I plan on asking an artist from devianart to do a commission for me to draw my OCs from several fics. What I'm wondering is how much they usually cost? If anyone knows, I'd be really grateful to know. Oh, and my national currency is the Peso since I'm from the Philippines and all that tosh.

So here we are! Mafia Land! Truthfully, I've only looked forward to writing this chapter for humor. The real challenge though was whether it is funny. I'll let you guys be the judge of that.

Disclaimer: I don't own KHR.

Tsuna spent his entire voyage inside his room. He didn't want to go out, not wanting his identity as the tenth candidate to go out of hand and frankly, he didn't want to leave Mia who was seasick. He let the others roam free though and even ordered room service. If Reborn had invited them all here then he was going to pay for their expenses. He ordered the steak he wanted for so long and a simple pumpkin soup for Mia.

"Ne Mia… what do you know about Mafia Land?" he asked his friend beside him.

Mia set her finished soup aside and looked at him. "It's neutral territory. There are at least four of these resorts all over the world. The one where we're heading to is the Asian Mafia Land. It may have been funded by shady money but it really is just a resort for the Mafia to go to and relax… as weird as it sounds." She tapped her knees contemplating. He could sense that she wanted to say something, but didn't know how to put it.

She raised her head. "Tsuna?"

"Yeah?"

"I just want you to know that you can always ask me questions. I may not tell you how I came to know a lot of things but believe me when I say I did it so that you don't have to carry all this by yourself." She brought her knees to her chest and placed her chin on top of them. "Sorry in advance."

Tsuna patted her head affectionately. "I promise I'll try to remember that in the future."

In ten minutes, their arrival to Mafia land was announced. The two teens looked at each other and decided to go on deck.

"Tsuna-san! Look! We're almost here!" Haru waved at them frantically. Tsuna looked out to the horizon and saw a small island appear with roller coasters, a Ferris wheel and a castle. It didn't look like it was made by the Mafia – it surprisingly looked like a normal theme park. When they disembarked, the first thing they wanted to do was ride a scary-ass rollercoaster which Tsuna refused to go on. He did let Haru and the kids go ahead seeing as he was appointed to go to reception as the representative of the group. He left, grumbling.

"Don't worry Tsuna, I'm here," Mia comforted him on the way. She joined him without asking which he was grateful for. He felt better having her around. As they walked, Tsuna discreetly checked his friend out. Not that he wanted to… you know… hormones. Mia had her hair tied to a messy ponytail. She wore a plain light blue cotton tank top, cream shorts, and a simple pair of sandals. The only thing fashionable that she wore was the leather cord bracelets on her wrists. He looked at his own wrist where her gift shone proudly under the bright sun.

"I'm surprised you're still wearing it," Mia said to him when she saw him looking it over. He looked up at her.

"What can I say? It's fashionable." He grinned.

They arrived at the reception desk in just a couple of minutes. Mia motioned for him to straighten his back and raise his head. He did so and approached the woman behind the desk.

"Name?"

"Sawada Tsunayoshi from the Vongola Family," he said with confidence. The woman nodded respectfully.

"Do you have any invitations or reservations?" the woman then asked. Tsuna glanced at Mia in panic. Reborn didn't mention anything about papers only that he needed to fill out some documents.

"I'm afraid we don't have them ma'am," Mia said. "Could you give us a moment please?"

"I'm afraid that is not possible. Since you don't have the necessary paperwork to prove you are from the Vongola Family, you must go through the Mafia examination in order to prove you are not an intruder." The woman led them towards a door in the back. "If you go into here please, we may begin the examination."

"This totally reeks of Reborn's doing all over," Tsuna muttered.

"Not gonna argue with that," Mia said.

In the other room was an intimidating poster-picture of a Mafioso sitting on a luxurious velvet chair. The woman explained that they must bribe the man with a hundred thousand Euros or else they will all get thrown out to the ocean. Tsuna was horrified as the money was given to him. He felt a slender hand wrap around his arm.

"Easy Tsuna," Mia told him silently. "You got this."

He exhaled sharply through the nose. He nodded. "Yeah, I got it. So how am I going to do this?"

Mia studied the man. "She said he's a politician. When you bribe him, you need to offer him a deal. Give him something he would want in exchange for what we want but be very careful with how you say it."

"So… how should I say it?" he held the money uncertainly.

It took Mia another few minutes to think it out. During that time the woman intervened but Mia wouldn't hear it. She gave the woman a stern look. Tsuna thought how eerily similar she looked to her father when she did that. The woman fell silent and let her return to thinking.

"Okay. I think I've got it," she said with a snap of her fingers. "Do not give this man any openings to doubt you Tsuna. You're strong, capable, intelligent, devilishly handsome – " Tsuna turned red and Mia laughed. "Really, the point is that you have to present yourself as someone worth his time. Don't stutter and just look badass."

"Easy for you to say," he muttered, still nervous. She grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him lightly.

"I've seen you at you're coolest Tsuna. If you can face-down against a perverted pineapple illusionist, then this would be a piece of cake. Tell that man that you'll pay him if he lets us in." She squeezed his shoulders in encouragement and let go. Tsuna took a deep breath and gave her one determined nod.

Doing as he was advised, he looked at the man straight in the eye. He stopped in front of the man and held out the wad of cash. "If you let me and my companions into Mafia Land, I'll pay you a generous fee," he said in a low tone. He remembered the times when Mia ruthlessly bartered against shopkeepers for goods. This felt similar to that.

"How much are you willing to pay?" the man grunted in low rumbling tones.

"A hundred thousand Euros. It sounds like a good deal isn't it?" He smiled slightly, trying to come off as pleasant.

"Hmph. You think you can bribe me kid? It's going to take more than that." Tsuna frowned at being called a kid. He wouldn't let this man intimidate him through or manipulate him for more. He lowered the cash and glared at the man.

"This 'kid' you're talking to happens to be Vongola Decimo," he said coldly. The man froze in his seat before letting out a guffaw that echoed around the walls. Tsuna cringed at the loud voice. The man set his cigar aside and looked at Tsuna.

"You've got cojones boy. If its true I'd rather not get on the wrong side of Vongola. Alright, let's make a deal." A sliver of doubt wormed its way into Tsuna's head. Somehow, he didn't like where this was going. "I want something else other than the cash."

"Oh? What is it?" he cautiously asked. The man nodded towards Mia's direction. She took a step back.

"The girl. Give her to me along with the cash and I'll let you pass." Tsuna's expression was shadowed and his hand curled into a fist. Mia could see Tsuna's small frame become rigid with anger.

"Tsuna – " before she could stop him, he snapped. With strength that she never knew he had, he threw the money at the man's face with so much force that he knocked the man, chair and all, over. It was no brainer that the man was out cold, judging by the heated smoke rising from the chair. Mia could do nothing but gape.

"This isn't a negotiation," Tsuna snapped at the unconscious man. He turned towards the woman, fuming. "Did I pass or not?"

The woman lost her composure. The smile was gone, replaced by uncertainty and shock. "Well… he didn't take the bribe so you failed. Um…" she took out a walkie talkie and began to relay orders to it. Two men in black suits and entered the room. Tsuna was still fuming and felt like he would have judo flipped them if they tried to touch him or Mia for that matter. Good thing they didn't try.

"Right this way…" one of the men gestured towards a door they came from.

"Come on Mia," Tsuna ordered. She hurriedly followed after him. They were brought inside of a train. Once alone, he started to rant. "Like I'd handover you to that scumbag… who does he think he is? I was bribing him. With that much cash! Anyone would have been happy to have that much! Ungrateful, dirty, perverted…" Mia giggled and he sighed, feeling the steam finally leave his system.

"You did great though," she complimented him. "It may not have gone the way we wanted to but that was cool Tsuna. Thank you by the way, for the save."

He glanced at her through the corner of his eyes. Feeling a bit gutsy, he said "Well, don't I get a reward for it?"

Mia froze for a fraction of a second before smiling widely. She gave him a well deserved kiss on the cheek for his actions. Feeling a bit lightheaded, he leaned against the seat. "Where do you think we're going?" he asked. Before Mia could answer him, somebody else replied.

"To the Hidden Mafia Land." Reborn sat across them. They stared before jumping up from their seats.

"What are you?! A freaking ninja?" Mia exclaimed.

"What do you mean 'Hidden Mafia Land'? Are we at the other side of the island?" Tsuna looked outside where a view of the sea was shown.

"You'll see," Reborn mysteriously said. Soon the train stopped and they got off near a cliff end. The two teens looked around. Reborn's pacifier began to emit a soft hue of yellow.

"Wha – " Mia was about to ask when a new person joined in on them.

"Nice of you to show up kora. Now tell me your names." Another talking baby showed up holding a rifle. He had a blue pacifier hanging around his neck that was similar to Reborn's.

"Ciaossu Colonnello," Reborn greeted the other baby.

"Reborn!"

Without warning, Colonnello whipped out his rifle and shot at Reborn. Tsuna and Mia watched as the two babies 'greeted' each other with gun shots and sadistic dominant banter. Feeling that something unpleasant will happen soon, Tsuna tried to tug Mia to hide behind him. In her stubborn way, she stayed by his side. Reborn then introduced who Colonnello was. Mia let out a small little gasp when it was revealed that the little baby in a camouflage uniform used to be in the military. She got down on her knees to examine the other baby while Tsuna began to fire a load of questions of how the two knew each other and such.

"So… childhood friends?" Tsuna guessed.

"Oi! This ain't a ring of roses kora!" Colonnello snorted. "What are you even doing here Reborn?"

"I'm just an observer today," Reborn replied. "My student here failed the examination test so he's the one you need to be training with."

"Tsuna could have passed you know," Mia interrupted. Tsuna didn't say anything and remained silent. "It's just that… the man asked for a bit too much."

"That's the whole point of bribing kora!" Colonnello said. "A Mafioso who doesn't know how can't possibly be able to earn connections that way!"

Tsuna crossed his arms and scowled. "I'd rather sell out my organs than my own friends. I don't care about the stupid test so can we get over with whatever Reborn is planning?"

Colonnello stared at Tsuna for a while. "What did that bastard even asked for kora?"

"Me." Light blue eyes shifted to study the girl instead.

"Hmn… Well it doesn't matter now. You've failed so I'll be training you until I've deemed you worthy to pass." Colonnello said but he looked thoughtful. "Here's what you do." He pointed towards the cliff. The two teens cautiously approached the edge and looked down. Below was a massive whirlpool. It chugged water like a promised end to sailors. "I want you to jump in there and escape kora."

Mia and Tsuna visibly gulped. "This has got to top the list Tsuna," Mia said worriedly. When she didn't hear a response she looked to her friend and saw him as pale as snow. "Tsuna?"

"I… I can't swim," Tsuna confessed. He was shaking like a leaf.

"That's bad," Mia stated faintly. Too shocked to come up to say anything smartass at the moment.

"Well you don't have a choice kora!" Colonnello said. "Oi Reborn, what do you do to make your student listen to you?"

"I do this!" Reborn wrenched Tsuna's arm and twisted it behind him. The brunette screeched in comical pain.

"You're too soft Reborn! Kora!" Colonnello came out of nowhere and kicked Tsuna in the face. Before a tennis match began, Mia had put herself in between them and Tsuna.

"Enough!" she said. "What is Tsuna to you anyway Reborn?"

"He's my precious toy – I mean student."

"He finally admitted I'm his toy!" Tsuna cried. "Just his toy!" Mia couldn't speak; she was too busy face palming. Colonnello pointed his rifle at her and she tensed.

"Reborn, is she one of your students?" he asked.

"More like my charity work." Charity work?! Mia had screeched in the background. "But consider her as one."

"So what do you do with her?"

Reborn smirked. Truthfully, he never did do anything outrageously painful to her in comparison with Tsuna however; it worried her greatly because she had done a number of things that should have earned her a proper thrashing long ago. If Reborn didn't resort to violence, Mia worried he might have something worse for her. The hitman approached Mia and stopped when he was close enough. "I throw her over cliffs." Mia barely had time to react as Reborn lassoed her with Leon and with unnatural strength, threw her into the air where she headed straight into the whirlpool.

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!" Of course, Reborn wasn't one to favor the other. Before Tsuna could even such be mad at him, he had sent the brunette flying with his future bride. The Arcobaleno watched from atop as the two teens desperately tried to escape a watery death. Colonnello frowned.

"I heard you were training the Vongola Tenth. He's a runt kora," Colonnello said. "But is that girl supposed to be a guardian?"

"No," Reborn replied. "She's a prime bridal candidate."

Colonnello laughed. "Since when did you do romance kora?" He glanced down at Mia who was swirling around the water with Tsuna. "In the mafia world, a girl like that would just get eaten kora."

Reborn smirked. "Don't underestimate my charity work. There's more to her than her looks. If a dimwitted egotistical moron like you can become an Arcobaleno, she can be something too."

"You wanna fight it out kora?" Colonnello pulled out his rifle threateningly.

"Besides," Reborn continued ignoring Colonnello. "She comes from a good promising background." And by good he meant as in Mafia good standards. Colonnello lowered his rifle in surprise.

"Really?"

Reborn nodded. "I wanted to check out something in her family but couldn't. I was hoping with your Military connections you would be able to find something out."

"Oh?" Colonnello was very interested now. "If you can't find anything on her family then it means they're high up in the rankings. You'd need a high clearance kora."

"Can I count on you to find out?" Colonnello smirked.

"If it means you'll owe me kora, you've got a deal." The two babies fist bumped each other as a sign of agreement.

"I thought we we're going to die!" Tsuna gasped as they laid on the ground, soaked to the bone and dead beat tired. Mia shivered beside him before getting up. Her hair had come undone and was a tangled heap of blonde locks and seaweed. She pulled them out in disgust.

"Big-headed teachers from hell," Mia muttered grudgingly.

"Well done at surviving Tsuna, Mia." Reborn congratulated them.

"You two don't have the luxury of lying around kora. Move it!" They looked and saw huge boulders falling from the sky. Mia and Tsuna jumped aside just in time before any of it crushed them. Mia landed hard on her side while Tsuna had rolled back up to his feet. Quick to dodge, he made his way to Mia and picked her up to avoid the last of the remaining boulders that just seemed to come out of nowhere. With one misstep, Tsuna had stepped on a hidden pit.

"Hiieeee!" Tsuna managed to throw Mia into safety before falling in. He clawed at the walls of dirt to try and stop his descent. Just when he thought he wouldn't be able to get a grip, Mia's slender hand shot out and grabbed him.

"Tsuna, don't look down alright! Just – just don't!" Of course he had to look now and suddenly he wished he hadn't. A few feet below him were great masses of poisonous snakes. Terrified, his adrenaline kicked in and he was doing everything he can to get out of the pit. Mia hauled him up and when he was out, he had collapsed on her lap.

"I… I can't take this anymore," she wheezed.

"We're still going kora!" Colonnello tried to kick him out of his place. Tsuna had rolled off of Mia's lap and had gotten into a fighting stance. In seconds, he was being pushed back as he fended off attacks.

"You too Mia!" Reborn added. She held her arms up and put her feet into a defensive position as she was taught to do. She wasn't as good as Tsuna at dodging but it was passable. She held her weight well but couldn't do a damn thing about blocking. Reborn and Colonnello tried not to hurt her too bad. A few bruises here and there but never in the face because Tsuna would have surely set everything on fire if that were to happen. When both were exhausted and too tired to move, Reborn said.

"That was a good workout."

"For us kora." Then they fist bumped again.

"Jerks!" Mia and Tsuna screamed at them at the same time. "You're just enjoying yourselves!" Tsuna accused them.

"What are you talking about Tsuna?" Reborn told him. "You're making wonderful memories here."

"I don't need those memories!"

The screeching of train tracks informed them the arrival of two of their friends. Gokudera and Yamamoto greeted them. Tsuna asked what they were doing here when Gokudera replied that they had come looking for the two of them when they took so long. To their panic, Reborn had openly told Colonnello that he had permission to train the two as well. Mia and Tsuna tried to prevent that. However before any sort of training could start, alarms rang out far and wide all over the resort.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack! Everyone evacuate to emergency shelters at once!"

"An attack?" Gokudera's expression turned troubled. "Reborn-san, if this place is getting attacked…"

"It's probably the Carcassa Family." Reborn finished.

"Why would a Mafia Family attack Mafia Land that was meant for the Mafia?" Tsuna asked, confused. Reborn turned to Mia.

"Have your studies progressed enough?" he asked her.

It took her a moment to remember the long list of allies that the Vongola had. She wasn't able to of course but she was pretty sure there wasn't a Carcassa Family on the list. "If I were to take a guess… this resort was built centered around the Vongola's alliance. I don't remember any Carcassa Family being chummy with the Vongola."

"Correct. The Carcassa are on the enemy side." Reborn nodded towards her.

"Which means a battle is about to break here?!" Tsuna made that annoying sound he did whenever he was scared. Suddenly, both Reborn and Colonnello's pacifiers began to shine.

"One of our own seems to be with the Carcassa bunch." Colonnello pointed out.

"Yeah. The only one who's stupid to participate in this would be Skull."

"Skull?" Mia asked. "I take it you don't have a very high opinion of him."

"He's dirt," Reborn bluntly said. She sweat dropped, feeling sort of sorry for this 'Skull'.

"Does this mean he's a baby like you? What color is his pacifier? Is he strong? Why would he side with the Karkassa Family? Actually, what are you guys?" she kept asking.

"Ah… My Lady," Gokudera tried to stop her.

"You sure are noisy kora!" Colonnello glanced at her, a bit annoyed. Mia blushed and muttered an apology. "But to answer some of it… ah, he is like us and he's an idiot."

"Not to brag but Skull is weaker than we are." Reborn added.

Mia wanted to ask more but wad interrupted as loud explosions rocked the resort. There were screams and smoke rising into the air. Tsuna broke out of his panic. "Doesn't this place have defenses? Who's guarding the resort?" he demanded.

"The Family that was assigned today we're given the day off and went back to the mainland for the anniversary of their boss' death," Colonnello explained.

A vein pulsed on Tsuna's head. "So you're telling me that this island is practically defenseless? Who the hell runs this place anyway? Never mind! Don't answer that. Mom and the others are still there, I don't have time with this." He looked left and right.

"The tracks must have shut down as an emergency procedure," Gokudera noted.

"Or a power outage," Mia suggested. Gokudera nodded in consent with her.

"We'll have to run for it," Yamamoto said. Another wave of blasts echoed throughout the island. "We should go, now!" Together, the group of friends left for the western tunnel as opposed to the eastern tunnel they came from in beginning. It was dark inside the cave, so they stuck to the walls.

"This is a pretty cool event." Yamamoto laughed cheerfully as they waded through the dark.

"Stupid baseball nut…" Gokudera said through gritted teeth.

For a moment, Mia wondered if she should break it to Yamamoto how serious this really was but looking at Tsuna's back she decided to let it go. If all goes well, Tsuna gets to keep whatever normality he still had. A light shone at the very end of the tunnel. They ran towards it and were led to Mafia Land's symbol… Mafia Castle.

"How unoriginal," Mia said to herself.

"Whoa that's a huge castle!" Yamamoto exclaimed in awe.

A large crowed caught their attention. The evacuees had gathered in front of the castle and among them were Tsuna's mom and their friends. Nana waved at them from the crowd. Tsuna let out a small cry in relief and waved back. Gokudera hid behind Tsuna after seeing Bianchi's face. While Tsuna checked with the others, Mia couldn't help but assess the situation before them.

Mia could easily tell that these people were practically just itching to join in the fight. No coordination or cooperation at all. She worried how they were going to stage a plan when they all had egos as big as the continents they came from.

"Mia-chan?" Mia faced Tsuna's mother. "You should come with us. All the women are tasked with the cooking for this event."

"Ah, you should go with them Mia," Tsuna urged her. Frowning, she crossed her arms over her chest. Tsuna almost went cross-eyed at her actions and quickly turned away, blushing.

"Nah, I'll stay here. Gotta make sure you knuckleheads have your brains screwed tight," she said to him. To his mother, "Sorry Aunty, but I'll be staying out here with the boys… I gotta take care of Hayato see?" she patted the bomber's shoulder. Gokudera nodded weakly in response to her suggestion.

"Well have fun!" she waved goodbye to them.

"Take care of Hayato," Bianchi told her in passing.

When they left, Tsuna looked like he wanted to argue with her. Fortunately, an argument erupted between three families that wanted to command the retaliating force. The Lefong Family, Beccho Family and the Nuvo Family were arguing in different languages. Everybody was armed to the teeth with weapons. Just before the argument could escalate into an internal squabble, Gokudera opened his big mouth to announce that there is no finer leader to lead the force than their boss which was Tsuna. Mia had elbowed the bomber pretty hard for that one.

"Oh crap!" Tsuna squeaked when they all turned towards their direction.

"Which washed up family is he from?" One of them sneered from the Beccho Family. His Italian accent was thick.

Since Gokudera was in pain, Mia replied for him hoping that the Vongola name carried that much power as it bragged and it would put an end to this senseless mess. "The Vongola Famiglia that's where."

"Vongola?"

"That's Vongola Tenth?"

"I've never seen him before."

Tsuna looked like he wanted to hide but to his credit, he stood as tall as he could before them. "That's right," he said. "I'm Vongola Tenth." Mia glanced at him, worried but while Tsuna looked terrified at being put on the spot he didn't let his title bother him. She was surprised how heavy the Vongola name can be as all the Families dropped to bow before them and asked for forgiveness. Tsuna was startled by it as well.

"We now have a commander to lead us!" One of them said.

"Command?" Was the frightened squeak that came out of Tsuna. "I can't lead them!" he hissed at her. "I don't even know how to!"

"Tradition, status, size, influence… the Vongola are in their own league in every category." Mia could literally feel the pressure on Tsuna's shoulders then. She could only just imagine what he was going through right now. Tsuna couldn't even get a word in as they began shouting their battle cries all around them.

Surrounded, Tsuna was dumbstruck by it all. Yamamoto laughed. "See? Just like I said. You're our leader Tsuna."

"Of course," Gokudera agreed smugly. "You won't find a better boss anywhere else."

Mia wanted to knock their heads together. Their compliments were doing the exact opposite of what they're supposed to do to Tsuna. He was pale and his eyes were wide. He's panicking, she thought worriedly. One thing just happened one after the other before she could even propose on what to do next. The siege forces began their assault. With no coordination on how they would take on the enemy, their own forces charged. Gokudera displayed his prowess by blowing up the front line of attackers, sending them sky high.

Mia had hidden herself at an alcove while Tsuna and Yamamoto avoided the bullets like they were paper wads. "This is just crazy!" she cried as the bullets continued to rain on them. She went down on her knees and crawled her way towards the forest while miraculously avoiding the line of fire. She didn't know what she was doing except that she just had to get out of the way. Mia was very much aware how her presence could be distracting. She saw a group of spandex, motorcycle helmet wearing squad run past where she was hiding. It wasn't even a few minutes of gunfire before they ran back with their tails in between their legs.

"Take that you bastards!" she heard her bomber friend shout.

"Isn't he having a lot of fun?" she said to herself. Looking towards the direction where the enemy came from, Mia decided to follow them. Following them was easy and eavesdropping turned out to be easier. She flattened herself against the trunk of a fallen tree and listened.

"Skull-sama, we've managed to isolate the population to Mafia Castle however we cannot break through their defenses!"

An irritated squeaky voice that most likely was Skull's spoke up. "Keep them there! I'll give the order soon to have the ships bombard the castle."

Mia couldn't let that happen. Not on her watch. If anything had to explode, she rather it was in Hayato's hands than this asshole. She was planning to go on a full sprint back when she heard a heavy scrapping noise, like something large was being dragged across the ground to where they were. She went completely still, hoping that it wouldn't sense her. For every second she waited for it to leave, the closer the destruction of the castle came to mind.

She looked around and saw a good-sized chunk of a rock the size of her fist. She picked it up slowly and waited for a second before throwing it hard away from where she was. It hit the tree several feet away with a loud thunk!

"What was that?!" Skull said.

Mia made a run for it.

"Over there!" one of the lackeys yelled. They started shooting at her but since the forest provided good cover for her, none of the bullets managed to hit her. But that wasn't what worried her. It was big, it was red and it wore freaking armor. A huge octopus the likes she had never seen before rampaged its way to her faster than she could outrun it. In no time at all it caught up to her. A large tentacle wrapped around her torso and lifted her up.

"Put. Me. Down!" She struggled in midair.

The octopus didn't seem interested to do as she asked and instead turned back to where Skull was. Mia didn't know what she was expecting when Colonnello said he was one of their own. Sure she expected a baby just like Reborn and Colonnello but she thought… more. Skull wore a daredevil's suit and a motorcycle helmet with a purple octopus on its side. Nothing about him seemed intimidating at all. He didn't have that presence that Reborn and Colonnello seemed to demand either. When the octopus dropped her in front of him, all she could say was "You're different than I imagined."

He pointed a finger at her. "Wha – what is that supposed to mean? Better than that, who the hell are you?"

"Me?" Mia pointed at herself. "I'm just a girl who was taking a leisurely stroll around in the forest when your octopus attacked me."

"You think I'm an idiot?!" Skull said furiously. "I bet you were spying on me!"

"Spying? No, no, no." She shook her head. "I was walking. Didn't you hear me the first time?" She could feel the sweat accumulating on her forehead. She hadn't yet heard him give out the order so she hoped to distract him and give the boys enough time.

"Think you're smart huh? Let's see if this will get you to talk." He snapped his fingers and the octopus grabbed her again. He shook his fist erratically and the octopus did the same thing. She was shaken like a rag doll. Mia could feel the contents of her stomach rising up to the back of her mouth. "How's that huh?"

"Urghh…" she groaned and quickly covered her mouth to stop herself from spewing vomit. That would be a laugh wouldn't it? Her last act of defiance would be vomiting on her kidnapper.

The baby with the purple pacifier jumped on the tentacle that held her. "Oi… you're looking a bit green there." Skull poked her cheek.

If Mia could give him a dirty look, she would have. She shuddered in disgust when she swallowed back the bile. "Ah… so this is… the strength of Skull-sama," she moaned distress fully. "You're… you're more than I've ever imagined."

It was amazing how quick Skull had a change of heart. He ordered the octopus to set her down on the ground gently with a motion of his hands. He stood before her, hands on his hips and nose in the air. "Heh heh heh. I'm that amazing huh? But of course! I am an Arcobaleno, one of the strongest seven babies in the mafia world!"

"Yeah!" Mia nodded along to him. "Stories of your strengths amaze me. Is it true that you defeated a thousand men with a hairclip?"

Skull was shocked. "Where did you hear that?"

Mia fidgeted on the spot. "I'm sorry, I guess the stories were a bit exaggerated."

Skull cackled arrogantly. "I didn't defeat a thousand… I defeated a million!" Mia sweat dropped. She can't believe how fat this baby's head was and how it fitted in that helmet. "But you know what? I like you girl. I might make you my lackey."

Please don't, Mia thought but she clasped her hands together. "Really? That would be an honor Skull-sama!"

Skull laughed again. "So what else did you hear about me?"

Mia went still as her mind raced for lies. "I…uh… heard that aside from being super strong, you're super handsome too." Skull blushed, began to mutter and fidgeted from where he stood, embarrassed. He's so easy…, Mia thought with a twitch.

"She said I was handsome, could this be a confession?!" Skull exclaimed. Mia blanched. Oh hell no… Skull inspected her by shoving his head so close she was staring into the black tinted lenses of the helmet. "You're pretty cute now that I've gotten a closer look at you."

Mia forced a smile. "I'm not anything special." Skull pointedly looked down at her chest.

"Hmnn…seventy-six centimeters maybe?" Mia wanted to just drop the act and slap this pervert to kingdom come! But the faces of her friends came to mind so all she did was to cover herself by crossing her arms. Her face surely must be so red now she could be a tomato. Skull started to mutter to himself.

"What should I do? A cute girl just confessed to me!" When the hell did she say something like that? He began to ramble about things like the spring time of youth and the blossoming of an epic love story blah blah blah… Mia didn't dare get herself involved and hoped that Skull was too focused on himself to notice that the fight was getting closer to them. The shouting and gunfire came closer and closer until a force of Skull's men retreated.

"What the - !" Skull shook his fist angrily. Turning to Mia he said, "Stay put sweetheart, I'll deal with these weaklings and then we can talk about getting married."

Married?! How far did he get into his delusions to come up with that?! Worse than that, he called her sweetheart. A chill of disgust ran up her spine. Where was Tsuna when she needed him? She didn't have to wait for long because said boy burst through the trees with Gokudera and Yamamoto on either side of him and at least backed up by a hundred of Mafioso. Tsuna looked at the octopus and saw her sitting by its feet.

"Mia! Where the hell have you been?" he demanded. She got to her feet.

"Tsuna I – yeaaaargh! I'm getting really sick of this!" The octopus had picked her up by the waist again and this time she was hanging upside down. Skull pointed a finger at Tsuna.

"You! Who do you think you are to talk to the great Skull-sama's future bride?" Tsuna's brow furrowed in confusion.

"What? Future bride?" Mia gave him a helpless look.

"Things… got a bit out of hand?" she offered to him reluctantly. She squirmed in the octopus' grasp and managed to free her arms.

"How do you even know him?"

"Tsuna! Now is not the time to talk about this!"

"Another one of your secrets?" What was wrong with him?

She glared at him in exasperation. "Damn it Tsuna! He plans on bombarding Mafia castle! For gods' sake I just met him today!"

"What?" Skull looked at her, shocked. "So you were spying at me!" His fist tightened and Mia gasped as the air was suddenly squeezed out of her. "You lied! I'll make you pay for playing with the great Skull's heart!"

"I didn't do anything retard!" she shot back.

"Mia!" Oh so now he's worried? She gritted her teeth as she felt the tentacle slowly squeezed her ribs.

Before she could turn into a Mia pulp, a single gunshot rang clear through the air and Mia was acquainted with the ground.

"Why did you let go of her?" she heard Skull yell. Looking up, the octopus' eyes were bulging at the sight of Skulls super enlarged fist. Realization hit her as she figured it out. The octopus was confused because he had never seen Skull's hand like that before. It didn't stop Skull though as he made a motion with his other hand to crush her. Before the tentacle could squash her, Yamamoto had picked her up in record time and avoided it entirely.

"That was close huh Mia?" Yamamoto gently helped her stand. She winced as she straightened her back. Her hips hurt. She bet that she was starting to bruise already.

"Thanks Yamamoto." The taller boy placed a hand on her shoulder and nodded.

"That was a good save Yamamoto." Everybody turned to look at the newcomer. Reborn walked out of the shade of the trees with his gun pointed upwards and smoking. "Ciaossu Skull, I see you still haven't eaten that octopus yet. I bet it would be tasty."

"You took your sweet time Reborn!" Tsuna glared at his tutor.

Reborn innocently looked up at him. "Well, you were handling things pretty well so I thought of taking a nap."

"Why is Reborn-senpai here?" Skull said, fear trickling into his tone. Mia didn't know who was more surprised, Tsuna or her.

"It's been a while Skull. Haven't you noticed your pacifier glowing?" Skull looked down at his pacifier. Reborn walked up towards him. "Since you're here, I'll buy you a drink to go with some delicious octopus sashimi."

"D-Don't be ridiculous! I'm here on orders from the Carcassa Family!"

"You're always somebody's lackey." Reborn sighed.

"You're the only one who made me his lackey!" Skull cried. "I'm sick of this! Have the missiles launch already!" The closest subordinate relayed the orders.

"No!" Mia shouted.

Reborn smirked. "Don't worry Mia. You've given Colonnello plenty of time to deal with the ships." Right on cue, they could hear the sounds of screaming coming from the other line of the communicator that the subordinate was using. "The ships have been sunk!"

"Colonnello-senpai is here too?" If Skull didn't show it before, he was definitely obvious now. He was terrified. Mia felt a tiny bit sorry for the little pervert.

"You should have done that earlier!" Tsuna berated his tutor.

"Maybe, but then you wouldn't have done as well as you could if I did. Good job by the way Tsuna on keeping it together." Tsuna was too shocked to come up with a reply as compliments were rare from Reborn. "I personally lay the smackdown on my lackeys," Reborn declared.

"Please don't!" Skull pleaded.

If Mia was feeling a bit sorry earlier, now she really pitied Skull. "Ne Reborn," she knelt beside the hitman. "Skull lost already so please don't be too harsh on him."

"We'll need to work on your acting skills. It was okay but you could have done better." Reborn grunted. "Don't be so soft Mia." It sounded like a disappointed whine. The hitman clicked his tongue.

Skull was happy though. He jumped at her and she quickly caught him. "I knew you were my angel!" he cried and buried himself against her chest. Mia was startled and turned into an attractive shade of red. She frantically wondered what to do now. There was a click and Reborn suddenly had his gun out again.

"I see you've grown the balls to touch my student." Skull froze in her arms.

"How dare you defile the Lady," Gokudera growled. Sticks of dynamite were ready to be lit by the second.

Yamamoto didn't speak but he cracked his knuckles while smiling widely.

The worst out of all was when the air around them turned a few degrees higher. Tsuna was glaring fiercely in the back, looking like he would have liked to roast Skull then and there. And Skull? There was no saving him. Mia just prayed that he would survive.

Author's Note:

I didn't add the part where Tsuna and the boys we're about to enjoy the resort then the others tell them to leave. It goes unsaid but it still happened.

Next episode I'll be tackling is the beach and festival episode!