Alex:See I promised that the next chapter wouldn't take me 3 years to deliverXD Now first things first I want to state something clearly but since Mari is a new player events in the KHR world won't go as we know them. Things are liable to be changed, new things will be added, creative liberties will be taken. The title of the story speaks for itself however, I wanted to state it nevertheless.

I felt it only right of me to tell you all. Especially if some people were coming in thinking it was going to be the same but with Mari added into the mix. That won't be the case at all. In my opinion things would be pretty boring if it was just the same and Mari was just witnessing the events:)

Any who as a forewarning foul language is in this chapter. Expect it in a lot of future chapters to come.

Enjoy chapter 3 my lovelies!

XxxXxx

Chapter 3:This isn't Canon!

Mari was on edge.

Reborn would show up any day now and she didn't know when the baby hitman would arrive. And that terrified her to no end.

Already it had been a few days since she bailed Tsuna out from receiving a beatdown from some bullies. And since then she had been on edge constantly looking around to try and spot a familiar looking fedora but to no avail.

Despite her unease she managed to go about her normal routine. Attend school, go to gymnastics practice after and then return home. A pretty fairly normal existence but she would have it no other way. After all, her goal was to survive and live a normal life.

To her parents nothing was out of the ordinary as they continued to live the typical Japanese family dream. Though there was always the occasional question on if she had finally made any friends. The answer was always the same. Mari hadn't the time for friendship, she focused on survival though her parents didn't know that.

"You've made it this far you can keep going." Mari whispers to herself one evening as she lays in bed. Curled on her side she stares out her window to watch the stars. Tomorrow would be just another day, same as always.

"See ya!" Mari calls as she heads out the front door. A joyful call of farewell reaches her ears as her mother bids her a good day. Taking a nice long sip from her thermos she sighs contently as the flavor of Oolong tea dances across her tongue. Nothing like a nice cup of tea in the morning she thinks happily as she walks.

A sudden call of her name and running footsteps has her pausing. Glancing behind her she sees a boy around her age with spiky black hair and a cocky grin on his face. On his shoulder wrapped in a soft case was a kendo stick.

"Morning Himuro-San!" He calls pleasantly. Yawning she lifts her hand in greeting before continuing to walk on. Kensuke Mochida was a fellow student at the school and captain of the Kendo team, he often liked to walk with her to school and flirt. She didn't mind it as he wasn't causing her any real harm and for the most part she ignored his flirtations. Besides, she deemed Mochida safe a long time ago. From her recollection he wasn't a part of the series in any way, shape, or form.

Mochida sidled up next to her and kept an even pace as they walked. Nudging her shoulder with his own he smiles proudly at her. "We won the kendo tournament last night! Other team didn't stand a chance." he proclaimed loudly. Mari fought the urge to roll her eyes, such a prideful boy he was.

"Nice." she merely states sipping her drink.

Laughing he nods his head like she had told the best joke ever. "I know! You should come to the next match. I'll make sure you have the best seat in the house and when we win I'll take you out for dinner." Mochida was ever sure she would say yes. I mean why wouldn't she he thinks.

Rolling her eyes she plasters a smile on her face as they approach the school gates. She was seriously not interested but hoped to let him down gently…...again.

"Thanks for the invite Mochida but….."

"Kensuke please. I feel we've known each other a lot for you to start calling me by my first name." Mochida says as he gives her what he thought was a sexy look, but in reality it made her cringe.

"Mochida I'm sorry but I'm….."

Mari wasn't sure what happened next. Time slowed down nearly coming to a standstill. The toffee haired brunette heard loud shouting and then an impactful force slammed into the ground near her and Mochida. The kendo captain went flying practically over the wall and out of sight. She had no time to blink or say anything as she stood wide eyed at the sight of Tsuna wearing nothing but his boxers.

His eyes were intense as an orange flame flickered on his chest rose and fell with each harsh breath he took. Still rooted to the spot Tsuna holds out something to her, it was something familiar but she has no time to look. Nothing processes through her mind at all. Mari was a windows computer shutting down.

"Mariko Himuro, thank you for always saving me! You left this behind that day you stopped those bullies!" Tsuna's voice is loud and precise as he continues to stare at her intensely. Green eyes now flicker to the object in his outstretched hand and she sees it now, her favorite mechanical pencil.

What the…...I had been looking for that for days her mind screams as she begins to process everything. It must have fallen out of my bag when I threw it on the ground to help Tsuna…...wait! Her mind comes careening to a halt once more as her eyes widen to the size of dinner plates. Mari was in episode one now of the anime…..chapter one of the manga…..but….no Tsuna had to be in dying will mode to confess his feelings to Kyoko.

But he just told me thank you and returned the pencil I had lost…

Oh. Fuck.

Dropping her thermos she sprinted into the building of the school narrowly dodging Hibari as she did so. Heart racing in her chest Mari bursts into tears as she heads for the nearest bathroom. Locking herself into a stall she sobs loudly. She was so screwed! She hadn't wanted this at all, she just wanted to be a bystander to the chaos.

Reborn would take notice of her if he hadn't already.

Tsuna POV

He wasn't quite sure what had happened.

He recalled meeting that strange baby Reborn who claimed to be a hitman and a part of the mafia. It was ridiculous and what was even more ridiculous was apparently he was supposed to be the 10th generation Vongola mafia boss!? No way! He refused! There was no way he was going to do something as crazy as that.

And then he had seen Kyoko and he had been flustered and embarrassed at the mere sight of her. Reborn called him out for having a crush on her and that he should confess but he was a loser. There was no way.

Tsuna heard a gun going off and felt a sharp pain slam into his head. Body falling backwards slowly he realized he had been shot. HE WAS GONNA DIE! NO! He wanted to live…...but there was no hope…..and there was regret swelling inside of him. Swirling together into a giant amalgamation of emotions as his body slammed into the ground. His bag fell at his side popping open. A mechanical pencil with stars decorated on it rolled out as he stared lifelessly at it.

Tsuna couldn't hear anything but his slowing heartbeat. His body began to grow cold as he stared at the pencil. A pencil that belonged to Mariko Himuro. A girl he had known since he was a small child; she had always saved him in bad moments growing up. Why? He didn't know.

The dying brunette most desperately had wanted to return her pencil to her. She had saved him from some bullies and it had fallen out of her bag and he didn't think she knew. Tsuna had no courage to give her the lost item nor thank her for being kind and helping him when others wouldn't.

If only I had the courage to tell her thanks…...to give her the pencil back.

Unknown power surged within him and for whatever reason Tsuna blacked out. But now he was conscious now as he blinked in confusion. He was at school already?

Chocolate brown eyes drifted down to see Mari's pencil in his grasp. Did he talk to her and attempt to give this back?

"Did I…" he begins to question himself even more when a sharp pain nailed him in the face. With a loud cry Tsuna falls to the ground, Kensuke Mochida is standing before him fists curled tightly in anger as he glares. Fear takes over Tsuna quickly as he stares like a deer in headlights.

"You pervert!" Mochida screams before storming off.

Laughter could be heard and that was when he learned he was wearing nothing but his underwear. What had Reborn done to him!

Mari POV

It took a long while before Mari eventually crawled out of the bathroom stall. Sniffling she creeps out slowly and is thankful no one else is around. Moving towards the sink she splashes cold water onto her face and takes in her appearance.

Green eyes were red rimmed and puffy as well as some parts of her face from all her horrid crying. Her long hair was tousled and falling out of it's ponytail, light colored locks were sprawled everywhere. In short she looked like a right mess.

"I look like shit." she whispers as she grabs some paper towels to dry her face. Sniffling once more she heaves a weary sigh. Running her fingers through her hair in an attempt to smooth out the wild strands she swiftly ties her hair into a loose messy braid. When she's done she presses her forehead against the cold glass of the mirror. Why had this happened she wonders as she stares at her reflection.

"I honestly tried so hard and yet…." And yet she chose to help Tsuna all these years and in her kindness it would seem she would be dragged into these wild chaotic events. Fuck me sideways she mentally groans as she lightly bangs her head against the mirror. Whoever gave her a second chance at life was surely laughing by now.

Well she was not amused.

Pushing herself away from the mirror she ambles her way back to class. No doubt Tsuna and her were the talk of the class…..scratch that talk of the entire school.

Upon entering the classroom she ignores everyone and takes her seat by the window. All eyes are on her as whispers break out, some even talk to her giving her sympathy for what had happened. She ignores each and every one of them. Grabbing her notebook Mari pretends to work on an assignment, it was just an excuse so others wouldn't talk to her.

"It's Underpants man!" A student shouts moments later.

The lead of her pencil snaps in half. Gritting her teeth she clicks the top of her pencil procuring more lead.

Don't look at him, she thinks. Don't look and don't talk to him, don't let him think we're friends there's still a chance she could escape this.

Teases and jabs fly through the air as the student's mess with Tsuna. Through it all Mari keeps her focus on her nonexistent homework assignment. In actuality she's writing random nonsense into her journal to keep her panic in check. To keep from looking up. So she wouldn't have to talk to anyone. Breath in…...breath out…...breath in…..breath out….

"Mochida wants you to come to the gym after classes Dame-Tsuna!"

"Yeah he's not letting the injustice done on Himuro-San go!"

"Pervert's gotta get their punishment afterall!"

And time to struggle for air.

Mari's head snaps up as she looks around in confusion.

"He what?" She questions garnering several looks. Two girls on her right squealed in delight as their faces turned a rose pink color. Their eyes took on a dreamy faraway look as they held their faces in a dramatic fashion.

"Mochida-Senpai wants to fight Dame-Tsuna since he embarrassed you!"

"Rumor has it he made you cry and Mochida-Senpai is gonna kick Dame-Tsuna's ass for causing such an injustice! How romantic!"

The two girls continued to gush and relay her with all sorts of details but once again Mari's brain was shutting down like a windows computer. A windows computer that was on fire….and being thrown out the bloody window.

Tsuna looked frazzled but she could hardly do or say anything when the teacher arrived. Everyone scattered to their seats as the first lesson of the day began but Mari could hardly focus. Her heart raced through her chest as her grip on her pencil tightened.

This couldn't be happening.

But it was.

Many thoughts raced through her mind trying to find a solution to her problem. For all her thinking her solution couldn't be found. Her mind kept wandering back to what had happened earlier in the morning. Tsuna standing before her thanking her and giving her back her pencil. It was surreal to see the dying will flame on him. Of course in the anime it was so cartoonish. Seeing it in person was almost mesmerizing. It glowed so brightly, flickering softly in the wind but never being snuffed out.

Tsuna wasn't supposed to give his dying will confession to her. It was supposed to be Kyoko! He liked Kyoko so it was only logical dammit!

Gritting her teeth she looked out the window and kept her gaze there for the duration of all the lessons. It was a long day indeed.

When the final bell rang Mari jumped to her feet quickly and grabbed her bag. Her plan was to run out of the room and head home not once looking back. Tsuna had the same plan as her for he had dipped several moments earlier before the final bell.

As Mari attempted to leave the classroom she felt arms links around hers. The two girls who had gushed to her earlier were smiling gleefully.

"Let's head to the gym Himuro-San!"

"You're so lucky to have a guy like Mochida-Senpai to be into you! This is gonna be great!"

"Hey wait!" Mari cries as she's dragged away. Several other students crowd around her making escape nigh impossible and before she knows it she's stuffed into the gymnasium with the rest of the student body as they await the showdown of a century.

Mochida is already there and prepared. He smirks looking smug as could be as he stands akimbo. When he sees her he offers her a sexy smile, shaking her head she looks away from him and tiptoes around the students trying to edge her way to the exit.

"I'm sure Sawada-Kun will come!" Kyoko chirps, catching her attention. The golden haired brunette smiles at her encouragingly while Hana doesn't seem to believe her.

"This whole thing is being blown out of proportion." Mari sighs rubbing her temples. A headache was already forming behind her eyes.

The whole gym was alive and buzzing with conversation as people began to doubt that Tsuna would show, some even commenting that he had run away. Mari had long since given up on trying to escape due to several students conversing with her. God she hated this crowd. Where was Hibari when you needed him?

Loud audible gasps alerted her to Tsuna's presence.

Let the chaos begin she thinks as she watches him walk forward. From her vantage point in front of the crowd Mari could see his body was trembling in fear. Respect where it was due she thought as she watched him. Even though he was scared he was still coming to face Mochida. Even though it could possibly lead to humiliation for him he showed up. That counted for something.

Crossing her arms over her chest Mari watched closely.

The fight while rigged was simple. Tsuna had to get one hit on Mochida to win. Whoever won would get Mari as a prize.

She was not a happy camper at that declaration and even shouted several nasty words surprising many students around her.

Without further ado the fight began with Mochida practically being crazed. Yamamoto helped Tsuna out by tossing him a kendo stick but it did little as the raven haired Mochida began to chase the brunette around.

Can I go home now?

Mari had long grown weary from everything, the pain in her head was only increasing as the seconds ticked by. This was all wrong. So very wrong!

"Underpants man is back!" A student laughed.

Pulling out of her thoughts Mari watched as Tsuna went into dying will mode. Sprinting half naked towards Mochida he shouted loudly as Mochida brought down his kendo stick. Smashing through it with his head Tsuna headbutted Mochida, falling on the ground he mounted the raven and ripped out some of his hair.

Mari couldn't help but snort in laughter. Seeing it in person was so much better than on the computer screen. The crowd around her went wild as Tsuna kept ripping Mochida's hair till the red flag was raised.

Serves Mochida right she thinks as she watches him silently cry. His once spiky black hair was gone he was as bald as a baby now.

As everyone cheered and crowded around at his victory Mari took the opportunity to sneak out of the gym. With her things in hand she sprints off the school premises and all the way home. She doesn't stop running till she reaches it.

Today was so wrong!

If Mari was on edge before she was downright fearful now.

They keep multiplying!

More characters were coming into play. Gokudera had shown up along with Binchi, Lambo, Haru, and I-Pin. It was getting harder and harder to avoid Tsuna and his friends. Ever since the fight with Mochida she hasn't talked to Tsuna or even helped him. His life was becoming hectic so she didn't bother to do anything but avoid him. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid. Avoid and talk to no one, no one was safe!

She had thought Mochida had been safe to talk to but she was dumb and had forgotten that he wasn't safe. Who else wasn't safe? Her mind strained to remember the various things her friend had told her/shown her.

Mari became more reclusive, sticking to herself and refusing conversation from anyone. If Tsuna and his crew were walking down the hallway she turned around and went the other way. If Tsuna wasn't there and she ran into Gokudera or even Yamamoto on their own she dodged them, quickly running away. Mari had run into Haru once and ran off screaming like a terrified child.

One day Mari lost her shit after gymnastics when she ran into the future Lambo. She had been walking home when she had run into him, stumbling backwards she looked up in surprise. Seeing a familiar cow printed undershirt Mari locked up in fear. The older boy regarded her with a sleepy expression but one filled with recognition.

"Hmmm? Mari-Oneechan…"

A strangled noise sounding akin to that of a dying cat escapes her throat. Shoving adult Lambo into the trash bins that were nearby she runs as fast as she can away from him.

No this was insane! It wasn't real! Mari refused to believe that Lambo knew her!

Once home Mari locked herself in her room and refused to come out.

I'm losing my mind.

Mari let's out a low groan as she rubs her eyes; once again she had a sleepless night. She had been worrying so much that it kept her awake. Her parents were growing concerned as they advised her to take it easy. They assumed she was running herself into the ground from gymnastics. That was hardly the case but there was no way she could explain the actual reason to them.

Pretty sure I look like a lunatic at school. Others whispered about her as she walked the hallways, crazy rumors starting. Mari ignored them all. She couldn't be bothered to deal with childish teenage bullshit. Her life was on the line!

Of course no one but her knew that.

"Just keep pushing forward." she mutters to herself. Mari tried desperately to perk herself up but the words felt hollow. Empty like a coffin in the ground.

Running a hand through her hair she tugs on her locks as she trudges forward. God was she tired. At this point she was contemplating whether attending school was worth it. In all honesty I could skip and just chill out at the park. Decisions, decisions.

As Mari contemplates on her actions a loud familiar screech is heard.

"HIIIEEEEEE!"

Up ahead with his back to the wall was Tsuna, standing before him were the two bullies she had fought against weeks prior. Mari comes to a complete standstill as her shoulders slump. Time seems to stop for her as she watches as one of the bullies grabs the front of Tsuna's shirt and lifts him up.

You don't have to help him her mind whispers softly.

A frown mares her face at that sudden thought. While true she didn't have to help him doing that didn't sit right with her.

Gokudera and Yamamoto will surely come as they always do. Or, Reborn will shoot him with the dying will bullet and he'll be fine. This would just be another lesson for the brunette.

Her mind had another compelling argument to give.

Any of those things could happen but what if they didn't? What if Gokudera and Yamamoto didn't come to Tsuna's aid? What if Reborn didn't shoot him with the bullet? Then what?

Then Tsuna would just get beat down and that in itself is bullshit. For one the scrawny brunette had never done anything wrong, he was merely targeted because he was weak. Mari knew Tsuna was far from weak but right now he was learning and therefore he had a long way to go. And honestly those who picked on others frankly got under her skin.

"Dammit." she hissed.

Releasing a disgruntled groan she steels herself before taking off into a full force sprint. The exhaustion she had felt moments ago had vanished as adrenaline surged through her. Shifting her bag off her shoulder she holds it in her hands tightly as she draws closer and closer.

Once in range she swings her bag as hard as she can at the boy holding Tsuna. Her bag connects hard with his head as she lets it fly. Shocked his grip loosens on Tsuna, making him stumble back into the concrete wall. Standing in front of him Mari takes a protective stance as green eyes narrow into a lethal glare.

"You bastards really have nothing better to do."

"Well look who it is the loser's girlfriend!" one boy sneers taking a stance as well. Her eye twitched at that comment.

The boy she had hit groaned as he shook his head. "Bitch! We won't lose this time!" A sinister smirk crosses his features making her eyes narrow.

I don't like that Mari thinks before she hears loud running footsteps coming from the right. Looking away from the two bullies she sees five people running towards them. Each held an angry gleeful expression and some even had weapons. Heh they planned this, for Neanderthals Mari was almost impressed.

"What are you gonna do now, girly? You're outnumbered." the boys in front of her cackle.

Quirking a brow at the two of them a sweet smile curls her lips. "This." she coos before promptly punching each boy in the groin as hard as she could. The two keeled over yelping in pain, grabbing Tsuna's hand she took off down the road as fast as she could. There was no way she could take on that many people.

"Run as fast as you can!" Mari shouted over her shoulder. Tsuna let out a cry as he stumbled but Mari simply tightened her hold into a vice and dragged him along. The sounds of the bullies behind her kept her racing forward as she turned and twisted down various streets. How Tsuna hadn't managed to ruin their escape she had no idea, maybe Reborn's training was coming in handy for him? Or, perhaps it was just sheer adrenaline that kept him from tripping over his own feet.

Either way they ran.

Breath coming out in deep heavy pants Mari's throat burned with each step she took. She was pushing her body hard and to the limit. Tsuna was starting to lag behind her growing fatigued as well but they couldn't stop, if they did they were finished. Turning down another street corner she comes to a dead halt. Tsuna slams into her from behind causing her to stumble slightly.

The street she turned down was a dead end.

The sounds of loud footsteps and yelling as her cursing. There's no time to backtrack. Thinking fast she drags Tsuna towards the end of the alleyway and let's go of his wrist; there was just a wall here but if she boosted Tsuna up he could make it over to safety.

Ultimately she would be left behind. Mari didn't care.

Intertwining her fingers together she looks at him. Wide fearful brown eyes meet determined green ones.

"Hurry, I'll boost you over." she tells him. Tsuna's eyes widen as he looks at the wall before landing back on her.

"B-B-But you won't be able to make it over." he stutters worried for her. How very endearing but there wasn't any time. Shaking her head she glares at him. The gang of bullies were almost on top of them.

"I'll be fine just go! You've seen me fight before so you'll know I'll be fine." An obvious lie. Mari could hold her own against two bullies but not a group of seven but Tsuna didn't need to know that. Worst case scenario she would just get the beating of a lifetime. Mari wouldn't die….probably.

Shaking his head, Tsuna refuses to go. Mari would be on her own and there were two many for her to take on single handedly. He was downright terrified but he would rather face down these bullies with Mariko and lose then leave her behind.

Groaning Mari is about to grab Tsuna and force him up the wall when a loud voice stops her.

"End of the line losers!"

Shit.

The gang of seven were on them now and crowding the only means of escape. Shoving Tsuna behind her Mari once again takes a protective stance. Sweat streaked down her face as she clenches her fists. Somehow she didn't see a way out of this like all the other times before.

Moving forward taunts and jeers litter the air as the bullies stalk towards their prey. Their game of cat and mouse was at an end and now it was time to feast.

"M-M-Mariko….." Tsuna whimpers behind her. Tsuna could see Mari's body trembling from both exhaustion and adrenaline. He had noticed lately she had seemed tired, dark circles underlyed her eyes as her complexion took on a pale hue. It had worried him. And now despite that she was once again defending him. Squeezing his fists tightly he springs into action.

Suddenly Tsuna was in front of her, body trembling violently like a leaf he spreads his arms out in defense trying to protect her. Her eyes widen in shock at the display and they widen even more at the sight of Reborn popping up out of nowhere.

The sadistic fedora wearing baby smirks as he points a gun at Tsuna.

"Protect Mariko with your dying will!" He declares before firing a single shot. Tsuna falls backwards into her arms as the bullet pierces his forehead. In the next second he's standing on his own, clothes ripping away revealing heart shaped boxers. A sky colored flame appears on his forehead.

"REBORN!"

The group in front of them are now in hysterics at the sight of Tsuna. They laugh and slander the brunette before them unaware of the danger.

"I'll protect Mariko no matter what!" And with that Tsuna was off charging towards the laughing group. They quite honestly didn't know what hit them as the brunette knocked out one boy. Realizing what had just happened the laughter abruptly stops as they all take fighting stances. Kicks and punches are aimed at Tsuna, he dodges most of them but some land lucky hits. Tsuna doesn't react.

Mari is so focused on Tsuna she doesn't see one of the bullies standing before her till it's too late. Deciding the crazed brunette wasn't worth it one of the boys decided to go for the gawking girl. Feeling someone grab the front of her shirt Mari let's out a shriek as she's lifted up from the ground. A fist is curled tightly and speeding towards her face, Mari has no time to do anything other than brace for impact.

It never comes.

Tsuna had grabbed the boy's wrist in time.

"You won't hurt her!" Tsuna screams before headbutting the boy knocking him out.A small spray of blood bursts into the air from the bullies nose. Mari yelps as she falls to the ground. Landing haphazardly she blinks in surprise. No one was standing, all the bullies were either knocked out or groaning in various degrees of pain. For once the roles had been reversed. Tsuna had protected Mari.

"M-M-Mariko….are you alright?" Tsuna questions gaining her attention. He was no longer in dying will mode. He was focused on her, brown orbs showing nothing but concern and worry.

Nodding slowly at him she slowly staggers to her feet. Well…..I didn't expect this she thinks as she continues to take in the carnage around her.

"Well done, Tsuna. You didn't back down." Reborn comments happily as he lands on his student's head. Mari blinks several times as she takes in Reborn's appearance. Not gonna lie he's adorable she thinks but knows under all that cuteness is pure chaos and death.

As if sensing her staring, Reborn looks at her smirking. Oh, she didn't like that. His smirk scared her.

"Ciaossu. It's nice to meet you Mariko Himuro." Fuck he knew her name. Of course he did!

"Uhhhh Hi." she says confused.

Chuckling Reborn pulls out a notebook from his coat pocket and begins writing things down.

"You did good, Tsuna. Mariko will make an excellent wife for you."

Wait.

Did.

He.

Just…?

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WIFE!?"

XxxXxx

Alex:And chapter end! I leave you all on a cliffhanger! Haha I'm evil I know:P This chapter was very fun to write but I am really sleepy now, I stayed up to edit everything through and it's now a little bit after 1 AM.

I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter! Please leave me a review and let me know what you think and I shall you all next time!

Ciao Ciao:)