AN: I am so sorry that this chapter is so late. The family desktop died and I've had to sneak time on my mom's laptop to work on this. Otherwise I would've had this done a lot sooner. I had a plan to post a new chapter every three weeks, but that's gone now. I'll try to update when I can though.
And to Anello Della Campana, Kasi will never ever ever be some kind of extra guardian, ever. I find a lot of those fanfics awkward so I wouldn't even try to inflict that kind of torment on my readers. No offense to anyone who enjoys those fics.
Chapter II
"The Mafia Boss, a leader who rules a criminal organization. Able to move a number of trusted members with one hand, willing to risk even his life for the family, surrounded by the respect and admiration of all. Seen as a hero by the children of the slums. . ." Tsuna read from the slim book with a strange look on his face, glancing over at Reborn and the gun the toddler held pointed straight at his head.
"Oh, is that right?" Reborn said in an interested tone, leaning forward and looking like a toddler that was eagerly listening to the best bed time story ever invented.
"Don't say that! You're the one forcing me to read this!" Tsuna exclaimed, frustration clear in his voice as he waved the book at Reborn. I covered my mouth to smother my laughter at their interactions, so cute. I'd come early and was waiting on Tsuna to head to school, a nervous feeling fluttered in my stomach as I thought about my meeting with Hibari-san today during lunch.
I'd gotten Kusakabe-sempai's phone number yesterday morning before school started and I'd called him last night to ask him what Hibari-san's favorite meal was. His answer to my surprise, Hamburger. But he gone on to describe something that was more like Salisbury steak. So I made the steak and filled three bentos for lunch, hoping that both of my two sempais would enjoy them.
I turned back to the hitman tutor and his unwilling student.
"Haven't I been saying No!? I'm never going to be a mafia boss!" I watch Tsuna toss the book aside and Reborn climb down from the chair he'd been standing on.
"Don't worry. I'll take care of everything on my own," the cursed baby says pulling out an armory's worth of weapons and ammunition from his bag. Tsuna's eyes bulged.
"You can't tell me not to worry! I'm already really, really worried!"
I check my watch and curse under my breath. I scramble to my feet and grab Tsuna's arm and start tugging him along as I hurry down the stairs. "No time for lollygagging today, Usagi-chan. I can't be late this morning! I have a lunch time appointment with Hibari-san and Sempai-kun and it would look really bad if I got bitten to death for being late."
"Huh? What for?" Tsuna looked at me in surprise as we quickly slipped on our shoes and took off running out the door.
"I asked Hibari-san if I could join the disciplinary committee a couple of days ago. He told me to come by at lunch today so I'm going to be there. I think that means he's thinking about letting me join." I see Tsuna jerk to a stop out of the corner of my eye, but I pull his arm and keep rushing us forward.
"Kasi-chan," Tsuna gasped already starting to be affected from our pace. "Are you sure that is what you want to do?"
I nodded and within ten mostly silent minutes we were within view of the school. I slowed to a walk and Tsuna did the same beside me. I took a couple of minutes to check my appearance, only moving forward again after patting down a couple of loose strands of hair. Tsuna rolled his eyes at me and I struck my tongue out at him. We both started to laugh as we entered the school grounds a full fifteen minutes before the first bell.
Once inside we parted to go to our lockers to switch our shoes for slippers. I still find this part of my day pretty strange, but when in Rome right. A moment later I look up towards Tsuna and seeing him busy talking to someone I catch his attention with a quick wave, motioning that I was going on ahead to the classroom. He nodded and went back to talking with the other boy.
I turn just in time to spot Yama-kun parting from some of his baseball 'friends' with that smile that made me hurt inside. I hurried over to him catching his elbow to lean into him, "Good morning Yama-kun."
He was startled but his smile became a bit more genuine. "Morning, Kasi-chan. How are you today?"
"About so-so," I told him, scrunching up my nose. "I have a lunch appointment with Hibari-san and Sempai-kun today though and I'm kind of nervous on how it'll go."
"Ha-ha, I'm sure it'll be fine," he smiled and then began to escort me towards our class. I vaguely notice some of the girls around us glaring at me, but I decide to ignore them. "Today there's going to be a volleyball game between our class and one of the other classes."
"Oh," I looked up at him, "Will you be playing?"
"Yep," he stopped and looked back over his shoulder where Tsuna was nodding to whatever that boy was saying to him. "Looks like Tsuna will be too."
"Huh," I watch Tsuna puff up as he smiled at the other boy, then he raised a fist and said something. "I hope he'll be okay."
"He'll be fine," Yamamoto said confidently. He began walking again and I let him lead me with only one last glance back.
A few hours later I wasn't all that surprised to realize that I didn't really remember any of that morning's lessons and that my notes didn't make much sense in places where my attention had wandered too far to even half way hear what the teacher said. I sighed and tossed my papers in my bag and made a mental memo to ask Kyoko and Hana for a copy of their notes before I left this afternoon.
The bell rang to announce the beginning of lunch, making me jerk as I found myself facing my lunchtime meeting. Shaking myself from my stupor I pulled out the three bentos I'd made and headed out towards the rec room. Slipping around others who were moving off to buy something or sit with friends, I quickly reached my destination.
Taking a deep breath, I knocked on the door and waited. A moment later I heard Hibari's voice permitting me entrance and I edged the door open softly and went in.
"Good afternoon, Hibari-san, Sempai-kun," I give Kusakabe-sempai a smile and hold out the bentos I was carrying. "I brought us some food, since I didn't know how long this would run."
"Ah, thank you, Pavone-san," Kusakabe-sempai smiled back and motioned for me to sit in the chair beside him, one hand held a pen and the other a clipboard. I moved towards the motioned to chair with a glance at Hibari, who ignored me while looking out the window, his body language more or less relaxed. "I was really surprised when Kyo-san told me that you had approached him about joining the disciplinary committee."
"Yeah, but I wanted to be able to help you out, Sempai-kun. You've been really kind to me since I came to this school. Ah, and after Usagi-chan and Yama-kun I think you are the one I like most." I smiled up at him as I finished laying out the bentos across the desk top and watched his face rapidly turn red. "Ah, Sempai-kun? Are you alright?"
I heard a faint hissing noise behind me and glanced over at Hibari who had not moved, though he seemed a little tenser. I looked back Kusakabe-sempai and he didn't seem to be able to meet my eyes.
"Uh, did I do something wrong?" I tilted my head and watched Kusakabe-sempai shake his head slightly, his face still imitating a tomato. I touched a finger to my lips and thought back to what I said. "Oh! Is this because I said that I like you?"
I heard that faint noise behind me again and Kusakabe-sempai's face flushed an even darker shade of red. Hibari still had not moved other than to tilt his head a bit, was he smirking?
"But Sempai-kun I meant that you are kind of like my big brothers!" I tilt my head to the side and think a moment, "Not that I couldn't come to like you like that in the future. You're a really good guy with a lot of great attributes and you're not bad looking at all."
"Uh, well," Kusakabe-sempai cleared his throat, his face still flushed but not as bad as it was a moment ago. "Thanks, Pavone-chan. Now, uh, you brought food?"
I blinked, he called me Pavone-chan!
But I nodded, motioning to the bentos with their cute, handmade handkerchiefs. One had a chibi Sesshomaru from Inuyasha, another had a chibi Itachi from Naruto, and the last had a chibi Byakuya from Bleach. I was actually really proud of myself, it had taken me weeks to get the patterns just right and then make them.
"I made them after you told me that Hibari-san likes hamburger, hopefully they taste all right." I almost laughed as Hibari finally turned around and quickly made his way over, swiping the Naruto bento. Kusakabe-sempai looked like he was also holding back a grin as we watched Hibari work his way into the bento, his eyes seeming to light up as he opened the lid and took in a deep breath.
"Well, I guess that means that we'll eat first, before we discuss your application for membership." Kusakabe-sempai chuckles and the last of the redness leaves his face. He takes the Inuyasha bento and I take the Bleach one, pulling out a fork as Kusakabe-sempai reaches out to pick up one of the pair of disposable chopsticks I'd also brought.
Halfway through my bento, I saw Hibari place his aside, obviously already finished with it. He looked at me and stood, bringing Kusakabe-sempai's attention to him as well. "You Herbivore are not a member of my disciplinary committee, but you may assist Tetsuya with his duties as his assistant. And make me one of these bentos every Wednesday."
With those words, Hibari swept out of the room and left Kusakabe-sempai and I sharing semi-confused looks.
"Or I guess Kyo-san will just tell you what he decided instead." Kusakabe-sempai broke out in a grin, a faint chuckle escaping his throat as he turned back to his food. I shook my head, lifting my fork again.
"So what all will I be doing as your assistant, Sempai-kun?"
After school, I listened as some of the girls talked about the coming volley ball game as I wandered behind them. Some of them really looking forward to seeing the better looking boys in their gym clothes. I don't really see the appeal myself.
I mean I'd be much more interested if I was getting an eyeful of Xanxus, or Squallo, heck even Gamma! You know, mature toned bodies instead of these barely into puberty scrawny teen boys on offer here.
Hmmm, Zakuro and Kikyo. . .
"Kasi-chan?" Kyoko's voice caught my attention. She looked over at me somewhat concerned as I came out of my self induced haze, barely noting that we'd reached the gym. "Are you alright?"
"Hehehe," Hana leaned closer, "Thinking of something good? You've got a bit of drool, right, there."
I gasped and hurriedly wiped at my chin. "Oh, right."
Hana snickered, smirk firmly on here face, "You weren't drooling thinking about any of the monkeys around here were you?"
"Pft, as if," I make a face at her, "The only decent looking ones around here are Tsuna, my Usagi-chan, Yama-kun, Kusakabe-sempai, and Hibari-san. And all of them are in that awkward stage of growing taller, but not yet filling out. I was thinking about real men with strong, toned bodies that make real women weak in the knees!"
Hana burst out into laughter.
"Passionate aren't you?" She said as she pulled Kyoko and me down to sit on the bleachers beside her. "But then I guess we all want a real man when we grow up."
"Ano, Nii-san might be like you want when he grows up," Kyoko brought up. "I just have to keep reminding him not to get into fights."
"Maybe," I say thinking about TYL Ryohei. He really wasn't half bad if I remember correctly about him, he'd seemed to have matured a bit.
I look around as boys milled around getting ready to play, but I noticed that Tsuna wasn't down there with the others. Had he bailed out?
Oh, no I think he was going to ask Reborn for help. I don't remember that working out too well for him.
"Hey, Kyoko?"
"Yes, Kasi-chan?"
"Do you think you could go find Tsuna? I don't think he realizes how soon the game is going to start. I'll go tell the boys that you went to get him, okay?" I stand up and motion to Yama-kun and the others.
"Sure," Kyoko smiled and accepted the hand I held out to help her up. "Hana, do you want to come with me?"
"Nah, I'll stay here and save your seats so you still have a place to sit when you come back. No need to allow some of the monkeys to swipe our perfectly good space of bleachers." She gave us both a sly grin. I chuckled and Kyoko giggled, heading for the hallway.
I wandered over to the boys and caught their attention, smiling at them before turning to Yamamoto. "Kyoko-chan went to check on Tsuna."
"Okay," Yamamoto smile back. "I hope I do alright. I don't really play volleyball. To bad Akira broke his leg. He was looking forward to this game."
"Wait," I frowned, "You weren't suppose to play in this game?"
"Nope, I'm a substitute."
"Huh," I wonder if I somehow caused that to change or had Yama-kun already playing in the manga. I can't remember this part well, it wasn't really all that important.
Then voices picked up on the other side of the gym as Tsuna and Kyoko both came in. I watched Tsuna as he tried to hide how badly he was freaking out, obviously he had no idea of just what he was going to do. He slowly walked towards the boys and I waved at him.
He saw me and waved back before one of the boys caught his attention again. I turned back to Yamamoto and smiled up at him. "Now that he's here I'll head back to my seat. Good luck in your game, Yama-kun."
"Thanks Kasi-chan," he shooed me away and turned back to get ready. I chuckled and headed back to Hana-chan when I noticed a tall figure watching from the shadows, smoke drifting up lazily. Ignoring the yelling crowd behind me, I turned and walked towards what had to be Gokudera.
Never let it be said that I didn't have a sense of curiosity.
He didn't notice me at first, huffing on his cigarette, "So that's the Family's 10th generation. . ."
"Ah, does that mean you are mafia?"
He practically jumped three feet in the air before turning on me with a hand full of dynamite at the ready. I squeaked and fell back on my butt, eyes watering in pain.
"Who are you? What family are you with?!"
"Owwie! You jerk! I'm a civilian," I pouted up at him. Gokudera glowered down at me and didn't move. "Really! I only know anything cause I was there when Reborn was telling Tsuna-chan."
"Chan?" His eye brows rose in disbelief. "You call the future boss of the largest mafia famgilia, Tsuna-chan?"
"Well, when I'm not calling him Usagi-chan, I do."
Gokudera made a choking noise that sounded like he was trying not to laugh. I climbed to my feet and sighed, patting my skirt to knock loose any dust or dirt I may have picked up. I watched as Gokudera put away his dynamite and put out the bit of cigarette he had left.
"Why don't you come sit with me on the bleachers?"
"Why should I stupid girl?" he 'hmphed' and went to walk away from me. I frowned and reached out to slap the back of his head hard enough that it jerked forward.
"You prick," I growled. "I was trying to be nice. And my name is Pavone Kasi. Not stupid girl."
He turned back to rage at me, but before he could he was interrupted.
"Begin!"
We heard a loud smack as the volley ball was served and turned just in time to see Tsuna miss the return and the ball bouncing back up to hit him in the gut pretty hard. He dropped to his knees with a gasp, holding his stomach and the crowd just stared.
"Damn, well that's one way to start a game," I grimaced. I reach out and grab Gokudera's hand and start dragging him towards the bleachers. He curses, stumbles and reluctantly started to follow as a couple of the other students started to stare. "C'mon Hana-chan is saving me a place, but there'll probably be enough room for you too."
We quickly found Hana and Kyoko who are both surprised that I'd brought back a boy. Hana just smirks at me as Kyoko beams with her trademark smile. "Well, well, well, someone sure works fast. Who's your cutie?"
Gokudera almost feel over as I scoffed. "Please. This idiot owes me one. I startled him and he mistook me for someone else and was going to attack me."
"Shut up, stupid girl," he growled behind me. "I don't owe you shit."
I laugh and pull him closer and push him down onto the bleacher beside Hana as the students around us muttered and Tsuna very audibly hit the floor again. I didn't even turn around to look, a wince coming to my face.
"I hope Tsuna-kun okay," Kyoko frowned. "That looked like it really hurt."
"What a weakling," Gokudera muttered, forgetting all about me to continue watching Tsuna hit the floor again while missing the ball.
I sighed and sat beside the future storm guardian. Times like this I really wish I could do something to help Tsuna. I watched Tsuna as he tried desperately to play better, to help the team to win. Yamamoto looked like he was trying to encourage Tsuna, his lips moving as he gestured though he was too far from us to be sure.
I looked around and saw Ryohei, Kyoko's brother, standing further down the room. I also manage to see Hibari's shadowed form in the far corner, beside a door that looked like it might be an emergency exit.
Hmm, I wonder if Hibari always watches over these student gatherings like this. I know he hates crowds, but this is the second time I've seen him observing like this without anyone the wiser.
There was another loud thud as Tsuna hits the floor again, this time taking one of the other boys down with him as I turned back to the game. The students around us started to call out to Tsuna as he seemed to shrink into himself.
"What are you doing!"
"Tsuna! Do you even want to play!"
"Get it together!"
"You really are No-Good Tsuna after all!"
I bit my lip and watched Tsuna try to hit the ball again. Gokudera snorts, a small smirk on his face and I reached over to pinch him, pretending that I had no idea what happened when he spun around with a snarl. Hana laughed and turned away. I guess she saw me. The silver haired boy gave me a glare and turned back to the game.
"End of the first set!"
The boys playing with Tsuna were glaring at him darkly as they moved to the bench for the break. He spoke to them softly and their glares lightened and a couple of them nodded at whatever he was telling them. I stood and started down towards Tsuna to find out what he was doing now. A hand on my wrist stopped me as Tsuna drifted out of the gym with a thoughtful look on his pale face. I turned back to find Gokudera glaring up at me, Hana ignoring us while Kyoko seemed to worried for Tsuna.
"Where are you going?" he demanded.
"It's none of your business!"
"It is if you're going to tell him that I'm here!" He jerked me closer, catching Hana's attention. I waved her off but she continued to watch us. "Reborn said to wait until they're together so he can introduce us."
"And freak him out in the middle of his game! I have more sense than that," I frown and push his hand off me. "I won't say anything. Who knows what that baby will do if I ruin something he set up."
Gokudera looks me over and sighs, "Fine."
"Good," I nod, "Now let go before Hana asks if we need to be alone."
He jerked away from me with blush as he glanced back at said girl who was currently talking to Kyoko-chan. I smirked at him and took off.
Two minutes later I found Tsuna outside with Reborn, using one of the outside sinks.
"Not going home?"
"Yeah," Tsuna wiped his face and turned back to the gym. "I'm going."
Reborn watched him go, "Later."
Once Tsuna had entered the school building I stepped forward and Reborn turned his gaze to me. I paused unsure if I should speak before steeling myself. If I was to stay beside Tsuna and the others I'd have to get used to Reborn.
"Gokudera is here," I say simply. Reborn studies me a moment more.
"Thank you for telling me," he jumps up onto the sink's rim. "Now how do you know about me? I was not able to find any connections between you and the mafia."
"I-" I frowned, my stomache starting to ache again and I tugged at my uniform nervously, "I don't know if you'd believe me if I told you."
He stared at me with a hard gleam in his eyes, "You and I will discuss this later. I have a student to attend to right now."
I only nodded and watched him disappear into one of his hide-aways. I sighed and returned to the gym and my place on the bleachers beside Hana and Gokudera.
The silver haired boy glanced at me and I only tilted my head in response. He snorted as the game resumed and Tsuna took on a determined look.
Suddenly Usagi-chan was on his butt and looking at his legs uncertainly. He patted himself down and got back up, looking around. I gave him a smile when our eyes briefly met then he looked away.
The whistle blew and the next set started.
"Here it comes! Block it Tsuna!"
"Okay!"
Tsuna jumped up, his eyes closed as he moved to block the ball. He was six feet in the air at least and everywhere our classmates were gasping in shock, their eyes just about popping out of their skulls.
I grinned barely holding back a giggle at everyone's faces, glancing up to try to spot where Reborn had shot from while Tsuna bounced the ball back off his stomache. Gokudera's breath audibly caught in his throat and he moved.
Suddenly I was blacking out while wondering what the hell hit me.
When I came through I recognized the wall of Tsuna's room.
Then the pain hit like I'd had a truck run through my brain. I groaned and held a hand to my head, wondering what had happened. Did someone knock me upside the head with a baseball bat? 'Cause that's what it freakin' felt like.
"Jump bullet!?"
I felt my heart just about leap from my chest as I realized the Tsuna and Reborn had entered the room and were talking behind me where I lay facing the wall. I turned my head to see Reborn holding up a bullet for Usagi-chan to see.
"It's only called the 'Dying Will Bullet' when it hits the brain. The special effect of the Vongola Family's bullet depends on the body part that it hits. When hit in the quadriceps, it's the jump bullet."
I heard the loud squeak of Tsuna's chair and could just see him leaning forward, "So that means that there are other effects too?"
"Yeah, there are as many effects as there are body parts," Reborn informed him while I blinked and tried to push back my head ache. I shifted a bit to look towards them. Reborn noticed but Tsuna didn't seem to.
"Really! The hands and knees and such, they are all different?" Tsuna's face was a mix between surprise and disbelief.
"That's right."
"Amazing," Tsuna said leaning back and gaining a thoughtful look. "Why didn't you tell me about this sooner? Why only tell me about the dying will bullet?"
"It seemed to me that you would likely come to depend on the bullet so I decided not to say anything." Reborn told him simply. Leon crawled up onto his hat from where ever he'd been before.
Tsuna nodded and turned to look towards me, his eyes met mine and first widened in surprise before softening with something like fondness, "A couple of weeks ago you'd probably be exactly right."
Reborn's head tilted, "You didn't depend on the bullet today."
". . ." Tsuna's cheeks gained a red twinge and I broke the silence with a chuckle, before I grimaced as my headache rushed back to the forefront of my attention.
"Ow," I glanced towards Tsuna as Reborn got down to wander over to his bag. The baby hitman busied himself digging out various guns as Tsuna and I watched.
"Besides that was not the real reason," Reborn said somewhat happily turning and aiming a really big gun at Tsuna. "I'll get rusty if I don't keep shooting, now I can shoot a lot!"
Tsuna looked ready to do a faceplant so I reached out and touched his arm to bring his attention back to me.
"So what happened? I just remember laughing at everyone's eyes bugging out of their heads then pain and darkness."
Tsuna blushed looking away as Reborn jumped up on the bed next to me and handed me a bottle of pain killers. I opened the bottle and take two before handing it back to the hitman, looking around for my bag. I always carry around a couple of water bottles.
"Tsuna accidently hit a ball into the crowd and it bounced off the side of your skull," Reborn told me and I laughed, struggling to ignore the pain as I sit up careful not to knock Reborn over as I spot my things.
"That figures," I poked Tsuna in the ribs. "Next time I get to knock you out, deal?"
"I'm really sorry!" Tsuna said miserably.
"Hush up, Usagi-chan," I pulled out a bottle of water and take the medicine. "Things happen and I don't blame you."
Tsuna still looked miserable though and I leaned closer and made a couple of faces at him. He huffed and chuckled looking away. I giggled and pulled back, noticing that some of my hair had come loose. I set about fixing my ponytail as Reborn stared at me.
"Dame-Tsuna!" Reborn suddenly turned to Tsuna and pointed a gun at him. "Go help Maman with dinner. Maybe she'll need you to take a trip to the store."
"Huh? Reborn! Kasi-chan just woke up," Tsuna motioned towards me. Reborn stepped forward to place the gun between Tsuna's eyes. Usagi-chan squeaked and fled the room leaving me alone with Reborn. My stomache dropped to my feet.
"Now," Reborn turned towards me, gun still in hand though it was now pointed at the floor. "I think it's time for our discussion."
I stared at him a moment then sighed, falling back onto the bed as my stomache clenched even more, "Well, shoot."
He made himself comfortable, gun across his lap and waited for me to begin. I ran a hand over the blanket I lay on, nervously. Knowing he'd still understand me, but Tsuna wouldn't be able to accidently overhear anything, I began to speak in english.
"Alright, I tell you. But I seriously doubt that you'll believe everything I say." I look up at the ceiling to avoid having to look directly at him. "I don't think it'll be a shock to you if I tell you that I'm really into things like anime and manga, right?"
He made a noise of agreement.
"Well, over a year ago I began to read a new manga series online 'Katekyo Hitman Reborn'. It was pretty cool and I really liked it. At that point in time I had my own laptop and quickly read through the first couple hundred chapters. Then the worst thing imaginable happened. Someone hacked my computer and fried it with a virus."
I paused thinking back to that day, one of my darkest days, still feeling the echoes of rage and helpless despair that my baby had died. Been killed! And so dishonorably!
I cleared my throat and continued, forcing myself to calm back down, "Anyway, after that my dad refused to pay to have it fixed and told me I'd just have to stick to using his desktop when it was free. So I progressed much more slowly until I caught up to those chapters that had already been posted.
"The last chapter I read was somewhere in the 280's."
I could still feel Reborn staring at me like I was a bug under a microscope and I felt compelled to say more. I wonder if that's another one of Reborn's little 'talents'.
"Only a couple of weeks ago I heard that the manga series was completed in Japan in just over four hundred chapters, even if the Americans were still waiting for translated versions of the chapters to come out.
"I figured that I'd have the time now to catch up on all my manga series now. My oldest brother got my laptop fixed as a going away present.
"I was so excited to move to Japan, you know. The anime, manga, conventions and cosplay I was going to involve myself with all of it. Then I get here and meet Sempai-kun, Yama-kun, Usagi-chan, Kyoko-chan, and Hana-chan. I thought I was going insane and the first thing I did when I got home that night was to search online.
I shuddered as I found myself unable to keep from spilling my guts, my words teetering dangerously on the edge of becoming full out hysterical ranting. "And it all was gone! Just like that! Somehow all the anime, manga, music, pictures, cosplay, and FANFICTION was gone. Like it never existed! I searched and found all this historical stuff about the viligante group called the Vongola way back when and Nanimori was a real town. Hibari-san was real!"
"So you know about things that are going to happen."
The calm and collected manner of Reborn's voice snapped me from my thoughts. I looked over at him and he was still watching me, his baby face pulled in to a serious expression. I took a deep breath and tried to calm my heart.
"I know some things. People, events, enemies, and things about people. I know that you're a lot older than you look. That you and some others are cursed."
I bit my lip as he stilled like he'd suddenly turned to stone. "I don't know how or why though! I heard that the curse is broken later! But I don't know how that happens either!"
Reborn breathes deeply and jumps down, walking away. I wince, because even if he hadn't shown it that had to have touched a nerve. "Maman should be almost done with dinner by now. I already told her that you would be joining us tonight."
"Reborn?"
He tilted his head down and turned towards me, face hidden in the shadow cast by the brim of his hat and a smirk slowly crossing his face, "I believe you."
I gasped.
"We will talk again later."
And with that he was gone.
He believes me.
The wave of relief those three little words fill me with is almost strong enough to knock me over. I breathe deep trying to keep from crying as I feel the corners of my eyes prickle.
"Kasi-chan," Tsuna comes back into his room. "Dinner's done, if you're hungry that is."
I nod and get to my feet just as my tummy growls it's own agreement. I'd been so worried about talking to Reborn I hadn't even noticed that I was apparently starving. Tsuna chuckled, a wide grin on his face. I felt my own cheeks warming.
"Careful, Usagi-chan, I might decide I prefer a rabbit for dinner," I took a swipe at him. He laughed louder and danced away. I fake growled, wiggling my fingers menacingly. My threat of an imminent tickle attack.
He gave a squeak and ran.
I burst into giggles and followed.
I guess now that I know that someone knows and believes me it's like a huge weight as been lifted off my shoulders. I'll enjoy that for now.
I'll worry about my next talk with Reborn later.
