OooOoOooO

Author's Notes:I know I shouldn't be starting another story when I haven't updated most of my stories in what seemed like almost forever. I'm going to admit that A Swordsman's Road's Chapter 4 is still almost-done, I'm still tweaking a bit because I want to keep the equilibrium I started between mafia and magic, so the two worlds would mesh well. As for the others like Namimori History and Terra Incognita, I'm still doing a bit of soul-searching considering how my laptop got reformatted before (as I had mentioned back then) and lost all my files. Since I haven't focused on those two that much, I'm a little bit at a lost of how to continue them. I have my ideas (they're already typed and all, though they kind of don't blend well) but I'm having a hard time of putting it up into an actual chapter so I apologize. So, I've re-watched some KHR episodes to help me with it but, as you know, new and good animes have come up so, I stumbled upon Tokyo Ghoul while watching. And this won't leave me alone. Since Kaneki's father wasn't mentioned much, I took advantage of it.

This is just a prologue to test the waters, so to speak, since any fanfic regarding Tokyo Ghoul is somehow very rare in this site and more so with crossovers. But this just won't leave me alone. Sorrrry.

Warning(s): This is after the Curse of the Rainbow Arc in KHR and just after the Raid of Kanou's lab in Tokyo Ghoul. I'll try to be as detailed as I can. Blood, gore, etc. Ghouls are common even outside of Tokyo, just not as active. Possible OOC. And, I won't follow the time period as close in Tokyo Ghoul; for example, it took two weeks in TG manga but I would extend it to a month and a half in the story. Not going to change anything too serious. Rating may go up to M in later chapters.

Pairing(s): (No yaoi. I don't write this no matter how I read them. ) GEN. But I may give hints of Touka/Kaneki.

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OooOoOooO

Prologue

[It Wasn't Always About Me...]

"You have a son?" Tsuna gawked as he stared at the photograph Reborn had just handed him.

The teen had a very kind face and gentle eyes, so unlike from Reborn's apathetic or sadistic expressions and the constant dark glare. Though, looking at the now adult features of his tutor, he could see some resemblance. The boy had Reborn's nose and even the gentle curve of the man's cheeks. He could even liken the twinkle of the teen's eyes to Reborn's when the Arcobaleno was feeling mischievous. They also had the same dark hair and eyes but the foreign blood in his tutor certainly highlighted the teen's delicate features.

Still, knowing that this unknown teen was Reborn's son, much less even related to the sadistic man near him, Tsuna just felt overwhelmed. But he couldn't deny that this was certainly Reborn's son now that he got a very good look.

They were currently situated within the Sawada's living room, alone, after Reborn had effectively sent everyone out with a look. Enough to deter the steadfast Bianchi and even the overly-worried Gokudera. Tsuna didn't know if it was actually a good thing considering how big of a news and shock his tutor was now giving him in the form of a teenager's picture.

"Are you insinuating something, Dame-Tsuna?" Reborn sent him a dark glance and the brunette shivered at the gleam in the man's eyes.

"No! No! Of course not!" The brown haired teen hastily denied, flailing. "I-I mean, with the curse, how is that possible?" He stumbled over his words as he closed his eyes, waiting for what he believed to be an inevitable blow.

"Are you stupid?" Reborn deadpanned at him, making Tsuna relax when it became obvious that no beating would come. "We conceived him before I was cursed. I had a contract hit in Japan and met his mother, Kaneki Yui." The man explained matter-of-factly.

"D-Do you have to put it that way?" Tsuna asked in slight mortification, flabbergasted, as his cheeks reddened. "So she's your first lover…" He mumbled to himself.

"Wrong." The man instantly refuted.

"E-Eh?" His eyes widened at the claim. "B-But then why would you–?"

At this, Reborn sighed before slapping him behind the head, making him yelp.

"All the women whom I've claimed as lovers are part of the mafia," Reborn explained as he crossed his arms over his chest, staring down the nervous brunette. "Yui was just a normal civilian who kindly, and rather idiotically might I add, let me stay in her apartment when things got out of control due to wrong information. She wasn't simply a 'lover' whom I can simply brush off like I sometimes do with Bianchi. She's the first and last woman whom I considered marrying." His tone didn't change from its matter-of-fact pitch but Tsuna sensed a foreboding aura enveloping the man.

"She's dead, isn't she?" Tsuna asked quietly, as his eyes softened, gazing at the photo of Reborn's son.

"Hospital records states that she 'overworked' herself. But she was targeted and poisoned by an enemy famiglia whom I've crossed paths with back then." The man further elaborated, still speaking in that monotone as if he just hadn't admitted that the woman he loved had been killed because of him. "They've put together my connection in Tokyo through her. I was able to remove my son's involvement before they got to him too,"

"S-So, why didn't you take him in?" The teen questioned rather intently, already seeing a complication in the story. "Does he even know you?"

"As far as he's concerned, I'm dead," Reborn retorted rather coldly, making Tsuna cringe. "It was around the time that I became one of the Arcobaleno and put in the body of a child. Yui still worked herself to the bone just for the possibility that there might be any news or mention of me. I kept my eye on them but by the time I got to them, Yui was dead. And our child, Kaneki Ken, is taken in by her sister's family, the Asaoka's."

So, the teen's name is Kaneki Ken. It somehow sounded so simple compared to all the people that Tsuna had known through his tutor.

"But you could've let him know that his father isn't dead!" Tsuna reasoned out, suddenly feeling rather emotionally invested in this, knowing how his own father was almost never around. "He could've known that he wasn't really alone." He continued quietly.

"And what? Put him in danger? One where it could possibly get him killed just like his mother? Is that what you're saying?" The man snapped at him with a scowl, scaring the brunette momentarily because the last time he had seen him like this was when Nono had been injured by the Varia.

"No, I mean, you could've let him know," The teen argued weakly as he understood what it must've looked like from Reborn's point of view.

"Now, let's get to the main point of why I'm even telling you this," Reborn started as he regained his composure. "I've kept tabs on him throughout the years. The moment he graduated high school, he moved out of the Asaoka's home and earned himself a scholarship in Kamii University where he's been studying Japanese Literature. He also started working as a part-time waiter at a café, named Anteiku, in Tokyo's 20th Ward after an accident."

"20th Ward?" Tsuna asked with uncertainty.

"Nerima," The man answered as he lowered the rim of his fedora hat. "But around seventh months ago, he went missing. He stopped attending college and he even stopped working. No one has heard anything from him since then."

Tsuna's brown eyes hardened and narrowed.

"Enemy famiglia?" He questioned with slight dread.

Reborn's face darkened.

"No, I don't think so," The man disproved with a frown. "Before you even agree to my request, there is something you must know. Even in the mafia, there are certain species that left their mark and are rather known for their high level of threat. But their kind are mainly based in Japan and influential or powerful people had tried to contain it within this country without much success. These creatures are called ghouls."

"G-Ghouls?" Tsuna stuttered, losing his serious countenance as he remembered watching the news, dismembered bodies, blood, blood, blood.

"They are certainly powerful," Reborn expressed darkly. "As you already know, they mainly feast on human flesh to keep their selves alive. Don't give me that face, Dame-Tsuna, I already told you, you haven't seen the worst of everything yet. The authorities tried to mostly confine and restrict them within the 24 wards of Tokyo. But that's virtually impossible and we know it." He smirked sardonically at the queasy look of his student.

"And that's where K-Kaneki-san has been staying all this time?" Tsuna voiced out in horror.

"I can't pull him out without raising any suspicions," His tutor answered succinctly. "I've had my fair share of encounters with ghouls. And I told you, I'm known as the world's greatest hitman. Be it ghoul or human. The 20th ward was supposed to be the most peaceful ward in Tokyo and is almost considered a neutral ground by the Commission of Counter Ghoul or CCG. But, it goes to show that peace breeds ignorance." Reborn said rather ominously.

"A-Are you saying that your son–?"

"My informants had been unreachable for the past year. And it was only through hacking CCG systems that I discovered that they'd declared Ken as a missing person within the 20th ward, labelled as the last person to have contact or may possibly have a clue to the identity of the famed 'Binge Eater'." The man stated as he stood up and grabbed his son's picture from Tsuna's hand.

"He might be dead already," Tsuna voiced out the words that he was certain Reborn didn't want to hear.

"I'm aware of that fact," Reborn stated monotonously, eyes still glued to the photograph. "So, as a favor, I want you to look into it. No matter the result, I want to be able to confirm it by my own account."

"Ehhh?" The brunette burst out in surprise. "Me? Are you sure? What about you? What're you going to do?" He instantly went in offense, if Reborn still chose to back out of this one–

"I had something to take care of first," Reborn smirked and there was a gleam of something sadistic and cruel brewing in his gaze. "Apparently, there's a conflict that has commenced at the 11th ward. Vongola has taken an active interest ever since that massacre of our base located in Kōtō or the 8th ward. Those CCG bastards aren't doing their jobs right, it seemed. The mafia would get involve sooner or later. It just happened to be sooner than we thought," His smirk widened as his hand tightened around the photograph in his hand.

Even at a time like this, why does Reborn simply refuse to admit that he cares about his son? Tsuna wondered sadly as he remembered how his tutor rejected any hints of any display of attachment to anyone who wasn't closely involved with the Vongola.

"So, if I head to the 20th ward and look for Kaneki-san, what about the ghouls? Do our flames even work on them?" The brunette questioned worriedly, suddenly doubtful with fear and with good reason. Ghouls were a high-level threat, even for someone as strong as the Vongola Famiglia, for a reason.

The only ghoul he had encountered closely was Hibari Kyouya. But Tsuna didn't want to dwell deeper into that as long as his Cloud Guardian wasn't off murdering innocent people and devouring them. He was glad that the mafia were more open about working with a possible dangerous person in their midst. But, then again, ghoul or human, everyone within the underground society were considered dodgy and threatening.

"Of course they do. Aim for their kagune when you do," The hitman snorted almost derisively. "I'm not stupid enough to send you to your death. Take only two people with you for less attention. I suggest that Hibari to be one of them. He's more adept at travelling the wards than you realize. I'll follow you shortly. Find out as much as you can." Reborn ordered as he hid the photo within the confines of his suit as he made to stride out of the room.

"Wait! Reborn!" Tsuna called up as he abruptly stood up, reaching out a hand as if to physically stop the other.

"What?" The man questioned sharply.

"If we find him," He started out quietly, almost hesitantly. "What am I supposed to say to him? To Kaneki-san, I mean?"

Do you want me to tell him that his father is alive?

For a moment, Reborn was silent and Tsuna was almost afraid that he had offended the other.

Then, the former Sun Arcobaleno sent a rueful smirk over his shoulder.

"Tell him to stay alive," The man remarked before trotting off with a small wave.

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AN: Tell me what you think. Suggestions? But please no flames. I just merely tried my hand in this since the idea won't leave me alone. Thank you for reading it.