Kyandi: Hey everyone!
Roksana: We apologize for not posting this yesterday. Kyandi-sama has no excuse.
Kyandi: I just, plain and simply, got distracted. My little sister has gotten me into playing Persona 5 Royal. I'm addicted.
Roksana: She played all night instead of posting this chapter.
Kyandi: I'm sorry, please forgive me! I'm a bad Kyandi-sama.
Roksana: You're a weird one, that's for sure.
Kyandi: Why thank you!
Roksana: Wasn't a compliment.
Kyandi: Anyway, one of you made a guess that Enma and Roksana are related. Well, I'm going to say this...there is a connection between Roksana, Enma and Tsuna. More like a...correlation between the three.
Roksana: That's all she's going to say for now.
Kyandi: Yep, so everyone, enjoy and review.
Roksana: Kyandi-sama does not own Katekyo Hitman REBORN.
Chapter 57 Lonely Heart
The next day, Roksana ended up pushing back the dinner she was suppose to have with her friends by a few hours, telling them they would do it later in the evening since Reborn had called her with another "guest" she needed to meet at the airport. With Dimitri and Maeve at her side, Roksana headed out for the airport the next day.
The people she was to meet...Timoteo and his guardians.
The private jet arrived on schedule, Timoteo exiting the plane with this guardians, two black, Classic Luxury Limousines waiting for them.
"We've arrived in Giappone. I look forward to seeing Tsunayoshi-kun. And Roksana, again." Timoteo said.
"That's all you've been saying lately, Ninth." Coyote replied with a chuckle.
"You won't have to wait long for the latter."
Timoteo and his guardians looked up as a man opened the back door to one of the cars, letting the passenger step out of the car. Out of the car came Roksana, the girl still dressed in her school uniform. The man closed the door as Roksana stepped clear of it.
"Thank you, Dimitri." Roksana told the man, giving him a smile before she started towards Timoteo.
"My dear Roksana. Hasn't been very long, has it?" Timoteo said, greeting Roksana as Ganauche scooped the girl up in a hug.
"No, not long at all. I wish you had told me you would be coming here so soon. I might have stayed longer." Roksana told him as Ganauche released her.
"Are things here so bad you'd rather spend your time with a bunch of old men, kiddo?" Ganauche asked her.
"I wouldn't say that, and you all are hardly what I would call "old men"." Roksana replied.
"This coming from the young lady who calls my twenty-four year old son, old." Timoteo remarked.
"Yes, well...with Xanxus, it's more for his lazy habits." Roksana replied before turning to the man and woman standing behind her. "Ninth, allow me to introduce you to my attendants. This is Dimitri and Maeve. They had been with me for pretty much my whole life."
Dimitri bowed politely, Maeve curtsying in greeting.
"So these are the rare few you trust with absolutely everything." Timoteo said.
"Two of the few, yes." Roksana replied.
"Miss Tsukiko, please. You flatter us." Dimitri told her.
"Tsukiko?" Ganauche asked, looking down at Roksana.
"It's my middle name. My mother was Japanese." Roksana replied. "Now, if you don't mind, Ninth, I would like to invite you all over for tea before I take you to your hotel. If you want, that is."
"Sounds lovely, thank you." Timoteo told her.
Roksana bowed her head, smile on her face.
"Then this way, please." Roksana said, gesturing to the cars.
As Timoteo and the others climbed into the cars, their bags were loaded up in the trunks. Roksana slid into the back seat with Timoteo as Maeve and Dimitri took the wheels.
"How have you been since returning, Roksana?" Timoteo asked.
"Back-logged on paperwork and homework. I'm the vice-chairman of the Disciplinary Committee at school and our Cloud Guardian, Hibari, is our chairman. While I was gone, Hibari let the paperwork for the committee just pile up since he knows how much I hate doing the paperwork." Roksana replied.
"Did he really dislike you being gone, that much?" Ganauche asked from across from her.
"More like he was annoyed that he didn't have his usual punching bag. He jumped me literally the moment I walked in the door. And then bit me over my charm bracelet." Roksana replied.
"You're kidding." Ganauche said.
Roksana reached up, pulling the collar of her shirt open to show the fading bruise on her shoulder.
"Not in the least. Hibari has the habit of threatening to bite people to death, but when it comes down to it, I'm the only one he bites." Roksana told him.
"He sounds like quite the strange child." Coyote remarked.
"You'll see. You'll get to meet him at the ceremony. I'll make sure he's there, though I don't relish the thought of what I might have to offer in order to get him there." Roksana said, heaving a sigh.
"Do we want to know what you two get up to?" Ganauche asked, grinning.
"It's not like that, so, please, get your head out of the gutter." Roksana said sourly. "Honestly, sometimes I have to wonder how old you people think I am."
"Miss Tsukiko...Master Hibari sneaks into your room in the middle of the night to sleep in your bed...even when you weren't home." Maeve commented from the driver's seat.
"You knew and, yet, you still let him? How long have you known?" Roksana demanded.
"Since the first time when you shoved him into your closet to keep Dimitri from seeing him. I saw him climbing down from your balcony with one of your scarves caught in the back of his belts only to find your closet a complete mess when you're usually so organized." Maeve replied, smile on her face.
"And you said nothing?" Roksana asked.
"If you didn't say a word, I sure wasn't. I know my place, Miss." Maeve said simply. "I knew you wouldn't do anything indecent."
"Okay, yeah, that aside, by God, please tell me Dimitri doesn't know." Roksana half pleaded.
"Miss...you would have already been sent back to Russia if Dimitri knew." was Maeve's reply.
"True enough." Roksana muttered, dropping her face in a hand.
"Are you sure the relationship between the two of you isn't, in some way, romantic?" Ganauche asked.
Roksana groaned into her hand.
"I don't know, may...no, you know what, no! I refuse to confirm or deny that." Roksana said firmly, crossing her arms over her chest. "At this point, it's a matter of pride and mine won't let me try to examine it past what's on the surface. If that boy has any feelings for me, then he can man up and say something."
Chuckles sounded from the men riding with her.
"You apparently don't understand men, kiddo." Ganauche told her.
"And you obviously don't understand women." Roksana retorted.
"What man does?" Coyote asked.
Roksana really didn't have any type of come back for that one. As far as she was concerned, men no more understood women, than women really understood them. Though, there were people out there that would argue to the differ.
"The question really comes down to whether or not you have feelings for him, kiddo." Ganauche told her. "Any man would be damn lucky to have you."
"I don't know about that. Many guys my age find me...abrasive." Roksana replied.
"Do you really care, though, Miss Tsukiko?" Maeve asked over her shoulder.
"Hmm...not really, no." was Roksana's instant response.
"Nor should you. You're fine the way you are." Timoteo told her.
"I'm honored, and a little embarrassed, to hear you say that, sir." Roksana replied.
"He has a point." Ganauche assured her.
"You're only agreeing because he's your boss." Roksana retorted playfully.
"That's only half true." Ganauche said in defense.
Roksana couldn't help but laugh along with Timoteo, Coyote and Maeve. Maeve pulled into the drive way of the Volkov mansion then. As she pulled the car to a stop, Dimitri pulling up behind her, Roksana let herself out of the car, gesturing for Timoteo to exit after her. Timoteo climbed out of the car, his guardians spilling out of both vehicles to look up at the house before them.
"Welcome to my home." Roksana told them. "It's nothing like the Vongola estates, but it suits me just fine."
"It's beautiful." Timoteo told her.
"Thank you. Wait until you see the inside. Dimitri is a splendid decorator." Roksana told him, making Dimitri beam with pride.
Dimitri was so busy basking in the praise of his mistress, that he didn't see the incoming furry danger until it collided with the back of his knees with a joyful bark. Dimitri tumbled to the ground with a gasp of shock, everyone turning to watch as a German Shepard showered him with doggy love.
"Bad dog! Mi...uck! Miss Tsukiko! Please! Ugh! Tame your hound!" Dimitri pleaded as the dog wiggled, her tail wagging, licking him all over the face.
Roksana shook her head as she watched her dog. Asking Timoteo to excuse her, Roksana straightened her back, presenting herself as the alpha, and braced her hands on her hips.
"Maleficent, come." Roksana called. The dog dislodged herself from Dimitri, turning to her mistress with glee and bounded towards her. Before the dog could have the chance to knock her over, Roksana held out a hand in a stop gesture. "Stop!"
The dog came to a sliding halt two yards from her, tail still wagging. Without saying a word, Roksana pointed at the ground. Responding to the hand signal, the dog sat. Roksana turned her finger in a circle, and the dog flopped onto her back, presenting her belly to the girl. Approaching the dog, Roksana crouched next to her and scratched her belly, the dog's tongue rolling.
"Good girl. Now, Maleficent, we have guests today, so be good for Mama, okay?" Roksana said, speaking to the dog.
"Seems your dog only obeys you." Croquant remarked.
"As I trained her to. It means she'll only heed my order to attack. Sadly, it also means that she doesn't listen to Dimitri when he tells her to heel, and she really loves to greet him when he comes home." Roksana replied, giving Dimitri an apologetic smile as Maeve helped dust him off.
"Miss Tsukiko, your dog with be the death of this old heart of mine." Dimitri told her as Roksana stood.
"Not to long ago, you said the same thing about me." Roksana reminded him.
"And you still might, my little miss." Dimitri replied. "Now, I know I taught you better manners than this. Show your guests into the parlor."
"Of course. Would you and Maeve mind taking care of drinks and snacks?" Roksana asked.
"Yes, Miss."
Roksana nodded before turning to Timoteo.
"If you would follow me." Roksana told him. Roksana lead the way into the house, guiding them into the sitting room where she and her friends usually hung out when they came over. "Please have a seat."
Roksana claimed a seat in one of the armchairs, the men claiming seats around the room.
"You have beautiful home." Timoteo told her.
"Thank you. If I'm being honest, I would have preferred something smaller, but my father comes from money, so when I asked for a small house, this is what came to his mind. Over indulging even when I ask him not to be. It's a trait I see in Dino, as well." Roksana admitted. "It's a trait I could do without. Many look at me and see a trust fund kid, which I am, and then they automatically assume that I can't do the most basic of things to take care of myself."
"I imagine that's frustrating." Timoteo said.
"More than you can imagine." Roksana confirmed.
Dimitri and Maeve came into the room then, carrying trays with food and drinks. As they placed the trays on the table, Roksana's phone went off. Pulling the device from her pocket, Roksana glanced at the screen.
"Please excuse me, Ninth. I must take this." Roksana told him, getting to her feet.
"Of course." Timoteo told her.
Roksana gave him a smile and stepped out into the hall, answering the call. The men watched as she put the phone to her ear, talking low enough that they couldn't hear what she was saying. Timoteo took the chance to turn his attention to Dimitri and Maeve as they served drinks and snacks.
"Roksana has told us much about the two of you." Timoteo remarked.
"At least some good, I do hope." Dimitri replied with a sheepish smile.
"She claims the two of you as two of the scarce few she truly trusts with everything." Timoteo told him.
"I would hope she does. Maeve and I have been with Miss Tsukiko since she was born. The both of us were even there the day she was born." Dimitri said.
"Just the most adorable little screaming leanbh you've ever seen." Maeve added fondly.
"If you had to say, what kind of person would you say she is?" Timoteo asked, curious.
"Hard headed." Dimitri said instantly.
"Stubborn and sarcastic." Maeve added.
"And she has plenty of...disagreeable habits." Dimitri finished, Timoteo and his guardians pretty sure as to what those "disagreeable habits" were. "That being said, the Miss is a very loyal person. She doesn't trust easily, I'll admit, and she's more inclined to keep her secrets than share. That being said, her thoughts are always of the safety and well being of those around her."
"We've noticed." Coyote remarked.
"If I can be honest, though," Dimitri said, raising his eyes to look at Timoteo. "Miss Tsukiko...is a very a lonely soul."
"Lonely?" Timoteo repeated.
"Yes. She has friends, and there are many around her, even some she's coming to trust more and more every day, but, even with Maeve and myself, there has always been a part of herself that Miss Tsukiko keeps to herself, hidden away where no one could see. She puts on a brave front, and, for the most part, she is incredibly brave and strong, but...not everyone can be so all the time." Dimitri explained. "If there was one thing I've always noticed about Miss Tsukiko is, where other children played, laughed, and cried, expressing how they felt regardless of where they were or who they were with, Miss Tsukiko did none of that. She has always been a rather serious child, even as a toddler."
"She's a good girl, honest to goodness, but she's always been one to put the wants, desires and well being of others far before her own. The most selfish thing she has ever asked for, is to move there, and, even then, it was done for the well being of another." Maeve added. "About the only thing she knows how to be selfish with, is her own thoughts and feelings."
"That call, is probably her making plans to see to the safety of Master Tsunayoshi. She has been making calls and giving orders since he was attacked the other day." Dimitri added.
All eyes turned to Roksana as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, still talking on the phone.
"So she is a naturally responsible person." Nie stated.
"Most certainly. Her mother was always a rather sick individual. She had been weak from birth with a very weak immune system. Just a small bug, the would be nothing to us, would have Lady Misuki on death's door. She had always been told that having a child would be too much strain for her poor body to take, but when she found out that she was pregnant with Miss Tsukiko...not even God himself could convince her not to go through with the pregnancy. She loved Miss Tsukiko before she ever felt the first kick. After Miss Tsukiko's birth, though, her health quickly failed her. Miss Tsukiko had to grow up watching her mother wilt away, and, though she has never said anything, I feel a part of her has always blamed herself for her mother's untimely death." Dimitri told them.
"Add in the high expectations and responsibilities her father has placed on her shoulders from a very early age, and then the burden of the kidnapping and assassination attempts...Miss Tsukiko never really had a childhood. Taking responsibility and solving others' problems, is second nature for her. I would say that she doesn't know what fun is, but since coming to Japan...she's changed." Maeve said, Dimitri agreeing with her.
"Changed how?" Timoteo asked.
"She's lightened up, has started to laugh and smile more." Maeve replied.
"I do believe the biggest smile I've seen on her face, is when she teasing and fighting with Master Hibari. He might drive her crazy, at times, but he's been good for her. Master Tsuna and the others all have been. The way she watches them...it's the same way she looks at young Master Marc." Dimitri said.
"Marc?" Ganauche asked.
"Master Marcelous. He's Miss Tsukiko's younger brother." Maeve told him.
"She had told us she had a brother. How old is he?" Visconti asked.
"Master Marc is about to turn two." Dimitri answered.
"And he's the legitimate heir?" Timoteo asked.
"Master Marc is the only son of Master Alexei and his wife, Lady Natalia where Miss Tsukiko is the illegitimate daughter born out of wedlock. Her mother, Lady Misuki, never married Master Alexei. Their relationship wasn't approved of, and, in turn, neither was Miss Tsukiko as the heir. That being said, Miss Tsukiko has always been well aware that her father's heir would always be the target of assassination attempts. Master Alexei is a very powerful man, backed by a very old, rich, and powerful family. Because of his career choice, though, getting to him in order to get to his fortune and influence, is incredibly difficult. In an attempt to draw him out, assassins and kidnappers have been sent after Miss Tsukiko since she was a toddler." Dimitri explained.
"She has done her best to survive and to not let her father know what she has dealt with. All in order for him to continue doing what he does to help the people of our country." Maeve added.
"But if she knows who's behind the attempts, why hasn't she acted?" Timoteo asked.
"The man behind all of this, at one time, was someone she trusted more than most. He was very close to her, and she thought he loved her just as much as she loved him. Miss Tsukiko learned the hard way that things aren't always what they seem. Needless to say, this man is still in her father's good graces and Miss Tsukiko would never do anything to hurt her father in any way. As long as she retains the title of her father's heir, regardless of legitimacy or approval from others, she can protect both her father and her brother, who should be the real heir." Dimitri told him.
"The one thing you must understand about Miss Tsukiko is that, everything she does...she does for a reason. It might not make sense to you, but to her, it's the only path there is to take, and you won't convince her else wise." Maeve added. "The way Miss Tsukiko sees it, life is full of bridges. Some are meant to be crossed together and others are meant to be crossed alone. To her, her life is one long bridge she has to cross alone."
"But she is learning differently. Perhaps, soon, that will change altogether." Dimitri said hopefully.
One could hope, but, with someone like Roksana, who was so clearly set in her way, one never knew.
"So sorry for the wait." All eyes came up to look at Roksana as she came back into the room, tucking her phone back into top of her stocking. "That took a little longer than I thought."
Roksana took a seat back in her armchair, crossing her legs. Looking up, her eyes narrowed as she looked around at the adults in the room.
"Okay, who was talking about me and what did you say?" Roksana asked.
"You're incredibly sharp for a fourteen year old." Coyote remarked.
"I haven't lived this long on just my looks." Roksana replied.
"If you were Vongola by blood, I would swear you have the hyper-intuition that Vongola bosses are known for." Timoteo remarked.
"Hmm...I think I'll leave that to Tsuna." Roksana replied simply.
Something about the way Roksana said that had Timoteo raising an eyebrow at Roksana, but the girl quickly changed the subject. They passed the next hour in idle chit-chat before Roksana, Dimitri and Maeve took Timoteo and his guardians to their hotel. After seeing them checked in, Roksana bid them a good day and left them be. Once back outside, Roksana sent Dimitri and Maeve on home to start preparing dinner, while she did a little last minute shopping for items Dimitri would need.
It was as she was heading home, shopping bags in hand, that she came across a scene that was starting to become a little familiar. Roksana heaved a sigh as she heard loud, jeering voices up ahead of her. Rounding the corner, she came across the sight of a group of older boys beating up on the downed form of Enma.
Boy did Roksana hate bullies.
Placing her bags down and out of the way, Roksana straightened up and waded into the fight. Faster milk could sour on hot Texas asphalt, Roksana flipped one guy, kneed another in the gut, and rammed her boot heel into the groin of the third. By the time they older boys realized the hell they had just landed themselves in, they were laying, beaten and bruised, in a pile on the pavement. Dusting her hands off after dealing with the trash, Roksana turned to look down at Enma, who was just as beaten, bruised and bloody.
"We really have got to stop meeting like this." Roksana said crouching down beside Enma. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Enma replied lowly, sitting up while pressing the sleeve of his clothes to his bleeding eyebrow.
Roksana was inclined to say that he wasn't alright. Scanning him, she took in all of the bumps, bruises and cut, the torn and ripped state of his clothes, and the miserable look on his battered face. Looking at him, reminded her so much of Tsuna when she had first met him that she couldn't help but take pity on him.
"Come on, let's get you up." Roksana told him, holding out her hand. Part of her wanted to see if her ring would react the way it had the time before. Unfortunately, as Enma told her hand and let her pull him to his feet, nothing happened. Roksana got him back to his feet, her eyes taking in all the rips in his clothes. "You're a mess. Come on. You can come home with me and we'll get you cleaned up and your clothes fixed."
"That's okay. I'm fine." Enma replied.
"I insist. Tsuna would be unhappy if he knew I left his new friends when you really look like you could use a hand. Besides...you really look like you could use a friend." Roksana told him.
Before he could protest any further, Roksana gathered her bags and ushered him back to her house. Like many who first saw her house, Enma gawked, even flinching when Maleficent came to greet him with a wagging tail.
"Don't mind her. She's friendly unless ordered else wise." Roksana told Enma, pulling him inside.
Once inside, she called Dimitri and Maeve, the two instantly jumping into action the moment they saw Enma and the state he was in. Before Enma knew it, he was sitting on one of the couches in Roksana's huge bedroom in a pair of pajama pants and a loose T-shirt loaned to him by Maeve until she could finish repairing his school uniform. Roksana had left him there to fetch a first aid kit from her kitchen.
Looking around the room, Enma's eyes locked in on an elaborate cage and tunnel system set up between the balcony doors, a bird perch shaped like a nest placed along side it. A sleeping silver-grey bird was perched on the latter, nestled down among the cotton lined nest. A low growl had Enma looking down as what looked like a wolf pup with orange fur. Beside it was an orange and silver-grey cat. Both were sniffing at his bare feet.
"Belyy, Notte, that's enough. Back up and give him some room." came Roksana's voice.
Enma twisted to look over his shoulder as Roksana came his direction, a tray in her hands. The two animals at Enma's feet instantly stepped back away from Enma's feet, jumping up onto the couch beside him to sit and watch him.
"Please excuse those two. They're more curious and suspicious than I am." Roksana told Enma as she sat the tray on the table in front of him. On the tray was a first aid kit, drinks, and snacks. "The wolf pup is Belyy and the feline is Notte."
"Its fine. I like animals." Enma replied, holding a hand out to the two animals.
Both sniffed at his hands before Belyy butted his head into Enma's hand, letting the boy scratch under his chin. Notte seemed a little more weary of the boy, but soon warmed up to him and ended up in his lap, purring.
"They like you. I thought they might." Roksana remarked.
"You did?" Enma asked, surprised.
"I did. You remind me a lot of Tsuna when I first met him. Belyy and Notte like Tsuna, so I figured they might like you, too. Same with Maleficent outside. Hell, Tsukuyomi and Pinattsu over there, might like you." Roksana said, gesturing towards the cage and sleeping bird.
"Tsukuyomi and Pinattsu?" Enma asked.
"Tsukuyomi is the bird. Pinattsu is a Northern Flying Squirrel. She's probably curled up somewhere in her cage, asleep. I usually carry her on me, but with all the fights that had been breaking out recently, I try not to do that anymore. I would be heart broken if she got hurt. You see, I like animals too. I even take care of our Cloud Guardian's bird companion, Hibird." Roksana told him. "Now, sit still and let me see to those injuries of yours."
Enma stiffed as Roksana perched herself on the edge of the table in front of him, leaving forward to clean and treat his injuries. Her fingers were gentle as she worked, the girl's attention sat on her task.
"Do you always get bullied like this?" Roksana asked.
Enma was silent at first, just sitting there, letting her work. When it did speak, his voice was low. She wouldn't have heard him speak if she wasn't so close.
"You'll get bullied too, if you help me." he said.
"Ha! Yeah, that's not likely. There's very few around Namimori that can beat me in a fight and those that can, wouldn't bully me. Well...not in this manner." Roksana told Enma. "You don't have to worry about me. Even if someone is foolish enough to make the mistake of trying to bully me, it's a one-time mistake. They won't make it again."
"You're nice." Enma said.
"Only to those I like. If I don't like someone, I don't feel inclined to civility. Tsuna and the others could tell you that. I'll be honest with you, though. While I am still very suspicious of you and your lot after that weird flame appeared on my ring...I don't know. I look into your eyes and I just can't see any malice. Hurt and sadness, yes, but no malice." Roksana said, meeting Enma's one uncovered eye as she secured the last bandage, letting her hands settle in her lap. "My eyes are hardly ever deceived. Many call them "cursed" because of what they can see. Right now, they see someone who is being forced to do something he really doesn't want to. Someone who has been hurt more than his fair share. In that, I understand. Might not be the same thing that caused that pain, but, when you get down to it, all pain is the same."
Enma met her eyes in surprise, the shock written on his face. She had seen right to the base of his soul and with just a single look. But then that begged the question...did she know everything? If she did, Adelheid wouldn't be happy and it could ruin all plans. Just when worry started kicking in, Roksana laid a hand on his.
"You really should work on not letting your emotions show so vividly in your eyes, Enma. It'll make people pick on you more. But you don't have to worry about me. Tsuna likes you and even I am inclined to like you. I don't pry too deeply with those I like." Roksana assured him.
Of course, she didn't add the silent, "Unless they're a danger to my family".
Enma relaxed when she said that, his eye dropping to the hand on his. Twinkling back at him was the ring around her right middle finger. The two different colored stones shined back at him. Before he could stop to think, he reached out to trace the stones with one finger.
"It's a rare red diamond and green sapphire." Roksana told him.
"Where did you get it?" Enma asked.
"My mother. It was an heirloom passed down to her from her mother and her grandmother before that. I'm not quite sure how old it is. My mother told me that it could be traced back to my great great great grandmother, but I don't know. She gave it to me before she died, my mother." Roksana told him.
"You mother is gone?" Enma asked.
"Yes."
"I'm sorry."
Roksana shook her head, pulling her hand back to look down at the ring on her hand.
"Don't be. It's been a while now and she was very sick for a very long time." Roksana told him.
"And your dad?" Enma asked, unable to contain his curiosity.
"He's in Russia with my step-mother and half brother." Roksana replied.
"So he started a new family." Enma retorted bluntly, making Roksana let out a small laugh.
"Yes, but it was my choice not to be a part of it." Roksana told him. When he gave her a questioning look, she smiled, the look one he recognized as pained and sad. "It's a long story. Long story short...it did it to protect my brother. He's just a baby. He shouldn't be forced to deal with what I go through all the time."
Something Enma could understand.
Just then, the door to the room opened with a knock. Both teenagers turned towards the door as Dimitri stuck his head into the room.
"Miss Tsukiko, is there anything else you need? If not, Maeve and I are going to finish preparing for dinner." Dimitri said.
"No, we're good, thank you." Roksana told him.
Dimitri nodded before vanishing out of the door. Enma turned to look at Roksana.
"Tsukiko?" he asked.
"It's my middle name. My mother was Japanese and said it was my great great grandmother's name." Roksana told him, putting away her first aid kit.
With her eyes on the kit, she didn't see the look on Enma's face. If she had...she would have been suspicious and weary all over again. As it was, she put the kit away without seeing the look and, by the time she turned back to him, Enma had schooled his feature back into their usual look.
"Why don't you stay for dinner, Enma? Tsuna and the others are coming and I know Takeshi will be dragging Kaoru with him. You can even call your other friends and invite them, if you want. I have more than enough room and food for them." Roksana offered.
"Thanks." Enma replied.
In the end, when Roksana's friends showed up for dinner, they had all the members of Enma's family, except for one, with them. Apparently Julie had been out. Roksana invited them all into her house, the large group of teenagers and children crowding around her large dinning room table. There came one point in the night, though, when Roksana caught sight of Enma and Adelheid talking, the two watching her closely.
When they noticed her looking, they quickly turned away, but not before Roksana got a very unsettled feeling in her gut.
She had a feeling that things were about to go sideways in the most colossal of ways.
END
Kyandi: You know, I've always felt bad for Enma.
Roksana: He's had it really rough.
Kyandi: Yeah.
Roksana: That aside...did you have to make me say that?!
Kyandi: Which part?
Roksana: You know which part!
Kyandi: Oh, you mean where you almost admitted your feelings for Hib-
Roksana: ARGH! I don't want to hear it!
Kyandi: Hehe! Don't worry, everyone. There'll be a more clear confession later on, but it'll be coming from the most unlikely of places.
Roksana: Oh, God, what do you mean?
Kyandi: You'll see! If anyone catches the little reference I sneaked in, then I'll give you a big shout out in the next chapter. Until then, everyone enjoy and review!
Roksana: We really will be back tomorrow. I'll make sure of it.
Kyandi: Bye-bye!