AN: So now is caught up to AO3. Expect new chapters to be once a month or so. I make no promises with how hectic my life is becoming. I'm training for a 1/2 marathon and usually end up exhausted. Please enjoy and please review. I love reading reviews.


Tsuna groaned as she pulled on her school uniform. Her muscles burned. Why had she decided to agree to the crazy hitman's training? The baby was a sadist and seemed far too pleased whenever she ended up collapsing in a pile at the end of a training/torture session. At least he was willing to give her time every day to take care of Akatora business, though her second, Yuusuke, was getting better at running things without her constant input. The older man was one of the few remaining from the previous boss's reign. He would be taking over for her when she eventually left Japan for Italy. None of her men were willing to see her go but were more than pleased that she was inheriting such a strong position.

"What are your plans today, Tsunami?" the hitman asked as she pulled her gakuran over her shoulders. Taking a moment to adjust her Discipline Committee armband, she turned to face her demonic baby tutor.

"Well, I think I'm introducing Gokudera to the higher ranks of the Akatora so he doesn't attack them if they approach me on the street. He met a lot of the lower ranks after he woke up at the office after our fight, but most of my senior advisors were out doing other things that day. They want to meet him and get a feel for my newest subordinate even if he is more my subordinate on the mafia side than the yakuza. Then I have paperwork to do. Maybe someone will have found out who's stupid enough to try to make a move on my territory."

"You're still having issues with that?" The hitman jumped from his position on her vanity to her shoulder.

She looked over at him and sighed. They had been working on getting information on whoever it was trying to encroach on her territory for the past two weeks. "It's like they're smoke. My girls are keeping an eye on their customers. Though we have gotten a couple of offers from outsiders to buy some of our establishments. They could be attached to this mystery group, so I'm reluctant to even meet with them."

"Tsu-chan, you need to get going or you'll be late!" Nana called from downstairs. The teen sighed and made her way down the stairs with the baby on her shoulder.

"Tsunami, be careful." Reborn warned her with a smirk on his face. "My contacts tell me that there may some hitmen from Europe coming after you. Turns out word that the Decimo candidate is in Japan has been leaked."

"Any ideas on who did the leaking?" She waved goodbye to her mother and jogged out the door and down the street.

"We're searching for them." Reborn reassured the teen and jumped from her shoulder to a nearby garden wall. "I have some contacts to meet to deal with this, but be on the lookout for any assassins."

"Like I usually do anyway? Sometimes I wonder if you forget I'm a yakuza boss and have danced this dance before."

"I wasn't expecting a student like you."

"Blame that on the Bastard."

The smirk on the hitman's face turned dark and foreboding. "Oh, trust me, I will and he will feel the depth of my annoyance. Again, be careful, Tsunami."

The baby bounded off. Tsuna watched him go before allowing herself to relax. Really, Reborn set off every single fight-or-flight instinct she had. Still, at least he was starting to call her Tsunami instead of Mujona-Tsuna. She must have impressed him during training the previous day. Probably how she had bent over backwards in order to avoid an overhand swing of his Leon-hammer and follow it up with a kick that almost got him. Rumiko's insistence that she learn to contort herself into uncomfortable positions and fight in them had paid dividends.

"Sawada!" a loud, male voice boomed ahead of her. Her head snapped up. She knew that voice. The head of white hair only confirmed it. Sasagawa Ryohei, Kyoko's older brother, captain of the Namimori boxing team—taking the Championship for the past two years—and generally nice guy who loved fighting a bit too much for his family's peace of mind. Some people considered the boy a borderline thug. The bandage over his nose that covered an interesting scar did make him look the part.

"Sasagawa-san, are you out for your morning run?"

"I Extremely am! Are you heading to school?"

"Committee duties. You'd better hurry before you're late. Hibari-senpai won't be gentle if you are."

"Hibari is Extreme, but I wouldn't want Kyoko to worry about me if she saw us sparring to the Extreme again."

Tsuna blinked and hid a smirk. So the boxer still called Hibari trying to beat the crap out of him sparring. Sometimes she wondered how the boxer's brain worked or if his years of boxing had caused brain damage. Then again, it wasn't like Kyoko had a firm grasp on reality either. Maybe it was a Sasagawa family trait?

"Well, I won't keep you. Have a nice run." She waved goodbye to her friend's brother and headed toward the school. She heard the boy yell something about Extreme behind her as he headed off to finish his morning run.

Thanks to the early hour of the morning—school wasn't even going to start for at least another hour and a half—there was little foot traffic. Only a few women going to do their shopping wandered about.

Cling-ling.

Tsuna turned toward the noise of a bicycle bell and froze. A woman with pink hair stopped next to her and smiled. Something about that smile caused a shiver to run down her spine. Best to be wary of this mystery woman.

"You look thirsty," the woman said and shoved a can of soda into her hands. "Here." With those words, the woman pedaled off.

Tsuna looked down at the can and back up in the direction the woman had rode off in. Shaking her head, the teen threw the can into a nearby trash can. Really, as if she was that stupid. Such a poor-

There was a hissing noise. Tsuna turned around and stared incredulously as purple smoke rose out of a swiftly melting trashcan. She frowned and let out a long breath. OK, so not exactly the poorest attempt ever. Worrying her lower lip between her teeth, she decided to head for the relative safety of the school. Hibari would want to know about someone this potentially damaging being in the area and more eyes on the look out would only keep her safer.

"I hate poison specialists." she muttered as she continued on her way, this time going much faster than before. "The cowards."


"The trash can melted?" Takeshi muttered softly as he stared at Tsuna. She nodded and took another bite of her lunch.

"Yeah, purple smoke and everything. Just keep an eye out for a woman with rose pink hair wandering around. I've already warned Hibari."

The swordsman winced. "How did that go?"

"We have a meeting scheduled after school."

"Meeting?"

"Committee term for Hibari going to bite me to death later."

"And I have baseball practice after school."

She shrugged. "He won't kill me. Bruise me and maybe break a bone or two, but he does appreciate how frank I am when it comes to Akatora dealings with him. I think he just wants to blow off some steam since he's been having the same luck as us when it comes to finding out just who is trying to invade Namimori."

The door to the classroom opened and Gokudera stumbled in. He didn't look too good. He looked like he'd had a run in with Hibari. The girls of the class swarmed. The Italian shouted and waved his arms about in an effort to escape the horde of hormonal teenage girls. Tsuna and Takeshi chuckled as he managed to stumble away and landed in a chair next to them. Yamamoto turned his chair slightly and smiled at the horde of females. They blushed and stammered at the sight of the two heartthrobs of the class being in such close proximity. Most of them turned away to hide the bright blushes on their faces and the crowd dispersed.

"I still don't know how you can do that." Tsuna said as she set her chopsticks down.

"Juudaime, I am so sorry I was unable to walk you to school today." Gokudera bowed in his seat to his boss.

Tsuna rolled her eyes and shook her head. "It's fine, Gokudera. I have to come to school earlier than most due to my work with the Discipline Committee. And stop calling me Juudaime. It's Tsuna or Tsunami."

"Bu-but Juudaime is Juudaime." the silveret whimpered. Again Tsuna got the image of a puppy superimposed over the Italian.

"And calling me that could be a lead for the police if certain information gets to them."

Takeshi turned back around to the two and eyed the Italian. "You could call her Tsuna-hime like the rest of us do."

At the bright look on the silveret's face, she had the sudden urge to plant her head in her hands; she let the urge take her. Takeshi was not helping. She peered up between her fingers and glared at the swordsman. He grinned at her. It was a grin she only saw when he was teasing her. How the hell the boy could have so many different grins that meant different things? That she could understand them all made her wonder about her mental health.

"Us? You mean them?" Gokudera finally asked after his emotions finally worked through the annoyance with her swordsman being so familiar and having a special name for Juudaime.

Tsuna straightened, her hand dropped away from her face. Turning to face the Italian, she frowned. "We need to talk about that. I have a meeting with Hibari after school. We can talk after that."

Takeshi snorted but fell silent at the look his boss was shooting him. He smiled sheepishly and backed away from the annoyed glare slowly. He turned his attention back to his food and bowed his head so he wouldn't have to meet those eyes.

"Just meet me outside the gates around 5. Yamamoto, you'll come by after baseball practice? I have a feeling I'm going to need you later. If I'm late, keep him company, OK?"

"Yes, Tsuna-hime." Her brow twitched.

"Don't call her that, you idiot." Gokudera growled at the other teen. Takeshi looked up at him and smiled widely. "Oi, are you paying attention, idiot."

"That's enough, Gokudera," Tsuna reached out and placed a hand on the enraged teen's shoulder. He instantly backed down into his seat. "Don't cause a scene. Just meet me after school at the gates."

"Yes, Juu- Tsu-Tsuna-hime."

Tsuna repressed a groan and her face met the flesh of her hands once again. She glanced out from between her fingers and glared at her swordsman. His shoulders were shaking in silent laughter. Why did she keep him around again? He looked up from beneath his bangs and smiled at her. Her heart fluttered in her chest. Oh yeah, that's why.

Gokudera noticed the blush on her face and instantly started to sulk. The hormonal horde squealed at the sight and sent nasty, jealousy filled looks at the brunette sitting beside him. Tsuna smirked and gave the girls a tiny finger wave. Those that had seen the results of the last time she went off on someone shivered and looked away. The smirk grew. Good, they remembered their last lesson. Do not mess with the Alpha Female. There was a reason she was the only female in the Discipline Committee.


Gokudera leaned against the wall beside the school gate. A lit cigarette hung from his lips as he waited for his boss. A good right hand man was always at the place their boss asked for them to be. He inhaled the sweet smoke and let it out slowly. It burned from his throat to his lungs and back again, a feeling he had come to enjoy since he started smoking.

"Ah, Gokudera, you're still waiting. Tsuna hasn't shown up yet?" Yamamoto asked as he jogged up to the lounging Italian. His hair, normally in spikes, lay flat against his head due to it being soaking wet. A wrapped bundle rested over his shoulder. Something, experience with hitmen who had eclectic tastes in weaponry most likely, told him that whatever was in that bundle was not something he wanted to see.

"Idiot, Tsuna-hime is taking her time."

Yamamoto hummed and leaned next to the smoking boy. "She did have a meeting with Hibari today, so we could be waiting for a while."

"Who said you could stand so close to me, idiot?" the Italian grumbled and moved away from the disquieting Japanese teen.

"Yo, Yamamoto, we're going to go to the arcade. Want to come with?" a group of teens called as they walked through the gate.

Yamamoto smiled brightly and waved at them. "Can't today. I've got something planned. Maybe later."

"See you!" The pack of boys turned and walked off down the street.

"Who the fuck were they, idiot?" the Italian grumbled as he shifted from foot to foot. Why was Tsuna-hime so late? He glanced down at a watch on his wrist. 5:32.

"The baseball team." Yamamoto answered before he leaned over the Italian. His attention went to the roof of the school. Eyes narrowing, his smile wavered for a moment. "No word from Tsuna?"

"That's none of your business, idiot."

"Yes, actually, it is." The Japanese teen easily slid from his civilian, eternally happy persona into one that made the lower ranked members of the Akatora shiver and their enemies piss themselves. "Tsuna is my reason for living."

The Italian sucked in another breath of smoke before throwing his burnt up cigarette on the ground. He crushed it beneath his shoe. "I didn't realize you two were like that."

Yamamoto leaned back and stared at the Italian for a moment before a flush formed on his cheeks and rushed down his neck. "Ah, we're not exactly... It's not- We're not-!"

The Italian snorted at the stuttering teen and pulled out another cigarette. His hands went to one of his lighters as he gave the other teen an amused look.

Yamamoto sighed and shut his eyes tightly. "Look, a lot of people know this, but I don't like talking about it. A few years ago I was stupid and tried to kill myself for a stupid reason. Tsuna stopped me and I've been at her side since."

Gokudera watched the other teen shift self-consciously. Well, that was a surprise. Sky attraction at work, maybe? From what information Reborn had willingly supplied after the fight, the Japanese teen had a strong Rain Flame like his father, who happened to be a rather famous bodyguard in yakuza circles. The boy was pedigree.

A loud noise caught both of the boy's attention. Heads snapped to look up at the roof of the school. A panel of metal fencing had broken away and fallen to the ground resulting in a loud crash. A black haired boy holding two baton-like weapons turned to strike at someone just out of sight.

"What the hell?" Gokudera gaped at the sight.

Yamamoto snorted and shook his head ruefully. "Whatever Tsuna had to tell Hibari must have pissed him off again."

"What?"

"That was Hibari Kyoya. I think you had a run in with him earlier. He runs the Discipline Committee that pretty much runs the entire town. He and Tsuna have a deal of some kind where he ignores what we - that is, the Akatora - do and Tsuna helps with information running and the like. It works until Hibari gets pissed and then Tsuna has to play with him."

"Wait, you mean Tsuna-hime is up there with him?"

His head bobbed. "Yep."

Gokudera stared blankly at Yamamoto before flicking his cigarette at the smiling boy and racing for the school. Tsuna-hime was in danger. He had to protect her. Footsteps echoed behind him. The idiot was probably running after him. Some 'loyal bodyguard', letting Tsuna-hime be set upon by a Neanderthal.

The halls of the school blurred past as the Italian sprinted full out for the stairs leading to the roof. A stick of dynamite dropped into his hand from its hiding place. He was going in armed and ready. Tsuna-hime was relying on him. He took the stairs two at a time and flung himself at the heavy door barring the way to the roof.

"Tsuna-hime!" Gokudera shouted as he ran through the doorway. There was a flash of pain and then darkness.

"Hn."

"He's new, hasn't learned all the rules yet."

"Teach him or I'll bite him to death."

Tsuna sighed and leaned against the wall next to the door. Bruises had already begun to form on her arms from where she had blocked Hibari's hits. The prefect also sported bruises and a few cuts that could have only been caused by fingernails being raked across his face.

A few second later Takeshi popped up in the doorway. He bowed slightly to the annoyed prefect and shook his head at the sight of the Italian laying on the ground. Tsuna waved for him to pick up the unconscious bomber.

"Take him to my house. We'll wait for him to wake up there before heading to the office and introducing him to the upper ranks." She turned back to the prefect and gave him a bland smile. "Sorry about the scratches. I really don't like being pinned."

"Omnivore."

"We can spar again next week. I've got to get back to my men and see if anyone has found anything about the ones trying to infiltrate Namimori."

"Hn."

She bowed slightly, looking ever so much the prim and proper Japanese school girl if she hadn't been wearing the boy's uniform. She grabbed her jacket, which had been thrown to the side early in the fight. Yamamoto, remaining silent, bowed slightly as he adjusted his hold on Gokudera who rested across his shoulder like one of the sacks of rice his dad usually made him haul around the shop. The two plus their unconscious companion headed through the door and down the stairs before Hibari could attack them for crowding.

The prefect watched them go and smirked. Huffing lightly, he looked upward at the endless sky. The little herbivore finally showed her true colors. A vicious beast hid beneath that soft exterior and those claws of her hurt. The girl wasn't a rather aggressive herbivore like he had originally believed, she was a rather sneaky omnivore hiding as a herbivore. So she had a brash new male for her herd. Interesting even if he didn't seem to be that strong. It would be entertaining to watch her handling him if what he had seen was any indication of the boy's normal attitude. The omnivore would be driven up the wall in a month tops. Her frustration would result in much more fun sessions. His smile turned into a feral smirk at the thought.


"Mom, you home?" Tsuna asked as she opened the door to home. She paused in the doorway. No answer. So Nana was probably out at the market or something similar. At least she wouldn't be around to ask questions about the unconscious Gokudera or to make certain comments about her and Takeshi.

"Set him on the couch. When he wakes up, we'll take him to the office and formally introduce him to everyone." she said as she motioned for Takeshi to place his passenger in the sitting room.

"So where's the kid?" her swordsman asked as he let the Italian drop onto the soft cushions.

Tsuna frowned at his casual disregard of the silveret. Seems he was still a bit bitter about Gokudera trying to kill her. "I have no idea. We didn't have anything planned for today and he had contacts to talk to. He could be anywhere."

"I'm here, Tsunami." The squeaky voice coming from nowhere made both teens jump. Tsuna dropped into a defensive stance while Yamamoto moved to put himself between danger and her. They both paused at the sight of the baby in his little suit and forced themselves to relax even as adrenaline rushed through their blood.

"Reborn, how many times are we going to have to ask that you not do that?" Tsuna muttered as she covered her face with one hand.

The hitman ignored the question—not that she expected it to be answered anyway—and hopped to the back of the couch to look down on the still out cold Italian. "What happened to him?"

"A run in with Hibari-senpai." she stated and looked over her shoulder at Takeshi. "Why didn't you stop him, anyway?"

The swordsman snorted even as a wide smile curled over his lips. "Have you seen him run? He's fast."

She hummed and rested her crossed arms on the back of the couch. Looking down, she smiled lightly. Gokudera looked so at peace. His face failed to have the tenseness that seemed to be constantly present in the silveret. She had to resist the urge to reach out and run her hand through those oddly colored, soft looking locks. Her lips twitched and she leaned back.

"Faster than you, Takeshi?"

"He took me by surprise. I wasn't expecting him to go running off to face Hibari like a madman." the swordsman muttered and stepped up behind his boss. He had seen the look on her face, that sort of dreamy-needy look he had often seen turned in his direction when she thought he wasn't watching. Well, it looked like he was going to have to share her. Surprisingly that didn't bother him as much as he thought it would. What was this strange stirring he felt when he looked at the normally loud, caustic bomber?

"Well, Tsunami, what are you planning for his punishment? He did go against your orders, after all." The hitman had a smirk on his face and his fedora tilted in such a way it shadowed his eyes.

Gazing out the corner of her eye at the baby, she frowned. "A lecture on not pissing off Hibari, considering he's the closest thing the Akatora have as an ally."

Reborn was about to comment on such a weak punishment before he noticed the slight wince on the swordsman's face. Well, wasn't that interesting? "A lecture , Tsunami? How weak. He needs a firmer hand if you want your subordinates to listen to you."

She grinned. It wasn't a nice one. She turned bright, shining eyes that promised pain and agony to him. "Oh, my lectures usually involve a bit more than most. The last person I had to lecture ended up a gibbering wreck for a week."

"Please don't remind me." Yamamoto muttered and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You didn't have to deal with the aftermath, Tsuna-hime."

"Don't call me Tsuna-hime."

"But you are our princess." Yamamoto stated as he draped his arm over her smaller frame. She stumbled at the sudden weigh and barely managed to catch herself on the back of the couch. Turning her head, she gave the mischievous swordsman a deadpan stare. He simply smiled in return and rested his chin on her shoulder. It was strange to her. Takeshi rarely showed his attraction to her around others; outsiders. No matter how much the baby had been around in the last few weeks, he was still an outsider to both of them.

"Ugh." Gokudera moaned as he began to wake up. His hand went to his head where he had been hit. Then his bright green eyes opened and he sat up as if he had been electrocuted. "Juudaime!"

Tsuna reached out and steadied the boy. His attention instantly turned to her. He stared at her and Yamamoto for a moment. His face swiftly flushed as anger, annoyance and a bit of sadness filled his eyes. He puffed up like an annoyed cat and his mouth opened and shut rapidly without a sound coming out.

"Oi, idiot, let go of Juudaime!"

Yamamoto only laughed and held tighter to her. "Did you have a nice nap, Gokudera?"

Before the silveret could retaliate, Tsuna intervened. She did not want to be caught in the middle of a pissing match. "I thought I told you not to call me Juudaime, Gokudera."

He paused, his eyes went wide and his skin paled, before he started bowing to her from his sitting position. "I am so sorry, Tsuna-hime. I fail at being your right hand."

"You'll get it eventually, Gokudera."

"Shut up, idiot."

"Both of you be quiet." Tsuna did not want any arguments. The boys both winced and did as she commanded. Gently, she pushed Takshi back off her shoulder and looked over the bomber. "Are you OK, Gokudera? I know how hard Hibari-senpai can hit."

"I'm fine. Tsuna-hime does not need to be concerned with me."

She sighed and patted the silveret's hair. "You are one of mine, Gokudera. I protect what is mine and I keep them in good health. Please, tell me if you're hurt or sick or if you need anything. I will not throw you away. I promise."

Reborn nodded and smirked at the girl's words. Yes, very good boss material. Seems being in charge of a yakuza group had given her ample experience at dealing with touchy subordinates with bad backgrounds. Now just to polish it, find her Guardians, and teach her more of the finer points of flame manipulation. Maybe he should shoot her with another Dying Will Bullet at the next training session. She was almost able to access Dying Will Mode on her own. She just needed a bit of a push. He'd be delighted to provide that push for her.

"Tsuna-hime," Gokudera whimpered and looked up at his precious, kind boss with teary eyes. He had never had anyone so worried about him before. He sniffled as he forced himself not to cry at her concern. He couldn't bother his Tsuna-hime.

Ding dong.

The doorbell was his savior. He turned and winced at the pain that lanced through his head. He hissed and pressed a hand to the side of his head. Tsuna looked over toward the front door and back to him.

"Takeshi, go get some aspirin from the first aid kit. Gokudera, stay put. I'll go see who's at the door. Reborn," she paused and looked at the hitman. Leon had changed into a mallet again and that pain promising smirk was on the baby's face again. "Do whatever you want."

Leon shifted back into a chameleon. Reborn pouted before hopping onto his student's shoulder. He hadn't had a chance at training/torturing her yet, but if he was right, the visitor behind door number one would be just the thing to test his precious student.

"Hello…" Tsuna opened the door and froze. There was the poison woman. Her pink hair was really distinctive.

"Vongola Pizza." the woman chirped happily. She had a pizza box in her arms. Then she noticed the baby sitting on Tsuna's shoulder. "Reborn!"

"Bianchi."

"You know her?" Tsuna tilted her head slightly so as to have both assassins in her sight.

"She's my fourth lover." Tsuna felt her eyes go wide at the declaration. Her eyes flashed between the two as they discussed something. She wasn't really paying attention. The pink haired woman was…did that make her a pedophile? What the hell?

"-if the Decimo is murd- dies , then you'll be free."

Tsuna cursed mentally as her instincts screamed at her to move. She barely managed to dodge the box as it was thrown at her. Reborn hopped off her shoulder as she tucked into a roll and watched the box and its obviously poisonous contents went sailing over her head. Hopping back up on to her feet, she glared at the would-be assassin. This was starting to get annoying.

"Gokudera!" Yamamoto shouted. A chill ran down Tsuna's spine. She turned and stared at the sight of the silver haired bomber collapsed on the ground clenching at his stomach. Had the woman...? Had she actually...? Her temper, normally kept under tight control, snapped. No one hurts those under her rule. No one. The pink haired bitch would burn.

At once Bianchi knew she had made a mistake. She recognized her brother as he lay on the floor moaning in pain. It seemed the Vongola heir had taken in her dear brother. The girl was obviously a strong Sky if the sheer heaviness of her Flame suffusing the air and trying to choke out Bianchi's will was any sign. The woman gasped for air and fell backward out of the doorway into the outside air.

"I am going to kill you." Tsuna announced as she turned her attention back on the woman. Her eyes, both Bianchi and Reborn noticed instantly, had turned cold as ice. The teen's entire countenance all but yelled to run and flee in the face of her rage. A shiver ran down Bianchi's spine at the look.

"Takeshi, see to Hayato. She's mine." The acid in her tone burned. It was also Bianchi's cue to run. Scrambling to her feet with far less grace than she usually had, the poison chef ran That little voice she had cultivated over her time as a hitwoman screamed to run, to hide, to get the hell out of there.

Tsuna wasn't having any of that. Springing up onto her feet, she raced after the escaping woman like a cheetah on the hunt. Bianchi, though faster than a civilian, was made more for flexibility and getting close enough to her targets to give them a taste of her poison. Tsuna, however, lived and died by running and striking hard and fast. She was a fighter and had trained to be so. Her legs pumped as she sprinted toward her prey. Getting within reach, her hand curled into claws and grasped at the rose haired woman's shirt. With a hard pull of the fabric, she stood over the grounded poison mistress and lifted her leg. She stomped with as much force as she was able.

Bianchi rolled out of the way and sprang up onto her feet. Pupils blown wide as she tried to figure out how to get away from the enraged Vongola heir. Tsuna wasn't going to give her a chance. Taking initiative, she struck forward and kept the hits coming. Bianchi frantically blocked or dodged out of the unconsciously Flame enhanced hits. She couldn't keep that up for long though. Each hit burned away at the fabric of her shirt and seared the skin beneath.

"Tsunami, stop." Reborn appeared with a kick aimed at his student's head. This was not what he had planned when he let slip his location to his informants. He knew the information would get to Bianchi and that she'd follow him to Namimori. The reaction of his student, that cold rage and ruthlessness that reminded him of Nono at his worst, was not expected at all.

Tsuna turned a snarl on him and swiped at him with a Flame wreathed hand. The Sun Arcobaleno narrowed his eyes and moved. Faster than the Vongola heir could react, the hitman collided with her head and she dropped like a stone.

"Bianchi, get out of here. I'll contact you when she doesn't want to kill you at first sight."

"Y-yes, Reborn." The words were gasped out and breathy. Tsuna could hear feet pound the pavement and head away as fast as the runner could go.

Tsuna groaned and slowly sat up. "What the hell, Reborn?"

The baby hitman stared down at her as she struggled to her feet. "Go take care of your men, Mujona-Tsuna."

"Fuck you."

"Go." At the command, a jolt raced down her spine. The emptiness in his eyes made her freeze in place. He stared down at her for a few seconds more before bounding off to wherever it was that baby hitmen went to. She sat there, her heart finally beating again after her fright before getting up and going back inside. Reborn was right, she did have a man to check on.

"Takeshi?" she called as she stepped inside. She blinked when she saw the wall where the pizza had hit. It wasn't anywhere near where Hayato had been standing so how…?

"In here, Tsuna," Takeshi called from the sitting room. "Gokudera's fine."

A rush of breath left her lungs as she finally relaxed. Her shoulders drooped. Her stomach twisted violently. Acid burbled up in her mouth as she forced herself not to vomit. A wince twisted over her face.

"You OK?" Takeshi asked as she entered the sitting room and flopped onto a chair.

"Side effect of going into a rage. I'll be fine in a bit."

"Tsuna-hime, I'm so sorry for worrying you." Gokudera said in a voice just shy of a shout.

"It's fine, Gokudera. I tend to be a bit protective of my people."

The Italian nodded solemnly, his eyes sparkling in amazement. "That's a sign of a good Sky."

Tsuna wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. Time to change the topic. "So, why did you collapse? I thought you were hurt?"

He shook his head and rest his arms on his knees. "That was my older sister, Bianchi."

"That was your sister?" Yamamoto gaped before laughing tightly. "Well, why'd she attack Tsuna then?"

"That we can blame on Reborn," Tsuna informed him before turning her attention back on the Italian. "Why the reaction to her then?"

"Well, see, I…" the silveret bit his lip and peered up at her from beneath his bangs. Tsuna met his gaze and smiled gently. She stood up and sat down next to him. He looked away and tensed when she placed a gentle hand on his arm.

"Please, Hayato, I need to understand, especially after how I could have killed her."

The words came in a deluge. He hadn't had a good childhood. As a bastard child, the only male child of his father and thus the heir, pressure had been placed on him. His sister had forced her poison cooking on him on their shared father's orders. Traumatized didn't properly describe it. Now whenever he saw his sister, he reacted as if poisoned by her food. His stomach cramped and he fell to the ground weaker than a newborn kitten.

"Lovely," Tsuna muttered and leaned back. "I just tried to kill your sister."

"She was trying to kill you and we aren't that close," he shrugged.

She sighed and sat back upright. Sharing a glance with the silent and serious swordsman, she nodded. "Look, let's put this out of mind for now. I'm not in the mood to deal with the senior advisors at the moment so Takeshi and I can walk you home so you can recover."

Red flushed across the Italian's face. "You don't need to do that, Tsuna-hime."

Yamamoto chuckled. "We want to, though. We need to know where you live, Gokudera."

"Shut up, sword-idiot!"

"Don't fight." Tsuna interposed herself between the two. If this meant she had to climb over Gokudera's lap, she didn't notice. She did notice when his face turned a bright red color.

"Y-yes, Tsuna-hime."

Takeshi just laughed.


"I can't believe he was living there." Tsuna complained as she and Takeshi walked down the road back to her house. Sweat wet their clothing and hair clung to skin. Their muscles burned, but that wasn't what was fueling her annoyance.

"Mah, I'm surprised he was living there, and did you see his face when Rumiko smashed his face in her cleavage?" The swordsman laughed brightly. The woman who kept the Akatora's prostitutes happy, healthy and manageable often ignored personal boundaries. Shoving someone's head in her surgically altered breasts to shut them up was something she was rather known for among the Akatora.

"I think he's finally understanding that I am not going to abandon him. It's actually kind of sad." She frowned and tilted her head back to look up at the sunset painted sky. "How many times has he been kicked for him to constantly act as if he is going to be struck or turned on? Makes me wonder about the honor of a mafia family."

Takeshi snorted, a strangled agreement. "At least you'll take care of him now."

She glanced at him and smiled. "You have no problems with that? I know how you feel about me, Takeshi."

"I know." The swordsman flushed. "I talked to Dad after the kid explained the flame thing. Dad said that it wasn't unknown for a Sky, especially beautiful female Skies, to attract many lovers. I can deal with that."

"The fact that Hayato isn't bad to look at isn't coloring your decision at all?" She laughed as he stumbled, flushing the brightest color she had ever seen on his face. A small victory for her. "Just be cautious with him, Takeshi. He isn't used to your brand of attention and will probably try to hurt you up the moment you touch him in any way."

"I know."

Takeshi waved to Tsuna as she stepped into her house. The door shut softly behind her and she leaned back against it. Her hands shook at her sides. They had been shaking since she had confronted the Poison Scorpion. For the amount of annoyance and dislike Hayato held for his sister, he sure knew a lot about her recent accomplishments.

"Tsunami." She looked up and frowned at the serious look on her tutor's face. She hadn't forgiven him for kicking her in the head. Yeah, she understood why he had, but it still hurt.

"Reborn. Mom's not back yet?"

"I sent her out to get dinner instead of cooking. Now come upstairs. There's someone you need to speak to."

Her lips pressed together as she looked upward. She had a good idea who the hitman had brought in. She looked back down at her tutor and winced. She wasn't going to be getting out of this by the look on his face.

"Yes, Reborn."

The silence from the hitman unnerved her. He stared up at her, nodded, and led the way up the stairs. Tsuna's jaw clenched as every instinct told her she was not going to enjoy the coming meeting. Her heart beat an odd rhythm as it sped up and she tried to slow it down with the power of her mind. It half-way worked. Every step upward to her room made it pound faster and faster. The door loomed ahead and opened with a rough creaking sound with the slightest touch from the baby hitman.

"Reborn!"

"Hello, Poison Scorpion Bianchi," Tsuna greeted the girl in a flat tone.

The poison specialist stood in the center of the room and shifted nervously. Her hands twitched. Pianist fingers, a feature she shared with her brother, intertwined. Skin turned a slightly pale color. It seemed the assassin hadn't gotten over her near miss with the young Vongola heir.

"Vongola."

Tsuna turned her attention from the poison mistress to her tutor. "Is there a reason she's here in my room in my house where my mother, who knows nothing about the mafia or organized crime in general, could walk in at any moment?"

"Hm. She's here to apologize." Reborn shrugged. Leon clambered down his arm and turned into a familiar gun. "And you are going to accept it, Tsunami."

Her lips pressed into a tight line. Her fingers curled into a fist as the muscles in her shoulders tensed. Jaw clenched and teeth gnashed together. She turned a dark glare on the oh-so-nervous woman. Her lips turned up into a sneer even as she inclined her head ever so slightly.

"I am sorry for attacking you in your home, Vongola Decima." Bianchi stated and bowed just slightly.

"I see," Tsuna's voice stayed flat and cold. Her flames rose within her. Bianchi inhaled sharply at the feeling of Sky Flames suffusing the air. "I'll accept your apology as long as you understand that if you ever try to strike out against me or mine, I will end you. No questions asked. No tears shed. Even Reborn will not be able to stop me."

"Understood."

"Well then," Reborn's voice cut through the uncomfortable silence following the Vongola heiress's declaration, "I'll get you your room set up, Bianchi."

Tsuna's head snapped over t her tutor. "Wait, room? What room?"

"Bianchi will be staying here from now on."

"Oh hell no. She is not staying here. I do not want her around my mother!"

"Nana's already met her and agreed to house her here."

"But, what…? Oh forget it. You'll just do it without my agreement."

"Glad you figured that out." Reborn grinned and Leon shifted back into a chameleon that shuffled up onto the fedora's brim. "Now what took you so long? I overheard you and Yamamoto were going to take Gokudera to his apartment."

Tsuna's eyebrow twitched as she turned her full attention on her tutor. Bianchi wasn't as much a threat with her vow. "Have you seen the place he was living in?"

The hitman nodded. "The Sakura Apartments. The owner is one of Vongola's informants. I told him to get a place there."

"The place is trash and the owner is an asshole I would love to put down like a rabid animal. I was not leaving one of my people there." Tsuna's voice swiftly changed from slightly annoyed to full on anger. "That asshole would have changed the locks or left the place to be burglarized just to piss me off."

Reborn frowned. "You've had dealings with him before?"

"Ah, Reborn?" Bianchi interrupted. She looked about as happy as Tsuna did. "Are you telling me you sent my brother to stay in an unsafe location?"

Before the hitman could respond, Tsuna turned and nodded fiercely. "That's what he did. I called in some of my men and we moved him to a spare apartment that just became open."

"Your men?" Bianchi frowned. "I thought you had only known about being the Vongola heiress for a few weeks. How have you got men you are so sure are loyal to you?"

A smirked slithered across Tsuna's lips. "May I properly introduce myself, I'm Sawada Tsunami, head of the Akatora-gumi and Vongola heiress. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"So you moved him to a place you own?"

"Yeah. One of my girls got married and moved out of her apartment. Usually I leave the apartments to the working girls who work in my establishments, but I was not leaving Hayato there."

Reborn's eyes lit with an unholy light. "It's Hayato now, is it? That makes three boys wrapped around your little finger."

"Hie!" The high pitch shriek made him and Bianchi both wince. "It is not like that and you know it!"

"Whatever you say, Tsunami." That smirk on his lips told her the baby wasn't going to let this subject go.

Bianchi frowned, her brow knitting together before a great big smile crossed her face. "Reborn, why didn't you tell me about her boy troubles? Oh, don't worry, Sawada, I'll help you really impress those boys and make them worship you."

"Bianchi, that's not what he meant. Bianchi!" And thus did the Sawada household gain a new member and Tsuna gained a new headache. Once more, she reaffirmed her vow to somehow, someway get vengeance on the tutor from hell.