I am extremely very very sorry for the extremely late update…

If I can say any excuses I was busy with my graduation thesis… Anyway I know you guys didn't come in to read my excuses so here is the story.

Chapter 11. Meeting as a stranger.

The Vongola Famiglia has arrived? Erica could see some people figures coming into the banquet. Even though Erica didn't want to meet the Vongola Famiglia she was curious about the strongest mafia Famiglia. Also like it or not she was here to meet them. Erica started to walk toward the crowds. Every people's attentions were at the Vongola's boss and Guardians. Erica hides herself inside the crowds and looked at the Vongola Famiglia.

Thanks to the information files the Rango Famiglia gave, Erica could easily recognize the boss and the Guardians. The Vongola boss was greeting with the Rango's boss Marco. Behind the Vongola boss his Guardians were just standing or talking to each other. Erica notices there were some people she didn't see in the information files. Two men, one had glasses and a bar code on this face, another man looked kind of wild and unusual large sharp fangs. There were also two women, a red hair French woman and a purple hair…

'Purple hair?'

Erica tried to have a better look at the purple hair woman. It was rare to see someone who has purple hair just like her…and there was a strange, strong emotion she felt when she saw the glance of the woman. Erica didn't know why but when she saw the glance of the purple hair woman her heart skipped a beat as her heart was trying to tell her something. However Erica couldn't see a good sight of the woman. The people were blocking her view and a man who had long indigo hair was next to that woman also blocking the sight.

'Why am I suddenly so interest at a mafia?'

Erica was confused with her feelings. Just a minute ago she hated being in this banquet and wanted to leave if she could. She didn't want to talk to anyone and honestly she was afraid of these people. They were mafias! But now she was actually feeling desperate to see that purple hair woman and even wanted to talk with her. That woman is also a mafia and yet why does she suddenly get so interest in her? Erica shook her head trying to forget her weird feelings toward the purple hair woman.

"Welcome, and welcome Vongola Famiglia!"

Erica could hear Marco's enjoyable and excited greeting toward the Vongola Famiglia. Erica actually found it a bit funny to see the so prideful Marco showing respect to the Vongola boss who was much younger than him. A man in his 40s was carefully respecting a man who was just half his age.

"That young man is the famous Vongola Decimo? He's so young than I expected!"

It looks like Erica wasn't the only one who was surprised to see the Vongola boss was a very young man. Erica looked at the women in front of her. They didn't notice Erica was overhearing them and started to chat with themselves.

"I thought the Vongola Decimo would be a huge muscular man when I heard he defeated the Varia's boss Xanxas over the ring battle. I never imagine he would be so small and young."

"Yeah I wonder how he win that beast(Xanxas) when he was just 14."

"But isn't he cute? I like him this way than a scary man. I think I should go and talk to him. If I'm lucky, he might get interest in me and we might send the night together."

"I want to be with his right hand man! He looks so cool!"

"I'm more interest with that Heterochromia eyes man. Did you see his red ruby eye? It's the most unique eye I ever seen in my life!"

"Hey girls, do you want to bet who will actually succeed in seducing the Vongola's boss or Guardians?"

"Oh, that will be fun!"

Erica rolled her eyes. These women had no brains at all. Just hearing their conversation was making Erica feel disgust. However this conversation wasn't something new to Erica. In the political or upper class world the same things happen. Many women will go to a powerful man trying to seduce him for any advantage. But those women never ended well. And that also included Erica herself.

One of the biggest mistakes Erica had made in her life was seducing a rich company man many years ago from a party. She could still remember that excitement of doing something wrong and sleeping with a man who wasn't her husband. She never noticed an affair could give so much excitement in her life. The adrenaline will rush trough her vain when she was secretly leaving her house in the night to see her lover. The affair was like a drug giving her huge excitement but at the same time leading her to the cliff.

Because of this curiosity and the taste of excitement from the affair, it was the start her life became a downfall. After she was caught of the affair with a rich man, the newspapers were always full of her stories with unpleasant things. Every night she fought with her husband not even noticing she was breaking the family and giving incurable pain to her young daughter. After being divorce and marrying her affair lover, it became one of the reasons her daughter had to suffer such a painful childhood and a lonely death.

"Oh, don't be such a fool."

Erica woke up from her thoughts when she suddenly heard a sharp voice in front of her.

"Haven't you heard it's dangerous to seduce the Vongola's boss or Guardians?"

Oh, that conversation again… Erica let out a little sigh. At least there seem to be someone who wouldn't do such a foolish thing.

"The Vongola Decimo and his right hand man already have their fiancée and they are very loyal to them. I never heard they ever try to cheat."

"So? It doesn't mean we can't try."

"You don't get it do you? Even though they are gentlemen right now, I heard they can turn extremely cold or dangerous if someone tries to keep seducing them."

'Well this is something interesting.' Erica thought to herself. The Vongola's boss and his right hand man were loyal to their lovers. Not every man is like that. Even though they were mafia this was something Erica found it nice.

"Also the Heterochromia eyes man is the most dangerous. Don't you know he's Rokudo Mukuro the famous Vendicare prisoner? Also the rumor he's dating with the female Mist Guardian?"

"Well I heard she's just a puppet to him. Her name is even weird. Chrome wasn't it? What kind of a girl name is that?" Said the woman who was interested in Mukuro said.

"Well I don't think he would have killed six men just because she's his puppet. Don't you remember that news a few weeks ago? He immediately killed them without hesitating just because they tried to hurt her. And I'm pretty sure the rumors of them being lovers aren't just a rumor."

Erica carefully listened to the women conversation. The 'Chrome' they are mentioning must be the one she was curious when she got the information files of the Vongola Famiglia. The information the Rango Famiglia gave had only a few words about this Chrome lady.

"Yeah, I also heard he's very possessive toward her. He doesn't like to get disturb while he's with her. I bet he'll use illusion to get rid of the person whoever tries to disturbs their relationship."

"Aren't illusion just a scary image? It won't work if I don't believe in it."

"Oh, no. Power illusions are just like real it can literally kill you. And don't forget Rokudo Mukuro is one of the most powerful illusionists in the world so it would be very easy for him to get rid of you."

Illusion? Illusionist? Erica remembered reading that information but couldn't understand what it meant. However listening to this conversation it seemed it meant literally real illusion. But is that really possible? If it wasn't for those frighten faces from these women Erica would had easily thought it was a joke.

'It feels like the mafia is living in a whole different world…'

It was giving Erica a huge stress to think she have to talk with these Vongola people. Erica wondered if it was even possible to have a normal conversation with them. Just overhearing the conversation of some women was already making Erica confused.

Suddenly Erica noticed Marco walking straight at her. He grabbed (it wasn't gentle but also not harsh) Erica's arm and started to dragged her.

"I'm going to introduce you to the Vongola Famiglia. Don't forget what your job is. Make them at least fond to the Rango Famiglia." Marco whispered to Erica. He also didn't forget to give a threatening eye of meaning 'don't screw up or I will kill you.'

'It's ironic that you're asking me that.' Erica thought with a sarcastic smile. She already hates the Rango Famiglia and her job was to make some people like this Famiglia. Erica wondered if this could really be even possible.

Erica frowned in her mind as she was getting closer to these Vongola. What kind of good things there can be by meeting a bunch of mafia?

Chrome looked around the banquet. Every people were looking at them and whispering. Chrome wasn't interest in what they were saying, but honestly it wasn't comfortable to see people whispering like that. She mentally sighed. She was already feeling tired.

"Hey, who do you think the Rango's boss will introduce to us?" M.M suddenly asked with a low voice.

"I don't know…and I honestly don't care." Chrome answered with a tired voice.

The Rango's boss had excused himself for a moment to bring someone. Probably someone famous. It was common in the mafia world to invite famous people in the party. Many mafias actually like meeting with super stars. However Chrome wasn't one of those many people.

"I wonder who it will be. I hope the person is very famous. It's actually hard to meet those kinds of people personally."

Chrome could sense M.M. was excited and delighted right now. She was like this the moment they walked into this banquet. She really must like parties…something which Chrome might never understand…

Chrome could see the glance of Marco and the guest coming closer. Suddenly Chrome heard a small gasp from Kyoko and Haru. Chrome noticed their gasps were coming out of surprise and excitement. Why were they surprise? Kyoko and Haru had met countless of famous people so it wasn't something new for them. Perhaps it was someone extremely rare to meet or the person was someone they like. Chrome was standing behind the other Guardians so she couldn't immediately see who Marco had brought with him.

"Oh my god, oh my god! I can't believe this!" M.M. squealed at started to hit Chrome's shoulder with full of excitement.

"What is it?" Chrome asked even though she wasn't really interest. She just wanted to calm M.M. down so she wouldn't keep hitting her.

"He's coming with my most favorite actress! I didn't even dream she would be in this party! It's amazing she's here!"

Chrome never saw M.M. this happy before. She looked happier than when she brought bags of new luxury cloths. M.M. must extremely like this actress. Also to see Kyoko and Haru's face the actress must be their favorite too.

"To show my greetings to the Vongola I have brought a special guest. She is already very famous so I think you already know her, but still let me introduce you…"

Chrome could hear Marco talking. Chrome still couldn't see the guest and had no intent of moving a little more front to see the guest. However M.M. suddenly pulled Chrome through the Guardians and quickly walked to the front.

Chrome was embarrassed when she was suddenly stepped out to the front. Why did M.M. have to drag her too? Chrome lifted her head and suddenly her single eye met with the guest. Chrome froze and her eye widen.

The actress had purple eyes just like her. Very familiar eyes she had seen countless of times when she was young. The actress eyes were full of shock. She had deep purple hair just like hers… A rare color which only can be inherent by blood. The actress face was extremely familiar. Just look older than she always had remembered. The actress face was beautiful, but to Chrome her face made her feel horror. She knew that face and Chrome didn't want to admit it was her.

The actress who looked shocked and confused opened her mouth and whispered in a very small voice. Something that will make Chrome more horrified.

"N-Na…gi?"

Chrome's heart started to beat very hard. Too hard that it hurts. She also suddenly lost the ability to breathe. Chrome didn't want to admit this was real. The person in front of her was no other then…

"I would like to introduce you the Japanese's famous actress Erica.

Her mother Erica. The one who abandoned her when she was at the edge of death.

When Erica came in front of the Vongola Famiglia, she immediately could see some of them, especially the women surprised to see her. Erica could hear there was another woman behind the men. When Marco started to introduce her, two women had suddenly come out to the front. A red hair woman who looked extremely excited dragged out another woman with her. The moment Erica and the young purple hair woman met their eyes, her breath stopped in shock.

Even though it past 10 years since Erica last saw the beautiful large purple eye, she still recognized it as the same eye of her long lost child. The young woman face was beautiful…and also had great similar with hers.

Before Erica could even think straight and realize what she was seeing…Erica's heart react faster than her mind and mutter out a word in a very small voice.

"N-Na…gi?"

Erica was surprised to herself of suddenly calling her long dead daughter's name. However Erica was more shocked when she saw the woman flinch in surprise. It couldn't be possible could it? She saw her daughter dead on the hospital bed. Erica was at her funeral and saw Nagi being buried at her grave. Nagi was dead… but the woman in front of her looked exactly like Nagi and most of all…she had an eye patch on her right eye… Nagi had lost her right eye in that accident.

Without even noticing, Erica took a step forward as wishing to go closer in this woman. The woman took a step back, panic rising in her single purple eye. Erica had the urge to touch her and hear her voice. Erica didn't even matter the mafias were looking at her and the woman. Nothing came into her eyes except the woman in front of her who looked so alike with Nagi.

Erica was about to step closer to the woman again. Suddenly a tall Italian man step forward between her and the woman. The man had long indigo hair and strange red right eye. Immediately Erica realized this man as Rokudo Mukuro and remembered the information that he was dangerous. Mukuro was blocking Erica from coming closer and gave a cold warning eye of telling her not to come close to this woman.

"Chrome, are you all right?" The Vongola boss asked with concern and worries.

Chrome still looked panic and couldn't answer immediately. Before Chrome could answer Mukuro gently put his arm around the woman waist as he was protecting her.

"Kufufu I'm sorry but I think she's just too tired. I'll let her rest for a moment so please excuse us."

Tsuna nodded his head in acceptation. Chrome's face was pale and she really looked like she needed a rest. Erica wanted to follow the couple who were walking away. She didn't want to be separated from Chrome. However Erica couldn't follow because Marco gave her a warning sign. Even how much Erica had the urge to follow the woman who looks so much like her daughter, Erica had no choice but to stay with the Vongola.

"Vongola Decimo, while we can talk together about some business, Erica here can be company with the ladies." Marco said.

Tsuna actually didn't want to talk the business stuff. It was probably about the alliance between Vongola and Rango. Tsuna let out a small sigh inside his mind. He could see Kyoko and Haru were currently over joy about having a chance with talking with Erica. Tsuna remembered Kyoko telling him Erica was her most favorite actress. Come to think of it while they were still only dating, Kyoko always went to see Erica's film whenever they went to see a movie.

Tsuna had no choice but to nod in agreement. As soon as Tsuna went away with Marco his Guardians also followed Tsuna. Erica was now with the girls.

'If I can get friendly with them, I might know more about…Chrome…'

Right now Erica's interest was only in Chrome. Even though Chrome can't be Nagi, Erica couldn't let go of the urge to know about her. Just a moment ago, Erica didn't wish to be here nor did she want to even have a little conversation with the Vongola. However now she found herself she wanted to have plenty of time with the Vongola.

As soon as Chrome was lead outside of the banquet, Chrome lean her back on the wall and drop to the floor. Her whole body was shaking uncontrollable. Why was she even shaking? Is it because of the shock of meeting her mother? Why is her heart beating so fast that she was even able to hear her heartbeat? Chrome once wondered how she would react when she might meet her mother again… She couldn't imagine herself how she would react, but Chrome never noticed she would act so…cowardly.

The moment she saw Erica, all she wanted to do was run away. However her body won't just listen and was froze helplessly with shock and fear. If it wasn't for Mukuro, she might have just kept standing there frozen. Did boss and the other Guardians notice her strange behavior? It was only a short moment, but it could have been enough for the skillful mafias to notice their comrade's strange behavior.

'N-Na…gi?'

Erica…her mother's voice echo inside her head. Chrome covered her ears with her hands, trying to stop hearing her mother's voice calling her. Did Erica notice it was her? No it couldn't be… Erica showed confusion in her eyes and she should think Nagi died 10 years ago. Mukuro had made an illusion of her dead body to trick her family and doctors to believe Nagi had died. The illusion body was also buried in her grave fooling everyone in the funeral.

Chrome suddenly let out a small laugh. It was surprising to see Erica even remembered Nagi after 10 years. Chrome was almost sure Erica would have forgotten about her like she had never existed. After all Erica had ignore her for years like she didn't want her existence. Chrome could imagine Erica was happy when she saw her dead in the hospital bed. Then…why did she saw a string of hope and longing in Erica's eyes when they saw each other? Why did Erica's voice, calling her real name sound so much like a mother?

Chrome felt like she wanted to cry. She gripped her arms and tried as hard as she can to hold back her tears. A single creak in her mind could break her emotions to flow out. She didn't want to be emotional about this. Chrome wish she could shut down herself and feel nothing. Suddenly Chrome felt Mukuro's hand touching her shoulders. Chrome lift her head and saw Mukuro kneeling down in front of her and looking at her with full of worries.

"Chrome are you all right?"

"I-I'm alright… I'm just s-surprised." Chrome honestly didn't know if she was lying or not. Everything seemed to be so confusing.

Mukuro gritted his teeth. Why the hell was that woman here? It was also a surprise for Mukuro to see Nagi's mother so suddenly in an unexpected place like this. Anger was boiling inside him. Mukuro never liked Nagi's mother. Even at the time Mukuro was only using Chrome as his puppet, he felt pity for Chrome for being abandon from her mother like that. Mukuro hated Erica even more when he noticed Nagi was such an innocent pure hearted little girl. She didn't deserve to die like that. It made Mukuro disgust of the adult more than he already did.

Does Erica even know how much terrible influence she gave to Nagi? Because of her, Nagi had to suffer for years(and probably still now) of the mental pain Erica had gave. Chrome's self confidence was at the very bottom and didn't think of herself worthy until she became an adult. It took so much hard work and time for Chrome to change herself… but just a moment of meeting her mother, Mukuro could easily see Chrome was broking apart. The past which Chrome tried so hard to forget was starting to haunt her again.

'That woman better not come near my Chrome.' Mukuro gritted his teeth again. He wouldn't let Erica hurt his Nagi again.

While Mukuro wasn't looking, Chrome carefully looked down at her stomach and placed her hand on it. Chrome smooths her stomach with her fingers as she was trying to feel any existence of her baby. She cannot be weak now. No she can't and she won't. She was going to be a mother in just a few months and a mother shouldn't be weak. She had to do anything to protect her child. How could she be a good mother if she runs away from everything she fears?

'No more weak Nagi. You have to be strong Chrome.'

"Maybe you should just rest today Chrome. I'll tell Vongola…"

"No, I'm fine Mukuro-sama." Chrome answered before Mukuro could finish his words. She stands up from the floor. "I can't hide from her for three days… If I have to meet her sooner or later I think it would be better if I take care of it from the start."

"What are you planning to do?" Mukuro asked with concern and curiosity. He never expected Chrome would want to stay at the banquet.

"I'm just going to pretend…we're strangers. She saw your illusion 10 years ago, so even if she suspects me, it would be easy to make her believe it's just a coincidence."

Mukuro thought about it. Just pretending to be strangers… He did make an illusion of Nagi's corpse 10 years ago, and Erica wouldn't know about illusion. Therefore she must believe Nagi died from that car accident. It could fool Erica. However Mukuro still thought it was too risky.

"Even if you do fool her, she would still be interest in you."

Chrome stared at Mukuro for a moment and made a bitter smile.

"I don't think she will. She always ignored me so why would she suddenly be interest at me after 10 years? Erica was probably just surprise to see me when she thought I was dead."

Mukuro frown a little. Remembering the look on Erica's face when she saw Chrome… Mukuro noticed there was longing and hope. If Erica still didn't care for her daughter then those emotions were impossible to be even shown.

"Even if she still shows interest in me, I just have to bear it for three days Mukuro-sama." Chrome said as she noticed Mukuro was still looking concern.

A silence was made for a few moments. Finally Mukuro let out a small sigh.

"All right. But you don't have to puss so hard on yourself Chrome." Facing her mother will make Chrome suffer from her painful memory. For years she suffered too much. Even if Chrome wants to do this all by herself, Mukuro made up his mind to intervene between them if things go bad.

Erica was talking with Kyoko and Haru an hour now. She was smiling and leading the conversation enjoyable. Even though it sounds like a normal basic conversation, Erica was carefully listening if there is any information she could get about Chrome.

"I heard you aren't part of the mafia even though you're fiancé is the boss or the Guardian. Are all the women not part of the Famiglia?" Erica asked Kyoko and Haru.

"Well it's a bit complicated. We don't participate at any of the mafia business but join in this kind of places because of our boyfriends. We can't totally say we're not part of the Famiglia. However unlike us, Chrome is one of the Guardians and the red hair woman over there is part of the mafia too. But I don't know if she's in the Vongola. She seems to be friend with Chrome but she's not friendly with us." Kyoko said pointing at M.M. who wasn't far away.

"We once tried to be friends with her but she made it clear she didn't want to be friends." Haru said. They tried a few times to at least be close. However M.M. refused. So they actually don't talk with each other even though M.M. and the Kokuyo gangs were living in the Vongola HQ for months.

Erica looked at M.M. for a moment making a mental note to speak with her too. Even in one sight Erica can tell M.M. had the opposite personality with Nagi. Nagi was a soft and kind person, caring others while M.M. looked like person who would think only herself and had a strong personality. Erica looked around the banquet carefully observing the people. She was searching if Chrome came back. When she couldn't find her Erica felt disappointed, but hide her emotion and smile to the girls again.

"How did Chrome join the Vongola? I don't know much about the mafia world, but I can easily see it isn't easy for a woman to be in a top place."

Just like Erica words woman are hard to be in the important or top place in the Famiglia. Even in this banquet, almost all the guests were men and most of the women only looked like their partners. Most of the women didn't seem to be important at all.

"Yes, it's hard for women to have an important position in the Famiglia. They have to prove themselves more than men and still many Famiglia don't accept them. It's amazing to think Chrome has been the Mist Guardian for 10 years now. But I don't know exactly how Chrome joined the Vongola. She was already in before I knew her." said Kyoko.

"And Chrome doesn't like to talk about her past. Gokudera's sister, Bianchi seemed to know more about Chrome's past. She once told us Chrome never thought someone would be kind to her without any reason. I guess Chrome had a painful past..." said Haru remembering the event 10 years ago when they were sent to the future. When they were trying to be friends with Chrome and wasn't working out well, Bianchi told them the reason.

"I think the only person who knows everything about Chrome is Mukuro. He's the other Mist Guardian and also Chrome's lover. We don't know much about Mukuro but he isn't rude and he deeply cares Chrome."

"I just don't know why Gokudera is so hostile to him. Mukuro is a bit creepy but he never did anything wrong." huffed Haru.

The conversation was getting more and more interesting for Erica. It was a bit disappointing to find out they didn't know about Chrome's past before she joined the Vongola… But still Erica was learning more about Chrome. Reflexively Erica looked around the banquet again. She wasn't expecting it then suddenly Erica's eyes caught a glance of a purple hair woman. Chrome must be back! Erica's heart started to beat fast. It was almost hard to remain calm and stop herself to rush toward her.

'Just wait until I have the chance to talk to her.' Erica reminded herself over and over again. She wanted to talk with Chrome privately. She had to wait patiently or it might ruin everything.

Also Erica could see Mukuro was next to Chrome. Erica remembered Mukuro blocking her for coming close to Chrome. Even though it looked like Mukuro was only helping Chrome who looked pale, Erica sensed Mukuro blocked her in purpose. He would definitely stop her again if she tries to approach Chrome now. Erica had to wait for the chance Mukuro wasn't near Chrome.

Erica carefully looked at Chrome. Chrome looked like she was in her early 20s. If Nagi was alive then she would be in her early 20s too. The more she looked at Chrome, the more she resembles Nagi. Erica wanted to believe Chrome was Nagi. But that was impossible wasn't it? She saw her dead and even buried…

A pain twitched through Erica's chest. The memory of the badly injured daughter lying on the bed came to her mind. Oh, her little sweet Nagi was covered with bandages and her right eye and some of her internal organs were lost. She was at the edge of death. Erica could still remember the sound of the painful breath as Nagi was having a hard time breathing. The strongest thing Erica remembered was Nagi's remaining left purple eye. Her purple orb was shown she gave up and was waiting for death to take her away. Erica could see her cold reflection in her daughter's eye. There was no sadness, worry or even a little piece of care in her face. Just an irritating frown and cold eyes like she was wasting her time.

This was also one of Erica's biggest regrets. The last thing she had shown to her daughter was a cold frown face with no care toward her child. After a few hours later, Nagi died. This memory still came as a nightmare to Erica even though it past 10 years. The reflection of giving up in Nagi's eye was the scariest part from the nightmare. It meant Nagi didn't want to live anymore. It meant Nagi gave up on waiting her mother to love her again. It meant there wasn't any little piece of happiness in Nagi's life. Nagi wanted to die than keep living…

If…if she had just hold her daughter's hand or just say a simple word like 'everything will be okay' or 'I love you'…would Nagi's lifeless eye would had at least shown a bit light? And maybe that little light could have made Nagi fight to live.

'Maybe I would have given my organ to…!' Erica violently shook her head trying to forget what she was just thinking.

'Nagi died before I could even make any decision!' She yelled to herself.

Erica didn't want to admit she let Nagi die while there was a chance she could had saved her. For years Erica kept telling herself it was just too late to do anything. The doctors told her that Nagi couldn't survive a day if she didn't transplant some of her organs. But the doctors didn't expect Nagi will die in a few hours! She thought there was more time to think and get herself prepare for the surgery. She wouldn't have hesitated if she knew there wasn't much time!

You're lying.

A little voice echo inside her head like a devil was whispering to her. No it wasn't the devil… This was her conscience talking to her.

Don't you remember what you said to Hiroto at the hospital?

Erica tried hard not to remember the conversation with Hiroto 10 years ago. If she could erase one of her memories she wanted to erase the conversation she had outside of Nagi's ICU. It was the last thing she wanted to admit that she actually said those words. At least it was a little relieve that Nagi couldn't hear what she had said outside the ICU.

"Erica, are you all right?"

Erica snapped out of her painful thoughts when she heard Kyoko voice.

"I-I'm sorry. I was lost in thoughts."

"Are you sure you're fine? You look a little pale."

"Maybe you should rest a little and have some food." Haru also showed concern. Erica actually looked pale.

At first Erica didn't intend to, but she had a chance to be alone for a while. If she was lucky she also might have a chance to speak with Chrome privately. Erica hind her little excitement and made a sorry face to the girls. She was an actress after all. It wasn't a problem for her to look truly sorry.

"I guess I'll rest for a moment then. I hope we could talk again soon. It would be nice to know each other better." This wasn't a lie. Erica really wanted to know them better. She actually liked Kyoko and Haru. They were kind and comfortable.

Kyoko and Haru couldn't hide their happiness. The famous superstar and their favorite actress wanted to be close with them!

As soon as Mukuro and Chrome went back inside the banquet, Tsuna was the first one to notice. He stopped the conversation with Marco for a moment and excused himself.

"Mukuro, may I have a word with you." It sounded more like a commend than asking.

Mukuro didn't like one bit of separating from Chrome's side. However the Vongola was in his serious boss mode. Also people in the banquet were quietly watching them. It would be troublesome later if he ignores Vongola right now. Mukuro mentally growl and said 'I will be right back' to Chrome before walking toward Sawada Tsunayoshi.

Tsuna and Mukuro walked away to a quiet place where nobody was near. As soon as Tsuna check no one was near to eardrop their conversation, he looked at Mukuro with a serious face.

"Mukuro, is Chrome all right? What was wrong with her?"

Mukuro was expecting this. Sawada Tsunayoshi always cares his friends so it was easy to predict Tsuna will be asking this.

"She's fine. I think she was only stressed about coming to this party. You know she doesn't like to attend this kind of mafia party."

Tsuna nod. Chrome would look stressed whenever she comes to this kind of party. Also she did seem more stressed than usually even before they arrived here. However the conversation with Kyoko this afternoon was bothering him.

"Is Chrome really fine? Like is she sick or something? Chrome is usually tired these days and Kyoko told me she saw Chrome retching."

"Retching?" Mukuro's voice showed hint of surprise.

"You didn't know?" Well that was odd. Why would Chrome not tell Mukuro about this? Chrome wouldn't hide anything from Mukuro wouldn't she?

Mukuro narrowed his eyes. He hadn't heard about this. Sure he knew Chrome was easily getting tired and slept a lot. But still she didn't look sick… Mukuro seriously looked at Tsuna.

"Tell me everything what you know or heard about."

While Chrome was waiting for Mukuro, she was getting awkwardly bored standing alone. It looks like Tsuna and Mukuro's conversation wasn't going to end so soon. She wanted to find Kyoko and Haru or at least M.M. than standing alone like this. However how hard Chrome tried to find her friends, they weren't in her sights. Almost everyone in the banquet were having conversation or dancing with partners. The rest were eating. It was awkward to stand alone.

Chrome looked at the countless foods on the table. If it was like the normal days, Chrome would felt great appetite seeing those delicious foods. However it was the opposite right now. Because of her pregnancy and morning sickness, the foods were suddenly making her feel sick. Chrome took a few steps away from the food table, trying not to smell the food. As she arrived at a quiet corner Chrome could finally feel relieve.

"Excuse me."

The little peace was soon interrupted. Without thinking Chrome made a formal smile and turned around...and froze. In front of her was Erica.

"H-Hello..." Chrome answered trying as hard as she can not to show her nervous or fear and remaining the polite smile on her face. She had to, no must act like a stranger who was meeting Erica the first time in her life. Or else Erica might get suspicious toward her. It wouldn't be so hard to trick a normal citizen than the mafias like she did for 10 years wouldn't it?

Erica looked at Chrome for a few seconds and made a smile. "It's nice to meet you."

Chrome had to use every control she had to not flinch in shock. Just when did...her mother could smile this warmly and speak such gently toward her? Chrome wasn't prepared for this. The mother Chrome remembered was always cold and harsh toward her. But the Erica in front of her was the opposite from her memory. Chrome felt warmness from Erica which she thought it had completely vanished a long time ago. Chrome couldn't take her purple eye off of Erica's smile on her face.

Neither of them spoke and just looked at each other. Both of them didn't even realize they were just staring each other. It felt like the time had just stopped.

Erica carefully observed Chrome's face trying to find everything similar with Nagi. However Erica couldn't find any similar. In Erica's eyes Chrome was just Nagi. Not a stranger who had many similar with her daughter. Chrome had the same warm innocence purple eye like Nagi. Nagi had lost her right eye from the car accident and Chrome was wearing a black eye patch on her right eye. The same smooth purple hair. Chrome's face was also just like Nagi only that it looked mature as a young beautiful woman. Erica could even believe the woman in front of her was really her long dead daughter if only she didn't witness Nagi's death 10 years ago.

If Nagi was still alive, then would she look just like Chrome? Chrome was a little shorter than her. The aura was soft and kind just like Nagi once had. The biggest difference was Chrome didn't had that agony in her eye like Nagi had since she was 9. Chrome looked like she had a quiet and shy personality. Just like Nagi...

"I'm Araki Erica." Erica introduced herself finally breaking the silent.

'Araki?' Chrome was confused hearing the unfamilar family name. It wasn't her father's or stepfather's family name. Was Erica married to another man? Then Chrome suddenly realized 'Araki Erica' was Erica's original name before she married anyone. Did this mean Erica divorced with Hiroto and lives alone now?

"I-I'm C-Chrome Dokuro." Chrome couldn't help but blush in embarrassment. She was too nervous that she just stuttered her words!

Erica's eyes widen and her heart skipped a beat. Nagi used to blush easily. Did this woman even have the same natural habit? The impossible thought of Chrome might being Nagi was raising up again. Before she walked toward Chrome, didn't she told herself hundreds of times Nagi was dead? And yet why does she keep seeing Chrome as Nagi? Maybe she missed Nagi so much and actually wished she was still alive that her mind is fooling around with her.

While Erica was dealing with herself, Chrome finally made up the courage to directly look at her mother. She was still beautiful...it was clear that she aged but it didn't make her less beautiful. Chrome was confused when she noticed Erica's smile wasn't a fake smile. When Chrome looked at Erica's eyes she was a bit taken aback. How hard she tries to find any coldness or hardness in Erica's eyes which was always there in Chrome's memory, she couldn't find any. Instead Erica was looking at Chrome with warmness and care.

Care?! Chrome couldn't believe if she was seeing things right with only her single eye. Didn't Erica throw away every emotion a mother should have for her child? How can those emotions still remain inside her and most of all look at her so warmly when Erica didn't know she was actually her daughter? No, wouldn't she look at her with hatred if she knew she was Nagi? Chrome couldn't understand anything.

Chrome started to have mix of emotions. She felt anger and wanted to shout why Erica was suddenly looking at her like this while she never gave any when Nagi needed it most. What kind of rights do you have to come to her so friendly? On the other hand, Chrome felt happiness. She had miss this side of Erica for years and never thought she would see it again. After 10 years from not even seeing each other, it was truly a relief Erica wasn't looking her the same way like last time in the hospital. The moment Chrome remembered her mother's face 10 years ago a cold chill went through her heart. Chrome suppressed her happiness trying as hard as she could to make it disappear. It will be a humiliate hope to even think Erica would care her once again.

Chrome couldn't stand being next to Erica anymore. The calm mask on her face will break down any second if she doesn't run away from her mother. Many emotions were swirling inside her trying to break out. It was harder to stand in front of her mother than Chrome had expected. She immediately needed anyone or any reason to leave Erica's side.

And unexpectedly luck seemed to be on her side.

"Chrome Dokuro, dance with me."

Chrome suddenly heard a male voice behind her asking a dance. Well...the male voice was cold and it was more like a command than asking. But Chrome was thankful whoever was asking her. She could finally leave Erica! Without thinking much Chrome immediately said 'yes' to the man before even turning around.

The moment she turned around and saw the man, Chrome felt her heart froze from the unexpected surprise. She would have jumped if she wasn't panic. The man who asked for a dance was no other than Hibari Kyoya.

And he was actually smiling! A smile he usually has when he finds something interesting. This was making Chrome paler in fear of what he was even thinking. Before Chrome could even say any excuse to refuse the dance, Hibari grabbed her wrist and pulled her to the dancing hall.

Luck wasn't on her side.

A/N: Thank you for reading this chapter and I am once again sorry for the late update.

I'm not sure if this is the reunion between Chrome and her mother you guys wanted…but how much I thought about it, I think in reality Chrome would act like this based on her personality. If this isn't the story you wanted then I am sorry… But don't be too disappointed because there will be lot more stories of them together.

Also I am going to make the other Guardians (who didn't directly show up) come out starting from the next chapter.

Please give me a review…and I thank all who always gives and gave review, favorite and follow when I was resting for months. It good to know people are still waiting for this story. TT^TT