Ritsu: Aah, nothing quite like 2AM fried potatoes with lots of spices~ Gotta load up the tank so I can write! And since I spend all day gaming with my twin, I always end up writing at night. Though to be fair we don't usually game past midnight…

Also, TIMESKIP.

Anyway, REVIEW ANSWERING TIME!

FluffyRainbows: Damn Spade indeed! (even though I have a ReaderxDaemon story on another site. If only he hadn't gone after the Kozatos D: ) Yes! Both Tomuro and Toen (Toma works too, but I've begun to fancy Toen~) shall frolic across the fields of fanfiction. Yes, the plan is that the box animals will be able to see Tomo (since they're special) and quite frankly Hibird is a seriously special bird, so it wouldn't surprise me if Hibird could see the dead. I've considered giving Tomo a pet, since she could have Enma give them food and such but nothing's set in stone yet. A possibility though! Thank you very much! :D

TheParadoxicalOxymoron: Mmm, I felt like it would be too much of a change. If Enma's family never died, then he would've never gone after Tsuna and so a very important arc would never have happened. Moreover I have plans for the Shimon arc, as well, so it had to happen ;-; Hrrrm… I've been thinking about giving Tomo flames for a while. She most likely will, but I've yet to decide what kind. I thought about lightning first, since it's basically the best for protecting (hardening effect and shields and all) and her purpose is to protect Enma and all. But then I figured I wanted her to be able to fight and while lightning flames can be offensive too, I'm not sure… While a Shimon type flame could be fitting as well, I kinda wanna keep the whole "only for the Shimon family" thing, so it'll most likely be a Vongola flame, at least. I might just put up a poll so people can vote on what flame they want her to have (Except mist. I refuse to give her a mist flame. Mukuchi has all the mist flames she needs XD). And yes, she WILL meet other Vongolas and it will be awesome! … I… I'll make sure to heal your hearts again!

Choco-Latte64: ;-; Poor Enma indeed. And yes, Tomuro has now officially stuck. XD I'm glad you like the story!

FuKumagician: No hablo mucho Español, buuuut… I getcha c: I'm glad you'll still read this story when the Tomuro story starts. Thank you very much c: !


Five years had gone by faster than expected. Enma had turned twelve, and from what I had been told, he'd met most of his guardians. But he hadn't smiled even once since then. His grandmother was a kind woman, who'd taken him in with open arms. But she too could tell Enma would rather be with his family that had passed on. He wasn't even very keen on talking to me anymore. But he'd brought the ring. I assumed the main reason he was hesitant to talk to me was because I'd told him the truth about the ring.


"I'm… bound to that ring, Enma… I… I'm supposed to protect you. That's… what I was told to do…"

"… Protect me? Mami was wearing the ring! Why didn't you protect her?!"

"… I'm sorry…"

"Sorry isn't going to bring her back! It's not going to bring them back!"


We'd been on edge for quite some time after that. I think the both of us felt guilty. I for not being able to save Mami, and Enma for speaking so harshly to me. We'd eventually gotten over it, but there was still some awkward tension when we spoke to eachother. I could only hope it would vanish with time. At the very least, Enma was willing to speak to me. I often found myself wondering if I should've told Enma about Daemon. About who he was and that it wasn't Iemitsu Sawada who killed his family. But I hesitated.

With our relationship tense and our mutual trust cracked, I seriously doubted he would believe me. And even if he did, I had no idea how I'd explain just how I knew such a thing.

Later. I'll tell him later.

In a way, I was thankful he'd met his guardians, even though I knew terrible things would happen in the future, he'd perked up somewhat after meeting them. I just wished he'd smile. But while I knew of the bad things that would happen, could happen, I also knew that there would be a time when Enma would be happy again.

Of course, I'd do anything to bring him closer to that happiness faster, but I had to admit he was being rather stubborn.

I realized why he was angry with me, I understood and I accepted it. But I couldn't stop myself from thinking that he was being a bit childish. Then again, I was technically past twenty now, so my mind was matured well beyond his. I didn't feel like an adult, though. But then again, I felt like I was going to be stuck as a teenager for the rest of my existence. Considering my body most likely would be, the feeling wasn't too far off. For some reason I just had a hard time seeing myself as an adult when my body hadn't grown at all.

I hadn't heard from Mukuro in quite some time either.

Honestly, one boy kept walking on eggshells around me and the other had upped and vanished. It made me feel… lonely.

I'd already begun to notice that other kids Enma's age were barely able to see me. If they weren't paying attention, they didn't see me at all. It was as if I was hard to notice, rather than completely invisible. But it was taking its toll on me.

I was a social person, and until Enma and I made up properly, I didn't have anyone to talk to. At first, I'd expected Mukuro to contact me again, but after two years had passed I came to the conclusion that perhaps he wouldn't. By now, he had most likely escaped, met Ken and Chikusa and most likely he'd met Lancia's family.

Chances were, he'd forgotten all about me.


I let out a sigh.

"What I wouldn't give to go back in time…" I muttered, staring out the window before me. Enma was out, most likely being babied by Adelheid. He'd been bullied a lot recently, and as much as I wanted to help him, there wasn't anything I could do.

I was becoming really tired of being unable to do anything. I had been able to stop time once, in the past years, when Enma was about to be hit by a car. But that had been the only time, it had worked since that very first time.

It was only a theory, but I suspected my power could only work when Enma was the one in danger.

It made the most sense to me. When Daemon had attacked, he had no intention of killing Enma. Only his family. And so, I hadn't been able to stop time. I hadn't been able to help Mami. I had refrained from telling Enma anything about it. He didn't need more reasons to be angry.

It was frustrating, to say the least. The power was useful, and could make the difference between life and death, but if it only worked when a specific person was in danger, what good was it? Sure, I had been told to save Enma, it made sense my power wouldn't work for anyone.

But it sucked.

And what's more, I felt more like a jealous teenage girl than a supposed adult, growing annoyed with Enma's reluctance to talk with me when he had slowly but surely begun opening up to his guardians. I wasn't even sure what he knew about the Shimon family, that was something that I couldn't remember if it was ever explained.

I wouldn't have been surprised if Daemon had something to do with that, too.

Troublesome blue melonhead…

Honestly, I'd held some sympathy for him during my living days, but having been there, having known Mami…

I just couldn't bring myself to forgive him.

Things were different now. This was reality. Not some made up story. The people around me were real, lived their lives and life continued on, oblivious to the horrible things that had happened behind closed doors.

It was my reality, and as much as it pained me to admit…

Until I figured out just what I could do, I was practically useless.

And so I vowed to myself that in the next two years, up until the point where I was sure of what would happen…

I would grow stronger. I would learn how to fight.

"I won't… fail again!"


Ritsu: Some character development. Enma being childish (though we'll remedy that eventually) andddddddd do we spy Tomo's resolve? Hmmmm?

Resolve needed to fuel a flaaaame?

Perhaps! I am seriously considering a poll for deciding if she's to get a flame, and in that case, what flame it should be. As stated above though, I'm opposed to it being mist, however, and by extension desert. Since one direction of the story will be with Mukuro, I feel like it'd be too much mist. Not to mention, she'd have to get pineapple hair.

We all know illusionists grow stronger if they have pineapple hair.

But now, to lighten the mood a bit… OMAKE TIME!


Tsuna couldn't believe his eyes. One minute Natsu had been happily cuddling up next to him. The next he'd begun flying. Having been surprised, Tsuna had shrieked, alerting his mother and most likely half of Namimori.

"Tsu-kun? Is something wrong?"

"G-GHOST!"

"Dame-Tsuna, ghosts don't exist."

Reborn found himself doubting his words when Leon had flown out of the window and down onto the grass.

Tomo couldn't keep herself from laughing, happily cuddling the animals outside. Today was a good day.


Uri had never been very obedient. Hayato knew this and was used to it. But he was not used to his cat becoming invisible. What was even worse was that it didn't stop Uri from terrorizing him. If anything, Uri just harassed him even more.

"Dammit Uri! Is this the work of an UMA?!"

He never saw the next ambush coming, cat and ghost jumping at him with equal fervor.


Yamamoto was surprisingly okay with having Jirou happily flying around the house next to Kojirou. If anything, he seemed to be quite amused by it. When both of his box animals had settled down upon each shoulder, he'd gently pet them, outwardly remaining oblivious to the strange cold feeling he'd felt upon his hands.

Inwardly, he felt just a little bit nervous.

Oh how she wished sushi junior could hear the 'boo's.


Ryohei didn't even notice when Kangaryuu had awkwardly been dragged away by invisible hands.

She considered the mission a failure.


Hibari wanted to murder someone.

No, he wanted to murder that damned illusionist. More than usual.

The illusionist had obviously possessed Hibird. For nearly an hour now, Hibird had happily sung a song about 'kufufu's and sambas and contracts.

Hibird, who would always sing the school's anthem, was now corrupted.

Someone was going to die.

But not before Hibird joined the spirit in another round of singing.


Lambo had passed out upon sighting the mysterious specter in his room.

Another failure, Tomo concluded.


"I need to go about this in a better way…"

Chrome was confused. While she hadn't known Mukurou for very long, she knew for a fact the owl couldn't float in midair. And yet, he was casually picking at his wings, letting out a hoohooh every once in a while, in midair.

"… Maybe Mukuro-sama taught Mukurou something..?"

If anything, Tomo thought to herself, he had taught the owl to be just as lazy as him.


Mukuro let out a chuckle upon noticing the spirit on his couch. Atop her head, Mukurou was seated, calmly doing his own thing.

"And just what are you doing here?"

A seemingly innocent smile was sent his way.

"I can't visit just because I want to?"

Mukuro raised an eyebrow, a disbelieving look on his face. Tomo merely gave Mukurou a gentle pat before patting the spot next to her with her other hand. Letting out a quiet sigh, Mukuro sat down next to her, deciding to humor her. It wasn't often she'd visit, after all, and she'd always have something amusing to say.

It certainly wasn't because it was nice being next to her.

"You only ever come here when you've caused trouble. So just why is it you're not with the Shimon brat?"

"… I may have messed with the Vongolas a little bit. Nothing major. Expect a visit from that prefect though…"

He felt his eyes twitch and the urge to stab someone rise.

"…"

"Oh come on, don't give me that look!"

"… And just why should I expect Skylark to visit?"

He could tell Tomo had a hard time resisting the urge to laugh.

"You'll understand when you hear it. But… I do have to leave. Got a 'Shimon brat' to look after and all, as you kindly reminded me. It was nice talking to you, Mukuro. Even if you're still just as bratty as you were seven years ago."

And then she was gone. Mukuro shook his head, letting out another sigh. There was simply no understanding that woman.

But when he found Hibari at his doorstep the next day, his bird loudly singing something akin to his signature laugh, he couldn't keep the smirk off of his face.

"Kufufu, it seems your bird finally had a revelation."


"… Tomo… I heard from… I heard from Tsuna that apparently Natsu went flying…"

"Oh? Sounds spooky~"

"… Uh… Right…"

Enma wondered just where the calm and mature Tomo he knew had gone, and just when she had been replaced with a mischievous teenager hell bent on messing with anyone and anything.

But he found that he didn't really mind that much.