"Noriyama speaking." The girl answered her phone in a monotone voice, staring down at her current work. Her arms were bloody up to the elbow, her violet goggles speckled crimson. The patient on the lab table twitched and she grimaced.

"Kaere."

She straightened, her frown growing deeper. "Reborn-san? What can I do for you?"

"I'm sending someone over. There was an accident."

"Right…right, okay. I'll get the table set up," she replied, poking at the freshly implanted heart in the patient below her. It started to beat and she gave a small sigh of relief. Letting her phone fall into her jeans pocket, Kaere went back to work. It should take them a while. I can always set this one aside anyway.

The girl was a genius, but a poor one. She had created a synthetic material that could be used to replace human flesh and tissue, but it worked better than the organic original. The organs she created were stronger, the skin sturdier. Noriyama Kaere had created it as she was slowly dying to save her own life and had then started to experiment with creating an entire, living human being. She had a few of them, comprised of metal skeletons and a sophisticated artificial intelligence, as well as the synthetic material. It was when this was discovered that Reborn had contacted her and offered her this job. A medic for mafioso that could not go to a normal hospital.

She finished repairing the body of one of her creations and settled it into its glass tube against the wall, lined up with the others. A glance around the lab brought her great satisfaction. Reborn had contracted someone to build her an underground laboratory, set beneath what appeared to be an ordinary storage shed. It was very well equipped and very private. Kaere heard someone at the innermost door and climbed up the flight of stairs to answer it. "Oh…it's you."

Gokudera was clutching his left arm, blood spilling between his fingers as it gushed from his wound. "Are you going to help me or not?" he demanded through gritted teeth.

"Of course. Come on in," she replied, tugging her goggles down over her golden eyes. Her relationship with Gokudera was complicated. They had first met two years ago, when she was still slowly dying. She had gone to a park and had just decided to kill herself when two boys started to harass her. Gokudera had intervened and ever since then, he had stayed close to her side. Well…until I made this body, she reflected as she led him down to the laboratory. He called it unnatural. An abomination.

Kaere motioned for him to sit on the newly cleaned examining table and prepared a roll of bandage as well as some thread and a sterilized needle. "So…what happened?" she asked, tilting her head.

"It was just a stupid training accident!" he growled. "Just put a bandage on it."

She pried his bloody fingers away from the wound and she winced at the long, deep gash running along his upper arm. "Dynamite didn't do this."

"Of course not! It was that idiot!"

Kaere quirked an eyebrow. "Yamamoto-kun?"

"Who else would I be talking about?!"

"Sorry…" She set about disinfecting the wound before stitching it up and wrapping it. "Ah…so how's Tsuna-kun?"

"He's fine." A scowl took over Gokudera's face. "Try coming to school for once! Maybe then you'd know how he was!"

She turned away from him to scrub her hands clean at the sink. Her mouth settled into a small smirk. I don't know why…but when it comes to him, I just get so…not quite tsundere, but outright sadistic. Just when it comes to Gokudera. "Do you want me to come to school tomorrow?"

His face turned red and he bowed his head to try to hide it from her. "Of course! Don't make me say it!"

"I don't know…it might help me decide."

"Fine! I want you to come to school tomorrow so be ready because I'm picking you up! Got it?! Don't make me wait around for you, either!" Gokudera stormed out of the lab, leaving her alone once more.

Kaere frowned, but complied. She was up early and dressed in the school uniform, with a few alterations. Under the skirt, she wore a pair of black leggings as well as a long-sleeved black shirt beneath the uniform shirt and a pair of black leather gloves. Looking in the mirror, she scowled. I look horrible no matter what. There's no making me pretty…just hiding the scars.

Class was awkward, as it always was for her. Tsuna and Yamamoto always acted concerned about her condition, even with her new body. She assured them that she was fine, which made Gokudera turn away from her in irritation. When she had been sick, he had always taken care of her. He had carried her medicine bag and protected her from all of the bullies. He had always walked her to school and then back home.

"Can you hang out after school today?" Yamamoto asked her.

"I-I don't know yet," she admitted, glancing at her phone. "I might have work."

"You fixed Gokudera's arm yesterday, right?" He saw her nod. "What else did you do yesterday?"

"Well, there were a few organ transplants…some repairs on the bodies…and I did some vaccinations. Some people brought their kids in to be vaccinated for the flu since it's getting colder." She half-smiled, remembering how the children had helped themselves to the candy jar afterwards. It almost makes me feel like a real doctor. Maybe someday I can actually go to a medical school and get a degree.

"Maybe we should get vaccines."

Kaere shrugged. "Yeah…if you want, I could grab some from the lab on my way over. Are we meeting at Tsuna-kun's house?"

"Yep. Since it's a special occasion, I'll even bring some snacks."

"Special occasion?"

"We haven't seen you in almost three weeks, Kaere!" Yamamoto ruffled her short brown hair and grinned when her face turned pink.

I don't know why he does that. Does he just like to tease me or something? Kaere briefly went to her lab and collected some vaccinations before meeting up with her friends. Tsuna's mother greeted her enthusiastically, always glad to see the girl. She doesn't seem to even mind that I'm dressed this way. Most parents would hate for their son to hang out with a girl like me. Kaere was wearing a pair of black skinny jeans, ripped at the knees and a little above, and a black long-sleeved shirt beneath a dark purple hooded vest.

"Kaere-chan, you haven't been online much," Tsuna pointed out when she joined them at the table.

"I've just…been a little busy." Being rather shy, Kaere found it much easier to talk in chat rooms and more often than not, she was talking to Tsuna. After Gokudera, he was her best friend. Her eyes grew wide and she couldn't help but grin when she saw what Yamamoto had brought. Sushi?! This is so awesome! I haven't had this in forever! She helped herself to a shrimp and crab roll, savoring the delicious flavor. This is so good!

"There's that smile!" Yamamoto said with a grin. "You look so cute when you smile, Kaere!"

Her face turned red and she lowered her eyes. "Yeah, well…I just really like sushi, you know…" Kaere rubbed the back of her neck and sighed. "Where's Gokudera?"

"I think he was picking something up before coming here," Tsuna answered. "Um…have you…? I mean, have you talked to him yet? About that thing you told me about last week?"

"I can't…I can't tell him. It's too embarrassing."

"Oh! What are you both doing for Christmas?" Yamamoto said, changing the subject when he saw the sad look on the girl's face.

She closed her eyes and pushed her goggles over them. "Probably working."

"I'll be home. Why do you ask?"

"Well first off, Kaere needs to take that day off. Secondly, we're going to have a Christmas party. We'll invite Kyoko, Haru, and Hana, too. This will be great! And we can even do a gift exchange!" The dark-haired boy was still grinning. "What do you think? This way everyone will have a great Christmas!"

The other two were silent for a moment, remembering the years before. Kaere's first Christmas in their group had involved Tsuna stopping her from trying to kill herself, being in so much pain that she no longer wanted to live. The second Christmas she spent at Tsuna's house with his mother constantly worrying over her. Nonetheless, the girl had been melancholy both years. Holidays were always dreaded. Her parents had passed away when she was in middle school and she was still in mourning.

"Kaere-chan! You're staying with us this Christmas, aren't you?" Tsuna's mother asked, popping her head into the room. "You know you're always welcome to stay here on the holidays! You can even bring your dogs!"

"Er…y-yes, I'll be here for Christmas."

The woman beamed. "I'm so glad! We can make a feast!"

Kaere nodded, smiling. She's always so nice to me. I don't get it. I'm nothing special. She heard movement beside her and saw that Reborn had settled into the seat next to her. "Oh! Reborn-san, how are you?"

"You have vaccination appointments tomorrow," he stated simply.

That reminds me! I need to give Tsuna and Yamamoto their shots! She administered them, listening to Reborn talk. He told her the names of the patients she would have; Kazuki, Tarou, Hibari, and Fran. She frowned at the last name. Is that a man or a woman? And Hibari…? Is that Hibari Kyoya? It has to be. I'm not looking forward to that one…

A knock at the door was answered by Tsuna's mother and Gokudera joined them at the table. He rolled up his sleeve without a word to Kaere and let her push the needle beneath his skin. "What did I miss?" he asked Tsuna.