Dream 2: True or False
"Driiiing" the bell rang. It's lunch break. Everyone got up in a gloomy atmosphere. Well, it isn't surprising after what happened. Julie didn't want to leave her new seat no matter what her new classmates do or say. So Masami Akane was being forced to leave her sacred-seat-where-I-can-be-near-my-darling-Gokudera-at-all-time.
Of course, revenge is on the must do list of Masami. And this time, almost everyone of class A wants to help. After all, almost everybody wants to give Julie a 'little' lesson. Not only she's ugly, despicable, have a annoying character, call other names, and above all, mocks other when she's so 'inferior' to them, Julie s acting as if she was the most popular girl of the school. Annoying. Truly annoying. Every participant decided to gather in the school yard to discuss about their plan. That said, they grabbed their lunch and left, of course after giving Julie a malicious look that promised "good" time.
Julie is just eating her lunch as if nothing is going on. But just when the anti-Julie group was about to open the door, her lips slowly when up into an amused smirk. "Wait. I have a request to you guy… please do accept." Julie said softly, blinking innocently.
One girl from the anti-Julie group and a follower of the Gokudera-same fan club looked at Julie in a calculating manner, and sneered. "What? So Miss who's-not-pathetic-like-the-rest-of-us have a request to a bunch a trash like us? Or are you regretting what you have done to our classmate and wants to get along so the rest of your school days will be good? We aren't that mean, aren't we? If you properly apologise to our Akane-chan and everyone, we could consider letting you go this time and forgive you."
That said, all members of the anti-Julie group erupted in agreement. "Yeah! That's right! Apologise to Akane-chan and everyone!" "Yeah! We can then consider forgiving you." "Yeah that's right!" "Well said, Hitomi-san!"
The said girl, Hitomi Aiko, smiled brightly at the praise. Obviously, the entire class (almost) is against Julie. One reason more to show off in front of Gokudera-same her "justice" side… But girl, please be brave… 'cause your darling will not turn back and see you~! (A/N Hey! That sound like a good line in a song lyric! Maybe I'll write a song based on that… just joking!)
Seeing that, Tsuna frowned worriedly. No matter how you look at it, his classmates are just making fun of Julie, saying that they will forgive her and everything. It just can't be true. As an ex-bullied target, Tsuna's experience tells him that Hitomi Aiko and everyone are just giving Julie hope so that when they let her down, it will hurt many times more.
Yamamoto too isn't smiling like he always does. Instead, his smiling face is replaced by a more serious expression that clearly shows his understanding of the situation. Julie is being bullied… by the whole class except him, Tsuna, Gokudera, Kyoko and Hana. But surprisingly, he didn't move nor say a word to defend Julie like he would've have done normally. Why? He doesn't know either. Maybe his intuition tells him so. Turning his head, Yamamoto is waiting for Julie's answer… His intuition once again tells him that he will have a lot of fun. (A/N Yamamoto… did you inherit Vongola's hyper intuition or did Tsuna switch his mind with you…? Question of the day!)
And of course, Mr. Gokudera is just ignoring as always his classmate and focus, focus, and focus on his dear Juudaime. Who cares about these idiots? Just let them bark to their content and when tired, they'll naturally shut up. Although it is quite annoying. But Juudaime told him not to always take his bombs out and threaten to blow people up. Juudaime's words are sacred. So whatever Juudaime wishes, he'll do.
Facing the class' look upon her, Julie laughed. Yes. Instead of apologizing or try to make up with the class, she has the gut to laugh! Darling Julie, are you out of your mind? Is probably what everyone is thinking right now with a big anime like sweat on their forehead. Although they need to admit it in even if they don't want to (but will only if Hibari threaten them to… that's our skylark's power! Yay for Hibari!), Julie's laugh was without exaggerating anything, truly wonderful. Her voice was already so intoxicating (A/N Can I use that word? I mean, is it appropriate?), it is without wonder that her giggle would be 10 time more breathtaking. It was like the sound of rare pearls falling into a beautiful glass cup, the clear singing of exotic bird singing in the morning or the sound of droplet of pure water joining the previous one into a clear pond in rhythm.
"Why would I regret what I have done? I never do something I am not sure of." Julie started under the burning glares of her classmates. "And beside, why would I apologize to trashes? I don't have any weird habit to talk to garbage… and much less pathetic ones. And just to remind you… I just said that you guys are pathetic trash, but I have never thought that Miss Hitomi would so gladly and hurriedly confirm that indeed, you guys are trashes… it was quite a surprise for me." Looking up with a smile, Julie ignored the now fiery stares she is getting. Holding up a hand innocently as if to stop the anti-Julie group from exploding and to show her 'frailness' (people, don't be deceived) with a hurt expression on her scarred face, Julie continued. "But look! It is not my fault. Miss Hitomi said it herself. What was it again? Oh yes! I remember! It was something along the line of: So Miss who's-not-pathetic-like-the-rest-of-us (meaning me) have a request to a bunch a trash like us? Which means Miss Hitomi said that I am not pathetic nor a trash like you guys… well, guess I need to properly give Miss Hitomi my highest thanks." That said, Julie got up from her seat and made an English lady's salutation to a petrified Hitomi. Holding up both her skirt's sides, bowing lightly, Julie looked up with a sincere smile plastered on her face. "Thank you very much Miss Hitomi, for your understanding and for defending me."
That said, Julie grabbed her lunch box and made her way out the class gracefully under the more than shocked look of everyone present (including the Vongolas and the neutral clan). When she was about to cross over the door, the source the petrification of class A stopped and turned around.
Facing the whole class with a bright smile and two strangely Reborn-like shining eyes, Julie smiled innocently (once again, please don't be deceived). "Oh my! Look at me! I almost forgot the request I wanted to ask you guys for. So… I know that you guys hate me. If I didn't guess wrong, you were going to plan revenge on me, right?"
Hearing that, Masami Akane, Hitomi Aiko and members of anti-Julie group's face paled. "W-what… What are you talking about! Don't accuse wrongly anyone you see!" A student managed to burst out loud.
Coming back to their senses, others joined in their defence. The Vongolas, Kyoko and Hana didn't know what to say to Julie's previous statement about Hitomi Aiko and everything. So they decided to shut up and watch.
Because of his super intuition that tells him that Julie is not finished bombarding them with unexpected… statements, Tsuna is secretly preparing mentally.
Still smiling, Julie added the final blow slowly, word by word in a strangely excited voice that made Tsuna rain cold sweat. "Don't try to cover up your schemes… dear classmates. I am currently feeling very, very bored." Pause for the information to sink in the head of every person present at the time. "So if you wouldn't mind… please feel free to bully me as you please. But you can pass the small tricks like putting insects or tacks in my shoes or bag, cutting or hiding my clothes, dirtying my desk, destroying, drawing or hiding my note books, throwing food at me, make useless rumour about me, etc. As I've said before, please pass the small tricks. I prefer blackmail or any other more… mind challenging games. It is more fun. (Sorry people, Book-san need to cut in: Wait, wait, wait! Julie! You call bullying a game?)"
Boum! That's it, she said it. Julie had just thrown the bomb on class A. Shocked? Stunned? Petrified? Don't know what to say? Yep, class A felt into a deep, deep silence.
Once the bomb threw out, Julie ignored (she likes to do that… a lot) the open mouthed statues made from the once human beings called students of class A. Walking away lightly, the previous smile on her face disappeared completely, replaced by an emotionless blank visage.
Just as she was about to turn the corner of the corridor, a child-like voice stopped her. "Julie Nightingale… I am interested in you. Have a talk with me." Guess who said that.
"Sure… Reborn." scrutinizing the baby in front of her with her only brown eye, Julie changed direction toward the school exit. "Want to have a drink?"
Smirking, Reborn lowered his fedora. "Of course. But someone would be hard to convince… letting you go outside the school now, that is."
"Herbivore." Ah, speaking of the devil. Here he is. Namimori's final boss: number 1 in discipline, brutality, always do what he please, the fear of Namimori, the fighting maniac, the uncatchable cloud, Hibari Kyouya just made his grand appearance. "Where do you think you are going?"
"…" Julie didn't even bother to look at Mr. I'll bite you to death. Completely ignoring him, she continued to walk away; direction, the stairs and then the school gate.
Narrowing his icy eyes dangerously, a smile that promised pain made its appearance on the handsome guy's feature. Lifting his tonfas from… the fourth dimension located in his school coat, Hibari's body tensed, ready to pounce on his prey. When he was about to bite the girl in front of him who dared to ignore his great magnificence (No he didn't think like that, but who wouldn't be angry being ignored…), the voice of the baby that he wanted to fight for such a long time made its way to his ear.
"Hibari. Let her go with me. I'll ask Dame-Tsuna to fight you later on."
Silence. Tic, tac, tic, tac. Time passes. Julie is almost in front of the stairs now. "Hump." Putting away the tonfas in the fourth dimension, turn away in silence, walk away in silence. Hibari-sama's movements are always so cool~! Cue fan girls shrieking… "There won't be a second time."
Having Namimori's worst boss' permission granted, Julie carried on (she didn't even stop once anyway) with Reborn smiling mischievously as ever by her side.
Oh! And did I mention that this all happened right in front of every students present at the time in the corridor? Which include the statues in class A who have just woken up and going out of the class went they heard Hibari's one-sided talk to Julie (some people want to see Julie get beaten up by out dear carnivorous skylark). But unfortunately for them, Julie and Hibari's interaction immersed them back in the state of stupefaction.
Hibari… That was Hibari! And that one eye monster got away for ignoring Hibari without a scratch! Can you believe it? Well actually, it was because of Reborn, which presence was completely not seen by any student, except the Vongolas…
The anti-Julie clan was just standing there, open mouthed and in a stone state, wondering if it would be a good idea to still carry on the plan fight against Julie.
Tsuna, who have heard of the conversation between his Spartan/devil/hitman tutor and the strange/scary/strong (in arguing) new transfer student, is currently shaking in his pant. Because, without anyone noticing it, Mr. Reborn sent him a mix of… a sly, an amusement, an it'll be fun onward, and mainly, a gloat glance. Tsuna, please prepare yourself… mentally and physically.
Yamamoto just smiled awkwardly. Guess he didn't totally got out of the shock from before.
Gokudera tsk-ed and narrowed his green eyes at Julie's form. That girl is not simple. Need to be careful around her…
And of course, Kyoko stared cutely in wonder why Julie is giving her a strange feeling… the feeling of loneliness. While Hana is just giving her usual what-the-heck look.
-Namimori shopping street, in a coffee shop-
(A/N Sorry to interrupt but here come the diplomatic talk between Reborn and Julie. It might be a bit boring… but very important! So please do read it until the end. Please! *bow deeply*)
"Dring" the door opened. A young girl dressed all in black and a suit wearing baby came in. Moving to a table in the furthest corner of the shop, the strange duo sat down.
"How may I help you… miss?" A waiter came smiling and admiring the adolescent's nice body. But wondering at the same time if she was skipping school with a… baby.
"Orange juice." Julie said blankly and lifted her head to look directly at the waiter. Making him almost jump from the shock of seeing such hideous face.
Smirking, Reborn (choose to let the fact that this waiter ignored him go… he is currently in a good mood… lucky for you, Mr. Waiter) said in his infantine voice adding a cold glare, "Get me a Cappuccino."
"Y-yes!" the poor man went back to the kitchen running.
Averting his glance back toward Julie, the world's best hitman smiled cutely, yet dangerously. "Your name is Julie Nightingale?" That wasn't a question, more like an interrogation.
"Who knows?" Blunt, short, simple. The answer came.
"Who. Are. You." A killing aura is starting to gather around the baby.
Seeing that, Julie merely smirked. "That won't work on me, Reborn. You can stop the testing now. I won't get afraid by just that."
"Tch. Not fun." Reborn lifted his fedora, showing his black hole like eyes and dissipated his killing intent. "So, who are you? I didn't find any information on any Julie Nightingale."
"What are you talking about, Reborn. The world is so wide… There should have a girl named Julie Nightingale out there, isn't that right?"
"Yes. Many. But none of them fit your description."
"Oh~! Is that so… Vongola's information network really is efficient. Already searching for my background story on the first meeting. But you didn't found anything, did you, Reborn? Well, too bad~! And by the way, do you really think that I will use my real name to approach you guys?"
"Don't play with my patience." Once again, killing intent is floating out of Reborn's small body freely. Only this time, it was much stronger than before.
"Thought I told you that this trick doesn't work on me…" Playing with the napkin infront of her, Julie answered casually.
"Hump. You really are interesting. Join Dame-Tsuna's family."
"What if I say no? Will you kill me?"
"He…" a small laugh escaped the hitman's lips. "Who knows…"
Then, as if it was planned, Julie and Reborn both turned their gaze to the waiter from before. Making the latter who's already trembling under the serious atmosphere seems like he is going to pee under stress.
"…Um… S-sir, miss. Y-your drinks…" finally finished his task, the poor waiter ran for his life. Too scary! Way too scary! How can these kids emit such dangerous aura? Seriously, kids these days really are something! But luckily there are no customers now, or else they will all be running away… Poor dude! If only he know who these kids really are…
Looking back at each other again, Julie and Reborn suddenly smiled. The once serious and heavy atmosphere disappeared as if it has never appeared in the first time.
"So. What are you doing here?" Reborn begins while sipping his cappuccino.
"I want Vongola's protection." Julie also took her juice and drank it.
"Oh?" Now that got Reborn's attention. "You seem pretty strong. Who would be chasing you, making you need Vongola's protection?"
"Someone stronger than me… who wants my power." Julie's expression darkened.
Contemplating the adolescent in front of him, a sly light glinted in the fedora wearing baby's eyes. "What would be the price? It is not free."
"How about information gathering?" Julie's brown eye also shinned, but from amusement.
"Information gathering? Are you good enough?"
"What do you thing, Mr. Reborn?" Resting her chin in her palm, Julie looked at the arcobaleno in front of her with a half-closed eye.
"Hum… who knows? Can you hack into the CIA's secret data base?" Reborn replied with a challenging smile. (A/N Reborn! That's CIA! Are you crazy? Who can do that?)
"CIA? He…haha…hahahahaha!" laughing as if what reborn just said was the most funny joke she have ever heard, Julie burst out laughing. "That's child's play."
"Oh?" Inclining his body forward, the yellow pacifier wearing baby's smile deepened.
Stopping her laugh, Julie looked at the hitman in front of her with a mysterious smile. "How about Vongola's Secret data base?"
Shoum! Killing aura zoomed out of Reborn's body without control. Between his teeth, the baby muttered out with a dark voice. "What do you mean by that?"
"What do you think? I said what I mean." Julie only lifted her orange juice to her mouth and drank a sip of it, still smiling.
"…" Reborn kept silent for a minute before curving his lips upward. "So it was you… the person who managed to hack into Vongola's data base a week ago. The Ninth told me that Dame-Tsuna and his Gardian's informations were looked at, so I need to be more cautious from now on… But the strange thing is… this person didn't even intent to cover up his traces… Not only that, he almost made Vongola's top computer specialists have mental breakdown/heart attack/spit blood/high blood pressure by leaving a message saying 'you guys suck'… Now that I thing about it, it sure is your style to do that…"
"Fufufu. Why, thank you. Being praised by the world's greatest hitman is my honour." The scarred girl directly accepted Reborn's charge toward her.
"You really make other want to kill you." Shadowing his expression with his fedora, Reborn smirked.
"Yes I do." The girl replied in a light tone.
"Now I understand why you want Vongola's protection." Reborn, did you just tease Julie?
"…" But unlike before, the adolescent didn't reply this time. Her bangs shadowed her only eye and her lips were now forming a thin line.
Seeing that, Reborn too stayed in silent for a moment before continuing in a serious tone. "Offer accepted. I will tell the Ninth about you. Vongola Family will be your shelter… And you are a good computer specialist. So when Ninth gives his permission, you will then enhance Vongola's informatics system."
"Deal." Finally lifting her chin up, the previous gloomy air around her disappeared.
"Oh. And by the way, you seems good in diplomatic talk…" Reborn added.
"So?" Lifting one eyebrow, Julie looked at the hitman, trying to guess what is he panning.
"So, I will give you a bonus… Teach Dame-Tsuna you diplomatic way of talking. Of course, you can do anything to him. But don't make him become handicap, have mental illness or dead. Teach that to his other guardians too."
Grinning in a mischievous and totally evil way, Julie teased Reborn. "So you are going to leave your student and his subordinate in my hand? Hehehe… that's not responsible, Reborn-chan~!"
"Hope we have an enjoyable cooperation together. 'Julie Nightingale'"
"Of course. Really enjoyable." Pause. Julie thought about something in a minute. "And by the way, Julie is my real first name. But I won't tell you my last name. Is that fine with you?"
"Absolutely. And don't worry, I will only tell the Ninth about your case. You will still go as 'Julie Nightingale' to Dame-Tsuna and his guardians and the rest of Vongola Family."
"Good. Thank you… partner."
And that's how the world's greatest and strongest hitman made a deal with Vongola's future top notch hacker.
-Class A, still on lunch period-
Tsuna and his friends are eating their lunch like any normal students. Which mean that Gokudera is not threatening to blow somebody/something/or the class, Yamamoto is not grinning permanently like an idiot, and Tsuna is not doing his job as peacekeeper between his Storm and Rain guardians nor mumbling about his unfortunate fate. But what is normal for everyone is definitively weird/odd/scary/strange/phenomenal/etc. for these young Mafiosos. Imagine them eating peacefully in a circle in their class, chatting casually without any threat, weapon related accessories out, death glares or shouting. You may wonder, are they sick or something? Well technically and scientifically saying, it a no. But then again, can dying will flame, box weapon, ten years bazooka, parallel worlds and many other… not normal thing be explained by mere science? Of course not. But let's return to our topic. So, the Vongolas are eating calmly. Way too calm. But you see, even their usually very cheerful classmates are eating quietly.
The reason? Normal students' unusual behaviour is because of Julie. The Vongola guardians' extreme unusualness is mainly because of Julie, but also the fact that their boss haven't replied to any of their tries to start a conversation (which failed miserably). It was as if he couldn't hear them. So after a while, both Gokudera and Yamamoto kept silent. In Dame-Tsuna's case, it was because from the moment he saw Reborn this morning, his hyper intuition makes him live hell.
Reborn was away for some 'bussiness' in Italy. He has being gone for 3 days. And these 3 days were like paradise for Tsuna. A life without Reborn's constant beating, blackmailing, and training sure feels good. Tsuna don't have anything against Reborn being his tutor… except his way of teaching. But hey! You can't blame the poor boy can you? Nobody would want to receive that sadistic teacher from hell sticking 24 hours per day, 7days per week right beside you. Even if Tsuna is used to the hitman's special way of teaching, it doesn't mean that he likes it. Vongola Decimo is not a masochist. Now Tsuna knows that Reborn came back. So what? He finished his bussiness and came back. But why, dear god if you do exist, why… does this stupid hyper intuition is currently killing meeeee? –Is what Tsuna is presently screaming in his mind. Of course, seeing Julie and his tutor walking together was already a bad sign. A really, really bad one. He knows that Reborn is scheming something with the new transfer student, and he is sure that whatever the plan is, it would be against him. But being Ame-Tsuna for such a long time, he still wants to believe that everything would be okay. Hopefully…
The lunch period ended in silence in class A.
-Time skip to after school-
After leaving Gokudera and Yamamoto, Tsuna walked in his home. "Okaa-san! I am home!" Tsuna yelled without any strength in his voice while taking off his shoes. Julie didn't come back even once after she left with Reborn. Her bag was left there, and nobody wanted to take it. So as the good boy he is, Tsuna took the bag. After all, she was with Reborn, so maybe he knows where she lives.
"Gyahahaha! Dame-Tsuna! Play with Lambo-sama!" The annoying cow yelled loudly while pick at his nose.
"Lambo! Don't be rude!" Cut in the well disciplined little Chinese girl.
"What? It should Dame-Tsuna's honour to play with me!"
"Lambo! No talk nonsense!"
"Gyahahaha! Blehhh~! I-Pin is a big baka~!"
"Lambo rude to I-Pin!" That said, the interminable cycle of chasse between the broccoli and the egg begins.
"Oh my! Tsu-kun! Today Reborn-kun is coming back~! So I made a big, big meal for everyone! Go invite your friends to come and rest bit. We will party hard tonight!"
Sighing in relief that he doesn't need to play with Lambo, Tsuna walked upstairs while picking the mobile phone on the table. "Hai, hai, hai. Okaa-san, Don't tire yourself out."
"Oh Tsu-kun! You are such a good boy~!" Humming happily, Nana went back in the kitchen. Tonight, it will be a big welcome back party for Reborn-kun!
Strolling tiredly toward his room, Tsuna sighed heavily. Reborn is coming back, a strange new transfer student came, hope that there won't be any other 'surprise' later on. But dear Tsuna, did you forget that unlucky is you constant companion? Guess you did forget.
Opening his door, Tsuna walked in… only to almost faint on the spot. No surprise there, Reborn is sitting cross-legged on his bed. That's okay. He already knew… But… why is Julie Nightingale, the super cold, bold, scary transfer student sitting on a cushion for guest, in his room, in his home drinking a cup of tea?
"Oh! That's right! Tsu-kun, Reborn-kun brought a friend home~! Be nice to her, okay Tsu-kun?" Came the voice of Nana from downstairs.
Tsuna feels that his blood is turning backward. This must be an illusion… Mu-Mukuro…? Where are you… help? I don't want to be petrified again…
"He's stupid. Your student, that is." The ranked third nightmare in Tsuna's head spoke.
"That's why I am here." Said Mr. nightmare ranked in first place by Tsuna.
"Dame-Tsuna, I, Julie Nightingale, will be you second tutor. I will teach you the art of diplomatic talk. Pleased to meet you… Baka-Vongola Tenth."
The world has just ended for Tsuna.
He now has 2 demonic teachers, 2 times more dangers, 2 times more pains, 2 times more everything! Gahhhhh! Go to hell you stupid mafia related world! Do whatever you want, but why pull me in too? Do you think I am, like, super free? Do you think I am, like, super happy? –Screamed somebody in his head.
"He really is retarded."
"That's why I need your help. Discipline him well, Julie Nightingale-sensei." Big smirk.
"It'll will be fun."
Tsuna, I wish you the best of luck.
A/N Would like to receive some suggestions for the plot... actually, I don't really have a plot. Just know that Julie is a very very bad mouthed little girl... - an excellent way to get reviews~ hehehe
