Hi. I know, it's been what seems like a decade since I posted for this story. I won't explain, I'll just leave you to the chapter. But, please known that this chapter jumps around a lot there are a lot of time cuts and jump scenes. I've tried my best to warn you and explain them. Bare with me, and ask if you're confused.

Chapter 15 - Turmoil

"I think it's time to start some rumours." Enrico was standing facing the gardens of his home on a stormy evening, not even six days after Tsuna and Xanxus were finally freed from the ice. Said boys were still recovering in the hidden wing of the mansion.

"Rumours?" Federico was writing a report for the sky squadron, updating security, trying to waylay some of the small fry that were trying to start coups when his brother spoke. Enrico spoke with certainty, and that was usually worth notice.

When Enrico turned around, Massimo realised what he meant. "You want to bring Tsuna into the light? He's not even cleared to walk around the mansion yet." His voice, usually placating was deep with anger that their leader would put their child at risk. "You want to toss him to the dogs, before he's even fit to train again?"

"I don't understand." Federico admitted, putting the paper down in favour of facing his steely eyed eldest brothers.

"Well before any of this happened," Reborn suddenly spoke-up from the corner where he and Squalo were discussing training and rehabilitation plans, "your brothers had suggested that they start a rumour mill to protect Tsuna and fully integrate him into the Vongola."

"Why not just say he's our son, and let our word be final on it?" Federico answered, a little frustrated he wasn't in on this plan, but also understanding that a lot has happened.

"Because 'our son' is the problem." Massimo sighed, releasing the tension and trying to rationalize Enrico's decisions in his head. "Without some explanation, some rumour, some truth the mafia will tear him apart. Especially when in the future he's in the limelight and the mafia get wind that he calls us all 'Father'."

Federico mulled on that. Before asking to understand what these rumours would mean. "The plan would be to choose a close friend, each of us Xanxus included. We get each of these people to spread a rumour. A Rumour about whose son Tsuna is." Enrico began.

"He's Enrico's son; his mother died during birth." Massimo started again, rubbing his eyes. " He's your son, Federico; his mother in hiding."

"He's Massimo's son; his mother killed for trying to steal him." Reborn continued, aware of Squalo's intense stare next to him, having been unaware of this plan too. "Or he's Xanxus' actual brother, found on the streets. He's a bastard son of someone else. Timoteo's bastard (he has Xanxus after all), anything that's even remotely believable."

Enrico continued again "A rumour that he's a test tube child that one of us commissioned. The point is, because these rumours start with someone we trust explicitly, no one can ever tell what is true. All of them SEEM true, but none put Tsuna anywhere near Nana or Iemitsu. It's to protect Tsuna and assure his place in our famiglia."

"But it comes with risks." Federico realized. "It officially announces Tsuna as our child, as heir, as Vongola Decimo one day. It welcomes him into the Mafia." then he paused. "Everyone would need to know the truth, all our rumour spreaders. We can't do that, not now. He's so precious and defenceless!"

Enrico watched his youngest brother and sighed. "But, with Timoteo gone, we need to reassure the world that we are standing strong. That our rein is assured. I don't want to wait because of how tumultuous our positions are right now, but I want to wait…."

"We can't." Reborn sighed too. He had been aware of these plans from the beginning, as Tsuna's (the Tenth generation's) tutor he had to be aware of any change to his ward's positionality and safety. He didn't like this plan anymore than any of the brothers. "We can't wait for Tsuna to be fully healed, we need to get the ball rolling. He's already well past the normal age of announcement. Before he is seen for the first time he needs to be a solid fixture in the mafia's mind.

While all this was happening, the mansion was thrumming. Six days after the big melt, after the cradle incident had finally ended, and the mansion was filled to the brim with pure restless flames. Not only were Xanxus guardians reacquainting themselves with their boss, but Tsuna had gained two guardians while on ice, it was breathtaking to see this all happen.

"Tsuna, you awake?"

"Yeah! Come in Hayato I need to show you all something!" Just like the last incident, where Hayato and Tsuna were almost lost, the young boy of six proved that he was just as resilient as ever. His smile had returned not two days after he woke, and when his guardians walked calmly into the room, so much surer, older, stronger than they had been, he couldn't help but grin.

His grin flooded the room with his Sky flames, not yet ready to settle into his body again after encasement. His smile seemed to relieve the tension in the guardians, who- though they had almost three months to get used to Kyouya added into the ranks, and almost a year with Takeshi- still were a little unsure of themselves.

"How are you feeling today, Tsuna?" Hayato asked, throwing himself onto the bed beside his sky, even as Mukuro and Takeshi took seats more leisurely on the chairs in Tsuna's room. Xanxus' room was attacked to Tsuna's, but that had only happened the day before.

Six Days Ago

There was nothing. Then suddenly there was fire and screaming.

Tsuna isn't sure what was happening, or where he was. He didn't realize he was screaming until he heard the brassy, pitchy voice next to him. "LIttle fuck, where, what? Fuck!" Xanxus burst into his view. Neither boy noticed that there was no ice.

Xanxus was there, a mass of flames and blood and Tsuna couldn't see. There was flames everywhere, exploding out of the pair even as their hands touched and Xanxus pulled Tsuna in. The room was hot, and stuffy and smells like fermented fruit, but behind the flames and smoke and screaming was white. "X-Xanxus! What...fratello what happened? Where's N-Nonno?! Where are we!?"

Tsuna's voice sounded weird, different, he was screeching and trying to claw his way into Xanxus' body. It was the only thing that made sense, the only thing okay with this whole situation. They had been FROZEN!

"I- fuck I don't know. Little sky we need to calm down. Varia Quality remember?!" Xanxus was screeching too, screaming and disoriented, feeling blind and new. Like he was just born. But his little cub was vulnerable, and there were flames everywhere, and he didn't know where he was or where the danger was and it was fucking RILING HIM UP. He needed to figure it out, he needed to protect his cub.

Tsuna was just a mess. He was screaming and scared and tired. There were wires in his arm, and his chest felt like it was heaving, but Xanxus was telling him to do something, and like Reborn said, he needed to listen when things were uncertain. And things were uncertain.

His flames felt like a thousand horses, whipping and pulling and trying to run wild. He was so scared. But he tried to breathe, pulled his flames to his chest. Pulled them back into his core where they belonged. He was too tired to let them run, he needed them back so he could protect his Fratello, and his famiglia from Nonno and from danger.

And just like that, Xanxus and Tsuna looking at each other dead in the eye, the flames are gone. Wrapped up into their own cores but flicking around them intermittently, as if there's just too much in them to be contained.

No sooner had this happened was Enrico there, arms around them. They struggled, their flames surging forward again, but Enrico held fast, using his own flames to smother his children and trying not to flinch when they screamed in pain. But soon his scent, his arms, his flames and the tendrils of flames from all the others finally got through. Enrico held them close letting them cling to him and not mentioning anything when Tsuna breaks down and when Xanxus bites his shoulder to try to keep his screams inside.

They had been so scared.

Everything was so new and different.

They passed out quickly after that. And Enrico can only sigh in relief. Relief that they woke, that Massimo and Federico had just stepped out and hadn't witnessed that. Relief that he had been able to hold them again.

"It's a good sign my friend that they could pull their flames back, that they're rational enough to know to protect each other." Reborn explains, hand on Enrico's shoulder even as the man's shoulder shake with so many emotions. "It's a good sign."

Reborn didn't sound entirely convinced. But the good thing was that they woke up at all, stood up at all, had flames at all. No one knew what would happen when someone was frozen in dying will ice. The knowledge had been lost many many years ago, and it was such an old unused power of Vongola. As such, the idea of children being frozen? Who could even imagine what would happen. Verde and all the Vongola scientists were researching and studying but they might not know for decades. But, in the end, Tsuna and Xanxus woke up. They spoke. They had flames. It was enough to be celebrated.

Present

Tsuna thought about it, he was feeling better. "I'm great, I think it's time to go for a walk!"

However, even as Tsuna was throwing off his sheets, two sets of hands pushed him back towards the bed. "Haha, that's awesome Tsuna, but I think you should rest a bit more yeah?" Takeshi's smile was tense, unsure, worried, anxious.

"Kufufufu, maybe getting a nurse to check first, hmm little sky?" Even Mukuro seemed a bit tense.

Hayato bristled, "Oi, Tsuna said he's okay, he can try. We've been through worse, right Tsuna?"

The young boy nodded, a little startled by the attack by his guardians. "Yeah, Haya and I were worse, and I've been in here longer now. I can get up!" he was a little upset that his friends were being so weird. He was fine.

Though apprehensive, the guardians relented. Tsuna swung his legs over the edge of his bed and jumped down, when nothing happened - no dizzy, yucky, tired feeling - his guardians seemed to relax. Sensing eyes on him, Tsuna looked over at Kyouya and smiled. He and Kyouya had spent some time alone, when everyone was asleep so Tsuna wasn't offended that the boy was scowling or that he was so far away from them.

He still followed as Tsuna led his friends to the gardens. And really that was what mattered.

Going to the gardens was such a refreshing experience! Tsuna literally danced with Takeshi and Hayato as they spun around the wet grasses. Laughter burst from all the guardians, and even Kyouya had a little smile. It was fun seeing a child who almost died laugh.

"Maa maa, Tsuna you're not supposed to be faster than us!" Takeshi whined lightly, chasing Tsuna through the flower beds.

"You just got to get better!" Tsuna replied cheekily.

Tsuna just grinned and ran faster, grabbing Mukuro's hands and hiding behind the oldest boy when Takeshi - only slightly offended - tried to chase Tsuan more.

"Young master!"

The yell halted all the children. Tsuna ducked his shoulders in confusion, and Hayato and Takeshi were immediately on guard in front of their sky. Even Kyouya shifted, his smile wiped off and the fun over as Nathaniel, the main butler, ran over in a panic.

"Nate!" Tsuna cheered, no longer worried at the yelling. "I'm all better look! I've missed you, how was your vaca-"

"Tsunayoshi what are you doing out here?!" The man yelled when he approached. "You are supposed to be on bed rest."

"I- Nate, I. I'm feeling better! I'm just play-"

Nathaniel cut off Tsuna again, grabbing him and lifting him up. "Your fathers have given strict orders that you're to remain in your rooms. I'm very disappointed that you'd leave before you're well. You were very sick, Tsunayoshi." Nate's voice had never been this stern before, Tsuna's heart dropped and tears welled up. "And you, young masters, as his guardians you are responsible for his health and safety. And look at the risk you put him under."

Tsuna bristled, fury rolling through him. "They didn't put me in danger!" He growled, the righteous fury of an insulted sky coursing through him. "They were helping me! Don't you dare blame my elements."

But Nate ignored him, and instead held the struggling six year old while his guardians ran after him. The children were yelling too, trying to get Nate to let go when Tsuna struggled harder, obviously disliking the hold on him. Kyouya threw his tonfa at the man, wacking him in the side of the head. The man practically dropped Tsuna into Hayato's waiting arms and the kids surrounded him.

"Herbivore, the little omnivore doesn't want to go. He says he isn't sick, you shouldn't force him. He is your superior even now. Stand down." Kyouya wasn't entirely verbal, and it was either the shock from the tonfa or from hearing Kyouya speak more than 3 words at once that kept Nate silent for a moment. Still, the man stood, his eyes furious.

Just as Nate was about to say more Enrico, Fon, and Reborn walked around the corner. The men all stopped at the scene. Tsuna was in the middle of a group of furious elements and Nate was bleeding from the forehead. Kyouya was standing between Nate and the group, cloud flames pooling at his feet and a tonfa missing from his hands.

"Kyouya?" Fon asked, soothing in all his confusion.

"Uncle, this man manhandled the little sky-omnivore without his permission. I am doing my due diligence."

Nate turned to his boss and bowed. "I found these children in the gardens running around after I found young master Tsunayoshi's room empty."

Enrico looked conflicted, especially seeing the violence of Kyouya released on his house staff. Tsuna also looked unwell, but Enrico obviously didn't have all the pieces. "Go get cleaned up and put a report on my desk by this evening." When Nate looked like he was going to hesitate Enrico was more serious. "Go Nate, I will deal with this. You did your duty."

"Bye Nate." Tsuna whispered with uncertainty, the man turned and waved back, glaring at the bristling guardians.

Soon Enrico had Tsuna up in his arms and they were striding back to the medical ward that Xanxus and Tsuna were staying in. "What happened, Tresoro? I thought you liked Nathaniel."

Tsuna nodded, he did like Nate. "We were just playing in the gardens. I was feeling busy and good and I wanted to spend time with mine own. Nate just kinda ran up and grabbed me. He said you told him I wasn't allowed to play!"

"And Kyouya?" Fon asked, a little uncertain of how Enrico would feel about a house member being struck by his nephew.

"He was protecting the Tenth, sir." Hayato insisted.

"He was, Daddy. He was trying to get Nate to let go. I didn't like it."

Enrico sighed and rubbed his face, he wanted to believe his children, he wanted to indulge his sick little boy. But he had an injured subordinate now, and a mansion to appease. The small group had arrived at Tsuna's room and Mammon was waiting there with a frown on her lovely face. She had spent time with Mukuro and Tsuna one evening getting ready for who they thought would be the next guardian to arrive and had hoped to spend more time doing so now. The lessons were strictly controlled under Reborn's and the head Sun-doctor's guidance.

"I see that there has been a situation." She sighed, she kissed Tsuna's cheek before walking down the corridor. "Mukuro, follow me, your lessons for the day begin now. We will discuss what happened."

Mukuro frowned heavily, not happy at being ordered around, but also respecting Mammon's guidance. Instead he turned to Tsuna and pushed reassurance and his own kind of love down their shared connection. A mental and physical and emotional connection all at once. "We will speak in our dreams tonight, it's about time the wandering cloud joined us."

Tsuna nodded even as Fon and Reborn stepped forward.

"Takeshi, you are with me today. Hayato, Verde wants to see you in the labs in ten minutes. I'd get moving." Reborn ruffled Tsuna's hair, his eyes full of concern and intrigue. Like he knew something was going to happen and wasn't sure which direction the explosion would go.

"Which means, Kyouya you're with me. It looks like we will be working on control today, again. Move it." Fon looked like his usually cool nerve was a frayed temper and Kyouya looked like he was going to refuse until he noticed. He sulked off after Fon, leaving Tsuna and his Dad.

"Does that mean you and I are finally going to train?" Tsuan asked excitedly. His flames started buzzing in anticipation, his guardians had been telling him all about their training for so long and Tsuna just wanted to train with his Padri. He started wiggling with nerves until Enrico chuckled.

"No, little lion. You're going to sit here and read with me and rest. It was not very smart to go out. What do you thin could have happened?" Enrico asked as he sat on the bed with Tsuna and pulled out a book. A big book.

"I could have fainted, or hurt myself, but Daddy - I felt fine! I felt restless. I needed to be with them." Tsuna insisted. Enrico seemed to brush him off though and instead started reading aloud. "Now little lion, I know it's frustrating. I know you want to go play with your guardians. But you almost died and we are scared. We want to protect you."

Tsuna listened well to his Father. But the frustrated tears fell and his little fist squeezed tight. No one saw his eyes flash orange.

This happened again and again. For more than two weeks. While Tsuna had finally been given clearance to walk in the gardens and around the mansion, if anyone thought he had strained himself too much or he so much as thought about playing a game he was put straight to bed. His guardians would keep him company, but it wasn't enough. He seemed to get most of his energy out in his dreams where no adults could stop him. It was so frustrating!

And the lessons. Arcobaleno and Padri alike would collect Tsuna's guardians, Rebor would take Takeshi or Hayato, Mammon or Skull would take Kyouya and Mukuro. And every time the Guardians left, Tsuna was left with someone else to go over writing or reading or maths or science. He doesn't want to read. He wanted to be trained.

"Zio why can't I come with you?! I miss you." Tsuna cried one evening, clinging to Reborn who had come to take Takeshi for training. The little rain looked so conflicted, seeing his little sky falling apart and not knowing how to help because the adults wouldn't let him. "I miss our lessons, and going to the park and building stamina. I'm FINE!"

Reborn grit his teeth, because he could see that, he could see that Tsuna's flames were ardent and beautiful and needed release. "I'm sorry little treasure. You're fathers and Verde aren't sure how the ice affected you. They're scared to let you go."

Tsuna just cried until Reborn left with a reluctant Takeshi, but the boy was powerless in Reborn's grip.

"Why can't I go, fratello?" Tsuna cried as Xanxus walked in. He had also not been cleared to go train. But at least he had been cleared to leave the mansion. Mostly because he had Mammon as a guardian and the woman being an adult gave her more leniency. The new assassination group was also squirreled away in Xanxus' mansion, and since Mammon assured the brothers that Xanxus was doing mostly paperwork and design work he was allowed to go. He was physically training there in secret, but Tsuna didn't have that luxury.

"I don't know, little fuck. I know we're fine. I know you're flames are bursting. I'll see if I can knock the fear from your stupid fathers."

That didn't help Tsuna right now though. He was not allowed to be with his guardians. All his fathers were keeping him away from them. Massimo wouldn't even let him jump off the bed into his arms anymore, and that hurt Tsuna so so much.

Tsuna was so mad! He was fine. He was a little sky and he was fine! He didn't want to rest. He didn't want to read anymore. He was old enough to train with his guardians. He wasn't dying anymore!

Tears built in his eyes and hot hot turmoil rumbled in his gut. He had never ever felt like this before and it made him feel so so very sick. He didn't like it. Not one bit.

Kyouya didn't really know what was happening. He had been brought here by his uncle, a man he reluctantly respected. The man had taught him everything he knew after all. While Kyouya's family had been sure to give him the basics, they had little time for the heir of their regal family when he developed his temperamental flames. So when Fon asked him if he'd like to go somewhere that needed him because of the strength he had and would always challenge him, well Kyouya was 7 years of stern intelligence and he said yes without hesitation.

But it had been a strange, strange place. Challenging? Unbelievably so. Comfortable. No. No it wasn't. Besides the strange icy room that he had grown attached to, with all the tears and resolve clinging to the space, there was nowhere in the mansion he could be comfortable. Too many overly emotional people trying to treat him like he was four and didn't know why he was here.

He had Cloud flames - and even at 7 (almost 8) he had a bucket load overflowing at every milestone he reached. They needed him, and his Uncle Fon has assured him that he'd meet some interesting people if he did.

As he followed the little brown headed sky and his gaggle of guardians, Kyouya thought on that. Did he meet interesting people? In boat loads. The Vongola Brothers themselves were interesting powerful beasts and Kyouya had been humbled enough in meeting them to thank them for taking him in and allowing him to train. They'd been professional, treating him like a powerful little entity - like he was - before introducing him to the children.

And that, right there, is where the interest started.

Mukuro had looked at Kyouya with cautions anger. Mukuro seemed more like a man than a boy to Kyouya. They way he talked, walked, held himself. It spoke of scars, or a carnivore that had walked a long and lonely road. He regarded Kyouya like an upstart who had the potential to overthrow them all.

Kyouya liked that, he liked the power of it. The heady feeling of being estimated right on mark. And as such he and Mukuro clashed. They clashed like gods trapped in little bodies. Like the titans that formed the earth. The Easternmost wing in the 'Children's play area' had been dedicated to them when it became clear that they caused less trouble when they were allowed to duke it out.

Mukuro was terrified of Kyouya, for many many reasons. This boy was a ball of volatile potential. Just straight-up volatile. He was a concoction of fury, strength, unrestrained flames, and an intelligence that glinted in eyes far to old for the baby-fat lined body. This little upstart infuriated Mukuro - he waltz into Tsuna's territory like he owned it, and like he could care less. Kyouya had every potential to make the Tenth generation the best or worst of them all, ad to Mukuro it looked like he couldn't give a fuck. And Tsuna, the only thing that could possibly control a cloud like that was not here to tame him.

Mukuro was furious. Furious that they were put in this position. Put in a position of debt to this cloud. "Kufufufu. Don't think I'm going to give these children over to you." He hissed. "You don't deserve them. You're not going to take them from me,"

"Hn, one might think you….care about these herbivores. I'd think more of an old-soul like you." Kyouya spit.

And they clashed. Burgeoning cloud and mist flames pushed to their limits as these two predators clashed for their place in this growing wrecked family.

Enrico and Federico appeared then, flames alight in their eyes and their weapons, shoving these two children to the floor and forcing them into submission. Kyouya snarled and spat, throwing cloud flames and fists all the way to his rooms as Federico wrestled the boy out. Mukuro stayed where he was, mind whirling with possibilities and with Kyouya's last words.

"I did not come here to burn this place. I am as lost as you, but I will admit that, will you?"

Hayato had known they'd be bringing in a cloud to help them. He knew, he had been sneaking in research when the adults weren't looking. He knew the ice was complex and unstable. They needed all the flames they could, and a regular squad member just wouldn't do it. Hayato had hoped that Skull the Arcobaleno would be enough, but he was busy. He had duties and missions and he was bound to them.

Kyouya had not been what Hayato had expected, he had expected powerful, loner, quiet. And sure, Kyouya was all of these things. But he was bursting with this concoction in such a lithe form. He was intelligent, he didn't feel indebted for being there. He didn't feel awe for being near Tsuna. For being allowed to tryout for being a guardians.

And that, more than anything, more than the fighting and flames saturating their wing - what with Mukuro and Kyouya fighting every three seconds and Takeshi Trying to soothe them to silence - it was that Kyouya didn't seem to even know how precious Tsuna was.

"You don't belong here. We don't need a cloud who doesn't even know what a sky is." he howled at Kyouya. Dodging the tonfa aimed to shatter his collar bone.

"I am stronger than you. I am doing my uncle a favour" Kyouya smirked, riling up the little ball of fire before him. "You are indebted to me. Now stop crowding me until you grow your teeth in. I'm not interested in fighting infant-herbivores.".

Takeshi took this all in his stride really. Takeshi was the newest of them, and as such the boy didn't have much repore with the others, he was a part of them now, but he didn't have the power or privilege to make decisions - just aide in their making. What with Mukuro and Hayato being the oldest guardians, he had to get used to violent personalities. He was in the mafia, he was 6. It was pretty easy to rationalize and normalize such behaviours. Kyouya was like a little combo of Mukuro and Hayato, with a shorter but more controlled fuse. His teasing of Hayato was also entertaining, so Takeshi usually laughed along.

But Kyouya even got under his skin. Pushing him, trying to pull out Takeshi's aggression. He pushed and pushed, not seeming to care that he was twisting the flames in their little famiglia. Forcing his way in, trying to take their sky without even trying to ask the current elements if he could belong.

The first month that Kyouya lived in the Vongola mansion was a chaotic mess of broken walls, scorched floors. The children had to be separated multiple times a day. Sometimes it was Xanxus' guardians who pulled the children apart, taking them for training or just to cool off. Sometimes it was Enrico or Massimo or Federico who grabbed the children by the scruff and forced them to cool their heads.

It was a tense month. Fon tried his best to control Kyouya, but Enrico and Skull reassured him that this was probably normal for an unaffiliated cloud trying to assimilate and find his place in the hierarchy he didn't believe in. Especially when the sky he was thinking of bonding with wasn't actually present for the bonding meetings.

But then, something changed. Something shifted and stopped the fighting for the most part. It had started with Takeshi.

"Why are you here?" He had asked, nose wrinkled after all the spitting and posturing between Kyouya and Mukuro.

"Because I was asked to, because I'm strong and the herbivores here apparently need a proper carnivore." He huffed. Around the adults Kyouya might know to be humble, smart enough to know he is not at their level yet, but here with children who knew nothing of the world they had entered, Kyouya would posture. He could back it up with fangs if necessary.

Of course Kyouya was not perfect, he was arrogant and had been unmatched by anyone his age. His family were spread throughout legal and illegal corporations and his parents and Fon had made sure to sit Kyouya down when he showed even an inclination of understanding to tell him what he was a part of. Fon had made sure that Kyouya knew what he was getting himself into, agreeing to fill the spot of the drifting Cloud for Tsuna's ragtag little group of guardians.

Kyouya did not like ignorant sheep pretending they were predators, and these children, right now, felt just like that.

"So you're not here for our sky?" Takeshi asked, hopeful and not, because so far every element drawn to Tsuna had become part of the sky. Takeshi hadn't even met Tsuna outside of dreams, and yet he had to come to terms with sharing him.

"I am not." Kyouya huffed. "I only follow the strong, and nothing short of a carnivore would make me bow. With leaf-eaters like you I doubt that he will entice me."

"But he might." Mukuro spoke, his animosity forgotten for a moment as he reflected on Tsuna. On his strength, drive, and overwhelming harmony that drew you in and made you want to stay.

"He might." Kyouya conceded, aware of the draw of Sky flames. "But I did not come here to become a famiglia."

And with that the ferocity of the children died. They started training together, sitting at meals without ending the day with tridents, and blades, and tofu pressed to guts or jugulars. Yes they fought, yes they spat, but it was Kyouya's honesty that settled the rising tides of the Vongola children and allowed them to move towards getting Tsuna home.

It was the 5th week that Koyuya had been at the mansion, and two months before Tsuna and Xanxus was released from the ice, when the shift happened and Kyouya turned up to breakfast with Mukuro, Hayato, and Takeshi. With no fighting, no blood, and no glares. Their eyes were instead shining in unison.

"What changed, nephew?" Fon had asked, feeling calmer now that the storming emotions in the mansion had settled.

"Nothing, they stopped being such fucking herbivores." he replied, ignoring the stunned silence of the adults, the spluttering indignation of Hayato, and the cackling from Mukuro and Takeshi.

Present

Kyouya had yet to regret coming here. His fights with Mukuro and Hayato and Takeshi were interesting, and Fon and Reborn were excellent teachers - though he knew this before. And more than even that, Tsuna was such a curiosity to him.

"Kyouya, are you enjoying yourself here?" Tsuna had asked at lunch time, when the staff had finally relented to let him eat in the kitchens where they could watch him. This little ball of fluff was carrying rage with him, so frustrated that he was being separated from his elements, and being underestimated. Yet his love for his family kept him silent. It wasn't normal behaviour for a 6 year old. And yes, trauma of his infancy and the ice could account for a lot of that. But it spoke of deep compassion.

And yet still there was power so untapped that Kyouya practically salivated to unleash it. But if he even so much at glared at the little fluff an adult would swoop in, chastising him for being so rough with the young master during his recovery.

It was a rare afternoon where Kyouya was left with Tsuna for the day, because Fon was busy with the Arcobaleno. The pair ate their lunch quietly, and kyouya could tell that Tsuna was antsy, he got like that too, especially when his flames became known and he didn't know how to use them.

"Let's go run." he declared.

Tsuna looked at him funny, mostly because he didn't answered his question, at least not in a normal way. He had answered it in a Kyouya way, so Tsuna couldn't only assume that the little cloud was happy. So thinking, Tsuna then looked at the cooks around them. They didn't look like they were paying attention, and he and Kyou has eaten all their food, so there was nothing stopping them from leaving. So with a grin, Tsuna grabbed Kyouya's hand and headed slowly to the back door where Tsuna could feel his other guardians waiting. He couldn't help but grin, and his flames moved quickly to the surface, touching all his guardians, and even teasing Kyouya's whose flames hadn't been accepted as guardian yet, but might as well be in Tsuna's heart.

Enrico sighs heavily, looking out in the gardens where the budding Decimo generation plays, all except his son, who he knows is locked away in the infirmary, again. He rubbed his eyes before turning back to the men in the room. His brothers sit on the couches, as does Reborn, Mammon, Fon, Squalo, and finally Don Cavallone and his very anxious looking son. Not surprising given that this was a room of very powerful men and women not long after a very tense time in the mafia.

"You are gathered here, not as the top of your field, but as friends to Us." ENrico starts, sitting beside Xanxus and Massimo, who has Federico on this other side. There is rustling in the room before he continues. "We want to ask that nothing that is told leaves this room, but that you also do us a favour, not Vongola, not us as heirs but as your friends. Should you agree of course Vongola and we would be in your debt."

"But it's off record too," Massimo grunts, nervous. "So if you decline our request we will act like we never asked."

There's a thick silence, hanging, not quite sure where to begin, een Xanxus is just scowling and silent. "Is this about Tsuna?" Dino, brave and wholesome and just so full of righteousness and so nervous in the face of all these strong people. "Is he okay? He didn't come to-"

"Dino!" His father cuts him off startled that his son would neglect etiquette in this situation.

"Pfft, well pony-boy is right,"

"Xanxus!" Enrico sighs before he too laughs with his brother and the room chuckles along, even Fon who is least familiar with the people in this space. "Since DIno and Xan here have effectively broken the ice there's no use being theatrical about this. This is in face about Tsuna, and a little bit about Xanxus and Timoteo too."

A dark oppressive feeling filled the room as the brothers and Reborn remembered the time. "As you all well know by now, Timoteo was killed, he was killed by my hand for the crimes of betrayal of our famiglia. He, after Tsuna's birthday tried to kill him and Xanxus by sealing them in Ice. He did not leave the room." Enrico pulled no punches, he did not hide nor elaborate. "The Vindice arrived, and deemed the slaughter righteous within the Vongola laws, and further deemed Timoteo betrayer, the poison. He was stripped of his titles, and removed from the Vongola histories. I was given the title of Ninth and we moved on."

"Except it took a year and a half, and help from the Arcobaleno to get Tsuna and I out of the ice. But that's not really why we're here, brother." Xanxus replied, eyeing Enrico curiously, he didn't know they'd be playing story time today.

Massimo laughed and ruffled Xanxus' hair. "No, we are not. A favour." He looked around the room. "Obviously, Tsuna is not our son, and only those at his birthday know that he even exists. SO that's where you come in, we need you to help us assim-"

There's a commotion outside, yelling and laughter, and the adults in the room quickly look out the window. Tsuna is there, with his guardians and it looks like they're throwing around a ball of sky flames. Though it's hard to tell from the third floor whether or not it was real or illusion, one thing is clear that the children are playing for keeps. Especially as Kyouya tackles Mukuro around the middle and Hayato and Tsuna tumble down a hill when Takeshi tries to cut them off.

Federico sighs, and though he shifts for a minute he stands and brushes off his slacks. "I'll put Tsuna back to him room and straighten out the Decimo generation, again." He tugs his ear minutely. "Continue the meeting brother, I'm sure you'll catch me up later. Thank you again, all."

Federico can hear his brother continue the conversation, even as the door closes with a solid click of the lock. He makes his way quickly through the mansion, quick to turn away the staff making their way to the gardens. He would deal with this as he saw fit.

The early spring has arrived in the mansion, and with it fresh dewy air. As he looked around, Federico noticed that the first sound to greet him was laughter and something in his chest unlatched. He had missed this so much for that year and a half after the dicention. He missed it so much his flames ached.

Taking care to mask his flames amongst the children, Federico watched. Curious as to why, once again, the children were disobeying direct orders so blatantly. He watched, flames singing with his son as Tsuna ran around his guardians, playing and touching even the reclusive, cold Kyouya. And eerily, even kyouya was kind and soft with Tsuna.

They ran and jumped, and though his flames jumped every time Tsuna was so much as brushed by the shoulder of the other children, Federico watched them laugh. He let it continue for too long, feeling Massimo and Enrico's unease in his own flames. Sighing, and just as Tsuna tripped and panted, Federico stood. "Tsuna! It's is time to stop playing. You need to rest." Tsuna for a moment looks furious.

"NO!" His yell is deep, and his eyes flash for a moment before he sways.

Sternly, Federico holds him, eyes deep and swirling, "Yes young man. You will rest and take your lessons with Fon and Reborn. Kyouya, with me now. And the rest of you, to your own lessons."

He doesn't look back, disturbed by Tsuna's display of defiance and flames. Uncertain as Kyouya meekly walks beside him, cowed by Federico's burning irises and the others quiet acceptance.

Of course, the two boys are dropped off in Tsuna's bedroom, and left to wait for their tutors. Federico sighs, rubbing his eyes and trying to stave off the gnawing in his gut and the ache behind his chest.

"I hate to overstep my friend," The soft lovely voice of the main woman of the mansion sounded beside Federico, and the man's shoulders relaxed back a little. "But I can't help but think you are being too cautious."

Grinding his teeth, Federico turns to Lavina, taking in her calm concerned eyes, and the gentleness of her shoulders. No judgement, no accusation. Just a parent concerned for her children. "I understand how that may so, Lav. But after what he went through?! How can we act any differently? Especially when Tsuna is choosing now of all times to gain his independent testing streak."

"I'm not saying I don't agree, he needs to be protected and healed. But you are not healing the most important thing taken from him in the ice." She stressed, looking into Federico's soft red eyes. "His bonds to his family."

Federico growled, feeling his flames buck at the minor insult that he and his brothers weren't doing things right by their son. "His guardians don't understand enough to let him rest, it's best if we let him heal first. And we're trying so hard to make him safe we can't be with him every minute." Lavina could only hold Federico's hand in solidarity. Unsure how to handle her friend's agony and indecision. None of the brothers had ever seemed indecisive before.

Unbeknownst to the adults, two children are having their own difficult conversation. "I hate this." Tsuna yells, punching his pillow and flopping over in distress. Kyouya is shocked, having never seen Tsuna use even an ounce of violence towards anyone. "I hate this, I hate being here, I hate being alone!"

"Why don't you tell them, herbivore?" Kyouya asks, wanting to be disinterested, but being a creature of instinct unable to ignore a candidate sky in distress.

"They won't listen, they never do. Reborn said that scared skies -vongola skies -are the worst when they're scared. I don't believe him! I was scared and I still protected everyone."

At his young age, Tsuna was missing a lot of information, and Kyouya knew that, knew that he forgot things, or didn't quite understand the things Reborn told them all. He tried to explain with Mukuro, and in their strange dream space things seemed to make more sense, Tsuna was older in their dreams. Was the sky Kyouya dreamed about when flames became a reality in his life. "Make them understand, fight them!" he demanded, unfamiliar with the child before him, a child with frustrated tears and red orange sparkling flames who was not the same as the dream world. This was a young man fighting to keep it together in the body of a child. This was not the sky he had thought he wanted to follow, but he still followed anyway. And so he needed to fix this.

"Fight me." he declared, shoving Tsuna across the bed and to the floor.

"No," Tsuna turns away, eyeing Kyouya with confusion, "I've been told to stop being rough."

Kyouya doesn't listen though. He shoves Tsuna into the wall this time with a push, egging him on. Tsuna tries to turn away again, tired and frustrated and sick of being yelled at. Kyouya keeps pushing and keeps pushing and Tsuna just doesn't understand because he trusts Kyouya. He lashes out, a foot coming up to kick Kyouya away when he falls over again. And quickly he's punching too, and Kyouya is handling his fists and he's crying again. "Why Kyouya!?" He screams, loudly, and tinted with the voice in his chest that makes him calm and makes thinking easier. He shoves harder and Kyouya jumps out. The young boy sprints forward, aiming to punch Tsuna in the face, with a sparkle of flames that Kyouya instinctively closes his eyes to block, Tsuna is also jumping back.

The boys end up wrestling on the floor only stopping when a maid, curious at the loud noises checked in the room. The boys were spitting and yowling even as she begs them to stop. But even as Kyouya is reprimanded for being so rough, and Tsuna pulled away, something in Tsuna's chest is lighter and from the way Kyouya's shoulders relaxed and he grinned, he felt it too.

This happened four more times, anytime that Kyouya and Tsuna were left alone. Their fighting escalated quickly, Tsuna's confused frustration quickly melting away as Kyouya started to teach while they wrestled. Tsuna started to feel less broken, less trapped, even though he were yelled at and taken away from his - he was pretty sure, he could feel it, it felt right, it felt close, it felt like his- guardian everytime someone found them. They burnt the walls, they were denied playtime and dessert. They were even kept away from each other and forced to play with the other guardians. Kyouya even ended up with bruises, and Tsuna, tiny almost unnoticeable flame burns mixed with the ice scars. Everytime a person found them his anger and sadness swirled the scars, and only his fathers and the Arcobaleno seemed to ignore them, everyone else held a hint of disgust or unease when they saw him. It made Tsuna so MAD! Because they probably looked at Xanxus like that too and there was nothing wrong with them!

The fourth time, Reborn stalked into the room having felt the two juvenile flames of his students rise. He was spitting flames when he found Tsuna on the floor, sparkling orange with a serious expression, and Kyouya standing over him, his little wooden tonfa pressed against Tsuna's hands over his chest. He growls even as he yanks the older boy off of Tsuna. "Go to your uncle right now. He's in the hall. If I catch you doing that again without guidance I will send you back to Namimori before you can say Kami Korosu. Do you understand?" Reborn roared, like fire from a pipe. Smooth and loud in all that it was soft. Kyouya bristled, especially at the tone, especially because he trusted the hitman to understand.

"He was helping!" Tsuna barked back, wanting to correct reborn, but absolutely melting into the Hitman's arms. He missed being held properly. Reborn stiffened, and ground his teeth.

"You will not do this again without guidance do you understand?"

And something in Tsuna clicked, and flipped, and that hot space that made him feel grown-up purred. "We understand Reborn, don't we Kyouya?" And something thrummed when the cloud nodded and left to his Uncle waiting for him.

"He needs to fight, Uncle." Kyouya explains, "He wants strength." Fon looked at his nephew, wondering what changed. Because Kyouya wasn't insisting that Tsuna was weak and needed to get stronger, but that the child wanted to get stronger, and thus was already strong.

With a sigh, Fon touched Kyouya's head gently, ignoring that Kyouya had stopped pulling away finally, "I agree with you, little dragon." He explained. "But this is not something I am able to step in on. I did not know Tsunayoshi before the incident with the ice, they would not take my advice to heart." Fon sighed again, "Besides, I have a favour to fulfil for the brothers, they may listen to my advice once I have fulfilled it."

"Why are herders so blind? Why do they follow so blindly?" Kyouya growled, frustrated at more than just the adults, but the children too.

Fon smiled, softly because Kyouya was so honest. But also strained because it was the truth. "Because they care, ever so much. Because they were scared, and they can't let it happen again."

Kyouya didn't understand, he just watched as Tsuna flopped in his father's arms, flames flickering in his eyes and flashing red in a way that made Kyouya's gut clench.

"Your sky is going to break if we don't do something." Kyouya, blunt as always, explained one morning right before their lessons started. As usual Tsuna had not been allowed to join them.

For a moment, fury boiled in the room, and Hayato stood up throwing his chair back in the process. "What the fuck are you insinuating, bastard, given you're the one who's been caught beating him in dark corners of the mansion?" He exclaimed.

Kyouya raised a brow, "I thought you were intelligent, I am not threatening your sky, or are you actually stupid?"

Hayato lunged forward, almost pitching himself across the table that acted as Kyouya's desk when Takeshi grabbed his arm and Mukuro stepped forward. "It figured you'd notice and bring it up before us. Though, you should know better than any that saying he'll break is going to set off the storm." Mukuro purred dangerously, no laughter of jokes, because this was serious for the outsider to mention it.

"Hn," Kyouya smirked as he crossed his arms over his chest and all four boys took their seats again. "So you did notice. I had wondered given how you've all abandoned your sky."

Now he was playing and Hayato seethed in his seat. "He's ourI sky! Of course we noticed, it's in our hearts, and heads, and guts. We can't ignore it even if we wanted to. He is ours." Hayato explains. "But what the hell are we supposed to do when the adults keep us away and exhausted. I can barely eat when dinner comes. Nevermind heal the sky."

"It's arrogant of you of all people to waltz in and presume to know us." Takeshi explains, hissing his words. "It's only the stupid adults who can't see it too full of fear. Tsuna needs to be with us, to harmonize, to work hard, to be loved. He's being smothered by all this fear!" Kyouya riled him in ways no one has before. Riled everyone up! It was good for Takeshi's control as the rain, but bad for his job as the rain. "We don't know what to do."

To be honest, Kyouya himself didn't know, he had expected more of a fight, but it seemed these children were growing up. "Well we're elements, we should just do as we are inclined." He shrugged, uncomfortable now talking as if Tsuna meant the same to him as he did to the others.

"Pfft, as if we aren't doing that already." Hayato scoffed, kicking his foot our and shifting the desk beside him in frustration. "The adults aren't letting us. And our dreamland isn't perfect."

"Or are we not trying hard enough." Mukuro muttered, eyeing up the temperamental 8 year old before him. "If the little ball of fury here and I create a diversion, shield, and create a space for our sky, could you two heal and give him the release he needs?"

Hayato's immediate reaction was to round on Mukuro and scream, but then he thought about it. "I am the storm; I am supposed to give my sky a reprieve that he needs, and rage where he can't. Chaos is in my nature so I could do that." his face falls into contemplation.

"Kufufufu, and it is in my nature to shield and misdirect." Mukuro's felt sweat bead on his neck, excitement running through him. "But the question is why we should trust you, you two are the newest, and while Takeshi has his ties, has already given himself to our sky, you have not."

Kyouya knows this is the moment, to stay or leave. He knows in his hear that there really is no contest or question; when Reborn had threatened to throw him back to Japan, Kyouya's vision had flooded purple, even the idea of being forced for far away from Tsuna at this point seemed apocalyptic. It was uncomfortable. It was different. But his Uncle Fon had warned him that Tsuma might turn out to be his sky, and that it would be a difficult feeling. So, looking up into the hopeful, distrustful eyes of the children before him, Kyouya held up his hands, empty until violet flames started pouring out, like clouds over a mountain they continued to pour and light the room with oppressive, possessing pressure.

"Because, he is not free, he is bound and tied and tired. And it makes me itch, it makes me want to tear this mansion appart. He is my sky now too. Because his well-being will always be greater than mine. If the sky is free, then so am I."

Mukuro was the first to react, a grin spreading across his face, marvelling at the nature of his sky, at the power he had to drag elements close and give them a home. He was laughing even as Hayato and Takeshi were forced into awed silence. But slowly, slowly the room was filled with flames, all pushing and pressuring and filling them with a drive towards one goal - the health of their sky.

The mansion would not understand what happened, why lights flickered and all their flame-technology spluttered and glowed that night. Somewhere in the mindscape he shared with his Guardians, Tsuna would understand. Sitting in Xanxus' arms at bed time he just started bawling, the scars on his arms swirling like the flames he could wield. Relief swept through his heart. He didn't know what would happen, but he knew suddenly that his Guardians had grown, and they were going to make him feel normal again. Xanxus could feel a change coming, thrumming from Tsuna like a heartbeat, and he couldn't help but grin even as he calmed the littlest sky .

The next morning, Hayato and Takeshi work Tsuna up and walked with him to breakfast, they noticed how buzzed and happy he was, and they knew their decision last night was the right one. They hadn't told Tsuna what was happening in their dreams, but he was their sky and he just knew things. "Good morning," He had greeted, so happy to see his guardians, so happy to touch them and know things would be okay.

"Good morning, Tsuna." Both boys chimed. The three walked hand-in hand to the dining hall, all of them happy and smiling. Smiling because they could feel the thrumming, curious feeling of their other two members, getting up to trouble, Tsuna was sure.

Before the children had gone to bed the night before, Hayato and Kyouya had snuck around the mansion and set up their trap. Set it up for that the children's wing, which had monitoring equipment built in, would stream not only to security, but to every TV in the mansion. And there were plenty, each room had at least one, and some rooms had multiple monitors and set-ups. It took them a long time to do it, but with Lavina in on the plan -so much as Hayato telling her they were going to do something to help Tsuna and nothing more -no one knew the children were out of bed late.

As it was, Mukuro was cackling as he and Kyouya made their way to the front foyer, somewhere they were explicitly not allowed to rough-play. "Kufufufufu, are you ready?"

"Kami Korosu." Kyouya grinned, bloodthirsty as much as an 8 year old could be, and flying at Mukuro even as the older boy spun his trident wickedly.

"Maaa, always so dramatic, birdie."

And they clashed

The mansion rocked and everyone was on their feet in the next instant. Tsuna and Hayato ducked under the table, even as another Tsuna suddenly appeared with Takeshi and was escorted away with the rest of the adults. Guns were pulled and yelling rose. Tsuna kept quiet only because Hayato was grinning and holding a hand over his mouth.

When the room was emptied, Hayato dragged Tsuna with him. "Come on, Tsuna, it's time for you and Kyouya to show off for the adults. We're going to show them that you are the tenth and you don't need to be protected anymore."

Tsuna grinned, running along with his storm. People were passing them as if they weren't there, running and yelling "It's Kyouya and Mukuro again!". Tsuna was a little worried that this two guardians would get in real trouble this time, but he needed to concentrate.

Because he was shoved into the children's wing, and Hayato ran off with a grin.

Kyouya was waiting, a grin and spinning tonfa in his hands. Tsuna heard banging and yelling in the observatory, and saw his father, Enrico screaming at the glass, trying to burn it. But the glass was made to withstand flames. Tsuna got mad, mad that they were trying to make him sit again make him sad again.

So when Kyouya lit his tonfa with his young, spluttering flames Tsuna just launched himself forward, frustrated tears already welling up. As he flew, hands lit with his glittering sky games, all the mansion TVs clicked on.

Kyouya is quietly vindictive that the adults are watching. That this room has been streamed around the mansion. Hayato might be a puppy, and Mukuro might be a little too possessive for Kyouya - whose entire flame personality was his possessiveness - but both of them understood what Tsuna needed better than Takeshi or Kyouya himself could at this point. Once Kyouya had explained what Tsuna needed, why he was acting why he was the boys didn't hesitated. They'd set it up so Tsuna could have his angst out, and the adults could see the mistakes they had made.

Once they understood - and they understood quickly really - they were angry too, and they had only so much power over Vongola and the Arcobaleno right now. But they were smart, and they had access to the entire mansion.

So this fight, this desperate, messy, flaming fight was being broadcast to everyone in the mansion. Mukuro and Hayato had announced it, a quietly contemplative but furious Takeshi in the background, opening the wrathful spinning to the world and the adults stopped. They stopped and they watched.

Tsuna was ardent. He was beautiful, he was wrathful and hurt. But he was a spinning, Hyper Dying Will wielding child of unimaginable potential and he had been hurt. Unintentionally, but still hurt. And with Kyouya by his side, Tsuna had finally been allowed to feel all he had been forced to neglect while on ice, and after.

Kyouya would later understand what happened as his solidifying himself to Tsuna's side. He understood better than most how fury and pain and mostly fear would gather up and make you testy. He knew how fear bred more fear. So he fought. He pushed, he allowed Tsuna to finally scream and cry and be a ferocious and terrified ball of sky flames instead of the protected, cotton-glove handled wound he had become upon breaking free from the ice. He let Tsuna pound on him, he took the brunt, he let the fire burn out.

"I was so scared." Tsuna finally cried as his flames burnt out, leaving behind iridescent golden irises and fists clenched to his cloud. "I didn't know what to do, I was so scared, and everyone is treating me like I'm still in the ice."

Kyouya held the boy close, because this, this was himself a mere five years ago when his powers and flames came forth and his uncle saved him. He would not embarrass this young man stuck in a six-year-old's body by reprimanding his tears. "And I will never treat you like that." He promised instead. "You are an omnivore, and you will always be that to me."

I realize this is short and a long time coming. But this chapter was tricky to write. There were A LOT of loose ends I needed to tie up, a lot of clashing personalities t write and write WELL and a lot of plot to move forward. Even if you don't see it yet, this chapter really sets up the next BIG set of chapters.

So please enjoy, I appreciate all of you more than I could ever explain.

Bleach-ed-Na-tsu