's awe. A friend. A true friend was standing in front of him. And his Pop. How could he even think about leaving his Pop alone in a house that already had one extra bedroom? How could he even think about making it two?

"No." he whispered.

Tsuna squeezed his hand and smiled a blinding smile. "Then, come home."

…..

No one in Namimori talks about the day Sawada Tsunayoshi had sprang onto the fence of Namimori-chu's roof and had talked down what was sure to be a suicide. No one talks about it because Sawada Tsunayoshi was not supposed to be able to talk let alone sing, at all. No one talks about it because it is a thing to keep to yourself. The absolute bravery from a boy they had always opposed to a boy who was never his friend.

Nobody talks about it because they are all so, so ashamed, to have treated their sky that way.

So, so ashamed.

…..

Tsuna is trembling. Yamamoto's hand is still clutched in his as he drags him to the Reception room and Tsuna is trembling. He came so, so close to losing another because of Ieyetsu. He came so, so close to having another Nagi. Another friend who Ieyetsu destroyed into absolute pieces.

He never wanted that again, he never wanted Ieyetsu to destroy what was his again. They were his friends, his loved ones, his family, he would protect them with everything he had, everything he was made of. All the fire and blood rushing through his veins would go into that, would go into their happiness and safety.

Would go into creating a sky they could all look upon and smile.

…

The sky is twinkling twilight when Tsuna goes home. He walked Yamamoto home, the boy trembling and seemingly unable to stop laughing something manic and free. He could sense no presence of his father but his brother's dark aura hung over the house like a shadow. He was back, that much was clear. Tsuna clenched his fists, staring up at his house, and thinking about Yamamoto.

About Yamamoto, and Nagi and Gokudera and I-pin and Lambo and Kyoya and everyone his intuition said was yet to come.

Tsuna made the decision then to stop being weak to stop letting Ieyetsu hurt him like this! He was done with being Dame-Tsuna with being small, he hated being small, how small Ieyetsu made him feel, how small the love he felt for Ieyetsu made him feel.

It was time for Tsuna to be more. Time for him to stop being so afraid, so tiny, so insignificant. Chest heaving, he does the one thing he hasn't let Ieyetsu hear in years. The one thing that proves that the time where Ieyetsu had anything over him is over.

Chest heaving, Tsuna sings.

….

"Like a small boat

On the ocean…..."

…

Reborn smirked, eyes glowing a dark orange as a response to the intense amount of flames his sky was expending. His skin vibrated with the need to respond, to pledge himself.

Lambo and I-pin, little eyes blown wide, turned to Reborn, breathlessly.

"Is that Tsuna-nii?"

Reborn smirked, eyes soft.

"Yeah," he said softly, "That's Tsuna."

The every sky in Namimori vibrated with suppressed strength. And as Tsuna inhaled, Reborn let go and the sky lit up with colors.

The Sawada House lit up electric green, storm red, and dark setting sun gold.

….

"Sending big waves

Into motion

Like how a single word

Can make a heart open"

Hunched over this month's bills, Nana Sawada shoots up at the sound of her son's voice. Here? In the house? Tsuna was singing where everyone could hear and he sounded so different. His voice carried a strength she had never heard in it.

"I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion." Nana whispered along. She looked down at the bills in her lap and her face hardened. If she couldn't find a way she would make one. She was Nana Sawada and that was her son being brave and if anything, she could do the same for him. Strength renewed, she continued to hum along to Tsuna's song.

…..

"And all those things I didn't say

Wrecking balls inside my brain

I will scream them loud tonight

Can you hear my voice this time?"

Tsuna screams his resolve into the night. This time! This time he would be different! This time he would be more! Tsuna did away with his fear. He hoped Ieyetsu could hear him. He hoped his brother understood what his hatred had brought on. Tsuna was becoming something new, something beautiful.

With eyes glowing gold, Tsuna told the world about his fight song.

….

Drifting across town, is a wave of change. Everyone, everyone, is singularly compelled to sing. They can feel something different in the air. Something beautiful, something new and different and never seen before. It feels like wings pressed into everyone of their back, like all of a sudden the narrow view of the world has expanded to thrice its size.

…..

"This is my fight song!

Take back my life song!

Prove I'm alright song!

My power's turned on

Starting right now I'll be strong

I'll play my fight song

And I don't really care if nobody else believes

'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me"

…

Yamamoto woke up to a soft voice drifting into his window.

"Losing friends and I'm chasing sleep

Everybody's worried about me

In too deep

Say I'm in too deep

And it's been two years

I miss my home"

Yamamoto's eyes blew wide open, burning blue as he went to his window. Listening, he closed his eyes and the Yamamoto house lit up blue.

"But there's a fire burning in my bones

Still believe

Yeah, I still believe"

…..

Gokudera from his small apartment across town listened as Sawada Tsunayoshi raked his proclamation into the very earth of Namimori, soaking the land in his strength, in his sky.

And all those things I didn't say

Wrecking balls inside my brain

I will scream them loud tonight

Can you hear my voice this time?

Gokudera closed his eyes with a smile, feeling his skin hum as his apartment lit up red, him responding to his sky.

Yes I can hear you.

…...

"This is my fight song!"

The Sasagawa house lit up yellow.

"Take back my life song!"

The Mochida household lit up blue.

"Prove I'm alright song!"

Hana's house lit up misty purple.

"My power's turned on!

Starting right now I'll be strong!"

One by one, every house in Namimori lit up. Even though most of their owners lay slumbering in their beds, subconsciously, they responded to their lands sky.

"I'll play my fight song!

And I don't really care if nobody else believes!

'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me!"

"A lot of fight left in me"

…..

Kyoya stood by his window, watching Namimori light up, feeling the humming in his skin. With long white fingers clutching his window sill, Kyoya sang along with his silly little carnivore who was just now realizing his strength,

"Like a small boat, on the ocean. Sending big waves, into motion," Kyoya sang along, feeling his heart connect with his carnivore, with his Tsunayoshi.

"Like how a single word

Can make a heart open

I might only have one match" Kyoya's eyes glowed bright purple as he whispered along.

"But I can make an explosion."

The Hibari house lit up, the brightest of all, a rich royal purple, snaking into the sky and waiting for a chance to intertwine with its sky.

…

Tsuna poured everything he had into this song, this one song. He poured all his hurt, his anger, his pain, his hope, his care, his love, everything. He poured everything he had into living to fight again. Into lighting that one wet match he had that he never thought would flair. He put it all into proving Ieyetsu wrong, into strength for his mother, hope for all of his friends. He put his whole heart into opening up the sky for the whole on Namimori.

This is my fight song!

Take back my life song!

Prove I'm alright song!

My power's turned on!

Starting right now I'll be strong!

I'll play my fight song!

And I don't really care if nobody else believes!

'Cause I've still got a lot of fight left in me!

No I've still got a lot of fight left in me!

Softly panting, eyes glowing gold. Tsuna let his lips tilt up and delighted laughter escaped him.

With a rakish grin, he turned to face his house, peering up into Ieyetsu windows where the boy himself stood, rage tearing up his features.

Heart filled with exultation, grinning, Tsuna softly said,

"Come get me."