A/N:

Editing is so tiring.....but fun. But also so tiring... I do think I've improved in my english so I pretty happy about how this story is slowly building. Not sure how you guys think about it though. I did change a few things here and there but the main story is still the same. I hope you enjoy this.

~Purplepulu

<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

It was a normal day like any other. Except for the fact that nothing in Tsuna's life right now was anything but normal.

He had just escaped another torture attempt from Reborn and rushed downstairs to greet his mom.

"Morning Kaa-san!"

"Morning Tsu-kun. I heard from Reborn-san that you have an important game today. So Kaa-san prepared something special for you today!" Kaa-san beamed and danced into the kitchen.

Damn it Reborn. Why did he have to tell Kaa-san about it! Seeing how happy she is now that I'm finally participating in something, I can't disappoint her now.

Tsuna frowned. He quietly ate the breakfast his mother prepared and went on his way to school. Reborn was being strangely quiet throughout the journey though Tsuna was sure the little devil was plotting something again in his mind. Most likely the volleyball game later on.

<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

The gym was packed full of students all here to support their favorite players and screaming out their support for them. Strangely enough, there were some students here cheering for Tsuna as well after his victory match with Mochida. Tsuna didn't know what to feel about that.

Even now as he stood in position in his gym uniform, he was still a bit stun as to why he's standing here right now.

What am I doing? He groaned inwardly.

"Yo Tsuna! We'll be counting on you today!" Yamamoto smacked him on the back, causing him to stumble forward.

"Yeah...I'll try my best...." He mumbled while rubbing his sore back.

The match started and everyone put on their game face. Well...except for Tsuna who stood there with a confused look as he had never once in his whole life—including previous ones—played volleyball before.

What am I suppose to do? Smack the ball? To where? How do I even score?

He didn't have any more time to pounder about it when a shout brought him back to attention.

"Tsuna!" Yamamoto called out but it was too late. The ball came flying and hit him right in his abdomen. Tsuna choked on a cough as his eyes watered in pain and he gripped his poor sore stomach.

"Are you alright Tsuna?" Yamamoto ran towards where he had fallen and his eyes showed concern. The rest of his team just looked annoyed with him.

"C'mon Tsuna! Stop playing around and take this match seriously.. We're trying to win here." One member grumbled.

"Sorry." Tsuna mumbled and got up. He really didn't want to be here and couldn't risk to stand out any more than he already had. 'Dame-Tsuna' can't win the volleyball match if he wants to remain a dame.

Tsuna returned to his position and the match restarted. Immediately, Tsuna's attention was alerted elsewhere as the hair on the back of his neck prickled. Someone, somewhere was watching him and it definitely wasn't the friendly kind. It was filled with disdain and anger. Though the anger felt like it wasn't really directed at him but rather someone else.

He tried to ignore that feeling and focus on the match before him but it was constantly nagging at the back of his mind. At the corner of his eye, he saw the ball coming towards him and quickly did a half-hearted jump before hitting the ball back to the opponent though the others could probably tell that Tsuna's mind wasn't in the game.

The referee blew the whistle, signifying the end of the first round. There will be a 5 minute break before the next round begins. Tsuna's team was losing by a small margin which Tsuna thinks it was a miracle in itself because their team really sucks.

As they rested, Tsuna could hear his teammates badmouthing him again and had reverted to calling him 'Dame-Tsuna' again. Not that he really cared.

"Don't mind them Tsuna. I know that in the end, you'll pull through for the team." Yamamoto smiled encouragingly to him and Tsuna really appreciate him for doing that.

The match started again but they were still losing and worse was, Tsuna was being blamed for it. Though, not completely his fault, Tsuna does feel a little bad for his lack of participation compared to his other teammates. Seeing them giving their all while he stayed indifferent about the whole match makes it seem like he was mocking the hard work they put in. A tiny bit of him felt a little guilty. After all, they were counting on Tsuna at the start but he had only failed to meet their expectations.

Maybe I should put some effort to this.

He thought as another point was scored by the opposing team.

The match started again and the ball was thrown in the air as both teams scrambled for it. After a series of exchange, the ball came flying straight at Tsuna. Tsuna got prepared for the jump, bending his knees and eyeing the ball before noticing a glint of light on the second floor, the same place as he saw Reborn yesterday.

Reborn had his gun out, the rim of the gun aimed towards him. With a smirk on his face, he swiftly fired 2 rapid shots at his legs.

Both shots hit their marks and Tsuna panicked when he felt a weird tingly sensation spread over his legs. He waited for the burst of clothes and the flames to ignite but for a moment, nothing happened and he frowned in confusion.

Strange. Nothing's happening...'

"Tsuna! The ball!"

He quickly looked up to see the ball heading straight for him and leaped up to hit it but what happened next was something he never expected to happen.

One moment his feet was on the ground and the next he found himself several feet high up in the air. He wanted to yell in shock but what came out was a pained whimper when the ball he was supposed to block, ended up hitting him right in the pelvis. He landed in a heap and quickly curled up to clutch at his most precious organ in agony.

He had blocked the ball all right, but not in the way most sane people would do it.

The pain was indescribable. Tsuna felt tears leaking out from his and he had to blink several times to hold it in.

The audience had gone quiet, probably in awe at how high he could jump and some not believing what they just saw.

"He's willing to sacrifice his manliness in order to win! That's extremely manly SAWADA!!" Ryohei suddenly yelled at the top of his lungs.

The audience snapped out of their daze after Ryohei's outburst and began cheering for him. Even his teammates slapped him on the back for finally taking this seriously.

"I know you can do it Tsuna! You're awesome!" Yamamoto laughed and though Tsuna knew that he was just being friendly, it still annoyed him to hear how fake everything about this raven-head was. However, he brushed it aside for now and thanked him for his words.

I'm definitely not doing it again though...

He thought with a grimace at the thought of recreating that scene again and shivered.

Damn Reborn and his weird bullets. I'm sure he's laughing his ass off right now....

He thought that would be the end of it. He thought Reborn would already have his fun of making a fool out of him. However, the same thing happened again, and again.....and again.

Yet, each time it happened, the crowd cheered excitedly for him for blocking the shots and each time Tsuna felt a bit of his insides die.

Whatever Reborn shot at him, it had made his jumps higher; like a spring. He couldn't control his jumps and ended up overshooting the ball in the air, which happened to coincidentally collide with his precious organ.

It was like the world was out to get him and everyone just wants to see him in pain for their own amusement. One in particular was most likely laughing his head off right now, as though Tsuna was his toy to play with.

Another point was scored by Tsuna's team and the referee blew the whistle, signaling the end of the march and the end of the game.

Tsuna blew out a long, relief breath at this.

It's over......It's finally over.

One look at the scoreboard shows that their team won the game and their were cheers all around. They had actually won the game thanks to one boy's sacrifice.

But Tsuna couldn't be bothered with any of that.

His bottom was sore and his legs felt like jelly. How long has it been since he exert himself like that?

Still, when he turned to look at his excited teammates who were busy celebrating, he found that the pain wasn't all that unpleasant at all. Sure, he didn't want to ever go through that again. But seeing the smiles on his teammates faces and being the one that had made it possible for that to happen, made him think that it was all worth it after all.

And it has been a long while since he had a thought like that.

<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>

"Class, we have a new transfer student from Italy joining us today. Gokudera Hayato." The teacher announced.

Transfer student? Who would want to transfer here? And all the way from Italy?

Tsuna turned his attention to the front of the class and noticed a teenager with silver hair, mean-looking eyes and an angry frown marred  on his face.

All the girls in class started squealing at how hot the new student was and how they want him to be their boyfriend. Tsuna rolled his eyes and scoffed in his mind.

Keep dreaming girls.

Seeing how the transfer student was acting, Tsuna was sure he wasn't the sociable type. Though Tsuna tried to ignore it, he could feel the transfer student's penetrating glare directed right at him ever since he came in.

"Your seat will be— Gokudera-kun?"

Gokudera ignored the teacher's call and marched right towards Tsuna, his attention fully on him. Tsuna had in turn did the same and was staring right at him as he came closer.

Tsuna thought he was going to say something threatening to him like how most bullies did but instead Gokudera just gave a hard kick at his desk and a death glare before making his way to the back of the class to sit on the empty seat.

What's his problem?

Tsuna had never met Gokudera before or even look at him differently since he stepped into class and yet he was already pissed off with him.

"Heh. Dame-Tsuna even managed to piss off the transfer student."

"What a good-for-nothing...."

The other students in class started gossiping about his relationship with the transfer student after witnessing the scene but Tsuna just sighed and ignored it as usual. Though, it was hard to focus on anything due to this nagging feeling at the back of his head, annoying him.

Lessons went on as usual but Tsuna wasn't daydreaming like he always does because he was aware of someone glaring at him throughout the whole lesson. He knew who it was of course but didn't understand the reason why he was being glared at.

Just what in the world did I do to earn his ire?

He sighed and tried unsuccessfully to ignore that uncomfortable gaze at his back.

The lunch bell rang and Tsuna quickly scurried out of the classroom with his lunch in hand. He was in such a hurry to escape that he carelessly ran right into a small group of bullies in the hallway.

"Ouch! Watch where you're going Dame-Tsuna!" One bully shouted and shoved him in the chest, making him stumble and fall onto his butt.

The rest of them laughed at this pathetic sight and began to mocked him, pointing fingers and calling him names. The nearby students did nothing to stop them and some even proceeded to join in the 'fun'.

Tsuna's eyes burned with anger but hid it behind his hair as he held his head low and gritted his teeth to restrained himself from acting out. Best to have them have their fill of mocking him till they tire. Years of experience has taught him that the more you try to fight back, it gives them more reason to come at you for payback. Tsuna found that it's best to bear with it till it's over as cowardly as that sounds.

After they're gone, he stood shakily and hurried his way to the roof. On his way, he happened to pass by the transfer student, who seemed to had seen everything that went on.

He gave Tsuna a glower and scoffed.

"Pathetic." Gokudera spat. "I've never seen a wuss like you. You don't deserve to be the Decimo." He growled.

Decimo? Is he part of the mafia too?

Instead of being put down by his venomous words, he couldn't help but wonder what the transfer student's relationship to the mafia was and his reason for transferring here.

But lunch time was almost over and he tried to walk pass him only to be blocked by him.

"I won't acknowledge it! If a weakling like you becomes the Decimo, the Vongola is finished!"

Tsuna looked up at him sharply with surprise on his face.

So, he IS part of the mafia. Did Reborn send him?

Despite all the questions in his head, he decided he really doesn't want have any part in Reborn's nonsensical mafia affairs so Tsuna swiftly sidestepped around him with ease and hurried away as fast as he could but not fast enough. Gokudera seemed shocked for a moment before quickly recovering and blocking his way once more.

"Fight me for the Decimo seat you coward!" He yelled and took out some sticks from his pockets.

Tsuna didn't think much about it as first, only that things were about to get ugly as the transfer student was out looking for a fight. But another look at those sticks made him take a step back because he realized that it was actually dynamite sticks Gokudera was holding.

Crap! Who the hell brings dynamites to school?!

Tsuna braced himself to either run or charge depending on the situation when suddenly a gunshot resounded in the air, cutting through the tension between them.

"You came earlier than I expected. Gokudera Hayato." Reborn said.

So Reborn does know him. Figures....

"You aren't kidding about me being a candidate if I kill Sawada right?"

What! Did he say kill?!

"Yeah. That's right."

Tsuna whirled his head to glare at the hitman who has been ignoring him since he appeared, addressing to only Gokudera. That said, he ignored Tsuna's glare too.

Tsuna decided he's not going to stay here and listen to any of this anymore and turned his back on the two. But alas, Reborn was determined not to let him go just yet.

Tsuna found his path blocked by Gokudera, this time holding 5 lit dynamites in each hand and a few more in his mouth.

If the situation for Tsuna wasn't dire, he would have laughed at this sight but right now seeing as his life was in danger, he prefer to not piss the bomber off.

"It's said that Gokudera Hayato is known for using dynamites hidden on his body, his other name is called 'Smoking Bomb Hayato'." Reborn explained, not that Tsuna needed any explanation for something as absurd as this.

Gokudera proceeded to throw dynamites at Tsuna who quickly dodged to the side to avoid them. The dynamites landed and upon impact, destroyed the ground where Tsuna was just standing.

Crap! He's seriously trying to kill me!

Now this really shows that the silver-head was out for blood. Tsuna might be able to write it off as just another one of the infant's crazy schemes to make his life miserable but this was a whole new other level.

This was someone seriously out to kill him and based on the look in the bomber's eye, he wasn't going to back down until one of them was dead. There was just so much determination, so much anger and so much.......desperation?

Tsuna didn't have the luxury to further pounder this when another dynamite flew his way and his dodged yet again.

He briefly considered running away like usual but he saw that his other way was blocked by Reborn who smirked at Tsuna as if daring him to try get past him.

"DIE!" The hot-head threw more dynamites at Tsuna and he swiftly dodge-rolled out of the way again. He really doesn't want to die before his 15th birthday due to some mentally disturbed bomber and a sadistic infant's scheme.

He knew that one direct hit from the dynamite and he'll be in pieces. The dynamites were powerful but the person wielding it needs to work on their accuracy—not that Tsuna was going to tell his murderer that.

The silver-head clicked his tongue in irritation and kept throwing his bombs out without any thought while Tsuna continued to 'stumble' his way out of his range. He tried hard not to show how much he could move as he knew the infant was silently observing him though it was hard to be mindful of that while trying not to die.

Another hole was blasted onto the ground and Tsuna can't help but wince in sympathy.

Oh no....Hibari-senpai is not going to be happy with this....

Hibari was going to freak when he sees this and not in a good way kind of freak; but the kind where he'll go on a rampage and bite everyone in sight to death, including Tsuna—definitely Tsuna.

If Tsuna survived this, he's just going to suffer again in the hands of the demon prefect for damages to the school. He didn't know how he felt about that.

Something prickled at the back of his neck, warning Tsuna to turn around. He did so and froze at the sight of Reborn pointing his gun at him.

"Fight with your dying will, Dame-Tsuna." Reborn smirked and pulled the trigger.

Despite how he swore to himself that he'll never let that infant hit him with that stupid bullet again, he found himself at the mercy of the bullet's effect as Reborn shot him right in the forehead.

Tsuna went down upon impact and immediately felt a war, tingly feeling wash over his body. Regrets started to flood in his mind and he wished that for once, he had the power to extinguish the dynamites before it destroys the school and with it, his life.

With this thought in mind, Tsuna burst out of his clothes, leaving only his boxers on and orange flame alight on his forehead. Like before, he found that he has no control over his body as his legs moved in a mad dash towards the bomber who has tons of dynamite on his body.

"REBORN!!I'LL PUT OUT THE FUSES WITH MY DYING WILL!" He yelled and went around defusing the dynamites with his bare hands as soon as Gokudera threw them. Strangely, the burning fuses did not burn his hands at all and he assumed that it was the flames admitting from him that was making his body durable to it.

Not giving up, Gokudera threw more dynamites at the underdressed boy but he kept defusing it at a rapid pace.

"DEFUSE.DEFUSE.DEFUSE.DEFUSE!!!"
Tsuna couldn't stop yelling at the top of his lungs like some madman even though he was cringing so much inside but he just can't stop.

"DOUBLE BOMB!"

Gokudera threw double the times amount of bombs at Tsuna but again, finding it useless as Tsuna continued to defuse it with no trouble at all.

"DEFUSE.DEFUSE.DEFUSE.DEFUSE!!!"

"TRIPLE BOMB!"

Gokudera tried to up the amount of dynamites in his hands but he found that he couldn't handle the numerous amount of dynamites in his hands and it scattered all around him.

"This is the end of me..." Realizing his mistake, Gokudera accepted his defeat as he closed his eyes and prepared for his end.

Tsuna wasn't going to let someone die in front of his eyes if he could help it. He had enough of seeing Death and wasn't going to let it to anyone else, especially someone who made a simple mistake like that.

Though Gokudera had every intent to kill Tsuna, Tsuna didn't had the heart to stand by idly and watch him die. With that decision made, he continued to defused the dynamites around Gokudera till all of it was extinguished.

And right on time, the flame on Tsuna's forehead went out too and he returned to his normal highly embarrassed self.

I hate this....

He sighed internally.

I'm sitting here in school with nothing but my boxers on. I feel so silly right now.

"I was mistaken!!"

Tsuna was startled out of his gloom when Gokudera shouted at him. He whirled around to see the silver-head prostrating himself towards him.

What the hell?!

Tsuna was stumped. Never in his previous lives has he ever come across this sort of situation. How was he suppose to react? What was he suppose to say?

"You are the one worthy of being the Decimo! Tenth! I'll follow you!! Command me to do anything!" Gokudera yelled while still kneeling on the ground.

Tsuna had to look away from those eyes because there was just too much admiration in it. Admiration for him no less. It was something that left Tsuna speechless and stunned.

Before Tsuna could say anything to tell Gokudera to stand, Reborn beat him to it.

"Congratulations Tsuna. You just got yourself a follower. You are one step towards your goal to be the Vongola Decimo." Reborn smiled.

Tsuna could only stare at him in disbelief. Never once had he agreed to be the Decimo or have his say in any of this. This infant just go about doing whatever he wants without anyone's consent, including the person involved in said situation.

I give up... He sighed and walked away from the two. It feels like every second he's with Reborn makes him want to rethink his life decisions.

"Tenth! Wait up!!" Gokudera bounced up to his feet and ran after him like a puppy chasing his master.

Tsuna heaved another exasperated sigh.

Really....Is this life really worth getting reincarnated into?

<~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~>
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"Hey you!"

The boy looked around him but saw no one in sight.

"Up here you idiot!"

He frowned and looked up. A pink (reddish?) haired teen glared at him from up a tree the boy was leaning on. He looked about a few years older than the boy with fury, red eyes and a cool looking tattoo on the right side of his face.

"Get lost! This is no place for a rich kid like you to hang around." He growled.

The boy stared down at himself. Sure enough, he was dressed in fine silk compared to the rags the teen was in.

I should've picked some less expensive clothes to disguise in...Stupid...

He scolded himself. His first escape from the castle and he'd already messed up on trying to blend in with the commoners.

The teen continued to stare at him with fierce eyes with a hint of amusement in them.

"You're a long way from home aren't you? What are you doing out here in the slums? There's nothing out here except for no good scums and bandits." He asked.

"I...erm....." The boy hesitated, trying to find an excuse but his mind couldn't come up with any.

The teen stared at the boy for a few more seconds before sighing. "All right. Come with me. I'll take you out of here and into town where it'll be safer." He jumped from the tree with ease and landed beside the boy. Without a word, he took the lead and gestured for the boy to follow.

"Erm...Why are you doing this for me?" The boy mumbled.

"I'm not. I just don't want your death on my conscience." The teen answered without missing a beat. "Besides, he would not like it if I leave someone as clueless as you alone."

"He?"

"Never mind. Nothing for you to know about." He huffed.

The teen lead the boy to an open market full of people bustling about in their day and lights filled the streets with it's beauty.

The boy stared in awe at the beauty of it all till he noticed the teen walking away.

"Wait!" He shouted after him. The teen paused but didn't turn around.

"May I know your name? Mine's.....Mine's Cielo."

If the teen noticed the slight hesitation, he didn't show it.

"G."

He answered and walked off without a glance back.

G. What a strange name but he's such a nice guy. I hope I get to meet him again.