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Sawada Tsunayoshi, aka Tsuna, is a normal kid. Well, he likes to think he is, anyway. In reality, Tsuna is more than a little odd. A constantly absent father and an airhead mother combined with his overall uselessness make him stand out amongst his ordinary classmates. But that’s not all that separates Tsuna and the rest of Namimori’s general public. There’s more to his scatterbrained mother, Nana, than meets the eye, and Tsuna learns that on the day of his 13th birthday.
It begins like this: Tsuna and his mother have just finished their cake, and Nana is about to give Tsuna his birthday gift.
“Ara, Tsu-kun,” she sighs dreamily. “Now that you’re thirteen, I think it’s time you learn Mama’s family gift.”
“Gift?” Tsuna mumbles warily. “What kind of gift, Mom?”
“It’s nothing to be scared of, Tsu-kun,” Nana giggles lightly. “It’s a family blessing, in a way. And now that you’re on your way to adulthood, it’s time for Mama to tell you about it.”
Nana stands from the kitchen table and darts off to her bedroom for a moment. She moves so fast that Tsuna barely has time to think before she’s back at the table. In her hands is an ornate wooden box. Delicate carvings of wings and various shapes decorate the box’s lacquered surface. Nana sets the box delicately on the kitchen table before she carefully opens the lid. She reaches inside and pulls out a small, sparkly bottle. She hands the bottle to Tsuna as another bottle appears in her hand. Then she shuts the box and faces her son.
Tsuna glances down at the strange trinket in his hand. It’s a light blue circle set in a purple ring. Pearls decorate the ring and shimmer enchantingly as Tsuna turns it in his hands. His mother is holding a purple, teardrop bottle. The bottle is surrounded by two hollow orange hearts, one heart inverted to give the illusion of wings. Pink diamond crystals sit at the neck of the bottle, which looks like a sunset in his mother’s hands.
“What are these, Mom?” Tsuna asks as he continues to examine the bottles.
“These are fairy dust bottles, Tsu-kun,” Nana hums. “This one is Mama’s,” she lifts the bottle in her hand slightly. “And that one was your Grandmother’s,” she nods at the one in Tsuna’s hands.
“This was Grandma’s?” Tsuna stares at the bottle in reverence. His mother never speaks about her mother, so he knew almost nothing about his maternal grandmother.
“It was, Tsu-kun,” Nana says softly. “It was one of her most treasured possessions.”
“Wow,” Tsuna breathes quietly. “...Wait, fairy dust bottles, Mom?”
Nana nods and giggles. “That’s right, Tsu-kun! Your Mama’s a fairy, and so was Grandma.”
“Huh?!” Tsuna gapes at his mother. “You’re a fairy?!”
Nana smiles at her son’s adorable confusion. “Don’t worry, Tsu-kun. You’ll get used to it soon. You’re a fairy too, after all.”
“What?!” Tsuna shrieks and jumps out of his chair, nearly dropping the bottle in the process. “But I’m a boy! I can’t be a fairy!”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Tsu-kun,” Nana chides her son gently. “Of course you’re a fairy. Fairies can be male or female, you know. Now sit back down, dear.”
“They can? But I thought…” Tsuna trails off with a bright blush as he returns to his seat.
“I understand, Tsu-kun. You don’t see many male fairies in picture books, after all. But you are a fairy, Tsu-kun. I promise you that.”
Nana looks unusually serious, and something in Tsuna’s head tells him that his mother isn’t lying.
“But if I’m a fairy, why haven’t you told me before?”
“Ara, Tsu-kun, you were too young. A fairy’s powers only manifest once they start to mature. Most fairies are around thirteen when that happens, so that’s why I’m telling you now.”
“So I’ll get magical powers, Mom?” Tsuna tilts his head to the side in thought.
“That’s one way to put it, Tsu-kun. Technically, you’ve had your powers since birth, but now you can finally use them!” Nana exclaims cheerily.
“What about my wings? If I’m a fairy, I should have wings, right, Mom?”
“You’ll see them soon, dear. Normally, fairies put their wings away in public to help us blend in. We usually only bring them out to fight or travel. In your case, it’s like your magic. You’ve had your wings since birth, but they’ve been hidden away until you’re ready to use them,” Nana explains, pausing for Tsuna’s next question.
“Then how do I bring out my wings?” Tsuna asks, gears turning frantically in his head.
“Your wings will appear when you enter your Magic Winx form for the first time,” Nana smiles warmly. She continues when she sees the confusion in Tsuna’s eyes. “Magic Winx is your first fairy form. All fairies start their training in the Magic Winx form. As you grow and change, you can obtain new powers and forms, like Charmix and Enchantix.”
Nana stands up and takes a step back from the table. She begins to twirl and disappears in a flash of bright light. In her place is a beautiful winged woman. Her hair is long and pulled back in a princess braid. She wears a purple, sleeveless cocktail dress that stops at mid-thigh. Orange swirls decorate the neckline and lower half of the dress. Sheer, orange opera gloves and purple shoeless sandals complete the outfit, but the most impressive element is the wings themselves. They’re a traditional butterfly shape and feature a purple gradient, darker at the center and lighter towards the edges. The same orange swirls from the dress also feature prominently on the wings, giving them a lacey, regal appearance.
The woman smiles at Tsuna. “What do you think, Tsu-kun? This is Mama’s Enchantix form!”
“Pretty…” Tsuna mumbles in a daze. Tsuna shakes his head and blinks hard. “Wait, Mom?! That’s you?”
“Of course, Tsu-kun. Mama is a fairy, after all,” Nana laughs lightly. “Now, when you transform, you won’t look like me just yet. Enchantix is your final fairy form, so it will take you some time to earn it. But don’t worry about that just yet. We can talk about forms more once you’ve unlocked your Magic Winx form.”
Tsuna nods, but he doesn’t understand most of what his mother’s saying. “Will you teach me, Mom? About Magic Winx and my powers?”
“Of course, dear! You’re too young to go to any fairy schools, so homeschooling is a must.”
“There are fairy schools?” Tsuna blinks in surprise.
“Yes, quite a few now, I think. Alfea is the best and most well-known, but you’re far too young to attend,” Nana says. “And even if you could go, it’s not necessary. We’re Earth Fairies, Tsu-kun. We like to do most of our teaching and training on Earth, unlike other fairies, so I have some resources here to help you become a great fairy.” Then Nana spins slightly, and in another flash, she’s back to her regular appearance.
“...Okay, Mama…” Tsuna’s brain is so scrambled from the information overload that he doesn’t even catch his slip of the tongue.
Nana ruffles his hair affectionately, humming in satisfaction. “Go lie down upstairs for a bit, Tsu-kun. I know all of this can be overwhelming at the start, but I think you’ll love your magic soon enough.”
And with that, she sends Tsuna stumbling up the stairs to his room, where he collapses on the bed and sleeps until the next afternoon.
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Unfortunately, being a fairy doesn’t come as naturally to Tsuna as his mother hoped. In the six months since his mother explained their fairy nature, Tsuna’s made no progress on releasing his Magic Winx form. His mother scours every fairy book she has, and Tsuna tries every technique Nana comes across. But still no luck. Every time Tsuna thinks he’s close, something in his chest twists , and his magic disappears. Nana is somewhat worried, but she also tells Tsuna not to worry about it. Some fairies’ magic takes longer to develop than others, she explains, but Tsuna can’t help but feel that something’s wrong. It isn’t until the arrival of a new houseguest on an early April morning that things begin to change.
“Ciaossu,” says the small baby on the Sawada doorstep. “Is this the residence of the Sawada family?”
Tsuna stares at the child in shock while his mother coos adoringly.
“Who are you, sweety? Do you need any help?” Nana asks sweetly. “Come in, come in! Are you hungry?”
The baby enters the Sawada residence without a second thought. “Thank you, Mama. I’m Reborn, the home tutor. An espresso would be delightful if you could, Mama.”
“Of course, dear!” Nana bustles around the kitchen to prepare the baby’s drink. She doesn’t bat an eye at the extremely familiar form of address or that a baby asked for strong coffee. But Tsuna certainly is.
Tsuna eyes the child warily before turning to his mother. “Do you know him, Mom?”
“Ara, did I forget to tell you, Tsu-kun?” Nana smiles mischievously after setting the coffee to brew in the espresso machine that they apparently own? Tsuna doesn’t remember that being in the kitchen, but he hardly makes coffee enough to know, so he lets it slide for now.
“Tell me what, Mom?”
Nana points to a flyer on the kitchen table. Tsuna moves to the table and looks at the yellow paper. It is indeed a flyer for a home tutor, and the subtitle mentions something about raising “leaders of the next generation.” It’s so nonsensical that it has to be a scam, but something in Tsuna’s head says that it’s not.
“Are you sure this isn’t a scam, Mom?” Tsuna asks anyway.
“Yes, dear,” Nana hums happily from the kitchen as she offers the home tutor (?) his requested espresso. “I think this will be good for you. Your grades could certainly use some improvement after all, right, Tsu-kun?”
“I guess so, but still…” Tsuna shakes his head. Something about this whole picture just isn’t right somehow. Nana locks eyes with her son, and suddenly her conviction isn’t as strong anymore. Her Tsu-kun has always been a good judge of character after all, and if he doesn’t trust the new tutor, then maybe…
The baby seems to notice the uneasy atmosphere and chimes in just before Nana can speak again. “You have nothing to fear, Mama. I was sent by your husband in Italy to help your son.”
“Oh, Darling sent you? Why didn’t you say so earlier?” Nana’s doubts wash away in an instant. “I’m sorry we haven’t been very hospitable. We just have to be careful. After all, it’s just Tsu-kun and me in the house. We can’t have dangerous strangers staying with us. Anyway, I’m Nana, but you can just keep calling me Mama, dear. This is my son Tsunayoshi, but I think you already know all this.”
“Of course, Mama. It’s my responsibility to know everything about my student. I understand your concerns, Mama, but you have been very hospitable,” the baby, Reborn, tilts his fedora respectfully to Nana. “I would like a few minutes also with Tsunayoshi if that’s alright.”
“It’s no problem, Reborn, but please try to keep it brief. Tsu-kun has school in forty-five minutes, and he can’t be late. Hibari-chan hates tardiness, you see.” Nana turns to her son, “Take Reborn upstairs, Tsu-kun. You can talk in your room. Hurry now, you don’t want to be late!”
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Dame-Tsuna obeys and swiftly carries Reborn up the stairs. He deposits Reborn on the bed, closes the door, and sits down in his desk chair. Dame-Tsuna stares at Reborn for an awkward minute before Reborn finally speaks.
“Ciaossu, I am your home tutor, Reborn,” the baby says.
“Um… I know that? You said that downstairs a few minutes ago…” Dame-Tsuna trails off lamely.
Reborn smirks, and then there’s a bullet hole next to Dame-Tsuna’s head. Dame-Tsuna twists his head towards the bullet hole, eyes and mouth wide with shock.
“Consider that a warning, Dame-Tsuna. It’s rude to interrupt your home tutor after all.” Student disciplined, Reborn continues his speech. “As I was saying, I am your home tutor. But I am no ordinary tutor. I am the world’s greatest hitman, and I am here to turn you into a mafia boss.”
Dame-Tsuna remains silent for a few moments before a weak voice escapes his mouth. “M-m-mafia?! Boss?! I can’t join the mafia!”
Reborn fires another bullet at the scared, stupid boy. “You can, and you will. Training you to be a mafia boss is my mission, and I will not fail. You are the only remaining heir to the Vongola Famiglia, so the Vongola boss must be you.”
“B-but…! It’s not fair! I can’t be a mafia boss! Not when I’m already…” Another bullet cuts Dame-Tsuna off, and he wisely keeps his mouth shut when Reborn speaks again.
“Now that you know the basics, we can continue this conversation after school. You’ll have to go now, or you’ll be late, Dame-Tsuna.” Reborn nods pointedly to the desk clock, and Dame-Tsuna lets out a shriek.
“Reborn! I can’t be late! Hibari’s going to bite me to death!” Dame-Tsuna yells as he races out the door.
Reborn follows with an amused smirk. His new student is undeniably clumsy, tripping over nothing as he stumbles his way to school. On the way, his student encounters a young girl. A short brunette with a warm smile, her uniform clearly identifies her as a Namichuu student. The two students lock eyes, and Dame-Tsuna’s face ignites in a fiery blush. The girl haves goodbye and walks off, but Dame-Tsuna’s blush has yet to fade. Sensing an opportunity, Reborn draws his Leon gun and loads a Dying Will Bullet. Taking aim, he shoots his student in the forehead without a moment’s hesitation.
What happens next is something Reborn will never forget. Reborn expects Dame-Tsuna’s clothes to burst off as he declares his love to the brunette girl, but as he will soon learn, most expectations he’s set for Tsuna are so very wrong.
“REBORN!” Dame-Tsuna declares, glowing with power as his clothes shred to nothing. An orange Dying Will Flame burns brightly on his forehead. “Become a fairy with my Dying Will!”
Dame-Tsuna reaches above his head and claps his hands. A flash of light covers the entire block. The light clears to reveal quite the sight. Dame-Tsuna’s ruined uniform has been replaced with a glittery, bright orange two-piece outfit. The halter top leaves the boy’s midriff exposed, and the mid-thigh shorts compliment the top well. Silver wrist cuffs and bright orange mid-calf platform boots complete the look. The brunette’s fluffy locks have also been pulled back just enough to make room for a silver headband despite his forehead still being on fire. Both the headband and wrist cuffs are engraved with flame patterns.
But perhaps the most surreal aspect of Dame-Tsuna’s new attire is the pair of orange and silver wings on his back. The small wings are shaped like rounded flames and resemble the flame of a candle. The orange flames fade into delicate silver edges, matching Dame-Tsuna’s new outfit to create a cohesive look.
Dame-Tsuna brings his arms down, creating a flame-shaped trail of sparkles. “Tsuna, fairy of the Sky Flame!” Dame-Tsuna declares confidently as one hand comes to rest on his hip, the other clenched tightly in front of his chest.
Reborn gazes at Dame-Tsuna in a mixture of confusion, shock, and awe. Surprisingly, Dame-Tsuna is the first to regain his composure.
“Reborn…?” He asks drowsily as the effects of the Dying Will bullet finish fading. Then he looks down at his clothes and shrieks his signature shriek. “Hiiieeee!!! Reborn! What happened to my clothes?!”
“That’s your first concern, Dame-Tsuna?” Reborn sniffs, “Not those wings on your back?”
Dame-Tsuna’s head snaps up. “Wings? I have wings?!”
Reborn nearly facepalms as his useless student spends almost an entire minute looking at the flame wings on his back. Another minute disappears as Dame-Tsuna tries to get himself off the ground. Then Dame-Tsuna jolts and wraps Reborn’s small body in his arms.
“We have to go home and tell Mom! She’ll be so happy!” Dame-Tsuna bounds off, taking flight with newly found grace and speed.
The boy flies himself and Reborn back to the Sawada house, throwing the unlocked door open excitedly.
“Mom!” Dame-Tsuna shouts as they enter the house. “Mom, I did it!”
Nana appears in the entryway a second later. She pauses to take in her son’s new appearance as a smile grows on her face.
“Ara, Tsu-kun! That’s wonderful! I knew you could do it!” Nana cheers, oblivious to Reborn’s curious stares.
“I’m finally a fairy, Mom! Can we start my training now?” Floating in the entryway, Dame-Tsuna is more enthusiastic now than Reborn has seen him in the past week during his pre-assignment stalking.
“Just give Mama a little time, Tsu-kun. You just unlocked your Magic Winx, after all. Your body needs some time to adjust, but after that, we’ll get started on your fairy training right away!” Nana hums happily. “But in the meantime, you need to get to school, Tsu-kun. I’ll give you a note, so you’ll be excused. Do you know how to transform back, dear?”
“No, Mom,” Dame-Tsuna gently lands on the kitchen floor, wings stilling to a stop. “What do I do, Mom?”
“Just relax, Tsu-kun. It’s a natural process. If you want to transform back, you will. It’s your magic, after all. You control it, not the other way around,” Nana explains.
Dame-Tsuna closes his eyes, and in a bright flash, Tsuna is back in his ruined uniform, wings nowhere to be seen. “My uniform!” Dame-Tsuna shouts, rushing up the stairs to change.
Reborn watches his bumbling new student and his giggling mother. Fairies? Magic Winx? It would seem that Reborn’s new assignment is shaping up to be quite the experience. Not that it matters, of course. He’s the world’s number one hitman, after all. Fairies and folklore can’t stop him from completing his mission.
(Some years in the future, Reborn will reassess this opinion and find it to be 100%, completely correct, no matter what his snarky student says.
“The Magic Dimension completely threw you for a loop. You can’t lie to me, Reborn. I’ll know .”
“Shut up, Sparkly-Tsuna. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll get back to work. If you use magic to do your paperwork, I’ll chase you and your guardians to Moscow and back in your swimsuits.”
“Reborn! That’s not fair at all!”
“Back to work, Sparkly-Tsuna. That paperwork isn’t going to do itself.”
“Fine, but will you stop calling me that. I’m not that sparkly anymore, you know.”
“Would you prefer Dame-Tsuna, then?”
“Ugh… Fine, Sparkly-Tsuna it is, I guess.”
“Glad you agree. Now finish that paperwork before Leon decides he needs more target practice.”
“Hiiieee! I’m going, I’m going. Don’t shoot at me! I’m working, see! Reborn…!”)