Chapter 9: Textbook Forecast

School is officially back in session. And Isabella couldn't be happier.

She spent only five days of summer without school work and it was torturous.

One of the things that kept her sane was training Lambo. He has improved a lot since they first started.

The other thing was the dream she had about Kyoya, the same day she fought him.

A woman adorned with a black kimono was sitting in an empty dojo. The only other thing in the dojo was a tea set that was sitting in front of her.

The black kimono had sakura petals all over it. It fit her body perfectly, even with the added roundness of her stomach.

It seemed like she was waiting for so often she would rub a hand over her belly in thought.

"Your Tou-san is going to be here soon."

No long after the door slid open to reveal a man in a suit.

The woman turned with a bright smile on her face.

"You finally made….it. Why are you wearing that?"

The smile slid off her face, leaving confusion in its wake.

"I have a mission," was his reply.

The woman shook her head.

"But you said you were going to spend some time with us." Her eyes stung with tears.

" What the fuck Kyoya?"

Tears streamed down her pained face.

His hands were clenched into fists.

He wanted to stay, he really did but this was a last minute thing that needed to be done.

"There wasn't anyone else that could do it. I'm sorry. When I come back I promise I will spend time with the both of you," he kissed her head then her stomach.

"I love you both," he got up and left.

Isabella shook her head.

"These dreams are really getting out of hand. It directly says his name. I don't even have feelings for him. I doubt he has feelings for me "

Isabella got dressed and headed out for her training.

"Ohayo Ryohei-san."

Ryohei avoided her eyes.

"Ohayo," he muttered.

Isabella raised an eyebrow.

Ever since his birthday eight days ago, he's been acting very withdrawn.

I hope everything's ok.

She reached the training grounds and immediately got into it.

"I should increase my training too. I have been working hard these past few months."

Isabella was walking to school, flinching every step of the way.

"I made a bad decision. My legs are beyond sore and it's the first day back to school. At least there was some good this morning."

When she came home from training there was a small package waiting for her.

It was from her was one of the many things she left behind.

"I'm so happy to have it with me again."

Isabella could see the school gate in the distance. She also saw Kyoya.

Shit. It's Kyoya.

He had been randomly attacking her every day since they fought. Isabella has been thinking about it but she's still not sure.

She made her way to the gate.

"Have you thought about it?"

"I have. But when you're randomly attacked every which way, it makes it a bit hard to think."

"Hn."

Isabella continued to her class.

"Ohayo Takeshi-san."

"Hey, Isabella."

"Hm." Gokudera huffed.

"Ohayo Gokudera-san."

He didn't respond.

Whatever.

Isabella sat down in her seat.

"How were your days off?"Takeshi asked.

"Boring. I barely did anything. I actually happy to be in school. I don't know what I was complaining about when I had to catch up on work."

Takeshi laughed.

"It's nice to be around friends."

"It sure is. Speaking of which, where's Tsuna-san?"

"He most likely late."

"The Tenth is never late! He arrives when he's needed," Gokudera stated.

"Well, school is about to start soon. He needs to hurry," Isabella said.

Gokudera glared at Isabella.

She just rolled her eyes.

DING!DONG!

Tsuna did arrive late, which prompted a scolding from the teacher.

The four of them were heading to their next class.

"I can't believe what I got myself into," Tsuna whined.

"What happened, Tsuna-san?" Isabella asked.

"Sasagawa-onii-san wants me to join the boxing club."

"Ryohei-san is in the boxing club?"

"Hai. He's the president of the club," Takeshi explained.

Isabella was a bit shocked. She didn't expect Ryohei to be in such a club let alone the president.

He's such a quiet and reserved guy though.

"You'll do fine Tenth. Your strength is unmatched," Gokudera encouraged.

Tsuna didn't look convinced.

"Well, Ryohei-san is a pretty understanding guy. I'm sure you can just tell him you don't want to join. He should understand that you don't want t do it," Isabella commented.

Tsuna nodded.

"Yeah, that's what I plan to do."

Gokudera narrowed his eyes at Isabella.

What does this woman have planned?

They arrived at the next class and immediately sat down.

"It's the bane of my existence. Math." Tsuna murmured in front of her.

"It's ok Tsuna-san. We can have study groups like we did during the summer."

"Hai! That would really help."

DING!DONG!

The teacher began going over the lesson.

Isabella could see where both Tsuna and Takeshi got lost. Gokudera more or less ignored what the teacher had to say.

The teacher was writing problems on the board when the door opened.

It was a disciplinary committee member. The same one that escorted her last time.

He's probably here for someone else.

"Gurin Isabella."

Shit.

"Hai?"

"You are needed in the Disciplinary Committee Room."

"Can this wait till after class?"

"Iie. You are needed now."

"Dammit," she muttered.

She gathered her things and started leaving.

"Class isn't over! You have homework tonight," the teacher complained.

"My friends will grab the work for me. I'll make sure it gets done. It'll be bad for everyone if I don't go."

The teacher huffed and went back to writing problems on the board.

Isabella followed behind the member in silence.

"Ano, you know my name but I don't know yours."

"Kusakabe Tetsuya."

"Nice to meet you, Kusakabe-san. Do you know why I'm needed?"

"Hai. The president wants you to join the committee. I'm quite surprised. I don't think Hibari-san has shown this must interest in a woman."

"Really? Interesting."

So I'm have intrigued him. That doesn't mean he has feelings for me. I doubt he has many feelings for people at all. He acts like everyone is a nuisance. Except if you can fight, apparently.

"You've done something to catch his attention."

"I don't know if that's a good or bad thing."

They reached the committee room in no time.

Kusakabe left as soon as she was inside.

Isabella went over to the sofa and threw her books down.

She plopped down onto the sofa as well.

"Kyoya-san. Hello, how are you?"

Kyoya narrowed his eyes at her cheery attitude.

That's what he gets.

"It's been more than a week."

"I'm well aware. But as I told you this morning, you randomly attacking me doesn't help your cause."

"Hn."

Kyoya threw one of his tonfas at her. She caught it before it did damage.

"Why do you keep trying to hit me in the face!"

Isabella tossed it onto the couch.

"I've talked with my second in command."

"And?"

Isabella grimaced when she saw her hand was bleeding again.

I think the wound reopened.

"He thinks you'll be good for the committee too."

Isabella sighed.

"I need solitary time to think. I know it's been eight days but I never had the proper time to think about it."

"Hn. You can go."

Isabella collected her things and left.

The door opened and Kusakabe was on the other side.

"She said she'll think about it," Kyoya said.

Kusakabe nodded.

"Wait. You're Kyoya-san's second in command?"

"Hai."

"I didn't see that coming. I'll tell you my decision as soon as I come to one."

With that, Isabella left and headed for the Nurse's office.

It was lunchtime and Tsuna, Hayato, and Takeshi were on the roof.

"Isabella-chan hasn't returned yet. I'm a bit concerned." Tsuna said.

"Don't worry Tenth. I'm sure that woman is fine."

That woman is nothing but trouble. She did save me but what motives does she have? Maybe she's trying to get to the Tenth. Everywhere I turn she happens to be in the same place the Tenth was.

Reborn-san said that she's from Italy and she arrived around the same time I did. If her intentions were like how mine were then…. She's trying to kill the Tenth. I won't let that happen.

"What's with that look, Gokudera?" Takeshi asked.

"It's none of your damn business, baseball freak!" Hayato yelled.

"Hayato, that's not nice," someone said.

Bianchi was standing near the wall in a Namimori girl's uniform.

"Aniki!"

His stomach groaned loudly and he fell to the floor with a pained look on his face.

Bianchi sighed.

"When will he grow up?"

"Tsuna, take him to the nurse," Reborn said.

"Why me?" he asked.

"Do it or you die," Reborn said, pointing a gun at him.

"HIIIIEEEEEE! Ok ok. I'll take him," Tsuna said.

He struggled to pick Hayato up. It was futile. Tsuna then heard a click and struggled faster knowing Reborn just cocked his gun.

"Let me help you Tsuna," Takeshi said.

"Ahh thanks, Yamamoto-kun," Tsuna said with gratitude.

Takeshi practically flung Hayato over his shoulder.

Tsuna sweatdropped.

I don't think he would appreciate that.

Hayato eyes fluttered open.

Where am I?

Nothing but white surrounded him.

He sat up and his eyes narrowed at what he saw.

It's her.

The curtain surrounding his bed was slightly open on one side.

"You should really watch your step, Sweetheart," the nurse said.

"I know. The steps just don't support me like they do everyone else. Sometimes my own feet trip me up."

The nurse shook her head.

"Well until the steps finally support you, I will bandage you up."

The nurse skillfully wrapped her hand.

"I'm going on my lunch break but you're free to go. You too, Gokudera."

The nurse turned and left.

I'm hungry. I should have enough time to eat something.

"I have you figured out."

Isabella stopped what she was doing and turned towards Gokudera.

"What?"

"I have you figured out. I don't know how long you thought your plan was going to last, but it's over now."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh don't play dumb with me bitch. You know exactly what I'm talking about!"

"I don't know what the fuck you're talking about. You are the one that has had a problem with me. So don't come at me with your bullshit."

Gokudera got off of the bed and pulled out a few sticks of dynamite. He lit a cigarette and put it in his mouth.

"I won't let you succeed."

Isabell jumped away from Gokudera.

She had an idea of how he fought. She needed to distinguish all the dynamite so it didn't damage anything.

She pulled out the gift from her father. Her bladeless sword.

"And what do you plan to do with that useless thing?"

"Why don't you wait and find out?"

Gokudera lit and threw four pieces of dynamite at her.

Her blade lit up with flames.

Isabella furrowed her eyebrows.

Red flames.

Vivid orange flames with flickering red on the end.

She sliced the dynamite. The flame went out as soon as the blade came in contact with it.

What the fuck is that? The flame is orange like the Tenth's but it's not on her forehead.

Isabella took his silence as a chance to charge towards him.

She was right in front of him now. She flipped her sword. She had the hilt raised and aimed for Gokudera's head.

"Don't think you've won."

Gokudera flicked a miniature dynamite in between them.

Isabella jumped back to avoid it. Gokudera did as well.

The small explosion caused dust in the room to fly around.

Where the hell is she?

Gokudera had two dynamite sticks in each of his hands. He bit down on the cigarette.

He took a shot in the dark and threw the four plus four more dynamite into the smoke. But as quick as he threw them, the flame was gone.

The dynamite fell to the ground, useless.

Shit, she's fast.

He grabbed some more dynamite. Preparing for her to attack.

"It's not safe to throw dynamite in such a confined space."

Gokudera tensed up.

Behind me!

He tried to turn around in time but he was too slow.

She chopped him in the back of the neck with her hand.

His entire body gave out from under him and he collapsed.

"I don't know where you got your facts from so let me clear this up. I was sent by no organization, no mafia famiglia, nothing like that. I have no reason to attack Tsuna-san. I don't give a flying fuck about his title. I came to Namimori because my father wanted me to have a better life. Leave me out of your mafia bullshit!"

Isabella snatched up her things and left.

Great. Now I have no time to eat anything.

Shit. She defeated me.

Gokudera struggled to get up but he couldn't move.

Unbeknownst to both of them, Reborn saw the whole exchange of words and attacks.

She says she has no ties to the mafia and only her father sent her. Yet, for someone so 'antisocial' and 'introverted', she seems to talk with others too also has the fighting skills to take down Gokudera. There's something she's not telling us.

The hostility between Isabella and Gokudera continued throughout the day. It nearly bubbled to the surface a few times but nothing bad happened.

"I'm heading home. Good luck with Ryohei-san," Isabella said.

"Bye Isabella," Takeshi said.

"Bye Isabella-chan and thanks for the well wishes. I need them," Tsuna said.

Gokudera stared down Isabella as she left.

Isabella purposefully didn't look back at him.

"No good woman," he muttered.

Isabella was heading for the training grounds when she sensed someone behind her.

Hmm. I should feel for their aura.

Ever since she could remember, she could feel people's auras. Only later did she find out the flame was coming from the aura.

She could sense people's auras but it can't tell her anything about the person. If it's someone she knew, she could tell them apart from the rest though.

I know this strong ass aura anywhere.

"Kyoya-san, you don't have to follow me around. I already told you I'll give my answer when I'm ready."

She stopped and turned around.

Sure enough, Kyoya stepped from behind a wall.

"I see you as someone who charges forward and ask questions later. To see you actually hiding is a bit creepy."

Kyoya stopped right in front of Isabella.

Standing so close, Isabella realized they're about the same height.

That's kind of funny.

One of the things she was bullied about was her height. She was always a tall child and even now as a teenager. She looks some guys straight into their eyes and they don't like that.

"Where are you headed?" he asked.

"Why must you know? Are you just going to randomly attack me?"

Isabella stared deeper into his eyes.

"I want to know what you do to be so strong," he said, unfazed by the eye contact.

"Alright then. Follow me."

She broke eye contact and continued walking.

The two walked side-by-side in a, somewhat, comfortable silence.

When they arrived at the training grounds, Lambo was already running.

"It's the baby from the other day."

"That's Lambo. I'm training him."

"Hn. Could you train me too?"

Isabella's eyebrows furrowed together.

"Why?"

"I never had some defeat me before."

"I wouldn't call it that but I get your point. What you need training in is beyond physical strength."

Kyoya raised an eyebrow to that.

He's expressing emotion and it's freaking me out.

"What is it?"

"Meditation. I know that's not really your speed. As I said earlier act first, think second. But maybe thinking first may help."

"You mentioned auras earlier. What is that about?"

"An aura is a person's presence. You, for example, have a big aura. People can most likely tell when your angry or annoyed your aura flare up. But it can be used in all types of different ways. An aura can turn into a flame, which is tangible. Flames can be used to aid in battle."

"How do you turn an aura to a flame?"

"Meditation."

Kyoya glared at her.

"I'm serious. That's how I found my flame, through meditation. It might be different for each person but starting with that wouldn't be so bad."

"Hn."

"Isabella-chan, Lambo-san is finished."

"Great! Come over here and sit in the grass with me. You can too if you want, Kyoya-san."

She plopped down into the grass no problem.

Lambo plopped down in the grass next to her.

Kyoya eased down to the ground.

"First we're going to close our eyes. I say we cause I'm doing it too."

They all closed their eyes and Isabella continued to explain.

"I want you to drown out everything. The sun on our backs. The breeze blowing by. Even my voice. Once you do that, dig deep inside of yourself and look for a flame. You'll know what it is when you see it. Once that happens, we'll go on from there."

Isabella followed her own instructions and drowned everything out.

It's been far too long since Isabella has meditated. She's sure her flame increased. And maybe those red flames from earlier were just a fluke.

What!?

Isabella's eyes shot open.

Neither Kyoya or Lambo stirred from the meditation.

Good. They're in deep. But what were all those flames I saw?

Isabella knew her orange flame well. It's the flame she started with. The five other flames were something else entirely.

Where did all these flames come from?

Isabella felt the hairs on her body stand on end. It was almost like her body was being charged by electricity.

"What's that?" she muttered.

Lambo's eyes fluttered open.

"Lambo-san thinks he found it."

"That's great. How do you feel?"

"Lambo-san feels … a lot."

"Hmm. What did the flame look like?"

"Lightning!"

"Green lightning?"

Lambo nodded.

I saw the same thing. One of my new flames looks more like a green ball of lightning.

"Can you tell me one thing you can feel?"

He pointed up t the sky.

"Something is coming."

Isabella looked up into the sky.

She felt something approaching as well.

The trees didn't give much clearance. But after a while, a plane did fly by.

"Interesting. You're most likely connecting with the electricity that resides in the earth and in the air around us. That's extremely useful. We will incorporate something to improve this soon."

A bright smile spread across Lambo's face.

"Lambo-san love you, Isabella-chan."

He stood on his tip toes and kissed her on the cheek.

"Your such a cutie," she said with a smile.

This isn't where 'adult' Lambo's feelings come from right? This is just a friend's love… right?

Isabella knitted her eyebrows in worry.

She saw movement in the corner of her eye.

"Kyoya-san did you find your flame?"

He opened his eyes and glared at the ground.

"I'll take that as a no."

The three of them just sat in the park.

Until the rain clouds rolled in and thunder was heard in the distance.

"Kyoya-san would you like to come over for dinner?"

"Hn. Sure."

The three of them got up and headed to Isabella's house.

Today was … particular long in different ways. At least I'm not having dinner by myself though.