"Kaere?" The voice on the other side of the door was quiet, cautious. "Kaere, are you coming downstairs for breakfast?"

"Go away." She burrowed deeper within her blankets, clenching her eyes tightly shut.

"Kaere, you need to eat something."

"I'm not hungry." The girl bit her lower lip anxiously, trying not to think about what she knew she had to face. It's Christmas day. There will be a lot of people here later. Just give me a few more hours of solace, please.

Tsuna sighed, leaning against her door. "Look…I don't know what happened, but you have to pull yourself out of it, Kaere." He scrambled to think of something that could cheer her up, anything to make her leave the room and stop sulking. "I know! Kaere, why don't we go to the book store today? I know it's open. We can have breakfast and then go there. How does that sound?"

She struggled to push her head out from beneath the blankets, her eyes on the door. "Is anyone here right now?" Her voice came out much raspier than she would have liked and she coughed to clear her throat.

"Just my mom and the dogs."

A groan escaped her as she pushed herself to sit up, ruffling her short brown hair. "I'll be at breakfast. Just let me shower."

"Alright." Tsuna couldn't hide the relief from his voice. The girl had closed herself in the room for almost two days and he had really started to worry that she might be sick again.

She waited until he went downstairs before standing and promptly falling against the wall. Damn it…I'm lightheaded. I haven't eaten anything since the day before yesterday. Not that Tsuna hasn't tried to get me to eat. I just…I didn't feel hungry. At all. I'm still upset, but I know I shouldn't sulk about Gokudera.

Kaere gathered some clean jeans and a clean black shirt before swiftly making her way to the bathroom. The shower was hot, the steam soothing her chilled skin, and she allowed herself a sigh of relief. As she washed up, she looked down in disgust at her body. I turned grey again. Not just pale…but grey. It's gross. I wish I could use the new skin I made. But without Gokudera's help, I can't replace this skin. He helped me last time and then made that stupid vow to not help me do it again.

"Kaere-chan! Do you want coffee? I made coffee and tea, but I wasn't sure which one you would want!" Tsuna's mother called through the bathroom door.

"Um…coffee is fine," she answered, frowning. Why would you come to the bathroom door just to ask me that?

"You're going to the Christmas party tonight, aren't you? Tsuna said that you're going out for a while today."

"Th-that's right."

"Great! You see, I was out shopping recently and I saw something that would be just perfect for you! I know I should have asked first, but I ended up buying it anyway. Just think of it as a Christmas present. Anyway, I was thinking maybe you could wear it to the Christmas party since everyone else is dressing up."

Nana's voice held such hope and excitement that Kaere smiled. I can't refuse her when she's so excited. I know I'm just…a substitute. She didn't have a daughter so she was never able to buy dresses or anything for her kid. It wouldn't hurt to dress up just once. "That sounds really nice. I'll take a look after breakfast. Thank you, Nana-san." She finished her shower quickly and towel-dried her hair, grimacing at the mirror. I look fluffy. Like a rabbit. A corner of her mouth lifted. Like Tsuna. He always looks fluffy.

"So are you both excited for the Christmas party?" Nana asked when Kaere sat at the table. She set down the girl's usual breakfast; a cup of coffee and a small omelet.

"I'm excited," Tsuna replied, though he looked rather nervous.

"Kyoko-chan is going…isn't she?" Kaere sipped her coffee and smiled. "Did you get her something special?"

"Kaere."

The girl winced and looked to the chair beside hers. Reborn was seated there with his own cup of coffee and tipped his hat when she met his gaze. "Reborn-san?"

"Don't worry. You don't have appointments today." He took a long sip and gave her a suspiciously mischievous smile. "You solved the problem, didn't you? The other day, your lab became visible again. So what was it?"

"Er…an illusionist…"

"What? Was it Mukuro?" Tsuna jumped into the conversation now.

"No…a different illusionist…" Kaere finished her coffee and stood. "Nana-san, did you want to show me that dress?"

After a quick modeling of the dress, with Kaere fighting a dour expression the entire time, she found herself outside with Tsuna and Reborn. Why does Reborn have to tag along though? It's not like this is work-related. I just wanted to hang out with Tsuna today. He's not even saying anything; he's just riding on Tsuna's shoulder.

"So…did you finish wrapping gifts?" Tsuna awkwardly asked.

"Yeah. Did you?"

"Yep." They continued on in painfully awkward silence. The book store clerk greeted them both with a small smile that instantly made Kaere blush. Tsuna followed her to the medical section and nonchalantly glanced through some of the titles. They made him wince. "So do you know that clerk?"

"I used to." She tugged her goggles over her eyes and carried a small stack of books to the armchair area. Just go look at books. You don't have to sit with me. Her eyes nervously went to the boy and he seemed to slowly understand. Once he was gone, she sighed contentedly and skimmed through some of the books. Medical technology from the sixties. It's so outdated now. The psychological treatments…She shivered. Even as late as the nineties. When you think about some of the stuff that doctors prescribed or some of the operations that took place. The amateur ones were the worst though. All of those botched plastic surgeries make my skin crawl.

Kaere had been sitting alone for an hour when she heard footsteps approaching her from the left. She drew her book up to keep her face hidden, already aware of who it was. Why do clerks always do this? They hover. It's not helpful; it's just…unsettling. Like they think I'm going to steal something.

"Do I know you?" The redhead's voice was soft, as if he was afraid of startling her.

"I-I don't think so." She bit her lip, trying not to meet his gaze. He's cute, but…I can't get close to him. My work would put him in danger. Reborn warned me against relationships with people outside of the Vongola.

"You remind me of someone that used to come here. She always asked about medical textbooks." He smiled, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. "Actually, I haven't seen her in quite a while. I think she goes to Namimori High School. Noriyama Kaere. Have you heard of her?"

To her horror, Kaere's face was quickly turning red. He remembered my name? He remembered me…and he remembered my name? She slouched a little in her seat, hoping that Tsuna wasn't watching. I shouldn't be so happy about a stranger remembering my name.

"Wait a minute…those goggles…"

Damn it! Why didn't I take them off?! Kaere slowly lifted her golden eyes from the page to meet his grey ones. "H-Hi…Irie-san…"

Shoichi beamed. "It is you! It's been a while, Kaere."

"Y-yeah…"

"You look…paler? Are you still sick?"

"No, I…I cured it…the pale skin is just a side effect," she murmured. "Wh-why are you working on Christmas?"

He took the chair across the coffee table, setting down a stack of books. "No one would cover for me. Why are you here today? Did you need something in particular?"

"N-no…I just…my friend wanted to cheer me up so…he brought me here." Her shoulders drooped as she closed her book. Many things were running through her head at once. Is Fran watching me right now? Is Tsuna watching? Where did Tsuna go? Did he leave me here alone? I remember the last time I talked to Irie-san…Gokudera was so mad afterwards because he thought Irie-san was going to hurt me. She shook her head, refusing to think about Gokudera. "Um…I-I have to go for now, but…I'll probably come by again later this week…"

"Alright. Be careful in that snow; it's starting to look bad." Shoichi glanced at her stack of books and smiled again. "You're taking all of those, right?"

She grinned sheepishly. "Of course."

Shift P.O.V

Tsuna fidgeted, waiting for Kaere near the door. He had wandered off to the manga section while she was talking with the clerk. It was clear that she liked the boy. She may not have noticed it, but Tsuna was fairly certain that the redhead liked her as well. This must be that guy that Gokudera mentioned back then. He said that she got weird around him, but I don't think I've ever seen her smile so much. She looks so happy right now.

He glanced at the time on his phone. It was around ten o'clock in the morning. We still have plenty of time before the Christmas party, he thought. What else should we do while we're out? What else makes her cheer up? I know she's going to hate me after tonight. I guess…maybe I can't blame her. I didn't tell her how many people will be at the party for a good reason. If she knew, she never would have agreed to going. She still thinks it's just a few people from school. I can't let her find out that this is a Vongola party. That a lot of people will be there. I'm just glad my mom got that dress for her; otherwise she would have just worn her everyday stuff.

"Tsuna? Are you ready to go?" Kaere tilted her head. The girl's short brown hair was starting to look shaggy, dark shadows beneath her eyes from lack of sleep. She was starting to look more and more like an undead being rather than the sweet girl he had met two years ago.

"Yeah. Is there anywhere else you want to go while we're out?" he asked, trying to keep her from falling into depression again. I still don't know what caused it, but I hate seeing her that way. She's…almost like a sister.

"I'm almost out of licorice and chocolate back at the lab." She looked sort of guilty as she said this, absently biting her lower lip.

"We'll go to the store then. My treat."