Lesson 36: Her Mother Taught Her to Play
"When you got skin in the game, you stay in the game. But you don't get a win unless you play in the game. Oh, you get love for it. You get hate for it. You get nothing it you wait for, wait for it, wait!"
-Lin-Manuel Miranda (Alexander Hamilton: Hamilton: The Room Where it Happens)
Suyin gurgled happily, immediately upon Ausiliatrice's entrance at the door of the Hibari estate. Ausiliatrice herself reflected this amusement, but not from the childish excitement of seeing a familiar figure; Ausiliatrice's amusement (smug and evident on her face) was a direct result of Kyoya's expression:
Practically mortified, holding the now squirming child in his arms, and clearly embarrassed about his tutor finding him in such a vulnerable and revealing situation. Of course, Ausiliatrice found this scene far more endearing than degrading, but Kyoya's mind did not consider this.
"Ausiliatrice!" Meilin greeted happily, walking from the kitchen with a bottle in her hand and her father on her shoulder, "How nice of you stop by."
"You figured we would be here," Fon stated easily, his tone establishing that his words were no threat (a simple statement, and nothing more), "Does that mean you're fighting for your family as well?"
She barely raised an eyebrow at the slight quirk in his tone, not understanding the amusement in it (a jab? But at who?), and instead took Suyin from Kyoya's arms. The teen, as gently as possible despite the abrasiveness of his expression, pushed the child from him, still embarrassed but regaining composure quickly. He turned and sat on the couch, far from Ausiliatrice and his family, as Meilin handed Ausiliatrice the bottle.
"My visit has nothing to do with that," she assured Meilin as the woman sat down by her cousin (much to his chagrin and evident disapproval), "Although I did figure you'd be here," she addressed Fon with a slight nod, "It wasn't that big of an assumption. But I came to ask Kyoya a favor; two, actually."
The prefect raised an eyebrow at this, tension still present in his shoulders (always around her, taut with energy, animosity). A moment, and she waited for this; and he allowed her to continue.
"Chrome Dokuro," Ausiliatrice said coolly, maintaining such a rigid, professional façade while slightly bouncing Suyin, "She needs to be enrolled in Namimori Middle. Perhaps, with both of you being students of mine, you can take this opportunity to bond?" She said with a tilt of her head, a blatant tease, "After all, the two of you lack where the other succeeds."
He scoffed at this, despite the suggestion staining his thoughts enough for color to bleed through:
"You still have the audacity to call yourself my tutor?" He challenged. He was annoyed to be met with further amusement. She moved, shifting Suyin and leaning forward to hand the child back to her mother. Per usual, Suyin whined at the change of hands, but settled with familiarity after soft coos from both Meilin and Fon.
"As long as you have the audacity to seek me out and treat me as a goal to overcome," Ausiliatrice said coolly as she sat across in an armchair from him, "then I'll refer to you as such. I assumed you'd be delighted at the aspect of the battles, Kyoya, and use this as an opportunity to truly experience the difference between us."
The air between them sharpened, to the point that Suyin quieted and listened, large eyes calm pools, looking between the two predators; the blood (inherited) in her veins bristled at the sudden tension between the two.
"I agreed to be his representative for two reasons," Hibari said coyly, lip nearly lifting to a snarl and fingers writhing for cool metal, "and one of my goals is to finally bite you to death, Carnivore."
A moment, air stiff and tangible and cutting, and Suyin whimpered.
"That," Meilin said lightly, but there was an edge to her voice, a warning, and immediately the two backed down at her placid request, "and I can't represent my father due to Suyin being so young. However, I figured this would be a great opportunity for us to meet in this timeline, right, Kyoya?" She asked, looking over to her cousin with a soft smile. He scoffed and rose elegantly, coat billowing as he made his way from the room. Her eyes, abyssal and never ending, remained on him, and he made the mistake of looking back at the command of her voice.
"I expect," Ausiliatrice called, causing him to pause in his exit, "no less than perfect from you, Kyoya."
(A prospect or a warning?)
"But," she said, turning her gaze away from him, dispersing the animus between them once again, "besides from Chrome Dokuro, my father and I have another favor to ask you…"
"How is that even possible!?" Tsunayoshi called out, putting both hands on the side of his head, "I mean, you're a – and she's like – " he gestured at Reborn and then gestured up in vague reference to Ausiliatrice's height, "and isn't she like, what, like older – older than you! And you!" he said, nearly turning on Dino, referring to him twice in panic and emphasis.
"Why are you acting so calm about this!?" Tsunayoshi accused the other boss, "She's your bodyguard, isn't she? You're around her all that time, and you didn't even know!?"
Dino reacted awkwardly at this, looking to the side as he ran a hand through his hair, as if trying to avoid looking at Reborn.
("And your father?")
"I mean, it's not like I try to pry too much into stuff like this," Dino weakly defended himself, "and it's definitely not like she openly talks about this all the time, right? And honestly…" he trailed off again, eyes flickering to Reborn (who seemed to be taking Tsunayoshi's flustered rant with glimmers of amusement in his eyes, calmly drinking his espresso while enjoying the show), and nearly wincing before catching himself.
("He wasn't relevant.")
"I think I already knew?" Dino admitted, phrasing it as a question instead of a statement, "From my future memories, I mean. I just never thought about it?"
"What do you mean you never thought about it? She's a grown woman and he's a baby – ACK!" Tsunayoshi yelped and jumped, immediately going to clutch his offended foot. Reborn stood, allowing Leon to morph from a large (cartoonish) hammer, back to a chameleon.
"That's actually what I wanted to discuss," Reborn said, allowing Leon to settle comfortable before sitting once again, "Great transition, Tsuna. Unless, Dino?" Reborn addressed, turning his eyes (her eyes, and really, Dino had known all along, hadn't he? It would be idiotic not to make the connection, even subconsciously),
"Do you have anything else to say about this?" Reborn asked, in a way that made Dino feel like this was a test, that this had a purpose (but everything Reborn did had a purpose, didn't it?). He stiffened considerably, pushing back his desire to squirm under his former tutor's gaze (like hers, but different, different; Ausiliatrice's, he realized in that moment, had a far more cutting glare, while Reborn's was more suffocating; but Ausil's? Her gaze drew blood)
"I mean…" Dino managed to puff out with a forced roll of his shoulders, "This doesn't change anything, with Ausil – liatrice, I mean. She's still the same to me. Reborn's our tutor," he addressed Tsuna, putting on a warm, crooked smile for the sake of his little brother, "and we'll fight for him with Ausiliatrice no matter what. That's how it's supposed to be, right?"
But Reborn knew he wasn't referring to the upcoming battles. And yet, the hitman let this pass (for now, for now), nodding in confirmation and moving on from this immediately:
"I suppose I should start with the dream."
Later that night, Dino brought up the subject rather awkwardly:
"So… you're Reborn's daughter."
She blinked, and looked over at him.
"Yes. Now read the text book back to me, with perfect," Ausiliatrice enunciated, "English this time. I will not work with a fucking disgrace of a fake teacher."
"So you're just going to gloss over that fact," he asked dully, almost disbelieving.
"We have so far," she muttered, eyes skimming over the text book. He sighed, but it was light and airy and accepting. Another silence fell comfortably between them. Then, Dino spoke again, and his words? They surprised Ausiliatrice.
"So… what was your mom like? Not that you have to answer," he added quickly, seeing how she immediately looked up at him, "I was just wondering, you know? What kind of woman… really, who Reborn would fall for, you know? Just… curious. Sorry if it's invasive, you don't have to answer…" he trailed off, simmering to awkwardness once more. She blinked, slowly, and looked to the side, to the window to the sky (to the clouds, and the sun, now just meandering light reflected off the moon). Barely she opened her lips, and then formed a hard line with them.
"They didn't fall for each other. At least, I don't think she fell for him…" She was one to wander and leave a trail this time, as if still mulling over her words, this statement. She then confirmed:
"They weren't in love. Not the kind of love I consider to be genuine."
(But that was different, to the living, to the dead)
A moment, further serenity shared, and he spoke again:
"I'm sorry, Ausil."
And she looked at him again, eyes a gleam of emotion, but not finding offense. Perhaps a different Ausiliatrice would reach for this, but now? She no longer viewed his words to be pity, but to be an offered hand of condolence; not a cheap guess at understanding, but a genuine apology for what he cannot help with.
("Why do you do that?")
"Why?" She asked simply, hesitating, eyes lingering and then refocusing on him. Soft brown met abrasive black, unblinking, and accepting, but with such melancholy. But this wasn't pity for her sake, she knew now.
("Why do you blame everything on yourself?")
He opened his mouth with such delicate hesitation, and then humbly let it fall closed again.
"I don't remember my mother much," he admitted instead, "and I was just wondering…" She blinked and titled her head, almost curiously. Hesitation, displayed in her this time, and she lifted her hand to gently place it on his cheek, turning his face to her.
She opened her lips, and barely leaned forward before pausing again, and letting her body stiffen before speaking softly into the air shared between them:
"I am too."
"I…" He allowed difficulty to be expressed clearly in his words, knowing now that there was no point in hiding these emotions from his own daughter (not at this point), "I should have approached you with information regarding this long ago. But mistakes were made–"
"By you," she reminded him, the statement so truthful that it was not even harsh, "and my mother."
(because, even if Ausiliatrice often did blame herself in her younger years, she was old enough to know now that children had no control over these things)
"Yes. Esmeralda," he agreed with the dip of his hat, swallowing his pride dryly (speaking her name as if that would hand him forgiveness, as if that translated to an apology), "It's time I told you about the curse of the Arcobaleno. I'd like to say that it was the curse that kept me from…. finding you."
Her smile was crisp and forced, matching her words:
"But we both know that's not true," she said as she sat on the roof, knowing her own hypocrisy well, but feeling callous about it at this point. Shifting, he sat beside her, taking off his hat and placing it between them. Leon crawled from it, and Ausiliatrice allowed the chameleon to climb onto her hand before lifting the animal closer; it was the first time she had seen her father's companion in this detail, touched him, inspected him so closely.
"I wasn't like this when I met Esmeralda," he began, choking out her name again and allowing it to echo between them, "and I believe you were born right before we were brought together and cursed. The Arcobaleno that is. The world's strongest."
She allowed him to continue, her eyes never leaving the small animal on her finger.
"The man with the checkered face, with the iron hat; he gathered us together and cursed us," Reborn went on, and only at this, did she glance over, seeing such anger reflected in her father's eyes (but was it for his own sake? This hot offense he was displaying?), "and after the curse? Our appearances changed, and we were left to live our lives in these weak bodies, limiting the power we all once had," he concluded, lifting his own small fist, allowing fingers to curl out before they snapped violently back to his palm.
"Everything is limited, no matter what skill we were known for; our strength, balance, flames, even the small things such as taste, little moments that were once cherished…. " here he trailed off again before added with a quiet voice, "Relationships, love, family; that man took it all from us, and we still don't know why. And now?"
"He came back," Ausiliatrice concluded, not feeling pity for her father, but? Something, surely, stirred in response to this.
"And had the audacity to dangle the possibility of freedom in the form of a sick game that pits us against each other," Reborn spat, and this, the anger and offense, Ausiliatrice could find some relation to.
"No one," Reborn confirmed darkly, already knowing, "will win this. But, I'll take advantage of the opportunities it presents."
Ausiliatrice scoffed at this, dull amusement sparking.
"You think that this is an apology?" She questioned him. Abyssal eyes (her own) flicked to her, almost smugly, jokingly:
"We both know that it's the closest I'm going to get to one." She scoffed once more, but there was a ring to it: laughter (and he realized that this was the first time he heard his daughter's laugh).
"And I assume the other opportunity you're referring to has to do with Tsunayoshi?" She moved on, mirth lingering on her expression even after the sound had faded.
"Always."
"Truly," she said, lowering her hand and allowing Leon to return to his master, "you are selfish."
"My students come first," Reborn told her, voice edging to solemnness as he reached to place his hat back on his head, "It's my duty as their tutor to take advantage of every opportunity of growth that becomes available."
Then what about your daughter? In what place does she come to you, Ausiliatrice thought, but knew it was futile to vocalize this. He was well aware, well aware.
She hummed, leaning back on her arms further, looking to the sky, the stars (just suns, multiplied and distanced). She spoke:
"I'll fight for you," she answered him, "but know I'll be taking advantage of these battles as well. Don't forget, I have students too."
A pause, and then a smirk; Reborn stood to his full height and turned away from her, pulling his fedora to cast a shadow over his features as he walked away.
"I'd expect no less."
(Like father, like daughter)
"For such a small town," Ausiliatrice commented lightly, causing Chrome to looked over from where the younger had been inspecting the window display of the shop they stood outside of, "Namimori is rather crowded, don't you think?"
With a quick blink and with a slight turn of her head, Chrome looked in the direction her teacher was facing; Chrome's eyes widened only slightly, seeing a familiar group stalking towards them, civilians giving wide berth even without knowledge of their profession. Then again, one would be daft if they didn't at least acknowledge the pure bloodlust the assassination group was too prideful to suppress. And their leader? He was as arrogant with this as always, Ausiliatrice noted with amusement.
Xanxus's eyes glinted and seared with excitement when meeting Ausiliatrice's own abyssal ones. The woman barely shifted her own stance, only changing the weight in her hips and crossing her arms elegantly as the group stopped in front of the two. Squalo roared out a greeting as always, and Chrome shuffled her feet, unsure of the air between them; dangerous? Or a strange type of welcoming. It seemed like only Ausiliatrice and Xanxus knew the exact connotation of their relationship. And even then?
"Fighting for your old man?" he sneered in sequence of a greeting. Chrome blinked and leaned forward slightly to look to Ausiliatrice in response of such a blunt comment, but saw that her teacher's face was chilled and even breached with a small smirk.
"Like I'd miss an opportunity to face such a colorful variety of opponents," she responded, completely blasé. The two were casual and respondent of each other, which Chrome felt she should have found odd, and yet? The air she was breathing now felt more natural, and briefly she wondered if she was just getting used to being around more dangerous people.
"You better not spend all your time babysitting," Xanxus spat, narrowing his eyes in warning, "I want a full fight with you, got it?"
"Who says I have the patience for that?" Ausiliatrice called out, showing the first ounce of offense, "Rest assured, I won't be holding back either; it's been a while since I've been able to truly let loose, after all, and I plan to enjoy every moment and opportunity these battles present."
Xanxus's grin grew feral at the prospect of this, and this excitement flooded to his followers.
"I'm looking forward to slicing those brats to bit," Squalo snarled, stepping forward. Cementing her feet, Chrome only leaned back slightly at this, still unsure whether to react to the heavy aura the group was producing. The young prince snickered, furthering Chrome's uncomfortableness.
"The prince can't wait to finally fight the great Atalanta," he giggled, but his light and playful air soon snapped, and the boys' expression withered as his boss reacted violently. Red eyes turned swiftly to his subordinate, and the boy took an immediate step back, nearly running into Lussuria behind him. Even Levi barely shifted, uneasy with the sudden change in his beloved boss. Squalo was the sole member to meet this aggression with casual annoyance (with a brief click of his tongue and a roll of his eyes), while Mammon stiffened, watching and observing (as illusionists do, as they do).
"You," Xanxus spot, a warning, clearly, clearly, "won't be fighting her. She's mine."
Chrome stood stone as well, her body wanting to quake, but her will stopping it. Like Mammon, she watched, and watched carefully. She was fascinated now, looking with keener eyes, at how Ausiliatrice and Xanxus reacted to each other. And Ausiliatrice's reaction to such a possessive statement?
"Selfish as always," Ausiliatrice said, only a light jab in response before flipping long dreads over her shoulder and walking forward. Lightly, she gestured to Chrome, "Come along, Chrome. I'm not done shopping yet."
Chrome blinked, hesitated, then bowed to the group before running after her teacher, facing difficulty when keeping up with Ausiliatrice's long strides.
(but she kept up, none the less)
Chrome was surprised, however, seeing that Ausiliatrice was heading for a specific person instead of a store, and quickly, an almost disappointed look overcame Chrome's expression when she recognized that person, sprawled on the ground.
"Dino-san…" the girl muttered, watching as Ausiliatrice immediately stopped to pull a fallen man up by the hood of his jacket. Dino covered this plight with a natural, crooked grin, running a hand through his hair and brushing his clothes off when Ausiliatrice released him.
"Sorry, the pavement must be uneven," he lamely excused himself, coughing into his hand and looking the other way. He blinked, recalling, and addressed, "Were you two just talking to the Varia?"
"Mammon's representatives," Ausiliatrice answered simply, but continued before he could further question, "but that should be the least of your worries. You're lucky that the Varia didn't see you fall on you face. And if you pull a stunt like that and embarrass me tomorrow?" She said, eyes narrowing as she leaned forward. Dino let out an awkward trifle of laughter as he leaned back, arms up in defense.
"Oh, come on, Ausiliatrice," he said, his smile much more forced now, "I'm not that embarrassing, right?"
"…."
"You're not answering, Ausil."
"I'm saving you grace," she tutted, shoving the bags she had been carrying on her arm to him and walking away. He sighed, but it had mirth to it, and watched her go before following with Chrome. The girl looked between the two before speaking to him:
"Are you two meeting with someone, Dino?" Chrome asked him. He blinked and looked over at her, a smile playing on his lips once more.
"Yeah," he said with a shrug, "you can say that. It's really more business than anything, but I'm pretty excited about it, and I can tell," he said, nodding his head in reference, "Ausil is too." Chrome titled her head in response, her eyes barely narrowing as she acknowledged the shortening of her tutor's name.
"Why?"
"Because," he said, smile fledging into a full grin, "we're getting new toys."
She paused, and her reflection followed in suit; her abyssal eyes traveled from her hair (intricate dreads, further styled and braid together, half of them gathered and pulled up, leaving lower portions hanging and spilling over her shoulders), and then meeting in the space where they were supposed to collide; but glass and shards and reflections separated this, made this untrue, an illusion. The only true contact her eyes would have with others just like them is when she looks down and meets her father's. Her hands had slowly descended throughout this observation, and then moved to smooth the soft folds of her dress (a gift, a show of favor for the person they were meeting), then rising again to fix her simple necklace, holding the ring for only a second before her hand moved to her face,
and she moved her own head gently to the side, reviewing her own profile and wondering:
How much did she truly receive from her father? She looked like her mother, and for that she was glad, but as for Reborn? Besides the eyes (always, with the eyes), she guessed her nose; it was not as wide as her mother's, and it was sharper, she noticed while touching it. And then her cheekbones, she recalled, her hand travelling again, she had his cheekbones, did she not?
She tried, tried her best, and even closed her eyes momentarily in attempt to imagine her father in his true form; she tried to imagine the man who gave her these features. The tint in her skin, obviously, not as dark as her mother, a few shades off; she was lankier, if slightly, than her mother, and that was from him, was it not? She tried to translate his features now (young and overly large, cartoonish and warped) and project it to a figure of a man, an assassin, a hitman (the best), confident and suave. She tried to her imagine her father, as he was when her mother met him, and was frustrated to find a blank shape, a vague outline of a man in her mind.
But did she need to conjure such an image? Did it matter what her father looked like then if she had him now, trying to at least acknowledge and be around her? Because despite this, no matter what,
there was blood between them (you could see the blood between them). This is was clear, this was evident, obvious. And neither of them asked for it to be like this? For this connection, this tether,
(to be a father, to be their daughter)
And in that moment, with that question, her hands traveled again and rested below her stomach, and a different question came to mind, a thought (a hope?).
(What choice would she make, in the end?)
"You ready, Ausil?"
She blinked, her eyes flicking to Dino's own reflection in the mirror, where he was leaning through the open door. Another blink, and she took her hands away from her abdomen as she turned, and walked forward as she moved hair from her shoulder with an sophisticated flip.
"Ausiliatrice," she corrected, poking him in the forward as she neared, "and don't be so familiar with me when you're around Hera. She's a snake, truly, and will strike at any weakness you show."
"Since when is me being familiar with you a weakness?" He questioned, rubbing his forehead (dramatics, seeing that she didn't actually poke him hard; his slight smile another give away). She gave him a simple look and he moved on from this, continuing, "So, she's dangerous, huh?"
"She knows how to analyze people and pick them a part. A silver tongue, definitely, but she's armed too. Don't forget that and get distracted by Argus. In the end, if anything does happen–"
"And it won't right? Because you know her and she likes you, right?" Dino inputted, with a hopeful smile. Her expression nearly deadpanned, and she continued as they stepped into the elevator:
"If," Ausiliatrice enunciated, "something happens, Argus is the least to worry about. Hera's weapon utilizes her flames. She keeps her rope darts wrapped under her sleeves and has very easy access to them; if anything drops from her sleeves, defend immediately with your own flames. I doubt she's laced them with poison or chemicals today, however," Ausiliatrice admitted with a slight tilt of her head, recalling another incident (the image of Janus's scarred arm flickering in her mind), "she has come prepared to simple meetings before."
"And it always pays to be vigilant," Dino said with a sigh, hands going to straighten his tie as they stepped into the lobby of the hotel. He blinked however, and even Ausiliatrice expressed slight shock seeing two familiar figures;
Tsunayoshi nearly dragged his feet, body slumped and tired, as he walked beside his tutor. Despite the boy looking exhausted and even somewhat covered in specks of debris (and was that gun powder Ausiliatrice smelled? Like Xanxus, she realized, and suddenly it clicked), Reborn looked rather excited. The Arcobaleno held a case in his arms, and was inspecting it with gleaming eyes of interest.
"What are you guys doing here?" Dino addressed, picking up his pace as he neared, "I told you that the dinner was tomorrow night, not tonight!"
"We decided to come a day early," Reborn chirped.
"And you were greeted by the Varia," Ausiliatrice guessed easily, looking at Tsunayoshi with slight concern.
"Belphegor kidnapped me…" the boy muttered, still slumped over. Ausiliatrice hesitated, then gave Tsunayoshi an awkward but reassuring pat on the back. The boy sighed, but seemed to appreciate the gesture despite looking at Ausiliatrice with a rather odd gaze.
"In the end, it benefited us," Reborn moved on, presenting the suitcase to them. After sharing a look with Ausiliatrice, Dino reached forward, taking the suitcase before opening it, making sure Ausiliatrice had a clear sight as well:
Watches, organized and neatly lined met them. Ausiliatrice's eye barely narrowed, seeing her father's name printed on all of them.
"Timed battles?" She clarified, her mind racing and putting pieces together, "and a boss watch? That means the objective is destroy the watches then?" With a flicker hesitation, Reborn nodded.
"While we were with the Varia, a representative of Checker Face met with us," The Arcobaleno explained, "He gave us the watches and explained the rules; a battle will be held every day, and will have a certain time limit. Each team has eight watches in total: One boss, six team watches, and one for the Arcobaleno. If a regular watch get destroyed, that person is out. But if a boss watch is destroyed?"
"The entire team is out, right?" Dino finished with a frown, shutting the suitcase and handing it back, "We should hold a strategy meeting soon then. We have enough people already to fill the slots, right? When do the battles start?"
"Four days," Reborn answered, "Which gives us time to gather weapons and make alliances."
"Alliances?" Dino echoed, "Does that mean we're allied with the Varia?"
Ausiliatrice remained silent, still in deep thought about the watches. She opened her mouth to pursue the exact details of the Arcobaleno watch, only to be cut off before the words left her lips:
"As if we would team up with scum like you, Bronco!"
They turned to see the Varia once again stalking towards them, Xanxus smirking when seeing that Ausiliatrice was there. Tsuna stiffened immediately, straightening like a board and shrieking.
"Again! Why are you guys down here?!"
"Our room was completely trashed, remember?" Lussuria reminded them, "So we decided to come down and eat at the restaurant."
"What a coincidence, Dino is taking us there tonight too," Reborn chirped, and immediately, Dino turned on him.
"I said tomorrow! Don't decided these things for yourself!"
Ausiliatrice, however, gave Xanxus an accusing (knowing) look, in which his response was a click of his tongue and the slight turn of his head, the skin on his face barely shifting in color at her (accurate) allegation.
"He shot the fucking roof," Squalo answered her questioning gaze, earning a snarl and a glare from Xanxus. After a brief bark back at his boss, Squalo addressed Dino, clearly taunting and enjoying seeing the boss's stress, "It'd be nice is we could have a quiet meal, right Bronco?"
"I don't have time for this," Dino grumbled, running a hand through his hair and then looking at his watch, "We have somewhere to be too, you know!" Ausiliatrice blinked and then scowled, taking Dino's wrist to look at the time as well.
"She should be here any minute–" and Ausiliatrice barely winced (far more of a scowl) as a placid, twinkling of a voice cut through the air.
"Such a lively group to greet us," Hera called, approaching the them, heels clicking and echoing as the party grew silent. Argus followed her boss as always, carrying multiple and large cases, easily. The assassins of the group grew tense, and Dino immediately went to step in front of Tsuna, his expression serious yet diplomatic.
Hera smiled, but as always, there was edge to it, intention.
"The Varia," Hera addressed, daring to look Xanxus in the eyes, "What a quaint surprise to run into such a formidable group, and with their leader present, no less. And the Vongola Tenth himself," she said, far happier and even clapping her hands lightly together. Tsunayoshi was uncomfortable clearly, but stepped out from behind Dino to better look at the unfamiliar woman.
Xanxus, naturally, grew angry at this switch, at the tone, but Ausiliatrice shifted, putting herself in front of him, and looking back in warning. He growled, but quelled, picking up the meaning behind her look. Hera was playing with them, but they weren't mice and Hera was no feline.
(But oh, could she poison, a reptile)
"I'm afraid that due to the excitement of the inheritance ceremony," the woman said, eyes barely narrowing as her fingers gently pressed to her lips, "we weren't able to properly meet, Vongola Tenth. Ah, but excuse me; I suppose you haven't properly earned that title yet due to that unfortunate interruption."
"Hera."
Ausiliatrice's words were cutting and quick. Clearly, a warning (the first). Hera hummed, cutting her eyes to Ausiliatrice before continuing.
"But where are my manners? I am Hera," she introduced, stepping forward and holding her hand out, "leader of Olympus. And rest assured, all my heroes, assassins, mercenaries, thieves, elites of all trades, are always available to esteemed individuals such as yourself, Vongola."
Tsuna stared at the hand extended to him, and hesitantly, he extended his own to shake it. Laughter, light and crisp, but still cold, bubbled from Hera.
"Oh, Vongola, don't you know that you're supposed to kiss a woman's hand when she present it like so?" She teased, pilfering her hand lightly. Tsunayoshi stiffened once more, and at his look to Ausiliatrice, she intervened, actually putting herself between the two.
"Hera."
The second and last threat; but Ausiliatrice questioned whether Hera deserved even that. She was overstepping, and they were all aware. Ausiliatrice supposed she was as well, with how Argus moved forward when Ausiliatrice did, but the Varia was posed for action as well, along with Dino and even her father.
Calling the situation tense was an understatement, but Hera seemed to take this thrill with ease, breathing heavy air easily.
"A pleasure," Hera said, nodding to Tsunayoshi then Xanxus, taking a wise step back, "but I'm afraid I'm here for other business, and have no time to chat."
She took her time turning, observing the group once more before walking again. Ausiliatrice clicked her tongue, allowing Hera and her bodyguard to enter the dining area first before looking to Dino.
"Let's go," she said, nearly spitting the words out, clearly pissed. Dino hummed in acknowledgment, straightening his tie once more before addressing Reborn and Tsunayoshi.
"We'll meet up later," he promised them as he walked backwards, "we just have some... business to take care of first."
He then turned and nearly ran to catch up to his own bodyguard.
"He's fourteen."
It was an immediate accusation after they had sat down, now secluded from the rest of the restaurant. Hera barely hummed, her eyes glinting as she lifted her chin, looking over at Ausiliatrice.
"And soon to be crowned king of the underworld. And besides, we all," she said, gesturing around the table, "know that in this business, age doesn't matter." There was a darker tone to her words, but she clipped past it.
"You were playing," Ausiliatrice stated coldly.
"What's the point to a game without stakes my dear," Hera responded with a cold smile, "Now if you don't mind, I think we should move on from this, don't you?" She addressed, looking to Dino. Without hesitation, he nodded once, sitting strong and confident, while maintaining a certain casualness in the way that he rested his arm on the table and leaned back only slightly.
"You have them then?" Dino said, and Ausiliatrice leaned back herself, crossing her arms (miffed, pissed), allowing Dino to take over from here. This, she thought to herself, is why she brought him, after all. One of the reasons she respected him; his diplomatic skills, negotiating smoothly and skillfully. This was a grace she would never achieve, and she accepted this, willfully and fully.
"Please, Cavallone, what do you take me for?" Hera challenged slyly, gesturing lightly with her hand. Argus moved forward, placing one of the cases on the table and opening it.
Ausiliatrice's eyes lit instantly as she leaned forward to inspect. Dino kept his tact, but hummed in approval.
"And the cost?" He questioned.
"I believe my most requested assassin has that covered," Hera answered with a crooked smile, eyes flitting to Ausiliatrice. Dino looked at her in question, not knowing this, and concern reflecting in his eyes.
"And the other weapons I requested?" Ausiliatrice moved on, translating her look to Dino (We'll talk later) before nodding to the other cases.
"Here as well, and refined from your last session with us," Hera said, allowing Argus to shut the first before showing the other cases. Tenderly, Ausiliatrice stood and leaned forward, picking a weapon out from its container;
The ax she held glinted beautifully before Ausiliatrice put it down next to its partner. She had a warm smile on her face as she did this, and briefly, Dino wondered why.
"Interesting choice, I'll admit," Hera mused knowingly, smiling as well (with a much softer edge, somehow), "but the guns you requested are also included. These should help you on your many upcoming missions as well, Ausiliatrice. These things aren't cheap, after all."
"I know," Ausiliatrice responded coolly, sitting once again ignoring Dino's look.
"Not to mention, since Janus's disappearance, I'll be sending you on more infiltration missions," Hera sighed, structuring this as a light complaint. Ausiliatrice however, took interest in her words.
"Disappearance?"
"You haven't heard?" Ausiliatrice barely snarled at the tone, and wisely, Hera continued, "Janus hasn't been seen for quite some time. As you know, the Cervello and Olympus still do business quite often and benefit from each other, but they missed our last check in. I've even sent some of our best after them, but," here, she made a small shrugging motion, "nothing. It's as if they never existed in the first place."
Once again, Dino and Ausiliatrice looked at the other. And then, they moved on;
"If that will be all," Dino said politely, his hand moving to take the brief case.
"I," Hera said, causing his him pause. However, she seemed to be staring right at Ausiliatrice, "will contact you later tonight with your first assignment. And I know that you won't disappointment."
"I never do," Ausiliatrice said blandly before standing and taking the other cases from Argus.
They did not speak again until they were well away from Hera, and only then did Dino ask:
"Why are you doing this, Ausil?" He addressed, looking at her and then the case he was holding, "You didn't have to get mine too, you know?" She shifted the cases she was holding to where she could poke him on the forehead.
"Ausiliatrice," she quipped, then continued, "And it will be more efficient this way, with both of us having the proper weapons in this fight. You know the Varia has made moves as well, and I refuse to fight unprepared."
"Are you really okay with fighting for Reborn? That isn't really your thing, right?" He asked, a derivative from pure curiosity.
"Why are you fighting for him, Dino?" She asked simply instead, her voice edging on cold and continuing to drop in temperature.
"He's my tutor, Ausil."
"He's my father," she reminded him, almost lashing out, "and I have my own motivations for participating, besides that."
(and what was that exactly? What definition of forgiveness did they go by?)
"The information on Janus…" Ausiliatrice changed subject quickly, "It has me suspicious."
"What do you think happened?" He asked after sighing, knowing that pursuit wasn't efficient with her.
"Who knows? But I did actually have the thought earlier," she admitted, allowing him to open the door to their suite, "Reborn said that representative of Checker Face explained the rules and gave them the battles watches. If it were the Cervello, then don't you think he would mention that?"
"This does seem like their kind of thing," Dino admitted, handing the case to Ausiliatrice after she put her own down.
"Janus, with their self-proclaimed judge title," she said, rolling her eyes and opening the case, "wouldn't miss a game like this, with the strongest seven gathering their own representatives; the elite of the world fighting each other in a fucked up battle royal. And in the past, with every other instance like this? The ring battles, even Choice in the future?"
"The Cervello were there," Dino finished, understanding, "Then what does that mean?" She clicked her tongue, placing her new ring on her finger, flames of violet and sparkling yellow illuminating her features before speaking:
"It means there's there something bigger going on, and this battle? It's the center of it."
"Well if it isn't Ausiliatrice!" Iemitsu said with a hardy laugh and a stunning grin. Ausiliatrice retained her glower, fighting back the animalistic desire to hiss at the man and his brilliant façade.
"Ausiliatrice is that you?" Nana asked, sticking her head out of the kitchen, "How nice to see you again after so long!"
"It's nice to see you too, Nana," Ausiliatrice greeted, wiping her glare away and replacing it with a soft smile. Nana hummed happily, walking up to her, past her husband, and reaching for Ausiliatrice's hands.
"You have to stay for dinner! I insist!" The house wife told her with light force, "You and Iemitsu can chat while I finish up!" she suggested, looking happily between the two. Ausiliatrice's eye barely twitched before she covered this slip up. Iemitsu laughed again, and clapped Ausiliatrice's shoulder, causing her body to jerk.
"I would love to get to know such a good friend of my wife's!" He chirped happily.
"Unfortunately," Ausiliatrice said, her words forced between clenched teeth as her hand clamped down on Iemitsu's, "I can't stay for long. I'm actually here to see Tsunayoshi."
"Ah, that's a shame," Nana hummed with a slight frown before brightening again, "Well, be sure to stop by the kitchen before you leave. I might have something for you to take back with you, for you and Dino." She woman finished with a cute wink before returning to the kitchen.
Ausiliatrice tightened her grip, her hand still around Iemitsu's wrist. He had the audacity to show a bit of discomfort.
"Never," she hissed, glaring at him, "touch me so familiarly ever again." He laughed once more as she released his hand, and he rubbed his bruised wrist; but this was more for dramatics than actual pain. She knew that didn't actually hurt the man; he was irritable but resilient.
(Young Lion indeed, she knew, she knew)
"It's nice that you're fighting with Tsuna," he said, still smiling as she moved past him and to the stairs, "That, and it's also nice that you're fighting for your father. I'm guessing you too are good now, then?"
"Iemitsu," she said, turning her head to glace over her shoulder, "We both know that you're in no position to comment on any relationship involving fathering. So, do yourself a favor, and try not to comment before you make a further fool of yourself."
And with that, she continued up the stairs.
Despite Ausiliatrice knocking on the door before entering, Tsunayoshi still managed to nearly fall out of his bed in shock upon her entrance. Naturally, this was accompanied by a small shriek that somehow translated to her name. She ignored this (or rather, took it as norm), and looked around the room instead, noticing the lack of a small figure.
"Reborn's not here?" she asked, looking back to Tsunayoshi. The boy blinked, calming down from his earlier, miniscule panic.
"He went out earlier…" Tsuna told her, her eyes clouded, clearly in thought. "Uh," he said suddenly, straightening, "no offense or anything… but why are you here?"
"For a test," She said simply, raising her hand. Tsuna blinked as her ring glinted.
"Is that…" he said eyes widening slightly. He jumped back, flames shooting from his finger as Natsu materialized. The small miniature lion looked at Ausiliatrice curiously, before shifting his eyes to the ring on her hand. With a soft, amused smile, Ausiliatrice knelt down, allowing the small lion to inspect her ring before it sparkled with yellow flames. The flames spiked further, and soon a shape emerged from the ring, forming a stunning lioness.
Natsu squeaked and shot back to behind Tsuna before tenderly peeking out from behind his owner.
"Atalanta," Ausiliatrice answered his question, allowing the lioness to lovingly rub against her owner's hand, "My Atalanta. We just received our box weapons, with upgrades."
"Dino too?" Tsuna asked before becoming distracted again as Natsu slowly shuffled forward, closer to Atalanta. The lioness noticed this, her eye gleaming with interest. Slowly, she lowered herself, so that she was level with Natsu as the small lion approached her. Quaking, Natsu leaned forward, and Atalanta met him, poking him with her nose first before titling her head.
Natsu brightened at this, only to squeak again as Atalanta shot forward, picking him up by the scruff and repositioning him. After securing him with her large paws, she began bathing him with her tongue, Natsu mewling in protest before Atalanta growled softly.
Ausiliatrice laughed lightly at this, sitting down on the bed and watching the scene with amusement.
"She likes him," she assured Tsunayoshi, who witnessed this with a slightly bewildered expression, not knowing what to make of it.
"I-I can see that…" Tsuna muttered. An awkward silence (on Tsunayoshi's part and Tsunayoshi's part only) settled between them before he spoke again.
"Hey," he said, hesitating, thinking, "can I ask you something, Ausiliatrice?"
"Sure," she said causally, leaning back on her arms while crossing one leg over the other, "Go for it."
"Why…. Don't you not," he began, struggling, "like working with others? Like, I mean – why are you fighting with us if it's a team thing?"
She frowned at this, causing Tsunayoshi to stiffen, thinking he had overstepped. But with a sigh he realized that this was not anger, but more of a soft exasperation she was expressing.
"I'm a bit disappointed, Tsunayoshi," she tutted, leaning forward and leaning her head on her hands and propping her arms on her legs, "I'm not Kyoya, Tsunayoshi; I don't break out in hives at the thought of working with others. And besides," she said so causally, almost warmly, "It was group work that brought me and my first partner together."
"You first partner?" He asked, blinking, "you mean... that girlfriend you mentioned in the future?" She barely smiled, amused that he recalled that conversation.
"No, that was Vivian," she corrected with a small shake of her head, "My first partner…. Mateus could have very well been the love my life," she said with another sigh, soft and sad. Atalanta looked up, finishing with her mothering, and immediately looked to her owner. The lioness mewled softly, watching Ausiliatrice look to the window.
"But, we can never be sure of that, can we?" Ausiliatrice continued, wistfully. She moved on, looking back to Tsunayoshi, "The point is, I'm not adamant against team work. In fact, I value its efficiency. But I also thought that you weren't one to assume, Tsunayoshi."
"Wah- I'm not! I mean," he back tracked quickly, blushing in embarrassment, "I try not to be, just – I'm sorry for assuming!" He said with a red face, quickly looking away. Ausiliatrice chuckled at this, and only went to ruffle his hair after he had looked back at her. Feeling further degraded, he quickly went to swipe at her hands as he leaned away, only for his face to grow somber once more.
Reflecting this, Ausiliatrice's face went neutral as well, and she allowed Atalanta to sit at her side and lay her head in Ausiliatrice's lap. Sensing Tsuna's uneasiness, Natsu went to him immediately, and burrowed to where his head was under Tsunayoshi's hand.
"I've…," Tsunayoshi began, struggling, and Ausiliatrice allowed him this. "I wanted to apologize. Reborn told us that you two were… that you were his daughter." Ausiliatrice's eyebrows drew together, displaying her confusion.
"Why are you apologizing?"
"Well, I know – I mean, I've dealt with distracted," he said, wincing with the word, "fathers before... and I just don't want you to blame Dino or Reborn for that, I guess?"
"You think I would blame you for having the attention of my father?"
"I didn't mean to make it sound like I was assuming!" Tsunayoshi corrected quickly, putting his hands up, "it's just, I mean, if I had that situation… well, you know, my dad," he grew sad at this again, and his eyes flicked to the floor, gesturing to the first floor, where Iemitsu was no doubt stupidly smiling and keeping his clever ruse, while Nana forced a smile and knowingly lived this lie.
"Tsuna," Ausiliatrice addressed, putting her hand on top of where his had fallen to the bed, "I never blamed you or Dino for being my father's students. And that has no factor in my relationship with him. Do not," she said, far more of a command than a suggestion, "put the blame on yourself. Please."
He looked at her with large eyes, such a pure, vibrant brown (caramel, orange?). In that moment, she found herself comparing, and was reminded why she loved these eyes, brown eyes, and often found herself fascinated by them.
Gently, she lifted her hand from his, and moved to hold both sides of his head; leaning forward, she kissed fir forehead, gently.
"You and Dino have a lot in common," she told him as she retreated. Tsunayoshi blinked slowly and sighed before smiling lightly.
"...thanks."
"Also," she said, more as an afterthought while they were on the subject, "You should know; I hate your father." He let out a small puff of laughter at this.
"Yeah, I know… I kind of do too."
"Shouldn't children be in bed at this hour?"
Mukuro smirked, looking up as Ausiliatrice slid into the seat across from him. Namimori, even in a more populated area like where they were sitting, was scarce at this hour. Few people looked at the two as they passed, giving them a quaint, tangible privacy.
"Don't old woman need their sleep?" He shot back, then added with a glint, "I wouldn't think someone your age would be up unless they were up to something, hm?" She huffed, sipping her freshly brewed coffee before responding.
"I lead a rather uneventful life," she said coolly.
"The blood on your sleeve says otherwise," he teased, eyes lingering only momentarily on the bit of speckled scarlet on the inside of her jacket before a slight tug of her hand, effectively hiding it again.
"Who are you representing?" she bluntly asked, "This is too flashy of an ordeal for you not to be involved somehow."
"How perceptive," he purred, leaning back in his seat, "and if you must know, I am the Arcobaleno Verde's representative. A vile individual, all together," he admitted, and then nearly spat, "A scientist. But he provides opportunity that I cannot simply turn down."
"I'm surprised how easily you're bought," she quipped.
"Says the assassin for hire."
She shrugged, allowing him this, and then moved on once more:
"I'm sure you want to hear about how Chrome is doing?" She asked, phrasing it as a question only for his sake.
"Perhaps," he said, looking to the side, "I have been meaning to inquire about her, if I happened to run into you…"
"She's doing well, so don't feel the need to ask," Ausiliatrice said, bit of a snap in her voice, "Flourishing beautifully with the training I provided her, and she's keeping to it."
"Organs?" He asked quietly.
"Sustained. Her illusions are holding," Ausiliatrice answered, "She going to school with the other guardians and is enjoying it. She happy."
"Good," he muttered, and then looked away again, as if embarrassed by this display of concern.
"And you?"
"Hm?" He looked back over at her, and once again wanted to flee from her intense (knowing, knowing) gaze.
"Are you happy, Mukuro?" She asked carefully. He hesitated, opening his mouth, before his expression turned irritated.
"If anything, I'm annoyed. I've taken on a student of sorts. Did you know? We found Fran from the future, although I will admit there are times where I regret finding him," he muttered, eye barely twitching in annoyance.
"Oh?" Ausiliatrice said, smile on her face as she put her arm on the table between them, leaning her head on her hand, "Having problems with teaching? You can always ask me for advice, you know. Both of my students are successful, after all."
"You label that monstrosity, Hibari Kyoya, as a success?" Mukuro shot back, "Honestly, did you really teach him anything? I doubt anything gets through the thick skull of his."
"Why don't you find out yourself, Mukuro," Ausiliatrice challenged, "After all, you two haven't battled since I've tutored Kyoya. I'd be interested to see the difference between you two now. Who knows? Maybe there's not one anymore, or, perhaps Kyoya has surpassed you entirely," she mused lightly before taking another drink of her coffee.
Mukuro smiled at this, his lips crooked and sly before answering,
"Who knows? I may just have to take you up on this little challenge."
(She almost felt guilty, using him like this. But, her students? They came first)
(Like father, like daughter)
"Um, Ausiliatrice," Tsuna addressed her. The others in the room (Ryohei, Gokudera, Yamamoto, Dino, and Reborn, naturally) turned their attention to her, "What do you think about this?" Tsunayoshi asked her, "About Byakuran and the alliance he offered? You've been quiet about this so far…"
Reborn resisted a smirk, proud that Tsunayoshi took measures to include the entire team. Despite the truth to the words, with Ausiliatrice simply standing behind Dino and observing as the rest vibrantly discussed Byakuran's return and offer, Tsunayoshi still respected her enough to genuinely want her opinion. And knowing this? Perhaps pride was too soft of a word.
Ausiliatrice hummed, considering before speaking:
"One thing you need to understand," she began, "is that he's not the same person; the versions from the future and the people we are now are separate. That, and if Uni chose him as a representative, she has a reason, and we have no right to question that decision. The only choice we have to make," she said evenly, eyes scanning the room, "is not whether we think Uni should trust him or not, but whether we should trust him in battle. And that decision is entirely up to either you or Reborn, Tsunayoshi."
With a dry throat, Tsunayoshi smiled and nodded, understanding.
"Now that we've discussed that," Reborn said, moving on as he opened the suitcase, "At this time, we need one more representative."
"And all the other representatives are strong, no matter where you look," Dino reminded them, leaning back in his chair, thinking of the ones they already know about.
"And don't forget, we don't who is representing Skull yet," Ausiliatrice inputted, "So as of now, that's a wild card."
"I doubt that lackey will be able to convince anyone formidable," Reborn dismissed, "But as for our last representative?" he asked again, holding out the last watch.
"It definitely has to be that battle mania…" Gokudera muttered, crossing his arms and looking the side irritably.
"Ah! That's it!" Tsunayoshi said, excited now, "It will be reassuring it he's a representative with us!"
"If your refereeing to Kyoya, I wouldn't get your hopes up. In fact, kill that dream now," Ausiliatrice stated, causing Tsuna to deflate, "Even if you did ask him –
"Which I did," Reborn chirped.
"He would refuse," Ausiliatrice continued, "One, because he would never want to work in such a large group in the first place. Two, he wouldn't be on the same team as me," she explained, pointing at herself, "because I'm one of his, if not his main target in these battles. And three? He's already on a team."
"Hibari's already on a team?!" Gokudera shot up in anger, "That bastard! Betraying the Tenth."
"Calm down, Gokudera," Dino said placidly, "He's fighting for his family; we can't really blame him, can we?"
"Family?" Yamamoto question, but Ausiliatrice moved on swiftly before that topic could be further delved into.
"But as for other candidates, I insist," she said, pinning Tsunayoshi down with her eyes, "that you consider Chrome."
"Wouldn't she be on Mukuro's team?" Gokudera questioned, suspicious and cautious as always.
"Mukuro and Chrome have severed their dependence on each other," Ausiliatrice informed them, and then with eyes cutting to Tsuna, continued, "and Chrome Dokuro is your Mist Guardian first and foremost. Do not forget this, Tsunayoshi."
He blinked and then nodded quickly. Yamamoto laughed, easily and naturally, erasing the bit of tension that had bled from the conversation.
"It will be cool to have an illusionist, right?" Yamamoto pointed out, "Since we have to go up against Mukuro, you know?"
"And Chrome has been training with Ausiliatrice," Reborn inputted, "so it will be interesting to see her progress."
Ausiliatrice's eyes narrowed, meeting her father's gaze head on, and easily picking up the meaning in his words and translating his look.
"I promise," Ausiliatrice said with a rare bearing of teeth, "that my student will not disappoint."
"Why are we going to find Chrome?" Tsunayoshi asked, exasperated as he walked between Reborn and Ausiliatrice. He turned to the latter in question and gestured, "Can't you just ask her?"
"You're her boss, and she's your Mist Guardian," Ausiliatrice reminded him, "it's more meaningful if you ask her, and I'm sure she'll appreciate it more."
Tsunayoshi barely blushed at this, embarrassed at his own inconsideration. He quickly looked away from her, but found his eyes shifting back, observing her once more, as he had been doing through this entire walk.
He reviewed her features, and wondered; what was her mother like? Subconsciously, he had picked so much of Reborn out of her (even before he knew, he realized). And this was natural, seeing how much time he was forced to spend around his tutor. But her mother? The woman Reborn had a child with (because that's as much detail Tsunayoshi wanted to give to that thought). Obviously, she got her skin color from that woman, her hair texture, features like that. But what about personality, accent, emotions, ideologies? What did her mother teach Ausiliatrice? Or was she too, an absent figure in Ausiliatrice's life?
"You should really think about stuff like this if you want to become a successful boss, Tsuna," Reborn commended, pulling Tsunayoshi sharply from his own musings.
"I don't want to be a – huh?" Tsunayoshi's head popped up from where he was glaring down at his tutor, and looked to the side, down the grassy slope and near the bridge they were nearing. "Is that Enma?"
A boy with red hair and a slightly scuffed uniform (a different style and darker than Namimori's), knelt in front of a smaller figure; the Arcobaleno Skull. Tsunayoshi stepped off the sidewalk and ran down the hill to greet his friend. Ausiliatrice and Reborn shared a look before following him.
"Enma, it is you!" Tsunayoshi proclaimed happily. The other boy looked up, and now closer, Ausiliatrice noticed a bandage and other scrapes on his face. She watched the two boys greet each happily, and stood back to observe as Reborn and Skull went back and forth with their dialogue per usual.
Enma and Tsunayoshi were alike, surely, but Enma? He was softer in a way. Just from witnessing their interaction now, she could tell that Enma was the calmer of the two, shyer in a way. While Tsunayoshi was quick to react and lash out (despite how weak-willed of a lash that may be), Enma's reactions had subtlety. A prime example being Tsunayoshi's' loud exclamation after learning that Enma was Skull's representative, and Enma responding to his outburst with a slight blush and soft laughter.
However, he grew nervous upon seeing Ausiliatrice, having looked up as Skull and Reborn argued (or rather, Reborn intimidated Skull, and made it clear that their teams would not ally themselves), and took full notice of her. His eyes went to her leg, and she understood;
He felt guilty. Although, considering the last time they had even seen each other (if you could call that incident a first encounter), one of his own had lacerated and encased Ausiliatrice's leg in ice. Perhaps that would garner some guilt, Ausiliatrice considered. But seeing him interact with Tsunayoshi, a part of her twisted and felt heavy as well, seeing this and seeing Enma quickly look away from her (afraid).
This was a misunderstanding she wanted to clear, because she certainly didn't want such a good friend of Tsunayoshi's to fear her to this extent.
But before she could express this, her father turned abruptly and made his way back up the hill, effectively ending his negotiation with Skull (if you defined negotiating as threatening and pure intimidation). She huffed lightly, and turned as well, pulling Tsunayoshi's arm gently with her as he shouted back apologies to his friend;
Later then, she decided.
"I just had a thought," Dino said, blinking and looking over at as they got out of his car. Already, students were staring and many factors led to this; the fact that Dino chose to drive his Ferrari to school and the fact that two gorgeous foreigners stepped out of it being the main two.
"How ambitious of you," she said, causing his expression to deadpan.
"I was wondering," he said, moving on with mock offense, "if you were even qualified for this? I mean I'm definitely not, right?"
"Obviously," she said, moving ahead of him and walking it. He quickened his pace to catch up, papers already threatening to fall out of his bag.
"Rude," he tutted, with a lazy grin, slowing and walking in pace with her, "What makes you more qualified than me, huh?"
"Dino, how many languages do you speak?" She asked simply, and he blinked, immediately seeing where she was going.
"Fine," he admitted with a roll of your shoulders, "You're more qualified than me."
"In more ways than one," she said with a smirk and flip of her hair, stunning the students that passed them in the hallways further with her beauty. Dino's eyes twitched, and he opened his mouth to make a remark about how much attention she was drawing, but a familiar voice shrieked out their names before he could make his quip.
"What are you two doing here?!" Tsunayoshi yelled out, both hands holding the sides of his head. He stared at the two young adults in shock, mortified that they were here and gaining so much attention. Already, he had heard the rumors of two new, attractive teachers, but he had never thought to connect it to people he actually knew. Chrome, who was standing with her boss, along with Yamamoto and Gokudera, brightened immediately upon seeing Ausiliatrice, and the dark skin woman politely nodded back to her student.
"Didn't Reborn tell you guys?" Dino asked, chuckling lightly as he folded his arms behind his head, "We're going to be teachers here!"
"He doesn't tell me anything!" Tsunayoshi bemoaned, looking up to the ceiling, as if cursing his tutor's name. Ausiliatrce hummed, putting a finger to her lips, amused by this scene.
"It's more efficient for when they battles start," she explained to them, "And we came early in order to establish a routine, so we're prepared when they do begin."
"That's right!" Yamamoto said, putting his arm around Tsunayoshi (keeping his boss from sinking to the ground in exasperation in such a subtle and sly way), "The battles start in a couple days, right?"
"It'll be nice to have Ausiliatrice around," Chrome said warmly, her cheeks barely blushing as she smiled and dipped her head once more.
"It gives me more chances to bite her to death," a voice said behind the two adults. Dino jumped at this, and whipped around. Ausiliatrice, having sensed him coming, turned easily to meet his intense gaze.
"Save it for the battles, Kyoya," she told her other student placidly.
"With this arrangement," Kyoya basically purred, titling his head up, his eyes glinting, "I can keep an eye on you until then, Carnivore."
"Be sure that doesn't detract from our job," she responded, gesturing with her head to Dino as well, "We have a responsibility as teachers, you know."
He scoffed at this, and was about to turn on his heel to stalk away before two others entered the scene. Enma brightened immediately seeing Tsunayoshi, but nearly cowered back, noticing Ausiliatrice with the group as well. Adelheid Suzuki had a similar reaction, although showed far more aggression, becoming defensive and apprehensive immediately upon seeing (and recognizing, her eyes going to Ausiliatrice's leg, bared and showing scars due to her skirt) Ausiliatrice.
"You're…" Adelheid said, naturally stepping in front of Enma, her hand edging towards her skirt, unsure whether to draw her weapons or not.
"Hm?" Ausiliatrice cocked her head and reviewed the tall girl, "Ah, that's right. You're the girl who fucked up my leg at the ceremony."
Adelheid's eyes immediately showed regret, and her mouth moved to apologize, perhaps, but Ausiliatrice moved before the words could reach the girl's lips. The next sound Adelheid made was a wretched gasp as her body was slammed against the wall, Ausiliatrice's knee pressing violently against her midsection.
"That," the older woman said, stepping away and not even bothering to look back as Adel slumped and fell to the floor, holding her abdomen, "was for the ceremony. Don't cross me again."
"Ausiliatrice!" Chrome said, far more embarrassed by the woman's actions than mortified like the rest (excluding Hibari, who like Chrome, expected this from their tutor, but, who unlike Chrome, found humor, amusement and respect in this action). The girl sent rapid apologies to Enma, turning to look at Adel, hesitating, and then running after the woman, her school bag clutched to her chest.
Hibari Kyoya huffed once, and turned on his heel, following the woman as well, but at a far more distant pace than the mist that clung lightly to her.
Dino let out a loud sigh, running a hand through his hair before kneeling to help Adelheid. Enma was already at her side, hands hovering, unsure of what to do.
"Sorry about that," Dino apologized in lieu of his bodyguard, "Ausil can get–"
"No," Adel cut him off quickly, putting a hand out to stop him from helping her up, "I deserved that, after what I did."
"Adel…" Enma muttered, watching as the girl stood on her own, her hand still on her midsection, but realizing that the woman hadn't injured her too bad (she held back, Adelheid realized, but didn't know what to make of this). Tsunayoshi groaned loudly.
"Why did she have to make a scene," He complained, covering his face in exasperation.
"Honestly, with Ausil?" Dino said, allowing a casual smile to break on his face, seeing that Adelheid was fine and now walking away (Enma trailing her uncertainly, still worried),
"That could have been a lot worse."
"Hey, Enma," Dino called. The redhead looked up from his desk, where he had been gathering his things, readying to leave. Tsunayoshi, Gokudera, Yamamoto, and Chrome had already left, saying their goodbyes to Dino. In fact, at this point, most of the students had cleared out, leaving Dino and Enma alone soon enough.
"Y-yes?" He said as he neared the desk, unsure of how to refer to him (since, technically, Dino was now his teacher now).
"You mind staying behind a bit?" Dino asked, rising to gather the papers already strewn on the desk, "Ausil wants to talk to you." Enma blinked, registered the nick name. And then he immediately paled when he realized who Dino was referring.
"S-she does?!" Enma stuttered out, immediately thinking of the incident earlier with Adel. Dino laughed with good nature at this, putting his arms up to calm Enma.
"Relax, okay? She told me what she wanted to talk to you about before hand. And besides," Dino said, titling his head down, "she wouldn't actually hurt a kid unless she had to, you know?"
Enma gave him a nervous, disbelieving look.
"You'll be fine," Dino assured Enma, putting a hand on his shoulder, "I swear, she's a lot nicer than she acts, okay?"
Enma opened his mouth, still uncertain, still terrified, but the woman herself entered the room before he could speak.
"Look at this," Ausiliatrice said, holding a paper up to Dino. The man winced, and took it, squinting his eyes as her tried to read the nearly indistinguishable writing.
"What is it?" Dino said, his expression more of a wince.
"Ryohei Sasagawa's paper," Ausiliatrice nearly hissed out, clearly annoyed (which, naturally, made Enma more terrified than before), "Which is only a fraction worse than Koyo Aoba's," she said, her eyes sliding to Enma. He stiffened, both at the mention of his family member and the fact that her attention was now on him. He didn't relax when she looked back to Dino, slamming the paper down on the desk.
"Not only are their scores pathetic, but they're a disruption," she emphasized the word, "in class. I dealt with them today, but I doubt that they learned their lesson."
"What do you mean dealt with, Ausil?" Dino asked, looking at her with mild concern.
"Whatever," she muttered, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she moved to sit on the desk, "I need to talk to Kozato. So, leave," she addressed Dino, gesturing with her head to the door.
Dino opened his mouth, and then closed it, letting his head fall before he pushed himself completely up and towards the door. Enma made a small sound, even reaching out as Dino left. The man, noticing this, gave Enma a bright smile and a thumbs up before leaving and closing the door behind him,
leaving Enma completely alone with Ausiliatrice.
He felt incredibly small and intimidated, even when she was in such a lax state; sitting casually on the edge of the desk, leaning back on her arms, and her ankles cross. She titled her head, and reviewed him, and he nearly squirmed under her gaze. Never more in that moment, did he feel so inferior. To have the eyes of a lioness on him, and not know of its intentions? It was both liberating and terrible (Just how, he thought, does one make small talk with a lion?).
"You're scared of me," Ausiliatrice stated simply. Enma opened his mouth, hesitating to answer, and then nodded instead.
"I apologize for that," she said, surprising him, "I don't…. Know that I wouldn't hurt you unless provoked, Enma Kozato."
"But with Adel–" he found himself saying before immediately shutting his mouth, regretting his words instantly.
"What Adelheid Suzuki did simply pissed me and off and inconvenienced me," Ausiliatrice explained, her voice cold and her chin tilted upward, giving her a standoffish appearance, "and my action earlier simply expressed that. And believe me, I could have done worse. But don't take that as a mark against your family, Kozato."
"What happened at the inheritance ceremony is in the past," she further explained, her voice and expression growing softer, surprising Enma, "and I understand the circumstances of it. Well," he corrected herself, turning her head to look out the window of the classroom, "I couldn't understand, of course. But I was informed. And I don't want you to carry a needless burden. Clear?"
And he found himself staring at her, half awed and half bewildered. He blinked, blushed heavy when realizing that she was waiting for a response, and nodded almost frantically.
"Now, if you excuse me," Ausiliatrice said with sigh, sliding off the desk and grabbing the paper she had entered with, " I have to turn papers in, and think of proper motivation," she said with narrowed, glinting eyes, "for those two." She nodded a simple goodbye to Enma before leaving him alone in the classroom.
He blinked, and stared out the open door, watching idly as other students passed by, their chatter falling as mute on his ears. He felt underwater, floating, surreal in that moment after that conversation. It was odd, surely, that interaction, and yet?
Enma was glad to have it.
"Why are Sasagawa Ryohei and Koyo Aoba running laps around the school and yelling, disrupting the peace," Hibari Kyoya demanded, bursting into classroom.
Ausiliatrice turned, standing at the board and pausing in her writing. The remaining students stiffened in their seats, looking between the two. The had been aggressively paying attention, having witnessed their new English teacher's effective disciplinary methods on her first day. They were awed further, seeing how she fearlessly faced the Demon of Namimori himself, without batting an eyelash.
"It's their assignment. I told them that I didn't believe they could learn today's lesson and beat the other in a race around the school, and they were set on proving me wrong," she explained simply, and then glanced up at the clock, "They should be on their third lap now, I believe."
"So you set them loose on the school?" Kyoya challenged.
"It's either them disrupting the school or my class, and we both know that the latter will lead to me becoming irritated. And I doubt anyone would want that," she tutted, returning to writing on the board.
He narrowed his eyes, making a small, irritated grumble before turning to leave. Ausiliatrice, however, spoke up again, causing his to pause.
"Oh, and Kyoya? Aren't you in this class?" She asked, clearly smug, "Your seat is in the back, isn't it?"
"I," he said, holding his head higher, "go where I want." And with that and a billowing of his jacket, he left. She hummed, amused before returning to her lesson, and the rest of the students felt their bodies relax, relieved that the prefect was gone.
He'd be back, she knew, considering it was just a day before the battles.
"Okay, I'm just going to say it," Dino said, sighing as Ausiliatrice released his collar after placing him on his feet once again (he swore the floor was slippery, and therefore it was not his own fault that he just tripped and almost spilled all the papers he was carrying), "Your student following us around? He's terrifying!" Dino whispered and pointed back at Kyoya.
The prefect simply raised an eyebrow at this, having clearly heard the don. Ausiliatrice's expression remained bland as well.
"Kyoya said that he would follow me closely in case a battle breaks out," Ausiliatrice stated simply.
"This is basically stalking, Ausil!"
"Ausiliatrice," she corrected dully, poking him in the forehead before walking forward and into the teacher's lounge. Dino sighed, and then huffed, turning around the face Kyoya. The teen kept his simple, unimpressed look. Dino narrowed his eyes, and then put his papers under his arm, freeing his hands so he could make shooing motions.
"Shoo! Go away!" He chided, causing Kyoya's expression to verge on irritated. "Stop following us!" Dino whined.
"I'm not following you," Kyoya clarified, narrowing his eyes.
"I know that!" Dino shot back, "I mean, of course you're following Ausil, but can you, I don't know? Do it while I'm not around?"
"As soon this watch goes off," Kyoya stated, raising his wrist and pointing at the watch for reference, "I will bite her to death. And I refuse to give her any chance to run away."
"Like Ausil would run away," Dino sighed, turning to walk into the room, "I'm sure she's just as ready to fight you, as you are to fight her, right Aus –" His words stopped abruptly, however, realizing that the room was empty. Hibari Kyoya stalked past him, immediately looking around the room before his angry (furious even) eyes landed on Dino. The man opened his mouth, an awkward smile on his lips, ready to give weak excuses for his bodyguard, but was once again cut off before he could speak,
By both of their watches blaring loudly, signaling the countdown to the start of the first battle.
"Since that woman ran off," Kyoya said, eyes glinting as he retrieved his weapons and bared them, "I suppose I'll have to take my anger out on you."
Dino stood before him awkwardly, a forced, empty smile still evident on his face.
"... shit."
Enma, seeing knives coming towards him, immediately raised his arm, activating his flames of gravity and moving to stop the weapons midair, but was surprised when the knives were knock off course before they neared him by… were those bullets? Enma blinked, and then paled, now seeing his attackers clearly; the Varia stood before him, but they weren't looking at Enma, much to his surprise. He grew colder, seeing a figure push past Surperbi Squalo, and stand at the head of the group, looking down and past Enma with an animalistic grin.
"Looks like I was right to come out for the first battle," Xanxus sneered, voice daunting and echoing, bouncing off the unfinished skeleton of the construction site they were standing in. Enma and Skull jumped, hearing a clear and placid voice answer back from behind them.
"How degrading, to pick a child for your first target," Ausiliatrice reprimanded as she stepped forward and past Enma, but there was no mistaking the edge to her smile and the excitement in her eyes. Chrome Dokuro stepped forward as well, but kept in line with Enma. The girl smiled and dipped her head as a greeting.
"We thought we'd help out, seeing who your opponents are," Chrome explained gently, causing Enma to blush.
"It would be shame," Ausiliatrice noted, turning her head to glance back, "to see such a good friend of Tsunayoshi's perish." Enma nearly paled at her wording, but perked up once again, hearing Ausiliatrice address her student.
"Chrome?" The woman said, turning her eyes back to Xanxus and the Varia, who were readying their weapons once again, "Let's start this with a flourish, shall we?"
Chrome smiled, and hummed lightly while nodding.
"Get ready," she told Enma gently, and that was all the warning he received before Chrome hit the ground with her trident,
throwing the battle into complete chaos.
(It was almost a challenge, to cause so much mayhem in the span of ten minutes. Ah, but Ausiliatrice adored challenges, and when it came to her students?)
(She taught them to rise above challenges)
"He loves me, he loves
me not? I'm not a flower.
I'm the fucking sun."
- Sade Andria Zabala
AN:
I feel like not much happened, and yet this is a hella long chapter? There is a ton of set up for the battles though, so that makes sense. And we're actually getting to the last few chapters? Honestly, I don't see this story going beyond four more chapters, and then? We're at the end.
NOTE: Okay, so remember when I was talking about a Harry potter AU? Well I am still doing that, but I'm opening it up a bit more, since I've been late on that (Lmao, I've got all studios this semester except one class, kill me now). I'm going to do multiple AU snippets! So like, little tiny glimpses of Ausil (and maybe others) in other stories (so far I have plans to do Naruto, One Piece, Avatar/Legend of Korra, and even RWBY), so if you want to see Ausil in any other stories, then feel free to either say it in a review or message me and I'll see if I know enough about that world to work with, or can look up enough. I'll try to post these little snippets next chapter, and after that, if you want more, please put in an ask at the blog she-has-her-fathers-eyes, or you can put in an ask now if you don't want to wait until the next update. Also, to make this more fun, even if you're a fellow author and want to see Ausil interacting with your character, you can ask for that as well! Have fun with this, it's your reward for getting up to 700 reviews~
Review Response:
weaver yk: Reborn and Ausil kind of make up in this chapter? Well, they talk and that's something. Thanks for the review!