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Chapter 31
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"Wow...! Those three are so beautiful..."
"Are they models?"
"Maybe they're on a date?"
"Two older guys with a younger girl, no way!"
"Kyaahh! Look, that gentle looking one is patting the girl's head! I bet they're foreign siblings!"
"I know, right?! Their hair is blond so they have to be foreigners!"
"So cool!"
I felt a bit awkward being able to hear those whispers with pinpoint accuracy. Kotaro stopped in front of a store selling teenage girl's clothing...what's he looking at that mannequin for? The outfit is...punk-rock or something, right? It's a bit similar to the style of clothing Gokudera would wear. Kotaro looked at me then at the outfit again before dragging me inside.
"We'll take the outfit on that mannequin." Kotaro pointed at it then at me. "Also, fix her hair to suit it."
"R-Right away, sir!"
"I don't need another outfit." I pressed my lips together in a thin line. "Why are you asking me to change my clothing?"
"I can't take you seriously in that frilly shit." Kotaro noticed something, grabbing a vest from the shelf. "Hey! Make the main colors dark orange with black!"
"Y-Yes sir!"
In the end, I got changed and I felt this outfit wasn't all that bad. A black and orange striped long sleeved turtleneck shirt with a fuzzy black vest with a cat eared hood. The shorts are black with two chains hanging off the left side. I ended up with two different knee length sock colors, the left is dark orange while the right is black, they went well with the ankle boots. Plus these were so much nicer to walk in. My hair is pulled into two pigtails with black ribbons. I kept my flower ribbon around my neck, glaring at the woman who tried touching it.
"Oh! That's much better!" Kotaro said looking more than pleased.
"As usual, your taste in clothing sucks..." Taiga said giving his brother a blank stare.
"Okay! Let's go!" Kotaro said with a grin.
"Where are we going? At least answer that!" I shouted at him.
"Somewhere fun!"
His definition of somewhere fun is underground fighting...between humans and youkai? It's deep beneath Tokyo...the arena looks like a proper arena with several steel gates. Taiga looked ready to faint as he clung to my shoulders...wow, that's a lot of gore. I merely remained silent as blood splattered the arena...Taiga tried dragging me away if I didn't get grabbed by Kotaro and thrown into the ring. I landed on my feet, fingertips touching the bloodied ground.
"Ladies and gentleman! We got a new contender! A young Aozora cub! Let's see how she fairs without her weapons and armor! This is a killing match! You enter, you only leave if you're alive! You lose if you die!"
"KOTARO!" That's definably Taiga's yell. "You ignorant bastard! What are you doing to our precious niece?!"
"We're unleashing one of our best youkai tonight people! Place your bets!"
"Really...now..." I stared at the gate as it opened up and I'm staring at a centipede youkai. "How weak..."
"Oohh! This one smells tast-gu...? W-What...?"
"You say that this is your best?" In an instant, the centipede lost its head and I tossed it aside without hesitation. "It's weak!"
"Is that so, girly! Then let's up the stakes!" All of the gates opened up and various kinds of youkai started coming out. "Winner takes all! Place your bets! Place your bets!"
"Annoying..."
I stared at the ceiling...at the lights as the youkai stared at me wearily as they had me surrounded. I stifled a sigh before a growl began to leave my lips. I barely noticed how my hair took on a spiker appearance as my nails grew in size. I stomped my foot, creating a small crater beneath my feet. The youkai backed away from me as I growled lowly. They took their chances and jumped at me at once, only to end up torn to shreds. Once they were all dead, I licked at my bloodied nails out of curiosity. I made a gagging sound, spitting it out.
"A-Amazing..."
"So strong and so cute!"
"You're awesome, Aozora girl!"
"Damn it! I lost it all!"
"Shit!"
These youkai weren't fully alive...they're animated corpses...! I couldn't tell the difference at first since their bodies are surprisingly well preserved...there wasn't even a hint of rot. I turned my gaze to Kotaro and he's staring at me with an unreadable expression. In our spars, I never acted serious. Not once did we exchange blows meant to kill. Unlike him, I lived in a time when youkai were prevalent...he lived during world wars...neither of us were serious...not once. I exited the arena, Kotaro getting paid something only for him to hand it over to me.
"We're leaving." Kotaro stated leaving first.
"You're strong, Tsukichiyo." Taiga said wiping the blood from my hands.
"You weren't serious in our fights."
"I should say the same to you."
"...Why did you set this meeting?"
"I'm busy dealing with Vongola. I don't have time for petty fights. The moment the Sun Arcobaleno realizes..."
"Realizes which part?" Kotaro stared down at me, eyes glowing in the dim lights. "The fact you are the Sky Arcobaleno or the fact you are Sawada Tsunayoshi?"
"Both."
"...You're just a kid...Depend on us adults once in a while."
"How can I depend on adults when adults were the reason why I was so willing to throw everything away?"
"We are Aozora, we are family."
"Where were you when I was born then?"
"..."
"The Aozora never once checked up on me before I left. Not you, not Nikki, none of you. How can I trust you when the first thing you did when we met is insult me then after that you kept challenging me?"
"I..."
"Forgive Kotaro for that, he's a socially awkward man. Plus...you resemble that person."
"Who are you talking about?"
"You'll figure it out eventually. Is there anything you want, Tsuki?"
"Pardon?"
"I'll buy you whatever you want..."
"I don't need anything."
"Just shut up and let's go!"
"Kotaro doing his best to dote on you. He wants you to have a good relationship with you. He's very awkward about it, isn't he?"
"Shut up, Taiga!"
Taiga laughed and I somehow ended up going home with a few dozen bags of clothing, shoes, and accessories. Kotaro left, not before saying he would be leaving Taiga in my care. Taiga, who probably anticipated all this, had a suitcase ready and he would be living with me and not in the manor with the others. I could do without Kaa-chan and Michiru staring at Taiga wearily during dinner though. Michiru is stiff, unable to even look at Taiga. Kaa-chan couldn't stop the shame from appearing on her face since the man is sitting across from her.
"Kufufufu, why is this man here?" Mukuro asked as Taiga silently ate his meal.
"I am here as Tsukichiyo's uncle rather than as an Aozora. Please do not be so concerned about me." Taiga said calmly.
"Taiga is here to teach me more...personalized lessons for the Aozora that Reborn cannot teach."
"We decided to step in since we cannot allow outsiders to teach our heir. Nor can we turn a blind eye as someone is trying to take a member of our family."
"Does this mean this guy is living with us, byon?"
"No, I shall be living with Tsukichiyo in her little home."
"My house is normal. Taiga, did you need anything to settle in?"
"No, I'm fine. I would like to request a space for my own personal use...off the grounds that is."
"There's a cabin to the north of here in the woods. I bought it should I need to get away from the chaos. Use it as you wish, just make sure to clean up after yourself."
"Of course. I heard about that white haired child of yours, is she not around?"
"Kanna is away on a class camping trip."
"Oh? How fun."
Dinner was silent with Reborn staring at Taiga with a hard look on his face. Taiga merely smiled politely, but you could tell that he's studying Reborn from the look in his eyes. I decided against getting in between that nonsense as Taiga settled into his own personal space. Michiru was still incredibly weary around the male...that dropped during the last day of summer break as I was lounging around on the engawa with Taiga. Taiga had fallen asleep with his head on my back and I couldn't move at all.
"I keep forgetting he sleeps like a rock..." Michiru muttered helping move Taiga's head to a pillow.
"You're not the one he uses as a pillow...I don't know how Kotaro does it..." I rubbed at my waist area. "His head is heavy."
"I'm telling you this now, but if he gets you in a hug, I'm not helping. The man's got a grip of a python."
"Surprising as he's considered the 'weakest' of the Aozora." I placed my hand on his head, my flames gently soothing his body. "...His disease is getting worse. Kotaro put him in my care to help me...and to help his brother."
"It's a genetic disease, Tsuki-hime. At best, you're only dulling the pain and alleviating some of the symptoms. He'll die eventually."
"I know..."
X-X-X-X
"Aozora Tsukichiyo! Join the boxing club!"
"Geh!" I made a sound as I was walking to school with Michiru and Souta. "Shit, Ryohei-senpai's on the prowl again..."
"I blame the fact that he's finished with his summer competitions and remembered about you."
"Why not beat him and be done with it?"
"I have a better idea." I spotted Kyoko. "Kyoko, a little help?"
"Mou, Onii-chan...Girls shouldn't be part of boxing. It's too dangerous."
More like too dangerous for other people. I'm too used to using more than just my fist. Don't get me started on my physical strength. I spotted Hibari up ahead and I gave him a small nod of his head, something he returned before continuing his patrol. I didn't look when I snatched a wasp out of the air, a frown on my face. It's a normal wasp...no hint of flames or demonic energy.
"Another wasp?" Michiru asked noticing me toss it aside after killing it.
"I can't seem to get rid of the bastards..." I muttered a bit annoyed.
"Tsuki-san! Tsuna-san! Good morning!"
"Good morning, Gokudera-kun."
"Morning."
"Some idiot was yelling your name, Tsuki-san. Shall I dispose of him?"
"Don't go talking like that about your classmate."
"Are you guys playing some sort of game, Tsuki-chan?"
"Saaa..."
I'm grateful that nothing, aside from Sasagawa Ryohei attempting to recruit me, had happened. I could do without Hibari making me go to the club meeting as the Disciplinary Committee's representative. Where's Tetsuya when you need him? Normally it's the person in charge, but Hibari being Hibari...if he has someone he can use then he will use them. I just so happen to be his favorite target in this situation.
"Aozora-san! You're attending the meeting today?"
"Would you rather talk to Hibari-senpai?"
"N-No! You're good!"
"Then I look forward to speaking with you later on."
"Y-Yes..."
"Lucky...!"
"Yeah, we get Aozora-san instead of Hibari-san..."
"Hibari-san would kill us if we talked back to him."
"We can at least argue our case against Aozora-san..."
I felt some level of exasperation as the meeting proceeded smoothly...if not for the fact the fact the tree planting committee brought all of its members upon learning that Hibari wasn't the one attending today's meeting. They seem to think I'm a pushover as they argued about giving the Disciplinary Committee special treatment. This irritated the other committees as the meeting cannot proceed like this and the fact that they're disrespecting me. I gave a very bright and cheerful smile...a black lion aura behind me.
"Then do you want to deal with Hibari-senpai beating up students left and right because we gave him a normal club room where the general population lingers? How about the fact that you wouldn't get to enjoy your club activities until no clubs remain?" Everyone paled at my words. "How about the fact that no matter how hard your members complain that it's your fault that we didn't give Hibari-senpai special treatment, hm?" I hummed tilting my head to the side.
"It doesn't change that we're against the Disciplinary Committee from getting special treatment!"
"We're against it!"
"Totally against it!"
"It's unfair!"
"Then instead of taking it out on me, try taking it out on Hibari-senpai." I stared at them, my smile disappearing. "Or are you such cowards that you can't talk back against him?"
"T-That..."
"We'd get beaten up!"
"Aozora! You're basically telling us to be sent to the hospital!"
"Really..." I brushed my hair over my shoulder. "Then you think that a few people is compared to the greater numbers? Also, each committee is to send only one member."
"We're different!"
"That's right!"
"We're against global warming and stuff!"
"Then, let's continue with the meeting."
"Don't ignore us! Aozora! You're just a first year!"
"..." I dug through my bag. "Let's see..."
"Just because you're a member of the Disciplinary Committee doesn't mean you can break the school rules!"
"Yeah! That jewelry is against school rules!"
"It's unfair!"
"Why do you get special treatment?!"
"Ah, here we go." I handed out several sheets of paper. "We're disbanding the tree planting committee after discovering your 'so-called' activities were actually to go on trips with the school paying for it. Nagoya, Nara, Kyoto, even Hokkaido. Not once did any event take place in these locations. The funds were strictly for gardening supplies."
"T-That...!"
"Those are lies!"
"It isn't a lie. The numbers do not add up, the companies you purchased your supplies have no record of our school ever making a purchase. No one under your members name and not even the name of your advisor. Do you know why I was the one sent today?"
"Y-You...!"
"I was the one sent because if Hibari-senpai was here, all members would end up hospitalized for the entire year without hesitation. I'm giving you all a chance now. Pay off the debt owed and disband without argument. Do not do this, you pay off the debt owed and you all get sent to the hospital for a year."
"You!"
"Idiots..."
Everyone else scrambled away as the now ex-members of the tree planting committee tried attacking me. I rotated my wrist before following through with my threat. I left them with only a broken arm or a broken leg...they can't take legal action against me...not with Hibari as my backer. The boys were carted out of the meeting room to get beaten up a bit more before being sent to the hospital. I went to the reception room afterwards, finding Hibari fast asleep on the couch.
"Remind me again why I'm a member of the Disciplinary Committee."
"Your jewelry."
"Hm..." Can't argue with that. My earring is a precious memento and my necklace is actually my hidden Sky Pacifier. "The tree planting committee is officially disbanded, their parents will be billed for the money they spent on those trips, and I doubt they'll move up a year due to being hospitalized."
"Good work."
"From you, it only sounds sarcastic."
"Hn."
"Ah, is the paperwork for the athletics festival here? I'll get started on it."
"Hn."
"I don't speak Hibari 'hn' like the rest of your family. Speak like a normal human being."
"Another Aozora moved in."
"Ah, yeah. One of my uncles. My uncle is very weak and sick, don't try it."
"Tsk."
"I heard that."
"So, which Aozora is it?"
"Taiga."
"The brother to the one who wants your power?"
"Something like that."
"Hn."
"So, are you going to participate in the athletics festival?"
"Only if something interesting occurs."
"Yeah..." I snorted at that. "Like me participating in the pole knocking competition."
"You do that and I will join."
"Yeah, not happening..."
Sadly...during the athletics festival, I did get pulled into it. Due to Hibari and I fighting...it wasn't hard to imagine the number of people sent to the hospital. While my team did lose, it wasn't held against me since I'm still a girl...but my reputation turned from 'cool' to 'downright scary' as my hits knocked people out with only one blow. The only reason I lost is because Gokudera and Ryohei were fighting with one another and they knocked someone into me. Souta couldn't stop laughing at me since my fans increased three fold...as in the female portion. My desk was filled with gifts the next day from homemade cookies to love letters. It was ridiculous.
"Tsuki sure is popular." Souta said struggling to contain his laughter.
"It's expected. All the other men in our school are a bunch of monkeys. Tsuki is the only one who stands a chance as the school's coolest guy." Hana said forgetting that I'm also a girl.
"Hahahaha! Even I don't get this much stuff!" Yamamoto laughed.
"I'm a girl!"
"You're too manly."
"Too cool."
"We forget this too often."
"That's cruel!"
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Chapter 31 Ends
Tsuki forgets that her usual attitude can be taken as 'manly' since no one is willing to fight Hibari, not to mention on equal footing. That and she's sometimes mimicking the men she respect without thinking about it. She lacks a bit of human common sense, but that's somewhat normal. Her thoughts of girls liking her is a bit weird, but she can accept it easily enough. Welp! That is all today~! Bye-bye~!
