Chapter Text
True to Tsuna’s word, Iemitsu stayed. He spent time lazing around and drinking. Remembering what happened the last time Iemitsu was left alone with Tsuna, the First Generation kept the brunet away from the CEDEF Boss. Tsuna, also remembering what happened and just feeling uncomfortable in his father’s presence, tried his best to steer clear of the man.
As for Iemitsu himself, the man played the fool as usual. Seeing what his son was avoiding him, the External Advisor cried crocodile tears, moaning that “Tuna-fishy is so cold to his Papa!”. The First Generation - mainly Alaude and G - found such behavior disgusting. No self-respecting husband and father would act this way towards his family. Not to mention it was Iemitsu’s own fault - if he visited his family more often and bonded with his son, Tsuna would have reached out to the man himself instead of shunning away.
So, Iemitsu was just getting the fruits of his labor. He had no right to complain.
One way or another, Iemitsu’s visit lasted a week. And just like Tsuna said, once he left, Nana hid in her bedroom at night, and cried quietly to herself, thinking her son was sleeping.
Only Tsuna wasn’t sleeping. He and First Generation heard Nana’s soft cries. Then, unable to stand his mother’s tears, Tsuna got out of bed and went to her with Natsu in his arms, face determined. Primo and others shared a look and followed after the brunet.
Once there, they watched from the doorway as Tsuna climbed on the bed and crawled next to his mother, saying:
“Please don’t cry, kaa-san. I don’t like it when you are sad because of Papa. I promise I won’t leave you ever!”
Nana wiped her tears. “Oh, Tsu-kun,” she said, smiling at her son’s words, then proceeded to hug him. “You so sweet. I love you.”
“I love you too, mama,” Tsuna said softly, snuggling closer to his mother, glad she wasn’t crying anymore.
The First Generation smiled at the scene and left mother and son to themselves.
Tsuna looked at the bicycle - a gift from his mama on his birthday, - unsure what to do. He wanted to ride it, but he didn’t know-how and didn’t want to bother kaa-san with it since she was busy and he also didn’t want to bother Giotto-san and others. But he was scared to try himself.
And that’s how Asari found him, in the middle of the dilemma.
“Something wrong, Tsunayoshi-kun?” the Ugetsu asked.
Tsuna jumped, turning around to face the Rain Guardian. “Nothing’s wrong, Asari-san!” the six-year-old assured the man a bit nervously.
Not quite believing him, the musician looked at the boy’s nervous expression, at how he was biting his lip, then at the bicycle that stood near and realized the cause of Tsuna’s nerves.
“You want to ride, but don’t know how?” at the question, Tsuna blushed in embarrassment, but nodded.”Don’t worry, I'll teach you. And don’t protest,” Asari added, seeing how the Little Sky tried to protest. “It’s perfectly okay to ask for help.”
“Thank you, Asari-san.”
“You’re welcome,” the Rain Guardian said with a smile, ruffling the brown locks. “It’s what a family does, Tsunayoushi-Kun. Now, go get ready.”
“I’ll be fast!” Tsuna told him and rushed up the stairs, managing not to trip - his sense of balance improved somewhat since the breaking of the seal and he wasn’t tripping over everything anymore - on the way up and disappeared into his room.
True to his word, Tsuna was fast, and a few minutes later, the brunet came down, dressed for a walk.
“Mom!” he called, taking the bicycle. “I’m going outside!”
“Have fun, be careful!” Nana answered from the kitchen. “And be back before dark!”
“Okay!”
And with that, Tsuna and Asari left the Sawada Residence.
“Place your hands on the handles, feet on the pedals. Keep your balance and try to push the pedals.”
They are in the middle of the lesson on how to ride a bicycle in a park when bullies show up.
"Ah, look who it is!" one of them exclaimed mockingly." Crybaby Sawada finally got a bicycle. Where are your parents? You are so useless and stupid that they refused to teach you to ride it?".
"What do you want, Sarihara?" Tsuna asked his main bully with a glare. Before, he wouldn't have talked back to his bullies, but in the past months Giotto-san and others had been teaching him confidence, and now that he was looking at the bullies, he realized there was nothing to be afraid of about them - they said mean things and beat up others simply to feel better about themselves.
Nothing more, nothing less.
The bullies didn't like what he talked back."Someone is getting brave," Sarihara sneered. "Well, we rectify that now."
Tsuna stayed where he was, unflinching. He refused to be afraid of them. But before any of them could take action, a voice spoke:
"What do you think you’re doing? Bothering small animals is against the rules.”
“Shoot!” one of the bullies exclaimed in fright. “It’s Demon of Namimori! Scram!”
But it was too late, for “Demon of Namimori” already arrived on the scene and proceeded to “bite herbivores to death for breaking the rules”.
Asari and Tsuna watched from the sidelines.
“Impressive,” the musician noted as they observed the deadly dance.
“Uh-uh,” Tsuna agreed with a nod. He never saw anyone fight like that before.
Soon, the boy was done. Dismissing the whimpering bullies at his feet, he turned to the brunet.
“Are you alright, little animal?” he asked.
The six-year-old blinked, not realizing at first that the older boy was addressing him. “Y-Yeah, I’m fine,” Tsuna looked to the side; Asari-san, who had hidden from the others, was making gestures that meant they needed to get home. He blinked to show he understood. He looked at the boy again. “I need to go. Thank you for helping me.”
The boy gave him the curt nod. He watched Tsuna leave until the brunet was out of sight.
Suddenly there was the sound of the footsteps and a familiar voice asking:
“Are you done with patrol, Nii-san?”
Hibari turned around and was met with the face he saw in the mirror every day himself; the face of his twin brother, Hibari Takashi.
“Yeah. Let’s go home.”
Takashi nodded. As the two of them went home, Kyoya thought about the small animal once more and felt his lips curl in a grin.
This was going to be interesting.