Chapter 5

"I'll bite you to death," Hibari's eyes flashed with hunger as his two tonfas slid out of his sleeves, gripping them hard and flashed Isago a wide grin. Isago's eyes flickered to Tsuna who was naked on the ground, unconscious as most students scurried into their classes, bickering at each other.

Kyoko was still lingering, smiling sweetly and poking at his unconscious brother. Isago cleared his throat, knowing that Tsuna might catch a cold if he took too long and didn't cover his brother up with some clothes.

"I'll introduce you to a better opponent than me, Hibari," Isago pointed to the baby on his shoulder as Hibari cocked his head. Why was Hibari so eager to kill Isago anyways? It was a question that anyone would want to ask. Isago wasn't a very powerful or annoying person, nor did he try to cause any damage to the school.

"I'm not interested in fighting babies," Hibari refused instantly, steadying his stance. "Get ready."

"Haven't you heard of a disease that stops the growth of people?"

Reborn's neck snapped to Isago's face almost instantly Isago ignored it though.

"This kid is actually our home tutor, the greatest fighter in the world. It would be a miracle if you could even amuse him with those measly skills of yours."

Before Reborn could escape, Isago grabbed Reborn by the collar and threw him in the direction of Hibari. Bolting in Tsuna's direction, Isago heaved a bit when lugging his butt naked brother over his shoulder.

"Kyoko-chan, you'll miss class at this rate," Isago gave her a small smile. Kyoko gasped, answering a 'I totally forgot!' in a high-pitched voice before rushing in the direction of her class. Before she left completely though, she turned around, smiling brightly and shouting 'nice to meet your brother, Isago-kun!'

Behind him, he could hear the sounds of Hibari's tonfas slashing the air only to be grunting in frustration.

Isago shrugged, walking fast towards the infirmary.

( ˘ ³˘)

Honestly, if Reborn really wanted to avoid that fight, he could've just escaped from Hibari's grasp. Isago was sitting in class, partially feeling a bit amused when he thought of Reborn's reaction when he talked about the disease.

What could you call the arcobaleno curse to begin with? All Isago knew was that it was a curse that enslaved protectors of the pacifiers into the baby forms for eternity. Pretty sure that if the pacifier left the infant's body, the arcobaleno would also grow weak. At the end of the anime, it was shown that the sky arcobaleno revived the rest by sacrificing her life.

"We're planning to hold the sports festival this June," the homeroom teacher called attention from the class. "Anyone want to nominate a leader for this?"

The class instantly turned to Isago, all cheering when Isago stood up, laughing at their unanimous decision.

"Is there even a need to ask, teacher?" A male classmate called out from the back as everyone agreed.

"Isago, I love you!" Usagi squealed from the window side of the class, earning some dirty looks from the other girls. The girl only shrugged, eyes fixated on Isago as the male walked to the front of the class, taking the right to speak from the teacher.

There was a feeling in Isago's chest that Usagi wasn't being serious with her words, but he also felt that there was something Usagi had, that Isago would soon need in the future. It was weird really, usually, intuition wouldn't come so detailed in anyone's life, but this hyper intuition thing was really throwing him off. It was like walking blindfolded.

"Okay, let's plan this out together and dazzle the rest with our skills!" Isago smiled, turning around to the blackboard and writing the events in chalk.

There were 12 events held on that day, each event having a total of 30 points for the winning class. Usually, the winning class would get a cup to show off their glory in winning, but that felt a bit too boring for Isago.

"Teacher, is there any way to increase the rewards for the winning class?" Isago turned to the teacher who was on the side, studying the students.

"Ah, you could if you talked to the student president, but..." the teacher trailed off, shifting her eyes to the near corner of the classroom. It was understandable though, because the student president was Hibari Kyoya, the one who everyone feared.

"I'll talk to the student president for us," Isago lowered his head, grinning broadly before turning to the class. "What do you guys suggest?"

The class instantly heated up, whistling with ideas and comments. Isago clapped his hands loudly, instantly silencing the class. Beside Isago, the teacher sighed in relief, most likely because she didn't have to face Hibari.

"One by one please, I'll take all of your suggestions into account, then we'll do a group vote."

Each suggestion was written on the board and everyone did a group vote. Even for the shy ones that sat at the back of the class, Isago walked towards them, asking for their preference with a kind smile. The students beamed, instantly placing their votes before the whole class narrowed down to 5 free meal tickets for each student.

One class had around 25 students, so that would be 125 tickets for the winning class.

"Alright, I'll ask the president for this," Isago confirmed as some of the males in the classroom hollered out that they were counting on Isago for their lunch expenses.

"I'll do my best to not let you down then," Isago grinned mischievously, bowing in a dramatic manner before asking who wanted to join which sport. It was at this time where Isago was reminded of his place. This was where Isago belonged. In front of everyone and leading the group.

He was a leader through and through. This is what he had lost to someone else in his past life. This was the chance to reach his full potential. This is what defined Isago's existence.

"Akito, I heard that you're pretty good at running, what's your fastest time?" Isago called out to the boy who was staring outside of the window. The boy flushed from being suddenly called, then realized that Isago was asking him a question.

"Not that fast...around a minute and fifty seconds."

"That's really fast though! What talent we have in the class!" Isago's eyes crinkled energetically. "Everyone, let's give a clap to Akito! Anyone have the guts to challenge him?"

A few boys raised their hands, outright issuing a challenge to the minute and fifty seconds boy to beat their high scores in the 50-meter dash and the rally race. Akito's grin widened, instantly demanding his name to be put on the list.

"There are a few girls that didn't join any," the class leader turned to Usagi's group of friends, studying them from head to toe. "Do you girls want to form a cheerleading group?"

Usagi's mouth instantly widened, asking her friends for their opinions.

"That's a great idea, but we don't really..." one of her friends tried to explain their problem with dance and the lack of music. Some of the boys booed, making the girls frown a bit.

"I can place together a simple dance routine, and I'll write an original piece dedicated to you girls." Isago gave a small smile before comforting them. "All levels of dancers are welcomed!"

"You can write songs?" Usagi's eyes widened before clapping both of her hands.

Other girls nodded, seeing that 'all levels' were welcomed. There wasn't even once where a team that Isago assembled had a fight or was uncomfortable with their members. Isago was, in fact, known for his trustworthiness and eye for changing people for the better.

'Not really songs, but more like plagiarism from another world,' Isago kept his soft smile, not releasing anything but confidence.

The rest of the meeting went smoothly, asking when to meet up, practicing for it, and joining the track and run team only temporarily. Isago bunched the files together in his hands, thanking everyone for their hard work before taking them out of the classroom to hand it to the student president.

Without Isago noticing though, Reborn's elephant ears popped out of the school wall, peering at his second student which he had not planned to teach just yet. He had been listening to the whole class meeting, stationed in one of the secret hideouts he had built in Isago's classroom.

"Not bad, Ragazzo," the smile on Reborn's face was apparent, almost like he was congratulating his student for graduating. But the smile disappeared almost eerily, Reborn slowly being pulled back into the wall as the secret hideout's door slid closed.

( ˘ ³˘)

"No," Hibari's eyes glinted with irritation, wiping the blood that was split across his lips from this morning's battle. It seemed like Reborn had actually given the jet-haired boy some whooping on the ass and left in a hurry which was why the student president was now in a bad mood.

"Not even considering it after I offer you a chance to fight with me?" Isago raised his eyebrows in the dim-lit room. The curtains behind Hibari were draped, the student president leaning on the large study desk in the front while Isago stood before him, maintaining some distance.

"I'll bite you to death," Hibari growled, instantly sliding out the tonfas in his sleeves. Isago sighed, not knowing what to say to Hibari. It already put him in a disadvantage that he was fighting with the president, not to mention Hibari was solely focused on biting people to death.

"I'll only fight if you increase the winner's rewards, Hibari-san," Isago maintained professionality, trying to talk it over before Hibari started charging up to Isago.

"Holy shi-" Isago leaped to the side, stepping his shoes onto the couch before Hibari beelined like a bull towards him. Tilting his head sideways only for a few calculations, Isago decided to have some fun. He dodged, ducking down and swiping Hibari's feet to force some distance between them. The couch toppled over as Isago watched Hibari with his keen eyes.

Although Isago had never fought before, the fighting games that he had played in his previous life were enough to give him knowledge of what moves would place distance. Taking Hibari's backwards leap, Isago charged towards him and saw Hibari's eyes glint with excitement, giving a deathblow uppercut as soon as Isago came close. Already anticipating some of his moves, Isago spun left to dodge, then was knocked in the ribs by Hibari's other arm.

"Huek!"

That didn't stop Isago though, he twisted his leg around Hibari's other leg as the man jumped up, knocking the desk over. Everything on the table toppled onto the ground, their clatters were heard through the whole room and echoed with pain. Isago dove downwards to grab any single weapon that was laying on the ground before picking up a ballpoint pen, grumbling and blocking Hibari's on-coming attack with his bare arms.

The pain shot up his bones and it clicked to Isago that he couldn't block anymore with his hands. Counting the attacks, he pushed his fist forward, grabbing the tonfas as they screeched against Isago's hands, and at that moment, Isago thrust his leg, kicking Hibari directly in the stomach. Isago wheezed, controlling his breaths like how he usually did when running.

Everything was ringing in Isago's ear as he yanked a single tonfa from Hibari's arm, lunging forward and using the back of the tonfa to stab into the stomach of Hibari. His opponent punched back in furry, almost spilling some of Isago's guts as his saliva flew out of his mouth. Clenching his teeth together and slamming his forehead towards Hibari's, Isago made sure to grab the collar of Hibari's uniform.

Blood trickled out of Hibari's mouth as they coughed in the messed-up room, holding back their punches. Isago would have lost and he knew it himself. Hibari was only weakened because of his intense workout with Reborn.

"In...crease the rewards," Isago groaned, throwing Hibari's collar and body onto the ground, wiping his bloody teeth with his sleeve. Hibari's gray eyes penetrated Isago's face, smirking despite his inability to stand up because the place that Isago had slammed the tonfas in were the knees.

"Who knew that the herbivore's brother would enjoy biting people to death," Hibari pushed himself up, but soon fell down because his leg was broken. It was twisted backward, his foot facing the sky when the leg was underneath his body. Isago scoffed, feeling the rush of adrenaline die down in his veins as he slowly calmed them with his box breathing formation. When the blood in his veins slightly cooled down, he realized that he was grinning.

'Holy shit, blood hefty murders, do I actually enjoy fighting?'

The grin on his face was carved so deeply with the sparkle in his eyes that it could scare anyone off.

"We'll have a rematch if you increase the rewards," Isago threw the tonfa in Hibari's direction before turning towards the exit. "By that time, I'll also have improved to further amuse you."

"No," Hibari answered curtly, the smirk never wiping off of his face.

"I know you want to fight me, and I'm giving you the chance to," Isago spit back, golden eyes flickering back to the man laying on the ground.

"I'll bite you to death the next time we fight," Hibari said.

It took Isago a moment to understand what Hibari was playing at, then realized that Hibari's full words were, 'No, I'll be the one to smack your ass' instead of, 'No, I won't increase the rewards.' Isago felt stupid, then lifted the corner of his mouth purposefully with the burning embarrassment flaming inside his stomach.

"Good," Isago replied, walking out of the room.

The moment he slammed the door behind him, Isago collapsed, spitting out the blood that he was holding back from the fight.

"Hah...hah..."

The tingle of pain was still there, craving itself into his bones, especially in his arms. It writhed in his skin, shooting up like droplets of lava. Isago had bitten his tongue when Hibari punched him, though he returned the favour and clenched his teeth afterwards. The damage was already done though.

"Ragazzo, you've gone too far this time."

He heard a voice, smiling bitterly after knowing that there was only one person that would call him 'Ragazzo.'

"What was I supposed to do then? Run when I knew that he was weakened by you?" Isago slowly lifted his head, breathing heavily as his vision started to distort.

Reborn was standing in front of him, two hands behind his small body as his gaze hardened at the boy. His elephant clothes were switched and he was back in his suit. On his shoulder, there perched a small lizard that stared back at Isago, unblinking.

The lizard's pink tongue flickered out in greeting.

"A good leader will not die first in order to protect his family," Reborn said, walking closer and Leon transformed into a large open car without the roof. The car was green as Leon's eyes appeared in front of the vehicle, staring at Isago with an amused smile.

"I thought you were only here to teach Tsuna about becoming a good leader?" Isago chuckled, feeling his body lifted up by Reborn's small arms and tossed into the car. Isago held in a wince, the wound on his tongue reopening as blood lingered in his mouth, making him quease.

"You are both my students," Reborn said simply, not looking back at Isago as he hopped onto the front of the car, Leon beginning to move through the empty halls. Isago's head shifted into a more comfortable position and tilted his skull forwards to ease the wound in his mouth from leaking more liquid. Too bad, because the moment he did, the blood forced Isago to choke, spattering out more blood onto his hands.

Reborn only glanced back at the situation, frowning with his chubby cheeks.

"You're weaker than I thought, Ragazzo." "No one has ever taught me how to fight before," Isago's breath quickened, studying the blood that came out of his mouth and was still trickling down his lips.

"Stop talking."

Isago obediently shut up, continuing to gaze at his own blood. It was so...interesting. When he saw his own blood, it felt so normal, whereas someone else's blood made Isago panic. His blood was a vague shade of red, thick and seemed as pretty as the reflection of a ruby.

Isago's eyes flickered to Reborn's face and wondered what exactly did dad instruct Reborn to do. Becoming Tsuna's tutor for the Vongola boss position was a given. But if that was the case, then why did Reborn also say that Isago was his student?

"Treat me with more love, Reborn. I don't even know what I'm supposed to do after Tsuna gets chosen as the Mafia boss-"

"Shut up."

Reborn's eyes were completely dark and glimmering with anger before instantly diminishing them into his expressionless poker face. From Reborn's point of view, Isago probably looked like he was near death, spitting out so much blood. Isago hummed, watching the classrooms pass one by one until they reached the first aid room.

Reborn slid it open carelessly, walking in as he glanced around the empty three-bed spaces, yanking Isago by the arm and tossing the boy onto one of the beds. Isago yelped, wincing and clutching his arm with agony as tingles spat through his bones. The hitman leaped onto the school bed, jabbing at Isago's arm.

"You broke your arm," was all Reborn said before placing his small and chubby hand on Isago's broken limb, his palm glowing up with yellow. Isago's eyes widened, staring blankly at the glow as he felt a tingle of warmth start seeping into his bones. The sun flame, the sun arcobaleno. Was this why Tsuna had healed so miraculously fast in the anime?

Even though they didn't showcase this during the anime...

There was also a theory that Reborn hated using his flame to heal other people because of his past with it, but did that not exist either? There were so many questions, but before Isago could even voice them out, Reborn smacked his own hand against Isago's mouth.

He tried not to giggle from the baby's eyes that were gazing expressionlessly at him.

"This is a flame," Reborn answered, eyes narrowing slightly when he felt Isago's lips twitch underneath his hand. Isago blinked slowly in cat language to tell Reborn indirectly that he was Reborn's biggest fan before he was even born into this body. Reborn either didn't understand, or he didn't care.

Once Reborn removed his hand, Isago swirled his tongue inside his mouth, a strange feeling that there was no more blood seeping into his mouth anymore. Reborn hopped off the bed, as Leon returned to his original form and crawled up Reborn's shoulder.

"By the way, I've never asked, but what kind of coffee machine do you want?" Isago spoke out after seeing that his 'shut up' warning sign from Reborn was taken off. Reborn's eyes glanced at Isago, smirking a bit and answering with one of the most expensive machine brands on the market.

"Roger that, captain," Isago nodded, not really caring. He knew well enough that whatever brand Reborn chose, it would not burden the Sawada residence.

"In the morning, instead of running you'll come with me," Reborn said before walking over to the exit. Isago nodded mutely like a child, watching Reborn's mischievous smile widen.

"Be prepared for hell."