To Be A Normal Kid DISCONTINUED REWRITING

Chapter Twenty

Chapter Twenty: Coming Together

The Varia wasted no time in getting everything set up for their upcoming fight. They'd been stopped when the brats went to Italy, they'd been stopped while the brats were in Italy, they weren't going to be stopped now.

Xanxus knew he wasn't going to be able to take up the Vongola's throne. He didn't have enough Vongola blood in him. He was a descendant of Vongola Secondo, but it wasn't a direct line. Then, he'd been adopted by Vongola Nono. It was a spit in the face, really, to learn that. On top of it all, Timoteo hadn't even had the balls to tell Xanxus himself.

Despite it all, he was still Vongola. It was still his home. It was still the only place where he could get away with what he did. So, he was going to make sure it ended up in the hands of someone who wouldn't raze it to the ground. Hence, the test he was setting up for the Sawada brat. The kids hadn't ever been under threat of their lives. If they couldn't survive - if they couldn't win - against the Varia, they wouldn't survive in the Mafia proper.

Ignoring, of course, that the Varia are trained - unhinged - assassins with enough kills under their belts to fill the population of a small country. Whatever doesn't kill you, and all that.

The first step had been to send the invitation out. Done. The next step was to wait for them to get back to Namimori. Yes, they'd have home field advantage, but the Varia have more experience. After that, they'd execute the fights. One-on-one battles between the Elements, followed by a one-on-one fight between the two Skies. Whoever won their fight would get the Ring.

Recent information, however, had decided to throw wrenches in his plans. Sawada Iemitsu would be in Namimori, Japan that night by twenty-two hundred hours. Annoying, but nothing more. The red haired brat, Shoichi, had made a passing comment about someone from his own Family turning up by zero hundred hours that night. A bit bothersome, but nothing he should need to worry about.

The biggest piece of information he'd been given was from one of his own in the ranks of the Vongola proper. Apparently, Tsuna - the child whom his Flames had claimed as his little brother - is Sawada Iemitsu's only born son. That might turn out to be a problem, but he could salvage it.

Sawada Ieyasu is adopted into the Sawada family, and, by extension, the Vongola Family. But, unlike Xanxus, the boy's only real connection to the throne is his name. And, really, Iemitsu? Naming your - thought to be - only son after Vongola Primo? Pretentious.

Xanxus did have to wonder, though, how in the world were Nono and Iemitsu going to keep Ieyasu in the dark about his adoption? The Sky Ring won't accept anyone who isn't of Vongola blood, and it's picky even with that requirement met! Idiots, both of them.

Regardless, this little tidbit only added a fourth step to his plan. Once it was revealed that neither he nor Ieyasu couldn't take the Vongola Throne, he would announce Tsuna as the candidate. It was a shitty move, throwing the kid under the bus like that, but he and his Guardians and even Shoichi had agreed that it was the best way to keep him safe. Tsuna wasn't going to be able to stay away from the Mafia for much longer. It was a miracle how long he'd lasted already! It was only a matter of time before he was dragged back kicking and screaming. At least this way, he'd have protection.

***

Ieyasu didn't know what was wrong. An hour before the plane landed, he'd woken up with a looming feeling of wrongness. Something was going to happen. Something was going to go wrong. He didn't know what it was, just that it was going to be something big.

Reborn had been keeping a closer eye on him than usual. This became obvious as he felt the toddler sized hitman's eyes on him for the rest of the flight. He hadn't tried to go back to sleep, but he hadn't made an effort to get up to go talk to his teacher. Hayato and Takeshi were asleep on either side of him. If he stood, he ran the risk of waking them. He didn't want to do that. They'd probably need all the rest they can get for the upcoming whatever-

"Xanxus," he whispered, the realisation dropping on him like a downpour of acid rain. Of course! How could he have forgotten? The Varia basically declared war on him and his friends! Were the assassins already back in Namimori? How long had they had to prepare? Shit.

"What was that?" Reborn asked, appearing on the seat in front of Ieyasu.

"Xanxus. He's waiting in Namimori."

Reborn's eyebrow raised ever so slightly. "How do you know that?"

"Just a, just a feeling," He didn't think he'd ever get used to admitting that. "Something big is gonna happen, Reborn. I don't know what, but it's gonna be huge."

Leon crawled his way onto Reborn's hand before turning into his phone. "I'll confirm that. When we land, tell your Guardians. Don't alert your classmates that something is going on. For however long it'll last, they are still civilians."

Ieyasu nodded, "Okay,"

Reborn nodded back before disappearing. That wasn't good. Not in the slightest. On the bright side, he now knows that that shitshow he's felt looming over the kids has something to do with the Varia. Now, when the hell did they get back to Namimori? Where the hell have they been staying? What does he have to prepare his the kids for? How long does he have?

Will they be okay?

They'll have to be.

He's not going to have enough time to get them ready. He's not going to be able to protect them from this. He's not going to hold their hands, and was never planning on it. Warning them is going to have to be enough. He was going to have to be enough. He was going to make sure these kids survived.

He'd put too much time into them for someone to come along and ruin it.

***

Tsuna was worried. He was really, very much worried. His classmates were back, meaning that Reborn was back. The Varia had scattered themselves to the wind after breakfast, and Shoichi had left because someone from his Family was going to arrive, so he needed to get a room in his house ready.

They were all making themselves scarce and none of them were telling him what was going on. He'd texted them as a group to ask what they were all doing, but Shoichi was the only one to give him an answer that wasn't "don't worry about it". He was their friend, damn it! He's going to worry!

Especially because Sun-chan is back in town with Sawada-san and his friends.

Were the Varia going to attack them? He knew that was the plan, but he thought his classmates would get at least a little bit of time to relax or-or get ready!

And what about Shoichi? His friend had told him that he wouldn't tell Byakuran that he'd found Tsuna, but the timing couldn't be a coincidence. And with the red head not telling him who - even in the privacy of their own chat room! - was coming?

Tsuna was very much worrying.

Being pulled in so many directions had him both exhausted and full of energy. So, he resorted to baking. He'd been reading earlier, but had lost his focus. Practising katas and getting some exercise in wasn't helping, either. Taking a nap had been an option for all of two minutes before he gave up. So, baking it is.

He sent a message to the Varia saying that he'd wait up for them. Then, he texted Shoichi, telling him that he would bring over some treats for him and his guest(s) as long as it wasn't Byakuran or Yuni.

No response from either party.

He resigned himself to a long night.

He got the first aid kit out and took stalk of what he had. He'd have to go shopping in the morning to get some more medical supplies. And more food. He's almost out of flour, eggs, and oil.