Alex:Welcome back to another chapter my lovelies! This chapter would have come out sooner but it's been super hot this week and after work I was just deadXD But it's here now so please enjoy!

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Chapter 6:Making Friends

"I'm off!" Mari's voice rang loud and clear as she headed out the front door. Like always her mother bid her farewell with an equally loud jovial tone. With her bag in hand Mari walked pleasantly down the street. Arms stretched above her head she lets out a content groan as her back cracks nicely in several places.

Never have I slept so well, she thought happily as she glanced up at the clear blue sky. A few clouds lazily floated in the heavens as they meandered about with no direction in mind. Today was a good day, the air was warm and pleasant, Mari was well rested and ready for school. Which said a lot because normally she loathed attending such a thing though that was primarily because of Tsuna and company.

Mari couldn't help but think back to her conversation last night with Reborn. She was surprised she had confessed so much to the tiny hitman. Once she had started the words just poured out of her mouth without ceasing. Everything had been bottled up. A secret kept hidden for so long. Her cross to bare.

Each word she had uttered Reborn had taken in stride, believing her even. It was…...nice. It was nice to have someone listen and understand her to an extent. Though his words had been blunt and even harsh Mari knew she needed to hear them. They were a slap to the face. The sting burned against her mind as the words struck her soul. Mari was thankful for Reborn.

There was no telling where she would spiral if they hadn't talked. Her mind wondered what would have happened. It always came to the same conclusion. The young teen wouldn't be living, just running, she would run far and wide till she ran aground of her own fears and that would be her undoing. That would lead to her end.

No. Not my fears, Rachel Mors's fears.

Rachel was a girl she continued to keep alive because her life tragically came to an end. Not once had she embraced Mariko Himuro. Her acceptance years ago was nothing more than a delusion. Though she wondered if she had it in her to let her go; it wouldn't be easy.

Reborn believed in her and if he believed in her then surely she could do it. That spoke volumes. At the same time however he viewed her as strong, strong to be Tsuna's equal. Be his wife she thought as her face contorted at the thought. It was nothing against him but there was no way she was accepting Vongola.

As Mari turned a street corner something slammed into her causing her to be knocked to the ground. With a grunt she looks up glaring at who was laying on top of her. A familiar spiky haired boy was sprawled across her lap. Speak of the devil.

"Tsuna what the hell!?" she glares as she gently shoves the brunette off her. Carmel colored eyes widen at the sight of her as he shifts to sit on his knees. His face was flushed red from obvious running, she quite honestly wasn't sure what he had been running from, his hair was tousled even more so giving a wild bedraggled apparence.

"M-M-Mariko! Ah I'm sorry I didn't mean to run into you!" he squeaked out as he rubbed the back of his head. The embarrassment wafting off of him was practically tangible.

Sighing she clambers to her feet. Securing her bag on her shoulder she holds her hand out to Tsuna who stares at her bewildered. His eyes were comically wide as he stared at her outstretched hand. Never had Mari stayed around long enough to help him up from the ground. During the past few days where she was forced to be around him she always maintained distance and spoke very little. An annoyed pained expression always adorned her features.

Reaching out shyly Tsuna took her hand. The contrast in their hands was very different, his were smooth and soft while hers were rough and calloused.

"T-T-Thanks….." he stutters as Mari hefts him up easily. Nodding her head she pulls her hand away. Crossing her arms over her chest she lets out a soft sigh, she couldn't avoid Tsuna.

"Mari." she states firmly. Tsuna looks at her with questioning eyes.

"Huh?"

"Mari. You don't have to call me Mariko." Her body was rigid and tense as her mind went into overdrive at what she was doing. Alarm bells and whistles were going off in her head, everything was on fire as mini versions of Rachel ran scattered about in her head trying to put out the flames. Despite the warning, the reprimand, Mari kept firm as she looked at the squishy pipe cleaner before her. She couldn't avoid Tsuna, how could she when a part of her wanted to be friends.

She could be friends and deny Vongola.

Of that she was sure of!

"M-Mari then…." Tsuna smiles softly. Oh fuck Mari thinks blinking several times, he looked very adorable in that moment. Big smile, soft features, he was reminiscent of a cute baby deer.

Before either of them could say anything else a loud noise fills the air. It was like something was grating against the pavement harshly like nails on a chalkboard. Tsuna seemed utterly terrified as he hid behind her. The noise is coming from behind she thinks as she tilts her head in that direction.

Upon looking her eyes widen when she sees a black sleeked car come zooming around the corner. Tires squealing loudly Mari's eyes widened at the sight of a Gatling gun mounted on top of the car and sitting at the helm was Reborn who smirked sadistically at them both.

What. The. Fuck.

"It's lesson time my no good students!"

He wasn't kidding when he said training started in the morning Mari's mind screamed as she stood briefly in utter fear.

"HIIEEE!"

"Oh hell no!"

Grabbing Tsuna's hand the two of them take off running as fast as they could down the road. Shots are fired off rapidly behind them obliterating the ground they had once stood on. He's crazy! This is crazy! Tsuna and her sprint full force to school and all she could wonder was how the cops hadn't been called about this.

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Somehow they made it to school on time. In fact they were one of the few people who were really early to class. As Mari slumped over her desk trying to reclaim her breath her heart raced in her chest. Quite honestly this was the fastest she had ever run in her life before. Running from bullies was one thing but it hit differently when you had a Gatling gun being fired upon you!

Gives you a whole new outlook that's for damn sure.

Groaning softly under her breath Mari sits up at her desk and grabs her textbook and notebook when the first bell of the day is heard. Pencil in hand she begins writing notes into the lined pages as the teacher begins morning lessons.

Lessons went by pretty quickly and before anyone knew it it was lunchtime. Leaning back in her seat she stretches out before grabbing her bag. For a split second she debated on heading to the courtyard to eat under the tree as she always did when she decided on a different avenue. Taking a deep breath she shakily stands and slowly moves towards Tsuna's desk.

Gokudera and Yamamoto are already with him chatting away happily. Biting her lower lip she hesitates just ever so slightly. Her body was telling her to run, to not get involved with them, that it would bring death. Yeet yourself out the window, do something! Anything but this.

Normal everyday life can also bring death Mari thinks as she recalls Reborn's words from the night prior.

You're Mariko not Rachel.

Reminding herself of that was enough to give her the push she needed as she walked on. She could do this! I mean if I could confess everything to Reborn I can surely have lunch with these idiots.

"Mind if I join?" she questions as she leans against the desk behind her. Tsuna looks up at her startled, his eyes wide and jaw agape.

"S-Sure!" Tsuna soon nods his head. A happy smile curls his lips as Yamamoto laughs, slinging his arm around her shoulders. The weight on her felt weird and for a fraction of a second she almost elbowed him away but refrained. The weight was comforting in a way she thought.

"The more the merrier Himuro-San!"

"You can call me Mari, I don't mind."

"Mari-Chan then!" Yamamoto laughs cheerfully.

"Oi! Don't act all friendly with Juudiame's girl!" Mari's eye twitches at that comment but she refrains from saying anything mean. Or ya know kicking him where the sun didn't shine.

"Gokudera-Kun we're not together!" Tsuna corrects quickly. A panicked expression crosses his face while a light rose colored blush discolors his skin.

The silver haired delinquent shakes his head as he leans down close. Curious, they all lean in to hear what he has to say.

"Don't worry! I know you guys are denying it so other enemy families don't know you're together." he whispers reassuringly with a bright smile. Mari could only hang her head as Tsuna fell out of his seat flabbergasted. For a genius Gokudera was such a moron.

Sighing Mari moves out of Yamamoto's grasp as she walks away. Tsuna calls her name and there's the sound of rustling as he grabs his lunch, sudden footsteps, and then a thud as he falls to the ground. Another sigh escapes her as she continues onwards but she manages to call over her shoulder that she was heading to the roof.

She debated if any of this was worth it.

A few minutes later the four of them are sitting on the roof enjoying their meals. Truth be told it was sorta nice. Mari always sat alone at lunch and hardly interacted with anyone so it was a different change of pace. But not bad.

Friendly conversation was made and most of it was focused on her. Mari took everything in stride as she slowly opened up a bit and answered questions.

"You're on the gymnastics team right? Do you think you'll make regionals?" Yamamoto questioned as he stuffed some rice into his mouth. Taking a swig of her water she mulls over her response in her head. She honestly hadn't thought of gymnastics in a long while so focused was she on merely surviving.

"I think there's a good chance but everyone will need to practice and give it their all." she said softly. Yamamoto nods in understanding at her words.

"Practice makes perfect. Work hard and I'm sure you'll make it, and will cheer you on!" he smiles at her, causing her eyes to widen at his words. Shock rippled through her body as she tried to comprehend what he had just uttered.

They'll cheer her on? That was a foreign concept to her. I mean sure my parents always came but to have…..friends come to her competitions that was new. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing though, if truth be told Mari was looking forward to it actually.

"Sure," she says softly. Her lips tilted slightly into a small smile that she conceals behind her water bottle. "Sounds good."

"Is gymnastics hard?" Tsuna questioned. He had never seen it before and had only heard about it in passing.

"It can be at times. The sport is physically demanding." she explains to Tsuna before going into fuller detail. Mari explains everything that she does, from stretching, warm up, bars, balance beam, etc. Everyone seemed to enjoy her mini lesson and even looked impressed. She couldn't help but blush at that, gymnastics was really no big deal, she liked it and was good at it. She enjoyed the adrenaline and pleasant burn it gave her body.

"You could learn a lot from your wife, Tsuna."

Seemingly manifesting out of nowhere Reborn appears dressed in a ridiculous outfit. Tsuna jumps in fright while Mari rolls her eyes.

"We're not getting married!"

A loud smack echos in the air from Reborn smacking Tsuna upside the head when the brunette had grabbed him.

"Gymnastics is a good form of training. Mari after school could you help?" Reborn asks curiously as he turns to look at her. Giving him a wary look she debates on if there was more to Reborn's question or not. However, it wasn't like she could say no because if she did regardless the demon baby would make her do it.

"Sure." she agrees.

Smirking Reborn tells her to show up a few minutes early so they could talk.

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"You're taking this quite well."

Mari glances over at the espresso sipping baby as she stretches out her limbs. The only occupants in the gym were herself and Reborn. As requested she showed up several minutes early while Tsuna and everyone stayed in class to talk with Kyoko. Upon reaching the gym Mari had headed for the locker room and changed her attire. Now here she sat on one of the floor mats.

Touching the tips of her toes she hums softly. "It's as you said I'm not Rachel I'm Mari." She just had to keep telling herself that, one day it would be true.

"There's accomplishments in small victories, consider this one." Reborn states gently as he watches his new student. He could tell that a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Mari no longer carried the weight of the past. Their conversation proved fruitful and for that he was glad. It did no good to keep things bottled up inside, it would only cause the inevitable bomb to be a greater disaster.

"Thank….it's still a process," she says softly. Changing her position she stretches her right arm over her head. "Be mindful, the one thing I'll never accept is being Tsuna's wife. Leave me out of Vongola activities if you please." It was too much to ask she knew but there was never any hurt in trying. And try she would dammit!

A smirk curled Reborn's face. "Not a chance."

Well it was worth a shot.

"Mari!" Tsuna's voice echoes across the gym. Glancing over she sees the boys heading her way, dropping her arm as she stands and her they were dressed in their gym clothes as well.

"Heya." she says as they draw near. Mari had no idea what to do while her mind whispered for her to get herself out of here and fly home. She refused all action to do so as she silently murmured for the voice to put a sock in it.

Clasping her hands behind her back she tilts her head in question. "What do you guys wanna do first?"

Before they could say anything, Reborn spoke up. "Why not show them some of your skills?"

"Sounds good! I'd like to see this."

"Hime is sure to do amazingly!" Hime? She would seriously have to talk to Gokudera about that name. It was atrocious.

"Do your best, Mari."

With words of encouragement Mari mulls over what to start with first. Bars or balance beam?

Thinking on it for several more moments she makes her decision. Plucking her grips from the floor where she sat she straps them on her hands. Dusting them with chalk she makes her way to the bars. Normally she was never nervous when she began her bars routine but right now she felt it. This time was different. It wasn't just a crowd of random faces and judges. It was Tsuna and his fellow guardians. And that was enough to cause her legs to shake.

Standing on the dark blue mat, green eyes slip close as she takes a deep breath. Focus. Drown out everything. It's just you and the bars. With her heart starting to beat rapidly in her chest her eyes open. With a graceful leap she latches onto the low bars first and swings herself over effortlessly. Changing her position she turns swiftly to face the other direction as she swings over the bars two times gaining momentum. Mari lets out a breath of held air as her hands grip onto the higher bar, body tumbling forward and over she changes her position once more when she reaches the top.

Holding her position momentarily her legs are straight up at a 90 degree angle before gravity pulls her down. Swinging down to the lower bar she switches quickly back to the top, the tips of her toes brush the bar gently as she moves into another position as she releases. Mari holds onto nothing for a split second till the bar is in her grasp once again.

Twirling two more times Mari launches herself off the bar. Body curling in on itself she spirals into the air. Straightening out quickly she sticks the landing perfectly, arms held high her breath comes out in light gasps. In this short time frame she had worked up a good sweat, her body burned with adrenaline and excitement. She loved the thrill gymnastics brought her.

Hearing clapping and awed voices Mari drops her arms and looks over. Everyone was giving her looks of amazement and awe. Blushing she dusts her hands off and steps off the mat and walks towards them.

"That was amazing Mari!" Tsuna exclaims, amazed. Big carmel eyes are wide and big, they twinkle with happiness and delight.

"Your amazing Mari-Chan!" Yamamoto laughs, clapping.

"Hime is the best!" She ignored Gokudera.

"You could learn a lot, Dame-Tsuna. A mafia boss needs to be just as flexible as a gymnast." Reborn states before drop kicking Tsuna when he started to complain. Mari blinked in shock at the harsh display but couldn't help but shake her head.

"Time to start learning, Mari, you're the instructor." Reborn announces causing her eyes to widen.

Her be the teacher!? He's gotta be joking, right? The glint in Reborn's eyes told her otherwise.

Sighing her shoulders slump ever so slightly before she straightens and crosses her arms over her chest.

"Stretches start first and after that we can do some basic rookie stuff." she explains as Reborn jumps onto her shoulder.

"Using the Vongola's special stretching mechanism you'll be ready in no time Tsuna!"

Pressing a button on a remote controller, the floor next to them opened up revealing a contraption Mari had seen before in various novels and documentaries she had read/watched.

A rack. Honestly Reborn was just trying to kill him at this point she thought. Tsuna ran away screaming while Yamamoto laughed wondering when the school had placed such a device. Gokudera would have said something but Bianchi, who literally came out of nowhere, graced them with her presence bringing with her snacks for their training. Of course the silver haired boy face planted into the ground at the sight of her.

One thing was for sure and it was the sole fact that Mari would never be bored.

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Alex:And end chapter! This ended quite different then how I originally planned but meh. I hope you all enjoyed it! I tried my best with the gymnastic explanationXD Had to watch a few vids but I think it turned out okay.

As always please tell me your thoughts on what ya'll think and I'll see you next time:)

Ciao Ciao