Mother and Bomber

The mother and child are very healthy eaters, Reborn noted.

But some stuff aren't available in a typical grocery store thus Nana had to go to specialized shops for some of what's in her monthly grocery list.

Rice is only used in dinner. The rest of the day was a no-rice routine as he noted while Mizuki was out in school...which was strange as when Iemitsu visits, he gets typical Japanese Food. Rice was replaced by vegetables, fried tofu(cooked with virgin olive oil) and eggs.

'Maman, for how long did you know about the Mafia?' Reborn asked Nana who was doing an inventory check.

'Since Micchan was almost five.' said Nana. 'Micchan was Sealed, you see? She became horribly clumsy and her learning ability is shot.' Reborn gave her a horrified look. 'And someone I know can treat it using non-flame techniques...we thought its a body issue at first but when he cleared her up, she was up in a blaze that the mummy man had to show up and explain.' she said. 'Mizuki was sealed for a year and she cried hard for a year because she can't go anywhere without a graze or a bruise...so yes, having you kick their balls for us is veeeery justified.' said Nana with a tight smile.

'I can see why...you don't seal a Sky. Ever.' Reborn swore as no wonder Nana made such a request. 'I should have kicked harder had I known that.' he grunted. Nana's expression just flat out scares him. Her smiles tell a lot about how she feels she effectively mastered the art of 'scary smiles'.

'Who goes around sealing flames anyway? Why and what for?' Nana frowned.

'Flame Sealing, is normally a punishment to Family Traitors who committed terrible treachery.' said Reborn stiffly. 'Which makes me wonder why on a child who never knew about the mafia until the Vindice happened?'

'I wonder myself.' said Nana coolly. 'Well, if Iemitsu has the balls to tell me the truth that he thinks Micchan suffering a life of clumsiness and strangled learning ability in school she'd be a bully magnet for her whole life is justified somehow, I might reconsider what I have in mind as last I checked, the two of us never did traitorous things to warrant that on my daughter. Mizuki's already planning her own brand of revenge towards her predecessor so that leaves her father to me.'

Yikes.

'And I should tell you this, Reborn-chan as Iemitsu clearly has no clue how we Japanese work since in our marriage, he was baffled with how a home normally works...well, Japanese family homes work as well as culture.' Nana smiled wryly. 'Its hilarious but it does have its downsides.'

'Downsides?'

'This downside is particularly bad in big cities like Tokyo...if Micchan's never been diagnosed for her issues and she becomes a bully magnet...I would lose my daughter.' said Nana grimly in a stiff manner. 'To suicide. I want you to research on school bullying and suicide, as that could have been what might have been.' she told him darkly. 'Your boss and my husband, as good as killed her by their own hands by driving Micchan to suicide after prolonging her grief and social suffering. And goodbye to your last heir if we hadn't caught this sooner. But at least Vongola would have paid for what they have done to MY daughter.' she said it in emphasis as in her opinion, Mizuki had been truly her child as she was the one who did all the work and loving while her husband was rarely around.

'...very well, maman.' Reborn nodded grimly and not too happy about this. 'Japan is pretty known for how easily people kill themselves, I can see that happening.'

'Honor killings, honor suicides, and suicide out of despair is in our blood.' Nana chuckled darkly. 'Iemitsu doesn't know that. Italy must be a happy place.' she said sarcastically.

'Be back in a few days, but expect Gokudera Hayato soon.' said Reborn as he got ready to leave. 'Rest assured he's a good person who just wanted to serve a boss worth his life for.' and he left via window.

Now time to hit hard about facts when he goes back to Italy again after researching what Nana asked of him to.

The question remains was who helped the mother and daughter with their unique non-mafia methods, who trained Mizuki in string combat and who influenced their current lifestyle and mindset that they were FAR from what Iemitsu remembered of his family when he left. Nana was tight-lipped about that. If she was, Mizuki even moreso.

xxx

Gokudera Hayato came to the Sawada Residence where his boss-to-be lives at about 2:25 pm that same day. He had enrolled himself and used what Reborn gave him to ensure he's in Juudaime's class before coming here.

Reborn had warned him what to expect of the mother and child within, that if he valued his life and sanity, he follows the rules Reborn laid down as Reborn told him, 'You'll be living with a mother and daughter unhappy about and with the Vongola for reasons known only to us unless Maman or Mizuki tells you herself. Read the atmosphere and choose your words wisely along with doing your job and what they ask of you, your stay will be smooth-sailing.'

That got him nervous.

He rang the doorbell.

/Yes?/

'Ma'am, Gokudera Hayato, tsukimashita!' Gokudera announced himself nervously.

/Ara, you came as he said he would! In a minute~/

Gokudera knew his war has begun.

Women are dang skilled in passive-aggressive and he has to survive and win his boss over. This was basically, his last chance to have a famiglia to belong to.

A nice-looking woman came out but her eyes...immediately judged him which was why he dressed neat and removed his usual accessories and he knew he has to quit smoking. This pair lives a healthy lifestyle if what they eat and what he too, will soon eat is any indication...

Nana, seeing this nervous teenager before her, is clearly warned about what to expect, so she knew he'll be good.

'Hi there! So how about you and I get to know each other, hmm?' she said, wrapping an arm around his shoulders as he gulped nervously while being led into the house...

xxx

At school...one hour away from the bell...

Mizuki was stuck in Home Economics classes in making...a cake.

Cooking Lessons start in May, while Food Safety and Cooking Technique starts in April. It helps that mothers teach at home to ensure those lessons stick home hard for girls.

But for Mizuki, this class is KILLING HER with BOREDOM.

Because sometimes, while learning the hard way is a challenge but fun as she could see in her peers, her HI is basically a Cheat Code, egging her on to do this and that.

Hell, in making a cake, she did NOT follow some steps on the board, doing her own thing while end product is the same design as the picture on the board.

The difference?

The taste. Texture. Consistency. QUALITY.

In first Semester, they will cook pastries and confectionery first, before actual food in classes which was next semester.

So pretty much, this bores her to tears.

That, and they have to bring home what they made in class that day.

But the thing was, Mizuki cannot eat stuff that's chocked full of sugar. It'll mess up her diet, so...

'Here you are guys!' Mizuki chimed as she was at Hibari's Office where Ryohei goes to after school to meet up with the Get Backers before they go elsewhere for training. 'Cake from Cooking Classes!'

'Uooooh?! Hibari, I didn't know Super Strings cooks for you! No fair!' Ryohei exclaimed, causing Hibari to twitch, as Mizuki nearly tripped at the nickname to Ban's amusement. Ryohei could not believe the school beauty also cooks for Hibari, not just play with him in the grounds. To Hibari's credit, she was his ONLY friend so yes, he eats what she makes!

"At least its better than Saika!" Mizuki inwardly whimpered.

'Waaai! Cake!' Ginji's eyes shone excitedly. 'From Cooking Classes?!'

'Yup, we always take home what we make but some stuff...well...mom and I can't eat due to family-strict diet.' said Mizuki awkwardly. 'Oh yes, a piece is cut off because sensei always gets samples for grading our work, so divide it evenly for four people, OK?'

'Ou!'

'OK~!'

Ryohei is still clueless about why he gets EXTREME! Fighting Lessons(he's just happy about getting stronger) Hibari just wanted to FINALLY win against Mizuki but is suspecting something's up.

xxx

It took a week for Reborn to come back home...with Timoteo and Iemitsu in question with another Arcobaleno...

...that Nana chucked out the kids due to a long overdue adult talk that Mizuki wisely dragged Gokudera out into fleeing. Especially as she's armed with a frying pan and a skillet that got the two bosses nervous. Arcobaleno lady just raised an eyebrow.

'Uhm, Juudaime, what's going on? Why're the two bosses in town?' Gokudera asked Mizuki nervously as Mizuki dragged him off after getting the Debit card from Nana.

'Oh, mama's mad and they're in the doghouse...' Mizuki smiled as Gokudera's jaws dropped. 'They did something veeeery bad to me and only when the Vindice paid us a visit that mama and I knew the truth about the Mafia when a helper fixed me...when I wasn't cured, my life, no thanks to them, was hell.' that was still vague but at least he got something as to why the mother and daughter aren't happy with the bosses.

'So yes, mama's not pleased and what's stopping her from divorce was that she could not for knowing too much already according to the police mummies. The next best thing she can do, was Doghouse Mode with two Arcobaleno to act as Neutral Party with the most common sense since those two will try to justify their actions in their favor, and its the baby-chans' jobs to shoot them if need be.'

'Well, we'll be sleeping elsewhere for now for our sanities and we won't go to school tomorrow since we didn't have time for clothes...all I got is the debit card for our food.'

'Erm, yes boss.' Gokudera nodded meekly.

'We'll be staying at Hibari's place, I'm sure he won't mind as long as we behave like proper guests.'

xxx

Hibari twitched.

He's doing this a lot lately because his fighting teachers...ARE CRAZY.

Not just fighting, Ban teaches him other things too. Many subjects not in school. Same goes for the loud idiot as well.

Antics at home has gotten loud and nuts since and its driving him up the wall, but thank goodness for nearby stress relief - Ban himself.

And now, Mizuki and this white herbivore is staying over for one night only due to family reasons.

'Family reasons?' Ryohei blinked.

'That's private!' Gokudera cried both in horror and indignantly at his blatant questioning.

'Yup, but thankfully its not at me! Ohohoho!' Mizuki laughed jovially. 'Buuut its an adult talk, so mama asked me to spend a night over at your place. By then its over when mom mails me, m'kay?'

'Fine, I'll show you a room.' Hibari sighed. He really, REALLY didn't want to know...

'Yay! Thanks for letting us stay over~' Mizuki beamed happily. 'Oh don't worry, I'll cook for myself and Hayato-kun and we got our own expenses.'

That's one good thing, he supposed.

After Hibari showed them their room, the pair went out to buy their own groceries. But come dinner time with the boys being a mess...

'Ara! Strip and bathe, then come see me in your underwear for the injuries OK?' Mizuki told Hibari and Ryohei.

'EHHHH?!' Ryohei squawked. 'S-see you in our boxers?!' he yelped, red faced.

'Yup...you'll see why later.' Mizuki smiled too sweetly while Gokudera shuddered horribly.

Yeah, he thought.

Ban raised an eyebrow at Gokudera's behavior regarding...oh. Oh yeah...yup, the kid has a dang good reason to shiver. So he pulled Gokudera away to talk.

'So kiddo, string-girl using needles on you?' he asked Gokudera who got startled at how Ban somehow knows.

'Y-yeah!' Gokudera shivered. 'I have a condition she treats me for, but it works and I feel a lot better but its far from over...I mean, its been a week while I had my condition for years.' he said. 'But what ARE those needles?' he whimpered. 'They're damn huge, six inches long and as thick as nails! It was scary though it works...'

'Ahh that's Kakei-ryu shinjutsu for you.' Ban sighed. 'It heals but also destroys the body if done right. Mizuki inherited her cousins' arts in needles and strings. Of course, you cannot tell this to the fake baby at home or to anyone Mizuki doesn't like, yah? Mizuki and her mom would want that secret, kid. To protect her family from the Mafia.'

'Yessir.' Gokudera nodded.

'Good. What is she treating you for?'

'Poison Cooking Effects.' said Gokudera as Ban choked. 'I can't start training until I'm all clean as poison will impede my training recovery time.' he explained.

'Someone with that skill still exists?!' Ban squeaked in horror. 'I thought their kind are all damn dead for a purging because some asshats abused their powers for murder for fun!' he howled.

That, was news to Gokudera. He hadn't known people with Poison Cooking were hunted down once...

'My older sister.'

'You poor, poor sod...' Ban felt sorry for the kid. 'You're her test dummy ain'tcha?'

Gokudera can only wince, before Mizuki called him out so they could shop for dinner and breakfast tomorrow.

xxx

Gokudera has an interesting first week in the Sawada Residence.

Sure, maman and boss treated him well because he was nervous around them and meek in their presence, considering they hated the Mafia for reasons unknown to him until not long ago...just what did the two bosses do that pissed them off?

At first, dinner was normal on his first day. But breakfast was oddly unique.

A bowl of nuts, vegetables, famed tamagoyaki and blocks of soft tofu with a thick sauce. Sure nuts and recipes change but the ingredients stay the same. And the bowl of nuts is replaced by rice at night only, and tofu was replaced by boneless fish fillets. Even their school bentos were the same. He had to get used to eating crunchy food on his whole stay but researching thru the net made him know that the diet has great health benefits...but high in the lady hormones he was worried for himself and nervous. He nervously brought the topic to Maman.

'Oh that? Don't worry about it, it's only until you're sixteen...same goes for Micchan who's had it since she was four.' Nana smiled. 'I too, will stop when she's sixteen. Too much of a good thing turns bad and all...especially for you who started this so late but don't worry, things may change in two years for you diet will still be healthy. Reborn-chan told me of your...unfortunate diet so we'll be fixing that as nobody wants to die young, dear.'

'Ah...'

That was a relief at least. Maman treats him well, making him wonder what Reborn told her about him.

Mizuki was another tale but she's nice.

She was eccentric, however.

No sense of modesty when not in training in the gardens with her strings(how the hell does she do it?), she was mostly in kimono underwear at home and her mother doesn't bat an eyelash.

'Well, its more like pajamas for us japanese and more conservative than modern underwear so it's OK.' said Maman. Well, she has a point but some parts are distracting so he avoids looking as he's pretty sure its a Test of Character he was determined NOT to fail. Juudaime has very beautiful legs with small ankles to match. Even her feet are beautifully-pedicured, not like those nearly non-existent, tiny oval-shaped toenails nonsense which to him, was gross which was the trend lately to women of today. Juudaime's pedicure has a unique appeal which matched her beauty. Her toenails are circular inside, square outside almost like mini-fingernails. Even her fingernails were well-manicured on her straight, dainty fingers.

When she touches him, her hands are doggone baby-soft and smooth!

Her hair is flawlessly glossy and smooth. And unlike most Japanese, her teeth are uniformly straight with no gap whatsoever and her smiles aren't gummy.

And for her habits? Anything to do with traditional arts and strings, Reborn was impressed. Though he wasn't happy with her underwear habits either.

She was highly skilled with strings and the flute.

She talks like a child though, and acts cutely like one but thankfully, not bratty-childish.

Maman attributed this to focusing so much on her hobbies that she has no clue how girls her age behave!

But she has no qualms with killing either, trying to kill those she deems a threat to her mother and herself when safety is concerned.

'Humm...why I kill? Weeeell, we don't want trouble around and I usually kill it.' said Mizuki cheerfully. 'Besides, its good for society that bugs die anyway, safer for kids. They can play with no worries about kidnappers snatching them away to crime so I'm actually doing a good thing.'

OOOOK?

Since he killed too in his jobs, she's perfectly fine with it as long as innocents aren't caught. She could tell he killed before.

She asked him how he kills and she blanched. Reason?

'Too loud! It should be quiet!' was her complaint and set out to teach him how to kill quietly that disturbed even Reborn. Maman's just chill!

Underneath the beauty, is one hell of a scary girl.