Alex:Welcome back to another chapter guys! This one was a fun one to write and took a drastic turn then what I had originally planned but perhaps it was for the best who knows!

Now before you begin reading I would like to say a few words. This is something that is heavy on my heart at the moment but if any of you is going through a hard time with depression and dealing with suicidal thoughts. I implore you to keep living, even when you think there is no hope I can promise you there is a light at the end of the tunnel. People do care about you. People do love you. Having bad thoughts or negative ones isn't something to be ashamed about. Please reach out to your friends and family or even a suicide help line. Hell you can even message me and I can offer you as much support and love as I am able. Life is worth fighting for. Your worth fighting for. If your walking through the valley of death right now, keep on walking! It will get better! I promise!

I've been in your exact shoes with the depression and suicidal thoughts. It's hard but it does get better I promise you that:)

Enjoy the new chapter.

Chapter 4:Welcome to the Family

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN WIFE!?"

Mari's voice echoed loudly as she screamed her question loud and clear in the air and quite honestly she didn't give a damn who heard. What was Reborn going on about? Being Tsuna's wife, oh hell no her mind screamed as many red flags popped into her head. There was no way she was marrying him! No offense to him.

Tsuna seemed flustered and confused as he shouted in protest at his mentor's words. God this was so messed up she thought. Without looking up at the two of them, Reborn continued to write in his little notebook.

"Exactly as I said. You'll be perfect as Dame-Tsuna's wife, a good mafia leader should have a good wife." he explained nonchalantly. A strangled noise escaped Mari's throat as she shook her head in utter protest. What does that even mean!?

As if reading her mind, which was something he could do apparently, Reborn snaps his notebook shut and smirks at her. Mari took a step back as an uneasiness settled within her bones. She did not like that smirk, that was a smirk full of evil. Bad things happened whenever Reborn did that.

"Support is a key element that a mafia wife should have. You've been supporting Tsuna for many years, protecting him and sticking with him through tough times. Therefore you two make a good match."

"What the hell kind of logic is that!?"

"I'm not becoming a mafia boss and nor am I getting married!"

Tsuna and Mari's protests rang out loudly in the air as they fought against Reborn's words. For all their protesting nothing good came to fruition as a small bubble appeared out of Reborn's noise as soft snores escaped him. The baby hitman had fallen asleep. The two of them cried out in frustration even more.

By this point the exhaustion Mari had been feeling had come back full force only this time it brought a splitting headache. Pinching the bridge of her nose she closes her eyes for a few brief moments as she tries to regain control of her composure. Reborn had his sight set on her and had been for a while. How to escape this? How could she free herself from the demon baby's clutches? How could she survive this sick twisted game? Her mind couldn't come up with anything as a groan bubbles out of her. The pain in her head was increasing by the second.

"M-Mariko are you alright?" Tsuna's small voice stuttered out in question. He had noticed she had gone paler and was rubbing her head. Quite frankly Mari looked ill and that concerned him.

Green eyes flutter open as she briefly looks at was watching her with concern as he struggled to say more words. Mari desperately wanted to give the spiky haired brunette a glare but that wouldn't have been right. None of this was Tsuna's fault he never wanted any of this to begin with. The fault lay with her for getting involved but even so at the end of the day she couldn't stand idly by and let him get picked on and beat down. It wasn't right.

Releasing a breathy sigh she shakes her head as she begins walking away. "Tired. Don't feel well." she explains softly as she walks out of the alleyway. She could feel Tsuna's gaze on her as she wandered off, she ignored him not once looking back.

Mari decided to make her way home and skip school. There was no way she was sitting through lessons after all that. Coupled with her lack of sleep she was practically death warmed over as she headed to the safety of her house.

Once home Mari gives a short explanation to her mother who promises to make her porridge later. Waving slightly to indicate she heard her mother Mari clambers up the stairs to her room. She doesn't bother changing into pajamas as she nose dives onto the bed. Grabbing the blanket she lazily rolls over wrapping herself up into a blanket burrito and swiftly passes out. The world around her fades away as dreamless sleep claims her mind. It was good because Mari didn't wish to dream of anything. She simply sought rest.

When next she wakes it's to her mother calling her name softly. Green eyes crack open and blearily look around. Mari was still wrapped up in her blanket burrito though at this point she was sprawled in an awkward angle due to shifting in her sleep. Her mother stood before her bed with a gentle smile on her face. A white tray filled with food was in her grasp.

Yawning Mari rubs her eyes as she attempts to disentangle herself from the blanket prison. Chuckling at her sleepy daughter Mayu sets down the tray on the nearby desk and moves to help free Mari. Once she was all situated and sitting up in bed her mother hands her the tray of food.

The warm soothing scent of honey porridge wafts towards her causing her stomach to growl. God she was starving. Grabbing the warm bowl and spoon she stirs it happily as her mother takes a seat on the edge of her bed.

"You slept all day and night but I'm so glad you were able to sleep." her mother informs her as she brushes a lock of hair behind her ear. Mari certainly felt refreshed after her long sleep, no longer did she feel the ache and strain of fatigue. Her mother noted as she watched her that her complexion took on a healthy hue and was no longer a sickly pallor.

Mari scoops up a big spoonful of her breakfast blowing on it slightly as she moves to eat.

"A nice boy dropped off your bag and even gave you the homework you missed. Mariko why didn't you tell me you had made a friend!" Her mother exclaims loudly as she smoothes down unruly locks of her daughter's hair.

As soon as she began to swallow Mari suddenly choked at her mother's words. Bits of porridge went flying as she dropped the spoon, her tongue on fire from the too warm meal. Her mother blinks in surprise but pats her daughter gently on the back as she takes a napkin and wipes her face.

Grabbing the glass of water that was on the tray Mari chugs half the glass down before taking a deep breath of air. "What did you say mom?"

"I said a nice boy dropped off your things. He told me you have class together oh and his little brother informed me you two were close friends. Mari this is wonderful news! You should have told your father and I sooner you had made a friend." her mother chides gently.

Dark chocolate eyes were alight with happiness and glee at her only child finally having made a friend. A burst of emotion welled within her heart, Mari didn't have to be alone anymore.

Close my ass Mari thinks annoyed. Only Reborn would say something like that and seriously how is it all the adults don't question Reborn being a baby? Seriously, he was wearing a suit and talking fluently like an adult! Well he was an adult but that's besides the point.

"Mom Tsuna and I…."

"Hm?"

Warm eyes turned in her direction. They were filled with a bright light, Mari could see her mother brimming with happiness and even tears as they filled her mother's eyes. Mayu couldn't help but cry. She was content and happy for her dear one.

Mari deflated. Shoulders slumping she stirs her porridge around before shoveling a big bite into her mouth. She ignored the burning sensation it left on her tongue as she smiled at her mother. There was no way she could tell her that Tsuna and her weren't friends. Mari didn't wish to ruin her happiness.

"Tsuna and I are friends." she says softly.

A happy excited gasp escapes Mayu's mouth as she claps her hands.

"You should invite him over for dinner! I'll make a nice meal and you can introduce us." Already her mind was running through many recipes wondering what she could make for her daughter's new friend. Oh and desert! What could she make? Perhaps cookies? Or maybe a nice pudding? Decisions Decisions.

"Mom, we've only just become friends, give it a bit before I bring him over." The words tasted like ash on her tongue. Mari was digging herself into an even deeper hole the more she talked. Perhaps this was Reborn's plan. Having Tsuna drop off her bag and schoolwork and inform her mother they were friends. He was smart and would play his cards right, learn all he could about her. That's what a good hitman did. Gather as much intel on your target as possible.

"Of course! Well I'll leave you to breakfast. Be sure to get your missing assignments done." Her mother chirped before strolling out her bedroom door with a happy hum. "Hiro, I have wonderful news!"

Flopping backwards on her bed Mari lets out a loud groan. Her father would soon know and therefore it would only dig the whole ever deeper. Crawling out didn't seem like an option because if she tried Reborn would surely be waiting at the top to kick her back down.

Thank god it's the weekend.

When school resumed the following Monday Mari set out at her usual time. Though this time she was hesitant as she peered out from behind the gate to her house. Looking both ways down the street she scanned her surroundings closely. No one in sight. It looked safe enough. With a deep breath she sets out slowly and as calmly as she can. It'll be a normal day…..just a normal day.

"Nothing to fear, Mari." she whispers a reassurance.

As she trekked to school she continued to reassure herself. If one told themselves something or heard something often enough then surely it would become true. That's how it worked, right?

"What do we say to the God of death?" she questions softly as she rounds the corner heading onto the next street that led to the school.

"Ciaossu!"

"Not today!" she screams loudly jumping in fright at the high pitched voice. Head snapping to the right, she sees Reborn sitting on Tsuna's shoulder. The brunette regarded her with a confused look as Reborn smirked at her. Tsuna never walked her route to school! This demon baby made him walk this way!

"Fancy seeing you here."

Huffing, she crosses her arms over her chest. "Doubt it. So Tsuna he made you come this way." It wasn't a question.

"Y-Yes!" he stutters out rubbing the back of his head. This entire thing was mind boggling to him. He spent the entire weekend complaining to Reborn that he wasn't going to marry Mariko. All his complaints were met with deaf ears and harsh slaps and kicks to the face each time he protested.

"It's good for a future husband and wife to spend time with one another." Reborn explains as he sips a cup of espresso that seemed to come out of nowhere.

"WHERE NOT GETTING MARRIED!" Tsuna and her screamed in unison.

Rubbing her temples Mari sighs. Another headache was already starting to form.

"Okay back this up a bit. Explain this whole mafia business and who are you?" Mari suddenly questions. For appearances sake she had to question who Reborn was and act naturally. As far as anyone was concerned she was as clueless as Tsuna.

"I'm the hitman tutor Reborn. I'm here on strict orders to train Tsuna to be the 10th generation Vongola mafia boss." Reborn explains. There was a certain glint in his black eyes that made Mari nervous, it was like he had her figured out with just one glance. "And by extension I'll be training you as well since your Tsuna's intended."

He what!?

"What the hell! Do I get a say in this because the answer is no!" she shrieks loudly as Tsuna protests as well.

"You can't just drag people against their will!"

A loud resounding slap echoes in the air and soon Tsuna is holding his cheek. Reborn had slapped him with a piece of paper. The papercut from that was going to hurt terribly Mari thought as she winced.

"I've already got permission from the 9th."

Reaching out Mari snatches the paper out of Reborn's grasp. She quickly reads the elegant script. It was as Reborn stated, the 9th Vongola boss had given his consent to the baby hitman on training her in the mafia ways and what it would mean to be a mafia wife. He also further talks about the joys of young love and looks forward to meeting her in the future.

Crumpling the paper in her grasp she tosses it at Reborn who merely slaps it aside easily with a paddle. The force was strong enough to smack Tsuna in the face who grunts from the force and topples to the ground. Mari's eyes widened in shock at the strength of Reborn, seeing it in person was frightening. The man just took Tsuna out with a paper ball!

"You have your answer. Do you require more information?"

Shoulders slumping Mari brinches the bridge of her nose. Her headache was now a migraine at this point. She was screwed.

"Juudaime!" A silver haired looking delinquent was running their way.

"Yo Tsuna!" Followed by a baseball loving idiot.

Gokudera and Yamamoto had arrived. Internally Mari was screaming while outwardly she kept a frown on her face. When the two of them reached them they regarded Mari with interest and annoyance but that was mainly Gokudera.

"Oh Himuro-San good morning!" Yamamoto greeted pleasantly as he smiled at her. Gokudera merely regarded her with distaste as she stared blankly at the silver haired chain smoker.

"Is she bothering you, Juudaime?" he questioned as he pulled out a few sticks of dynamite.

Honestly take me out Mari thinks as she opens her mouth to set Gokudera off so he could actually kill her.

"Mariko is Tsuna's intended." And there it was. Bastard.

Gokudera's green eyes widened to the size of saucers before he extinguishes the flames and drops the dynamite with a clatter. Throwing himself onto the ground he bows before her as he slams his forehead into the concrete pavement. Mari had forgotten how dramatic and extreme he was.

"Forgive me! I didn't know you were Juudaime's girl!" Her eye twitches at that statement.

Yamamoto cheerfully laughs. "I didn't know you two were dating! You make a cute couple!"

Mari's face heats up, whether in anger or embarrassment she didn't know. It was probably both.

"We're not dating!" Tsuna and her shout together. This was so infuriating!

"Tsuna-San!" Haru's loud voice pierces the air.

"H-Haru!" Tsuna cries startled to see her.

At this point Mari tuned everything out around her as she turned on her heel and headed to school. She refused to believe any of this, it was ludicrous and crazy and…..Mari could feel tears brimming her eyes. For god's sake she just wanted to live! Wiping her eyes she forgoes walking and runs to school. Behind her she could hear the others calling her name but she ignored them.

By the end of the week Mari was dead tired. In just a short timespan she had been forced to interact with everyone, suffered at the hands of Reborn, met the klutz Dino and got attacked by his pet turtle Enzo, dealt with other bullshit, and somehow lived. But today took the damn cake when Haru attacked her with a hockey stick on the bridge leading to the other side of town.

It was very reminiscent of the episode where she attacked Tsuna in her weird getup. Haru had deemed her a threat and sought to fight her for Tsuna's affection. Mari had been blunt when she told the brunette that she could have him but Haru hadn't listened. Instead insisting the two of them duel.

It ended with Mari saving Haru from falling off the bridge because the girl had tripped over her own feet. Quite literally the two of them hung over the side till Tsuna charged in guns blazing to rescue them. Haru had been relieved and overjoyed but thankfully had apologized to Mari for her actions and hugged her. Reborn had stepped in to tell Haru that Tsuna and her were very much in love and had been for years since they grew up together. Being the hopeless romantic that she was, Haru ate that shit up like it was candy. Despite Tsuna and Mari telling her that was far from the truth.

But of course no one listened and now she was stuck with Haru promising to help her pick out a nice wedding dress. She was thirteen for god's sake! Marriage was not going to happen dammit! Not anytime soon and not in the future!

Now as she walked home she cursed Reborn's very existence.

"Stupid baby…..stupid show…" she muttered darkly as she kicks a nearby can. She cursed her friend for showing her this anime. Mari hated everything that was happening around her and she fought desperately against it. But no matter how hard she fought the deeper she was pulled in. It wasn't fair she thought childishly as tears brimmed her eyes. She hadn't asked for this! In fact she never asked to die in the first place! All she had been doing before this reincarnation bullshit was just living her life.

She had friends...a family! She had just started highschool and was having fun doing normal highschool things. Mari should have been more careful. She should have noticed the signs….she should have…..

"Little Dove all caged."

Mari stops abruptly.

That was a voice she hadn't remembered in a long time. A sick feeling rolls through her body as she covers her mouth with her hand. Stumbling backwards into the wall next to her she struggles to breathe as horrid images flash through her mind. A sickly sweet smile, a cruel laugh, the touch of a serrated knife against flesh.

Bile creeps up her throat as Mari fights back the urge to vomit. Closing her eyes she tries to quell the panic rising within her. Don't think her mind whispers. Don't think about what happened in the past, focus on the future. Focus on not dying and getting away...focus…

"Deep breaths, Mari." Reborn's voice called out to her gently. Gasping green eyes open wide to see Reborn standing before her. Jumping swiftly up onto her shoulder Leon transforms into a tiny fan which Reborn aims at her face. The cool breeze touching her skin felt nice and had her eyes fluttering shut as she breathed in and out slowly.

The sick feeling within her faded away as time passed at a crawl Mari focused her mind on other things. Favorite books she had read, favorite flowers she liked, anything to help ground her she thought of. Dropping her hand from her mouth she once more opens her eyes. Reborn is watching her carefully with an unreadable expression.

"Thanks…." she mumbles quietly as she grips the hem of her skirt. "I'm alright now." And it was the truth at least for the time being. Hopefully she wouldn't recall that ever again.

Transforming back into his original form Leon scurries to rest on Reborn's fedora.

"I think it's time you and I have a talk." Reborn states seriously. An alarm sounded in her head but despite it she merely offers Reborn an innocent smile. She would play dumb to the very end.

"What about? Let me guess about Tsuna, right? Well I told you were not marrying."

"To an extent it is about Tsuna but it's more than that. You know more than what you show and I mean to learn everything." There was a dangerous tone to Reborn's voice. It should have scared the young girl but it didn't. Mari had faced worse things than him.

Bells of mirthless laughter erupt out of her throat and into the air as she grabs her sides. Jumping off her shoulder and onto the ground Reborn continues to watch her with an unreadable expression. For whatever reason Mari couldn't stop laughing, perhaps she was relieved to be found out. Who could say for sure.

It took her several long minutes before she could stop her insane giggling and pull herself together. When she finally calmed down she wiped the tears from her eyes and regarded the hitman with a mirthful smile.

"Saying I'm Tsuna's future wife was just a ploy wasn't it?" she questions curiously even though she already knew the answer.

"I do think you're the right match for him but yes it was a ploy." Good to know Reborn was being honest.

A breathy sigh escapes her lips as Mari lifts her gaze heavenward and stares up at the never-ending sky. The clear blue visage was washed gently with the colors of sunset, hues of orange, yellow, red, and pink painting it beautifully. Caressing it gently like a lover as they began to welcome the night.

"Well come on then let's go to my house. My parents are gone for the evening so I'll have the house to myself. I'll make you an espresso and then we'll talk." Turning away from the beautiful view Mari beckons Reborn to follow her as she sets off at a slow pace.

There was no turning back.

Perhaps this little dove would finally be free?

XxxXxx

Alex:Another cliffhanger and we touch briefly on Mari's death;) Note I will be going into more detail about that later down the line, as you can already guess Mari has some unresolved issues that need dealing with.

I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter! Please let me know your thoughts and I shall see you in the next chapter.

Until next time!

Ciao Ciao.