Hello, it has been a while since my last update and suddenly hoho a new story. Well this is just most likely to be like two shots story depending on the situation. Anyway, please enjoy XD
Title: Where there is cloud, there will be rain.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Warning: Unbeta and horrible grammar…sighhh
Yoshida Shizue stared at the advertisement with slight interest. Humming softly she read the content and mentally estimated her schedule. Living alone could be hard for someone like Shizue caliber. The girl never knew nor met her birth father, learning that person was no longer alive before she was born. She also recently grieved from the last parental figure in her life. Her mother had involved in a tragic accident thus leaving the raven haired girl alone. No other family members she knew since both her parents were come from small family.
Being an independent girl, living alone was not that hard for Shizue. She could manage housework easily but sadly the teenage girl barely cooked something edible and the most successful food she only managed was rice ball. That happened after various attempts beginning from kindergarten time until she ended her elementary school.
Most of her foods were takes out or instant noodles. The girl most likely didn't want to spend rest of her life by consuming rice balls only.
To get other food, she needed the money. While her mother did left with some savings and a small apartment for two people, she still needed the currency for paying utilities and other necessity.
Without any doubt, she grabbed the paper from the wall and went into the building.
Sushi sounded nice for tonight dinner and of course she would buy the cheapest one.
"Yoshida, this one is for large table at the back and this one is for that man at the corner," said the shop owner, Yamamoto Tsuyoshi.
"Alright boss," Shizue grabbed the plates and went to the designated table. With a warm smile, she placed the plates to the customers.
It had been already one month since Shizue managed to get the part time job as waitress or kitchen helper at Takesushi. The job fit perfectly with her daily schedule and the pay was also satisfying. She also got to learn some basic cooking skill while working too. Yamamoto Tsuyoshi was truly a good and generous boss making the teenage girl had no complain and she enjoyed her work very well.
While the work was fine and everything, Shizue never failed to catch a deep gaze from the said owner at her shinai when she came to the shop.
Shizue joined the kendo club to learn some trick for her own self protection.
And now she felt slightly worried about it.
Not that it bothered much anyway.
It was during her second month of working as part timer, Tsuyoshi asked about it. They were cleaning and ready to close the shop.
"So you join kendo club at school, Shizue?"
"Yeah." Shizue stopped from wiping the table and looked at her boss with slight curiosity.
"Do you enjoy it?"
The girl nodded and then realized that Tsuyoshi was cleaning at the back of the counter thus he couldn't see the action. "Yes, I do enjoy it very much. It makes me feel secure when I'm alone."
Tsuyoshi stopped from his work and looked at his part timer. The girl fidgeted slightly under the gaze. The man knew about the girl who worked under him. They did some interview when she entered the shop for the first time with the advertisement paper in her hand and in all honesty the first thing caught his eyes was the shinai at her back. The sushi shop owner closed his eyes and released a breath.
Her boss reaction making Shizue worried. "Um, boss? Are you okay?"
"So you join the club to learn how to protect yourself?"
"Uh, yeah basically that's one of main point." Shizue answered and chuckled softly. "But I'm not really good with it so far since it just recently I'm joining the club."
"Do you want to get better with it?" A firm and serious tone came from the sushi shop owner.
The raven haired girl raised her head and looked at her boss. Their gaze clashed; a shocked one from the girl and serious look from the man. This was going far from a mere curiosity. "Yamamoto-san?"
"Answer me Yoshida Shizue."
Shizue stiffened and gulped her own saliva. Her boss was serious and she didn't really deny the point. She really would like to get better with her kendo.
"Yes, Yamamoto-san."
"Good."
Shizue never thought her firm answer lead to this. Apparently Yamamoto Tsuyoshi was a trained and talented swordsman and he had decided to teach his part timer with the arts of swordsmanship. He also owned a training dojo. When she asked the man why he taught her about it, Tsuyoshi simply smiled warmly and ignored her question.
The teenage girl knew when she couldn't get any answer anytime soon thus she kept her curiosity away and decided to ask again later.
She was working at his place while getting living skill knowledge and self defense knowledge too.
Shizue never felt any grateful than before.
The girl's respect towards her boss skyrocketed from that day.
Her skills in kendo later then were getting better than previously.
And she started to get busy with extra thing too by becoming a tutor to Tsuyoshi's only son; Yamamoto Takeshi.
It started with the said owner sighed far too frequently in one sunny day.
"Master? Are you okay?" Shizue asked after another sigh escaped from Tsuyoshi.
"Haha, no I'm fine Shizue, nothing to worry about! Haha!" The man laughed and waved his hand with a sharp knife. The customer sat in front of the man quickly dodged the sharp material and ducked under the counter.
The girl eyed her boss warily. "Um, you might want to put that knife away master."
Tsuyoshi looked at his hand before laughing and lowered it. "Haha you're right Shizue, sorry, sorry."
The customer who went hiding slowly sat up at his previous spot and resumed eating at fast rate before leaving the shop, after paying the food of course. Shizue shrugged as she stared at the closed door and turned to her boss.
"I'm afraid we will never see that customer again anytime soon. You scared him master." The raven haired girl sighed and rubbed her temple.
"Ah, sorry Shizue," Tsuyoshi said and sat down on his chair. He then looked at the girl. "How's your study? Your grades are not dropping with these works and sword class here?"
Shizue blinked. "Nope, I'm doing fine actually. Far much better than previously I think." Having a pack schedule, she knew what was the priority thus she enjoyed everything to the fullest and that including her study too.
"That's good to hear."
"What's wrong master?"
"It's Takeshi; his grade is dropping at alarming rate." The man said and paused. "Honestly, I'm not really cares much about it as long as he is doing fine at school but when I received a sudden visit from his teacher, I believe this is a serious matter. He might not able to play his favorite baseball anymore."
"Oh…that's worrying." Shizue said and nodded. "And he is just in elementary too…too young for his favorite thing is getting stop with force."
"…"
"…"
"Shizue, can you do me a favor?"
The teenage girl eyed her boss. Tsuyoshi had done so many things to her and she never did anything to him, as grateful measure she nodded.
"Anything master, just say it."
"Can you tutor Takeshi?"
"…"
"Shizue?"
"Yes, I'll do my best."
"Thank you."
"No worries, master. No worries."
Shizue wondered what grade was his boss's son in so that she could find her old books at her home later.
Yamamoto Takeshi was a cheerful boy. Shizue had lost count how many Takeshi smiled happily when they were having tutoring sessions. She really didn't understand how come a boy with dropping grades and having risk of not playing his favorite sport anymore could smile blindingly.
"You really can do it," Shizue raised her eyebrows in surprised as she checked on Takeshi's answer sheet. "Almost every question here you got correct answer."
Takeshi laughed. "It's really easy once I read the textbook."
Shizue stared at the boy. "You're just not focusing in your class."
"It was boring and I'm not understood what our teacher said. It looks very complicated." Tkeshi pouted.
"I bet you were sleeping during the class."
"Haha you caught me, Shizu-nee!"
Shizue sighed and pinched her nose bridge. This young Yamamoto was too carefree and the girl also surrendered herself from correcting Takeshi about her name. It really irked her when she heard what young Yamamoto had called her during their early tutoring sessions. But after few times failing in correcting the boy, Shizue gave up.
She simply didn't bother the calling name anymore as long as there was the similar sound in it.
"So, how's middle school?" The boy asked casually.
"What do you expect?" Shizue tapped her pen on her book.
"More fun?" Takeshi supplied.
"It's a school you know." The girl answered tiredly.
"So it's boring then?"
Shizue caught Tsuyoshi's deep gaze towards them making her decided for a better answer. Surely her boss didn't appreciate a negative answer.
"Uh, not really…it's kind of fun too…"
"Really?"
"Yeah, really." Shizue nodded.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm." Another nod.
"Your answer is not very convincing Shizu-nee."
Shizue felt her eyebrows twitched. "You'll find it later, Takeshi-kun. Give me your answer sheet, times up."
"Aw! Give me five more minutes."
"No!"
Tsuyoshi just laughed at the duo's antics.
"What's your ideal man Shizu-nee?"
Shizue stopped from her writing and looked at Takeshi. This was new. Young Yamamoto never asked any personal question and for once she heard it today.
After nearly two years of tutoring her boss's only son, working at the sushi shop and training her swordsmanship under the same person.
Yoshida Shizue was now at the end of her second year of middle school and by the next school session Takeshi will entered the same school. The raven haired girl would be in her third year then. Time really did move fast in her opinion.
"Shizue?"
Shizue snapped out from her mind wandering. "Huh? What's your question again Takeshi-kun?"
"Maa I'm just asking what is your ideal man Shizu-nee."
"Um, ideal man huh?" Shizue wondered while tapping her pen on her note book. Apparently that was her habit when in thinking. She then looked at Takeshi. "Why asking that?"
"I never see you with a guy around and can't help but wonder what kind of your boyfriend looks like."
"B-Boyfriend?" The girl stuttered.
"Yeah, you have one right?" Takeshi asked while staring at his blushing tutor.
"Huh? No!" Shizue nearly shouted but quickly calmed down when she noticed Tsuyoshi send a look at their direction. "Uh, no, currently I'm not into any kind of relationship." The girl answered with a faked cough. "I got many other things to worry about." She added under her breath.
"Really?"
"Seriously I don't want to repeat the same answer twice." Shizue deadpanned at the boy.
"So, what is your ideal man?"
"Uh…"
"So?"
The girl looked at very excited Takeshi. What had made this boy very excited from just a mere question? Shizue asked in her mind and she started forming an answer that could make the boy shut up. She remembered there was one time Takeshi urged her to measure his height. Well he was a growing up boy after all of course he would be excited about his growing rate.
"I think…I like taller guy?" Shizue answered without any much thought.
"Really?" The boy beamed happily. "Like...really?"
Shizue felt her fingers snapped the pen in her hand. "Are you done with that exercise Takeshi-kun?"
"Aw wait, wait ten minutes!"
Shizue rubbed her temple and sighed. Like usual she could hear Tsuyoshi's laugh after their small banter and after few days later she heard comment like too much milk in fridge from the man.
It wasn't her business thus she ignored it.
It was during the opening ceremony when Shizue heard the mocking laugh came from the first year rows. The laugh was so loud making almost everyone looked at the direction. Few second years joined the laugh and girls also giggling behind their hands.
"I hope Takeshi-kun is not involved with that." Shizue murmured softly and looked at the attention gained ground. She didn't find anyone resembled his boss's son but her eyes caught a brunette boy lying face first on the floor.
"That kid is the one my sis told me yesterday."
"The most clumsy one eh?"
"Seems like that."
"He is being called Dame-Tsuna."
"What really?"
"He is no good in everything."
"Wow, that's so pathetic."
"Yeah, right?"
Shizue simply stared at the boy who silently stood up and lined up with everybody while listening to those hushed voice came from her classmates. She quickly went back to her line when another voice hushed about the scary disciplinary committee came into the hall.
The ceremony went well for the whole day.
"I guess you can stop tutoring Takeshi at the moment Shizue," Tsuyoshi said as they closed the shop for the day.
Shizue looked at the man and shrugged. "Takeshi-kun seems doing well by now, so I don't really mind but, why so suddenly?"
"Ah, you're now in third year right? So do you have any preference in different high school than Namimori?"
"I see…" Shizue nodded understandingly. It seemed that her boss was worried about her future now. The girl smiled. "I really don't have anything in my mind so far." She paused. "But I'll let you know when I have one."
Tsuyoshi nodded and resumed cleaning the counter. The part timer simply eyed her boss and shrugged.
"Tsuyoshi-san?"
"Yes Shizue?"
"You got something in your mind?"
They stared at each other faces until the sushi owner scratched back of neck and laughed.
"Haha you caught me again Shizue haha," Tsuyoshi said.
"Well you are always so quiet when you worry about something."
"Yes, you're right." The man sighed in defeat. "Come here and have a seat." Tsuyoshi patted a chair beside him.
Shizue simply followed the request and looked at Tsuyoshi.
"Few months after this you're officially two years training under me."
"Yes master and I'm very grateful with your teaching."
"I really want to make you as my successor…"
A long pause. Shizue quickly got the idea. Her instructor really hoped that his son would inherit his swords style first and she was outsider, thus he always held back during their training.
"Is it Takeshi-kun right?"
"Haha, yes you're right but I wonder how long more I can wait…"
Currently they both did notice Takeshi was really happy and dedicated with his baseball. There wasn't any hint from the said boy about sword play and kendo.
"…"
"…"
Shizue couldn't take any more seriousness in their conversation. With a smile she opened her mouth. "The time will come soon I think, blood is thicker than water after all."
Tsuyoshi looked at his disciple and smiled.
"You really know when to cheer someone in dismay Shizue."
"Well I learned from the best," Shizue said and smiled warmly.
The elder Yamamoto laughed and it stopped once the main door was sliding opened.
"I'm home," Takeshi said and went into the shop which also their home entrance. The thirteen years old boy noticed his father and his tutor. "What are you guys talking about?"
Shizue slowly sat up and went to changing room. After a quick change of clothes and grabbing her bag and shinai, the girl went out from the room.
"I'll go now, thanks for today master," Shizue said and bowed at father and son before went to the door.
"W-Wait Shizu-nee, what about our tutoring session?" Takeshi asked the girl making the raven haired girl stopped and looked at him.
Tsuyoshi sat up and patted his son's shoulder. "Well, no more tutoring for you Takeshi. You're doing well by now."
"Aw…but I'm doing well because of Shizu-nee's teaching…" The boy said dejectedly.
Shizue simply slammed her palm on her face. "Come on Takeshi-kun, you're in middle school already. Grow up now brat and start being serious in your class…"
"Maa maa, I'll try that…maybe," Takeshi said with a grin.
"Don't maybe me Takeshi-kun!"
"Haha!"
"Don't laugh either!"
Tsuyoshi laughed softly and resumed his work behind the counter and enjoyed the exchange between his son and part timer.
Shizue no longer tutoring his boss's son but sometimes when Takeshi asked for some help she didn't mind giving hand to the boy.
Somehow Takeshi was gaining popularity among the students after few months of schools knowing that the former was joining the baseball club and Shizue was more than glad when the boy had his circle of friends. Surprisingly in his circle of friend there was the same boy who tripped over nothing during the opening ceremony, a foreign student from Italy, and a very enthusiastic boxer.
Starting from that moment, Takeshi hang around with his friends more and Tsuyoshi did tease her about missing his only son. Shizue shrugged it off and sometimes she felt annoyed when Takeshi's friends did some chaos in the shop. They had to close the shop early that day and she had to nurse his boss and son and her fellow coworker from food poisoning.
She really hated purple color by now.
There were more surprising events from time to time.
The raven haired girl didn't bother much as long as Takeshi didn't bother her with his silly questions anymore.
Until one day, Takeshi showed something pretty nifty about his baseball bat. Both of them were sitting in the living room as the junior was asking some help about his school works. Shizue had complied the request and while having a short break, Takeshi decided to show something to her.
"See! It becomes a katana!" The young Yamamoto said with a grin after swung his metal bat.
Shizue blinked at the discovery. "That's wonderful…"
"Right? I was amazed at it first."
"Yeah…amazing."
That night during cleaning and closing the shop Shizue smiled at Tsuyoshi.
"There's still hope in Takeshi, trust me shisho."
"Uh…yeah?" Tsuyoshi stared at his happy part timer.
Lots of thing had happened after that surprisingly discovery. One day Takeshi had entered the shop and had asked Shizue to prepare some lunch boxes, saying that he was going for a picnic with his circle of friends. Tsuyoshi gave his approval to the girl and Shizue quickly went into the family kitchen, preparing some rice balls and rice rolls. Her skills in the kitchen also got better and she could manage more edible food than rice ball only and she quite proud about it too.
The day ended when Takeshi went back home with injured left arm. Shizue cleaned the dried blood and rebandaged the arm while her boss babbling behind them. Takeshi just laughed for the whole time and promised to be more careful after this.
Shizue didn't ask the boy why the cut on his arm looked like an animal bite.
It might be just a dog from Takeshi's story.
Time went fast and Tsuyoshi more than glad after hearing Shizue's decision about her high school choice.
"I just can't leave here," Shizue said as she placed the cleaned plates on the rack. "Beside that, I really don't have anyone else here other than master and Takeshi-kun. You're like my real father to me." She added softly. "Thank you, Tsuyoshi-san."
"No, I'm the one who should say thanks. I'm glad you're the one who pick up the advertisement three years ago. If not, we might never meet and have this conversation."
"Ah…"
"I guess I'll teach you something very important today."
"Tsuyoshi-san?"
"I have decided about it long time ago. Seems like today is the day, no more delaying what I'm supposed to teach you years ago."
"But master, you want Takeshi-kun…"
"No Shizue, this is for your sake. You're like a daughter to me."
"Master…"
"Be ready."
"Yes, master!"
That day Shizue officially learned all styles from her master and she was no longer considered as his student anymore. No more master calling since that day.
They sat down on the dojo floor while having warm tea.
"Do you want to know why I decided to teach you Shizue?"
"Yes, Tsuyoshi-san."
"You have her determination."
"Her?" Shizue raised her eyebrow.
"My late wife, Takeshi's mother," Tsuyoshi said softly and stared at his cup of tea as if remembered the memories. "She was alone in this world, just like you. No relatives and living by her own self, she decided to take kendo as her defense form. I always felt awed when saw her determination and the last time I saw it before she went into the labour room."
A long pause. Tsuyoshi took a deep breath. "Takeshi is a good boy but he took too much after me and then few years later, I met you with the same determination."
"Oh…"
"And Takeshi seems very fond of you."
"He is too cheerful and careless."
"Well he is my son!"
"Yes, I know that and I still remember our panicked customer few years back. Seriously, he never comes back." Shizue sighed, remembering the event where Tsuyoshi waved his sharp knife around.
"Have you checked out what is Takeshi's height by now?"
"Why should I bother with it?"
"You would make a good wife for him," Tsuyoshi said with a grin.
Shizue got her answer that night and a chocked tea in her throat. She let the last topic slide away and never thought about it anytime soon. Her boss really knew how to make some jokes.
Takeshi was just a brat in her eyes after all.
There was no way she could fall to him.
"Thank you for today, Tsuyoshi-san, Matsuo-san," Shizue said to her boss and her fellow coworker after grabbing her things from changing room.
"Good work for today," Matsuo said and smiled at the raven haired girl.
Tsuyoshi simply eyed the reaction between his two workers and grinned when he heard the main door.
"I'm home," Takeshi said and entered the shop.
"Welcome back, Takeshi-kun," Shizue said and bowed slightly at her boss's son. "See you later."
"Ah…"
"Takeshi, why don't you go and walks Shizue to her home?"
"Huh? There is no need to do that…just go inside Takeshi-kun."
"I can walk with Yoshida-san, there's nothing to wo-"
"No Matsuo-kun, we still need to prepare for tomorrow," Tsuyoshi said cutting his worker and pulled Matsuo to cold room where they kept the fish. "Go Takeshi."
"Yes, captain!" Takeshi grinned and turned to Shizue.
The girl sighed and shrugged. "Man…I'm not fragile china…"
"Of course you're not Shizu-nee, let's go!"
They walked shoulder by shoulder in silent under the late evening sky. Shizue stared at the slowly darkened sky while thinking what kind of dinner she would have for the night.
Takeshi on the other hand was simply smiling while having the walk with both of his hands under his trouser pockets.
"Hey."
"Hey."
"Haha, you first Shizu-nee," Takeshi said and grinned.
Shizue smiled and looked forward. "What I should make for my dinner today, Takeshi-kun? Any idea?"
"Wha…haha I thought you want to say something important Shizu-nee…haha."
"It is important, this is about my survival," The raven haired girl answered blankly and looked at his boss's son. "What do think I'm going to say?"
"Maa…I thought you want to say something about the next day…well…you see…uh…maa…well…"
Takeshi started rambling and Shizue looked up at the sky. There were few clouds.
Tomorrow would be a new session for school and they went to different school. Namely Namimori High and Namimori Middle.
"Well, good luck on your second year I guess?" Shizue said stopping Takeshi from his rambling.
"Haha, thanks Shizu-nee!"
The teenage girl smiled and they resumed their walk.
"So, you're going to high school tomorrow?"
"Of course I'm, why?"
"Then we will not in the same school anymore…"
"It's not like we are hanging out or something during school before, Takeshi-kun. You'll be just fine."
"Yeah and we will still meet at the shop right?"
"That's right."
"Good then."
They walked in silence once again until the raven haired boy opened his mouth.
"Um, Shizu-nee…"
"Yes?"
"What is your ideal man?"
"This question again?"
"Just answer me?"
"Hm...Oh we reach my place already. Later, Takeshi-kun." Shizue waved and quickly went up to the apartment building.
Takeshi simply waved back with a smile before went back to his place.
It was just fair in Shizue opinion since Takeshi didn't answer her dinner question.
Shizue sat silently at her place while waiting for their homeroom teacher came into the class. She opened a book and read the content silently while not bothering to join her classmates with chit chatting. After a few minutes, the class suddenly went into deathly silence. She raised her head and noticed a certain raven haired prefect at the door.
Hibari Kyoya slowly walked into the class and went to empty seat at the back.
Everyone went to their respective desk and sat down silently until their homeroom teacher came. Even the middle aged man was not comfortable with the situation thus he talked only important things; class representative, the schedule, clubs and sports clubs and finally he mentioning about partnering for assignment and project for the whole year.
Shizue could hear some soft murmur about no one would like to be Hibari's partner.
After few more explanation, their homeroom teacher left the partnering decision to his student and left the class. Following the teacher was everyone leaving Shizue and certain skylark.
Shizue, didn't want to stay much longer in the class, quickly collected her things and stopped once she heard a voice.
"Hey you."
"Huh?" Shizue looked around and found Hibari. "Y-Yes?"
"Let's make a deal here."
"Excuse me?"
At the end of the day, Shizue stayed still at her place while rubbing her temple. Somehow she got a headache after making some deal with Hibari. More like blackmail from Hibari's side making she couldn't refuse it. She really didn't want to lose her only income source at the moment.
They were partnering up for the whole year.
And their homeroom teacher was more than pleased after hearing from both of them. Their classmates too as they kept saying thanks to the raven haired girl.
True to her word; blood is thicker than water, one day Tsuyoshi patted Shizue's shoulder and gave a deep look at the girl.
"Starting from tomorrow please come to the dojo after school."
"Tsuyoshi-san?"
"Takeshi has taking the initiative." Her boss grinned.
"Ah, I see…" Shizue narrowed her gaze. "Seems like I'm getting a sparring partner now?"
Tsuyoshi laughed. "If he manages to defeat you. You're my first successor after all."
Shizue smiled and nodded silently.
She really enjoyed the shocked expression from Takeshi when she stepped into the training room and defeating the said teenage boy was really good medicine for her calling name these years.
The raven haired girl let out a satisfied sigh after another session of practicing with Takeshi lying on the floor once again.
"Haha, I never thought that you're this strong Shizu-nee…"
Shizue shrugged. "I'm not really strong; I'm just having more experience with kendo than you that's all. So I'm using every technique I know to hit you just now," she said and looked at her shinai. "But I can feel that, you're a talented one Takeshi-kun."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Haha I got a compliment from you Shizu-nee, I'm happy." Young Yamamoto grinned.
"…" Shizue stared at the now sat up boy flatly. She then looked at the outside, her stomach grumbled softly. "I guess I'll add strong guy as my ideal man then and can cook too," The girl said softly.
"What?"
"Nothing Takeshi-kun. Let's resume our training."
"O-Okay."
After few days of practicing, Shizue deemed Takeshi was ready enough when she was cornered and her shinai was thrown away.
"Damn…You're fast learner."
"Maa maa…thanks for your teaching Shizu-nee…"
"No, I really mean it."
"So I'm strong right?"
"Yes, you're…" Shizue trailed as she felt something weird from their conversation. Shrugging, she went picked up her shinai.
"Do you have any request for dinner? I'll cook for you as my thanks," Takeshi said with a grin.
Dusting her clothes, Shizue shook her head. "There is no need for you to do it. Next stage will come soon, be prepared Takeshi-kun."
"Next stage?"
"You ready son?" Tsuyoshi entered the training room.
"Dad!"
Shizue changed gaze with her boss, giving unsaid approval and nodded once before leaving the dojo. She felt a little bit bitter as this was her first lost with her junior.
Yamamoto Takeshi was a real talented person after all.
They were now having each other as sparring partner once Takeshi had learned all Shigure Souen styles.
Tsuyoshi kept shaking his head when Shizue had too many questions regarding on what actually had happened when she saw an injured Takeshi one day.
"Why Tsuyoshi-san? Why we can't ask him what actually happened?"
"He got his own reason I guess."
Shizue huffed. "At least he won in what ever fight he is involved."
"That I can't agree more!" Tsuyoshi grinned as he served another plate of sushi to the celebrating group.
Shizue smiled fondly as she looked at the happy group of Takeshi's circle of friends in the shop.
"At least there is no purple dish around this time," Shizue said softly and resumed her work.
Few days later, she met with worried Tsuyoshi.
Apparently Takeshi was not coming home for two days already.
Shizue didn't have any idea what exactly had happened. She was reaching the training dojo when her surrounding suddenly filled with pink smoke. Lots of pink smoke. When she opened her eyes, her surrounding had been changed. There wasn't any tree and dojo in front of her but a weird clothing man with sword in his hand and lots of pipes around them. And the air also felt wet. The ground was filled with ankle height water.
"Time travel huh," The man said making the raven haired girl looked at him.
Shizue blinked. "Time travel?"
"Shizu-nee!"
Turning around, Shizue's eyes widened as she met with her junior who was missing few days ago. He was carrying an unconscious woman on his back. "Takeshi!"
"Then, I shall finish you here, cloud swordswoman."
With fast movement, grabbing her sword from her bag, Shizue managed to block Genkishi's sword with her own. The girl clenched her teeth. Their power difference was too much and she just barely defended herself.
"Shizue!"
"Just shut up Yamamoto Takeshi…you got lots of things to be explains after this," The raven haired girl hissed and pushed the man before taking few step back jumps. She eyed her shaky hands before looked at the weird man again. This is not good, I'm not good enough to fight this man, and he is so strong and scary…damn scary! His killing intent far worse than Tsuyoshi-san! But I can't lose here! Shizue said in her mind. I can't lose here when I already found Takeshi!
"Your first real fight I assume."
"…" Shizue narrowed her gaze.
"Shizue!" Takeshi shouted her name once again.
"Shut up!"
"Then I shall make this your last too," Genkishi said before dashed towards the first year of high school.
A strong defense move but not strong enough when Genkishi was your opponent. Shizue noted that knowledge in her mind. She could felt her back had hit hard one of those large pipes before fell down on watery floor. Shizue barely heard Takeshi's voice as black slowly consuming her view.
Man…I hate being weak…
Shizue slowly opened her eyes and noted another changes of the scenery. She noticed there were other people beside her and instantly she knew most of them.
"Takeshi-kun's friends." She murmured softly as she noted the silver haired teenage boy, Gokudera Hayato and…an older version of Sasagawa Ryohei?
Ignoring her confusion, she then noted the unconscious Takeshi and quickly went to him. Her back was sore and she ignored it at the moment. She eyed the boy and noticed new scratches that she never saw before. Did he fight that man after I lost? Shizue wondered silently. Noting that the other slowly waking up, Shizue stood up and her eyes met with Hibari's gaze.
"Hibari, you're here too?"
"Hn, just recently."
"Oh…"
"Yoshida-san!" Another voice greeted making Shizue looked at the one who called her.
"Kusakabe-san?" The teenage girl blinked at the adult.
Kusakabe nodded gravely. "I'll explain everything later, Yoshida-san."
"Okay…" Shizue said softly as she glanced at still unconscious Takeshi.
Apparently they were in the future and being used as motivation material for the so called Vongola guardian to get stronger didn't give any good impression on Shizue. She sulked silently far enough from the other after they had been released from the giant cylindrical tube. Takeshi was still unconscious and Kusakabe had removed the former to the stretcher bed. There was too much drama and too much knowledge trying to enter her brain. The noises from those kids were not helping. She needed some space to do some thinking.
Or not, when someone suddenly pulled her into tight hug.
"I'm glad you're okay…"
"Huh…Takeshi-kun, stop hugging me." Shizue said as she noted that the boy in front of her was nearly at the same height as her. There was no one could reach her height at the moment unless certain someone and she believed that person was still not waking up.
"Don't want to…" Takeshi mumbled softly.
Without wasting any moment, Shizue quickly landed a sharp punch on Takeshi's stomach making the latter released the hug.
"Ow! That's hurt, Shizu-nee!"
"Serves you right." The raven haired girl snorted and looked at the others who were focusing at their direction. She narrowed her gaze and turned away looking at her junior. "Takeshi-kun, we will talk later."
"Uh…maa…uh…okay." The young Yamamoto nodded hesitantly.
Once they reached the outside, Kusakabe patted Shizue's shoulder mentioning to follow him not the group. Hibari was already ahead in front of them. Raising her eyebrows, Shizue nodded and simply followed the adult leaving the group without bothering saying good bye or anything.
She didn't really know them much other than Takeshi.
"So this is my room?" Shizue asked as her eyes scanned the place.
"Yes Yoshida-san, this is your place when you're doing your mission. You are still staying at your own house when there's no work from here." Kusakabe explained.
"Mission?"
"I'll explain it soon. Please take some rest first."
"Sure, thank you Kusakabe-san."
"You're welcome, Yoshida-san."
The door closed softly and Shizue rested on the bed in the room. Slowly her hand rubbed her back and she hissed as she felt the bruise on few places. Her eyes caught a small box of first aid nearby.
"So, this is the future huh," She said and looked at stack of papers on nearby desk, noting the dates and years.
Her eyes then caught an envelope with her own name on it. Particularly to her past self meant that herself right now. With shaky hands, Shizue picked up the envelope and tore it open.
It was from her future self.
And everything she needed to know was inside it; about boxes, rings and flames.
Except for her other job than being a teacher at Namimori Middle and The Vongola thing.
She couldn't wait for Kusakabe's explanation and Takeshi as well.