Lucia

Ever since the events at the docks, Lucia has lived at Emiko's house. Hayato and Takeshi accepted the girl with open arms in their two bedroom two-bathroom, single-floored house.

Because there were only two rooms, Emiko and Lucia shared a room. Emiko's parents had gotten a bunk bed for the two; replacing Emiko's queen sized bed and making the room seem smaller. Lucia's toys, which she barely had any of, were tucked away into the old toy chest in the back of the closet. Emiko didn't mind, actually She had wanted another sibling and Lucia fit the bill perfectly. Plus Takeshi and Hayato had no problem with letting the girl stay and Lucia seemed happy about it, though Emiko could tell she missed her own parents something fierce.

It was when she was walking past the kitchen did she hear Lucia speak about it. "Do my mommy and daddy not want me anymore?" She had asked Gokudera.

Of course, he faltered, not knowing exactly what to say to the young girl. "Er…no, it's nothing like that, Lucia. They just... They're busy a lot, so they can't always visit you."

"Will they come for my birthday?" She asked. Emiko could practically hear him flinch.

"Mm... No, no I don't think so... But they'll send presents." He replied, as if trying to make her feel better.

Emiko wondered if that was true or not and went to her father for a clearer answer. He was in the office, scribbling on some paper when she walked in, though he stopped, his head snapping up when he saw who it was. "Emiko..." He greeted, any indication of a question dying on his tongue. It was a rare occurrence that Emiko came to him for something.

"Hey, uh, dad." She scratched her cheek, coming into the room more. She noticed they'd redecorated. It seemed a little barer than it had been a few weeks ago. Every room seemed like that, but Emiko never questioned it, she thought she was probably seeing things.

"Yeah?" He looked concerned, "Something wrong? Do you need...? 'The Talk'? Because I know you said-"

"No!" Emiko yelped, "Uh, no. I don't need a talk but we need to talk. About Lucia." He seemed to pale considerably.

"Eh? What about Lucia?" Yamamoto asked, "Is something wrong with her?"

"Why is it that she's been living with us these past few months and not once have we heard from her parents? Don't they worry about her?" Emiko asked, "Hitomi told me her dad was some guy named Fūta? What's going on?"

Yamamoto sighed, standing up, "It's a little complicated, but I guess you deserve to know. Lucia was adopted by Fūta when she was a baby, so he and his wife weren't really her parents. They raised her and when they found out she had powers, much like Fūta... They sent her to Japan to be protected. Only it didn't work out as planned."

"Wha-What do you mean?" Emiko found herself feeling a little scared. "Did something-

"Fūta and his wife died in a plane crash about a week after Lucia came to Japan." Yamamoto said. Emiko's eyes widened. "See, we had called them to tell them that Lucia was fine and the threat was gone, but it really wasn't. We didn't know they were going after Fūta too, so that family hijacked the plane they were getting on to come see her and blew it up, thinking Lucia was on it with them."

Emiko didn't know why, but her eyes watered. Yamamoto rounded the desk, wrapping his arms around Emiko. "So... What happens to Lucia? Are you going to tell her?!"

"How can you really tell a six-year-old that the people who raised you are gone from your forever?" Yamamoto asked. "There's really no way to break it to her, Emiko."

"Well you have to try!" She yelled, pushing away from him. "If I know then she has to know! They're her parents!"

"Emiko, it isn't that easy! Do you remember how hard it was for you to accept the fact that you don't have a mother?" Yamamoto replied, "It took you a long time! How can we just go up to Lucia and tell her something like that?! She won't understand and it will just end up hurting her more!"

Emiko crossed her arms, unaware of the tears pouring from her eyes. "Dad...She's just a kid."

"Sometimes that's just the way it goes, Emiko." Yamamoto sighed, "Look... I'll... I'll talk to Hayato and we'll figure out a way to tell Lucia, okay?"

"Okay..." Emiko mumbled. Yamamoto hugged her and kissed her on the top of the head.

"Now dry your tears okay? And let's go outside, yeah?"

"Yeah..." Emiko sniffed, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

"Lucia! Time for dinner!" Gokudera called. He waited a moment, frowning, "Lucia?"

"Maybe she's outside? I didn't see her, but she could be out there." Emiko suggested, sitting down at the table. She was dirty from playing outside. Takeshi came in from the back door, looking dirty and tired, as he was the one who had to put the equipment away.

"Was Lucia out there with you?" Hayato asked. Takeshi shook his head, confused.

"Maybe she's taking a nap? Emiko, could you go check your room?" Takeshi asked. Emiko nodded, standing up.

Her sock covered feet barely made a noise on the wooden floors as she padded down the narrow hallway of her house. She pushed open her door, "Lucia?"

The room was empty from what Emiko could see, but thinking Lucia was playing a game, Emiko walked further into the room, checking the most obvious spots. "C'mon, Lucia... This isn't funny... Where are you?" Emiko asked. She didn't receive a response of a small giggle or any words.

"Emiko? Did you find her?" Hayato called. Emiko walked to the door, opening it.

"No!" She yelled, leaving her room, "I checked everywhere but she's not there..."

"Do you think…?" Takeshi turned to Emiko.

"It's possible." Emiko replied, frowning. Hayato looked between the two, confused.

"What?" He said, "What's possible?"

"I told Emiko..." He stated, "It's possible that Lucia could've overheard and ran away."

"What?!" Hayato yelled, "I thought we agreed not to say anything!"

"I… She came to me wanting to know! I just couldn't not tell her, Hayato!" Takeshi replied, just as loud, "It's done now, there's no reason in dwelling on it! We have to find Lucia."

"Ugh, fine." Hayato ran a hand through his hair, "If we split up, we can cover more ground."

Emiko had taken the west side of town while Hayato took the south and Takeshi the east. Emiko would've called for help from the others, but she felt as if it was a problem for her personal family.

It was in the park where Emiko had been looking that she found Lucia. The girl was sitting on a swing, talking to a much later and older man.

"Lucia!" Emiko called, running over to them, "Oh my gosh! We were looking for you! We're so worried!"

"Oh..." She replied. She didn't seem at all enthusiastic about the thought.

"C'mon! Let's go home!" Emiko said, holding out her hand. Lucia looked at her then frowned, shaking her head.

"No! They won't let me see mommy and daddy! This guy said he would take me to see them! They aren't 'deed' or whatever you said!" Lucia replied.

"No, Lucia..." Emiko said, "He won't take you to see your parents! Get away from him!"

"Cut the crap, doll." The man said, standing up and grabbing Lucia's hand, "It's clear that I'm the one she wants to go with! I'll take ya to see your parents, Lucia."

"Lucia, he can't take you to see your mom and dad because they're gone!" Emiko said, looking to the sky.

"No they're not! You're lying, Emiko!" Lucia said, "Mommy and daddy are waiting for me! He said so! I even talked to them!"

"No! I don't know what you mean by 'talked to them', but," Emiko yelled back, "Lucia... Your parents are watching you from the sky!" Lucia looked up, squinting, "They're invisible, but they're up there- they're angels…because... They died."

"D-Died?" Lucia repeated. The word sounded weird. So foreign, so different than anything Lucia had ever heard before, "They're not at my house?"

"No, Lucia…" Emiko cried, "They're protecting you from up in the sky. You can't see them, but they're there... Watching over you."

"But I want them here with me right now!" Lucia said, tears threatening to spill over, "Why can't they be here?"

"Because of that man and his family!" Emiko replied, "He stopped them from coming to see you, Lucia!"

Lucia looked to the man, surprised by Emiko's words. He scoffed, "Yeah, so? We just needed their power. One is dead, big whoop. We got the important one." With that he picked up Lucia, who squealed in protest. "I'd like to see you catch me now-Ah!"

Lucia hit the ground and rolled away from him, busting out into tears as the man also hit the ground, his legs having been swept from underneath him by the chain in the end of Emiko's Tonfa.

"I'd like to see you think you'll get away from here unscathed, buddy." Emiko growled, pulling him towards her. He clawed at the ground, trying to get away from Emiko who glowed red once again.

Before Emiko knew it, the man was unconscious, yet there was no blood on her body or clothes. She looked to Lucia who was still sitting on the ground crying. She didn't have any more tears, so the girl was dry-sobbing, her body shaking with tears she couldn't cry.

"Lucia..." Emiko called softly, sitting next to her. "How are you feeling?"

"Why are they gone?" Lucia asked, looking at Emiko, "How come it was my parents?"

"Well they were chosen..." Emiko said, "Yeah, they were chosen to become protectors, so they had to go."

"Why couldn't they stay with me? Was I not good enough?" Lucia asked, looking at the sky, "How come they couldn't stay and protect me?"

"You are good enough- you're better than good, you're great. And because you're so great, they knew they wouldn't have to worry so much." Emiko said, "Besides, they are with you. All the time. In here." Emiko pointed to Lucia's heart, "In here." She pointed to her head, "And up there."

"Really?" Lucia asked, clutching her heart.

"Yup. So if you ever feel sad, they're always there, even if you can't see them. Plus, you've got me and my parents here for you too. We all care about you. So nobody's leaving you, okay?" Emiko said.

"Okay..." Lucia sniffled, "Emiko?" Emiko made a noises prompting Lucia to go on. "I-I'm sorry for running away..."

"It's not your fault... I would've done the same thing." She admitted, "It's hard when you find out that you can't see someone again. But... It gets easier, I guess. Well, c'mon… let's go home."

Emiko picked Lucia up, giving the smaller girl a piggyback ride.

When they got home, Hayato and Takeshi were talking to the police. "Oh! It's them!" Hayato sounded completely relieved. He came over to them, leaving Takeshi to talk to the police.

"Where were you?" He asked, sounding a little angry.

"I found her in the park talking' to… one of those dudes from the thing." Emiko said, "He's tied up against one of those trees."

Once all of the officers had filed out, Takeshi, Hayato, Lucia and Emiko were all seated in the living room. "We're so glad that you're safe, Lucia." Takeshi started, "But don't scare us like that!"

"We thought you got kidnapped!" Hayato added, scratching Uri between the ears. It was the only way to keep him seated and slightly calm.

"I'm sorry..." Lucia mumbled, "I heard Emiko and Takeshi-san talking about my parents. I wanted to go see them!" Hayato felt a pang of sadness go through him, "But Emiko told me that they're not here no more."

"Emiko...!" Takeshi looked at her. Emiko didn't seem at all afraid of the look she received.

"What? I only told her what you told me." Emiko said.

"They're watching over me all the time because they're angels now, right?" Lucia added.

"I…" Takeshi was at a loss for words, "Yes, Lucia." Was the only thing he could say? "That's right."

"Well it's still time for bed." Hayato said, "Lucia, let this be a lesson to you. We don't run away."

"C'mon, kiddo." Takeshi said, standing and holding his hand out to Lucia, "Let's go and get you in the bath." When the two left, it was mostly quiet in the room, aside from Uri's purring.

"You're better at talking about death than we are." Hayato commented, looking up at Emiko.

"Mm... I wouldn't say that." Emiko shrugged.

"Oh?" Hayato questioned, "Well I guess it's to be expected. After all, you did like Lucia the most."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Emiko asked, watching him leave the room.

"Well, there's a reason why Lucia clings to you more than anyone else." He said cryptically, "And there's also a reason why she's living with us."

Emiko stayed in the living room just a moment longer, processing all that happened within the span of a few hours and as she got up, she swore she felt a cold breath upon her neck, whispering "Thank you."

I'm not into writing sad things, but I guess Lucia kind of deserved the explanation that Fuuta didn't get when he came to stay with Tsuna. And this was the only idea that popped into my head. Don't worry; we'll be back with more... happier ones than this!