Ritsu: Weeeell… here we are… things are gonna be good pretty soon. Ye. Next chapter features kick ass Tomo. Yeee. It's also around 3000 words, assuming I don't add even more to it. So when this chapter goes up, expect a double update, kay?
Anyways, I've gotten a few questions, which is nice! I forgot to mention (a reviewer got me to remember this) that you can always ask Tomo questions, since she IS the main character and she's hosting the interviews (I'm counting on you all to make her interviews awkward!) So, to summarize! This time around you can ask Tsuna, Yamamoto, Julie, Byakuran and Tomo questions! WOO! Oh, and you can ask more than one question. Go wild, people~
Now then~ Review answering time~
Mitsu21: I've written down your question! :D You're free to ask more if you want XD
lime green lily: Your question has been added! C:
Oh my… Time zones are quite strange indeed XD
Awww… Of course it would! It's short but it's so… Gah :V It's so good.
Well… it struck me… and I just… couldn't help but think of the awkwardness XD Why Enma was only wearing his jacket in the first place… well… I guess he's just badass like that?
Gogo Mukuro! Stay Pineapple, stay fresh. Rotten Melons are gross! D: Fight fight! Kick the melon!
FrozenThinMint: Your question has been added c:
L'ceil: Yus~ Next chapter you will find out! :D And sorry… I messed up and forgot to add line breaks between POVs… I updated the chapter, but by then people had already read it XD I could start adding who's POV it is, but I usually try to make it obvious c:
My Name is Alice: Thank you! I forgot the line breaks T_T But I added them! Tomo picking on Hibari is quite fun to write, even if I'm basically setting Tomo up for a life of running from the deadly bite of Hibari… And yes, I do. Which is why I've only had that one moment and one POV in a previous omake… Hibari confuses me. Not to mention I prefer his TYL self over his present one. Good! :D
You better ;)
Serinny: Thank you :D
Heh… Hibari's herbivore radar went off! Poor Tomo will have a hard time getting away from him XD
I know right?! I'd be terrified of hurting lil' Hibird… but I'd want to hug 'em so bad D:
animagirl: Glad you do! I love writing Tomo messing with Hibari and getting away with it! :D
"Fuu~uu…" I breathed out, counting the seconds ticking to myself. Yamamoto was a little ways away, but I had my back turned to him. As it turned out, unlike the manga, Yamamoto actually had needs now. Which made things awkward for everyone present. Which was me. Hibird didn't count, considering the lack of care the bird expressed.
"Ka~ru~ne~va~re~!"
Hibird really had taken quite a liking to Mukuro's character song. I almost felt bad for teaching it to her. Or him. Was Hibird's gender ever established?
I shook my head. Didn't matter right now.
Actually, I'd rather debate Hibird's gender than acknowledge THE Yamamoto Takeshi is peeing behind a bush mere meters away from me.
…
Crap.
"Don't think about it. Do not think about it..!"
"Tomo-chan? Is something wrong?"
Don't talk to me! You're making it worse!
"Everything's fine! Just… uhh... talking to Hibird!"
"… If you say so!"
So this is what Enma felt like when I'd pop out of the wall while he was bathing, huh.
I decided at that moment I would stop harassing Enma in the bathroom.
… Now that I think about it… I kind of have to go too…
I prayed Enma was faring better.
"Tsuna-kun!"
Enma watched in horror as Daemon landed yet another hit on his friend. Even though they were fighting with everything they had, they weren't strong enough. Granted, Daemon possessed a lot more weapons in his arsenal than they did, but to not even be able to land a single hit was frustrating.
Can we really beat him..?
"Of course you can! Sheesh, Enma, when'd you get so doubtful? Believe in yourself a little!"
Enma blinked, certain that he couldn't have heard Tomo's voice. She was with Yamamoto, after all. Besides, she couldn't read minds.
Right?
… If… If you're in here, please get out!
She invaded his privacy enough as it was. But lost in his thoughts, he was unable to dodge Daemon's attack in time and watched with wide eyes as Daemon came closer.
"Ku~fu~fu, ku~fu~fu, ku~fu~fu no fuu~"
Enma could see a flash of yellow in the corner of his eye.
Next thing he knew, Yamamoto Takeshi had blocked Daemon's onslaught, pushing the illusionist back with his Vongola Gear.
"Th-thank you!"
"Don't thank me, haha! Tomo-chan's the one who told me we should hurry!"
Enma blanched, his mouth open in shock.
There was simply no way she was here. She wouldn't be that reckless. But as his eyes located the yellow bird, it had landed on a familiar patch of hair. Tomo's hair.
… Tomo… you're wounded, and yet… you came here?!
But Daemon had no intention of stopping to let anyone rest. He quickly sent a row of slashes towards Yamamoto, sending both him and Enma dodging to the sides. Only, Yamamoto flew straight into an illusion portal.
I tried to resist the urge to shout. I had told him to be careful. That Daemon would try to get him out of the way as quickly as possible. And he'd just jumped to the side without a care in the world.
Why? Why me?
I had hoped he'd be able to stay in the battle. To make it easier. But of course my plan failed. So much for bathroom bonding.
"I see Enma failed to finish you off. Pity."
My eyes widened, and I took a step backwards. Daemon hadn't moved since he'd attacked Yamamoto, but it had sounded as if he was speaking inside of my head.
"…"
I refrained from answering. I had nothing nice to say, and if I let my anger get the better of me, I'd only end up doing something reckless. Kind of like Yamamoto, except he was probably acting on instinct.
Now I feel bad for getting annoyed with him!
"Nufufu… Cat got your tongue?"
I wanted to ignore him, but he was dangerous. I knew that as much as I wanted to avoid his gaze, it would leave me open to attack. In the corner of my eye I could see Enma trying to approach, only for Daemon to send off a blast in his direction, causing Enma to only end up further away.
"It's rude to interrupt a conversation, Enma. Didn't your mother teach you that?"
It took everything I had not to run straight up to him and- punch his face.
One more insult… one more attempt to cause Enma anguish… and I swear to God I will kill you myself.
My eyes narrowed and I sent Daemon the fiercest glare I had ever sent anyone. Mukuro in his owl form was flying overhead, though I could feel his eyes boring holes into my back. Even if he wanted to interfere, I knew he couldn't. Tsuna had taken a few steps towards me, but one look for Daemon left him standing still. Hibird took to the sky, no doubt searching for a safer place to perch.
At the moment, Daemon seemed content with having one of his villain monologues.
"How scary, that glare of yours could rival even that of the cloud guardian…"
"That rotten heart of yours is actually able to feel something? That, if anything, is scary."
"Oh?"
"It's a pity…" I trailed off, my glare not wavering.
"Is it now?"
It was strange. Daemon just stood there, a confident smirk on his lips. I knew the plot was without a doubt changed because I was there, but for him to actually interrupt his fight because of me was unnerving. And yet, I prayed that mere minutes of rest for Enma and Tsuna would give them the strength needed to win.
"It really is… a pity. Because if that heart of yours was capable of feeling anything, maybe you'd understand how much you're defiling her sacrifice."
His eyes actually widened. In surprise or shock, I didn't know. It didn't really matter. If I could get him to focus on me, then chances were Enma and Tsuna could hit him with a surprise attack, assuming they realized what I was doing.
"… Her?" Reborn muttered further away, but I didn't dare look him in the eye.
I had literally spelled it out that I knew something, and had kept that from everyone.
But… I promise to explain things… soon…
Daemon's sudden glare made my knees weak.
"How dare you..?!" he snarled, and I feared he'd attack me. If he did, I knew I wouldn't be able to dodge. And if Enma or Tsuna tried to block it, chances were they-
… Maybe… I shouldn't have come here…
"You… whose nothing more but a spirit… you shouldn't even exist! You have no right!"
My glare had disappeared, but my eyes shone with determination.
"As if you have a right to say anything about me! You use people as vessels and discard them as you please, never once thinking about their feelings! I… I don't use people like that! And if I shouldn't exist, then neither should you! Unlike you… Unlike you, I didn't have a choice whether I lived or died! For someone like you… who has no appreciation for life, to give up your own life, just to become a spirit for such a selfish reason..! For someone like you to talk as if I have no right…"
The others must have been confused, listening to us. While Mukuro and Enma knew I wasn't alive, neither of them had been aware of just how much I knew about Daemon. I could only hope they'd trust me.
Because if they didn't, chances were we'd lose.
Why couldn't I have stayed away? Why didn't I trust them?
Tsuna was confused. The things Tomo said sounded as if she knew more about Daemon Spade than anyone else. But if she did, wouldn't she have told them? But then, Tsuna found himself thinking, it might not have been our business to know…
Yes, Tsuna could understand that some things were personal. But then again, Tomo was revealing things right now, wasn't she?
He wanted to run there, to fight Daemon. To make it so that he couldn't hurt anyone ever again. But when he turned to look at the villain himself, the look in Daemon's eyes reflected hatred, but also sorrow.
What Tomo knew could hurt Daemon Spade.
She was using it to keep him distracted.
Now was the perfect moment to attack.
But Tsuna found himself too shocked to move, the moment Daemon called Tomo a spirit.
Tomo-san's... dead..?
My plan had been simple.
Distract Daemon so Tsuna and Enma could attack. After that, I would get out of the way and they could battle in peace.
I had thought I could keep Daemon distracted, that things would work out like I wanted them to.
But I was wrong.
I had sent one quick glance towards Enma, trying to convey my plan. And Daemon chose that moment to strike.
But he didn't go for me.
He went straight for Enma.
Ritsu: Part one of the double update. Now go read chapter 37!