Not an Option

Breakfast...Hibari, the Get Backers and the Mafia Pair are eating when Mizuki's phone rang.

'Hai~hmm? Oh such a shame mother...I suppose with them around you can't do the full package...hmm...hmm...oh, they want to see me let loose? Oh dear, I have to go to school today so I can't skip today since my friend's house has dry cleaning stuff it was convenient.' Hibari gave her a WTH look.

'I don't have those.' he hissed to Ginji who was seated with him because Ban was across him. Ginji just shrugged.

'Why I can't skip because someone's gonna die today if I skipped...'

'WHAT?!' the whole dining table and the other side of the phone yelled.

'Juudaime, for real?!' Gokudera choked out.

'Last I checked I ran MY school in a tight ship to prevent this!' Hibari growled, upset about the matter. 'How did this happen past me?!'

'Hey you can't have eyes everywhere.' Ban pointed out. 'And Ginji heard from Ryohei you ran a committee...'

'So someone must've decided to ignore a few things?' Ginji asked nervously.

'If I found out who's slacking when I have my hands full they'll PAY for this...' Hibari growled as the Get Backers exchanged looks.

Hibari Kyoya, was a very frustrated student BORED with how easy things come for him that he took to fighting which to him, was at least, forcing effort out of him and even worse, he hated losing even more than he hated boredom when Ban investigated by using Jagan on him by having Hibari think he was recalling his past. He effortlessly mastered Academics that he spends much of his school time running a Disciplinary Committee and training, disliking how society works these days that he sought to run a tight ship to change things while he still could.

It helps that his family OWNS the town with a history of 400 years...and has fingers in lots of places that the principals of Elementary, Junior High and High School cannot say no to him and his demands for ideals to instill in school kids while having female Counselors who would talk to kids every after school on schedules. He was horrified to see at a young age girls 'dressed like skanks' and boys doing illegal things at middle school age back when he was an elementary schooler when he was raised all his life by grandparents to be a 'good member of society' and his divorced parents had no role in his life whatsoever, a non-entity since he was in his diapers...and an uncle has been his legal guardian since he was 12. But for being a Triad Member, Dislike was an understatement as it went against his upbringing and his grandparents' ideals.

Even more interesting? He's an Arcobaleno. So Mizuki hoping for Kyoya to be her Guardian might come easier, assuming she wins him over because he was a Cloud. And Clouds are difficult people for Skies to win over as they're a territorial bunch.

'Yup, intuition and it never failed me not even once...so I have to stop someone from dying today, see? They can wait for me there, this person is more important right now. Yes mother, it'll be OK for sure! Bye mother~'

xxx

Sawada Residence...

'Nana, what's going on?' Iemitsu, sporting some bruises asked during breakfast. So was Nono and she would have done more if they hadn't managed to stop her by Lal dosing her with Rain Flames as she really COULD cause damage when she went berserk when the two men tried to justify their sealing of Mizuki over social ramifications while trying to deny what was obvious until Reborn finally had enough to deliver it home and again, Nana was furious that they believed Reborn over her, a Japanese who knew how Japanese people worked so she got utterly violent again, and had to be dosed again when she tried to get to them, furniture-be-damned.

Lal however, whose element was horribly altered by becoming a failed Arcobaleno, she had to put in 'a great effort' to keep things under check. She became a Cloudy-Mist that smothered her true element when Colonello became the Rain Arcobaleno.

Thank goodness for Rain Flames which were effective in making soundless rooms otherwise the neighbors woulda heard all their racket...

Reborn called them idiots of the worst idiots, lampshading that the Imprints of the Ring won't be happy about this...and indeed, it happened that the ring glowed and burned like a hot poker, making Nono cry in pain and the ring split in two. A sign his reign as Nono was over and ended in disappointing his predecessors to his grief. Naturally, Iemitsu was banned from their bedroom, Reborn and Lal was given Mizuki's bedroom for use, and all other rooms locked, forcing the two bosses to sleep in the wrecked living room last night as she took their things hostage in her room.

That, and the Vindice was keeping an eye on the house all this time and were waiting for this to happen, even videotaping it all!

'Micchan won't be coming home for a show and has to attend school to stop a death from happening.' said Nana worriedly. 'Death in a school...suicide...' she stammered while shaking, all pale-faced. 'The very thing I feared in her future!' she exclaimed.

The two bosses can only gulp.

'She sensed death with her intuition-thingy...so she'll be preventing it if she could.' Nana sighed. 'But that's weird...Hibari-kun the Prefect ran a tight ship that Micchan said its a very disciplined school she had to even put up with afterschool Counselor Talks...her school has about twenty counselors for a fifteen-minute talk each student every Monday and Tuesday for the entire freshman year and half the sophomores which cut into Club Time considerably.'

'Maybe that kid did a good job...but the problem is outside school or even at home perhaps.' said Lal. 'He can't have fingers in that particular pie.'

'Lal-chan, have a look-see for me?' Nana asked her. 'I want to know how Micchan will handle this.'

'Have Reborn do it.' said Lal. 'I am needed here as a Sound Barrier and keeping things calm here with my Rain.' she said. 'Not to mention anything can possibly happen to the Sky Ring, and the rings the Guardians are wearing and we have yet to get word from them if anything happened to them too.'

'I agree with Lal.' said Reborn. 'She is needed more here until the matter is settled. I'll watch over the kids.'

xxx

At school...

Hibari and Mizuki just arrived in school with Gokudera in a bid to sniff out the suicidal student by talking to all counselors in school.

A Matsuki Kanako had something to say.

'I'm worried about that one.' she said.

'Who is this herbivore, sensei?' Hibari asked her.

'Its one Yamamoto Takeshi from Class 1-A.' said Matsuki-sensei. 'As you know, he's our school's star baseball player.' she said softly. 'Ever since he started shining...the club asked more and more of him. And being the nice guy he was, said it's OK. However, it took a toll on him. He was effectively isolated by his teammates in club and even his coach joined in on the bandwagon when our school won two tournaments because of his Homeruns. He wasn't allowed to hang out with anyone else and do anything lest ehem, lose his concentration on victory and baseball. That was what I see in our sessions it was sickening.' she said bitterly.

'I called out his coach on their behavior and how it's impacting Yamamoto-kun but he would sneer at me and say, 'what would I know about boys and sports'? Hello? Everyone's health is my concern? He clearly could care less as long as their team wins!' Matsuki-sensei fumed. 'Next thing I know, Yamamoto-kun never attended his sessions as of last week. When I asked him, he said, 'Coach said I shouldn't go anymore because I don't know anything'?'

'Would that be the cause of that infamous row last friday?' Mizuki piped up. 'I forgot my phone in the P.E Locker Rooms...' the counselor blushed.

'Ah, you heard that...' she said sheepishly before looking cross. 'Yes, that was why. When I visited Yamamoto-kun's father at home about the matter, asking his help to support his son at home...he said he would and Yamamoto-kun started attending this week again. At least home life was good he was happier but we still haven't fixed the problem in school and his social life...his isolation, his need for freedom and he is now lamenting his grades are failing because of everyone's expectations on him for the next tournament and his arm was recently hurt from too much Batting Cage sessions!'

'That...could get ugly.' Gokudera croaked out.

'You think?' Matsuki-sensei sighed. 'Two things might be able to save him.'

'Two things?' Mizuki frowned.

'Yes. Hibari-kun laying down the law on this inconsiderate band of morons...and Yamamoto-kun mentioned he aspired to be like Sawada-san in his class.'

'Er, me?' Mizuki blinked.

'He was vague at how he described you but hey, I didn't get my credentials for my dense-ity.' Matsuki-sensei giggled before sporting a somber smile. 'He desperately wanted to be you. You're free to be with anyone, nobody wanted anything out of you. You have no pressure in life and can live a happy, carefree life. And while he loved baseball...it suddenly became a hateful thing to him now because of the club.' she choked out. 'He wanted to be you.'

'Or what I have. Freedom.' said Mizuki softly. 'Free to be with real friends, with people who actually cared for him and not how useful he is for medals and trophies.' the woman nodded.

'Exactly.' said Matsuki-sensei. 'I've done all I could but two things, only you and Hibari-kun can do. Please help me out on this.'

'I accept the case.' said Mizuki. 'Hibari, what are you going to do about the club?'

'Doing what I do best of course.' said Hibari. 'Sensei, I want you to create a solid case to the principal about the matter. Yamamoto is a suicide risk if we don't catch him soon.'

'Suicide?!' Matsuki-sensei yelped in horror. 'I-I don't think he'll go THAT far! He might if home was no good but his father was supportive and frantically worried for his son!'

'Well, he's acting weird lately.' said Gokudera, fibbing his way through. 'We're keeping an eye on him.'

'Please do. I'll have to write a case file soon.'

xxx

'Hayato, I want you to ask Hana-san about our class and about Yamamoto-kun come Study Period OK? I will remain in the rooftop. That place gives me a good feeling about this case. I will wait there.'

'Oh yeah, rooftops are ideal...gulp...y'know.' Gokudera shuddered as they left Counseling Office 15. 'And the metal railings there are weak and rusty!'

'Right?' Mizuki smiled. 'I'll catch him there. Your job is to keep away everyone else.'

'Hai!'

'Buuut why is Reborn-chan here?'

Her words startled Gokudera.

'Huh?!'

'...maman asked me to watch over you as this was her worst fear about you, had you remained...disabled.' said Reborn, showing up in a chameleon costume, invisible the whole time until he was called out on it. 'Only, its a boy about to do it.'

'Hmm. But still...what a dirty world we live in neh? Hibari tried his best but these types still exist.' Mizuki sighed. 'I guess no matter what you do, selfishness still exists in people. Greed, narcissism, conceitedness and lust are in the packaged box called Selfishness that selfless people fall prey to selfish people.'

'Juudaime...' Gokudera croaked out worriedly but Mizuki forced a smile.

'I'm OK, Hayato.' she said. 'I was saved from death by social suicide years before, it won't be fair if I leave this alone. I'll save Yamamoto-kun, m'kay?' and she skipped off.

'...now I'm worried.' Gokudera sighed. 'Just what did they do to her years ago...it clearly has an impact on her, Reborn-san.'

'If Mizuki told you, you'd know.' said Reborn. 'Its not safe yet for you kids to come home. Maman doesn't want her husband and the boss anywhere near Mizuki.'

Well, Gokudera really wondered what the hell happened.

Mizuki gave a lot of hints.

Its up to him and his genius brain to piece it together but the pieces that remained missing, was beyond him as he is still a Neophyte-Level Associate who got lucky with being assigned to Juudaime for his boss. All he could do, was be there.

He went to class.

xxx

Despite Mizuki being seen in school as she was always easy to spot, she didn't go to class that day.

'Mizuki-chan didn't come to class...' said Kyoko as Free Period came eventually. 'Gokudera-kun, you're usually with her, any idea?'

'Ah that? She said she'll go get something she forgot yesterday before going with her mom to a clinic.' Gokudera lied. 'Her ma's feeling off-color.'

'I guess that's a good reason to skip school, she always has perfect attendance.'

'Until today that is.' Hana snorted. 'Come to think of it, why does she start hanging out with you ever since you came yet the school's known her for a month but she only ever talked to Kyoko and me? People are calling you 'lucky guy' and want to be in your shoes!'

Gokudera went pink.

Lucky guy indeed which was why he will NOT take it for granted. Luck hardly came for him in his life he knew full well not to take it for granted.

Taken in by Vongola for Mizuki, getting a kind boss AND allowed to touch her boobs!

'Erm, I don't know but a pretty girl coming to like a guy for no reason is kinda...still new on me.' Gokudera squeaked. 'I mean, I wasn't exactly Mr. Popular back in Italy...and THEN a girl straight out of Yamato-something books talks to me! I mean, I never talked to a girl until she happened!' this was the tale Gokudera and Mizuki constructed together with no holes intact to justify their hanging out together when reality was FAR different...Reborn even helped their case make more solid.

'Heee...'

Yamamoto left the classroom.

xxx

'Ah, she's not in school today...' he sighed sulkily.

Sawada Mizuki, the madonna of the school for her beauty and wearing a furisode be it in school or casual.

The Sawadas were known for making Mizuki wear a kimono all her life, and its always a furisode and platformed zori.

She was always with traditionally-dressed older kids as well until recently, said older kids started dressing casual now while Mizuki still wears kimonos.

The people she was seen with with her mother, were incredible beauties too.

Yamamoto who was a plain-looking guy in comparison despite being popular in school, felt she was beyond his reach. For all her beauty, brains and skill, she remained 'the light' that seeing her every day was enough for school to be bearable.

The first to get her attention was Hibari. Granted, Hibari made sure he got it because she went in school not in uniform...and next thing everyone knows, the two began fighting. She uses strings from her bells, Hibari uses Tonfas. Many people joked her strings' length' can't be calculated coming out of the 3rd dimension like Doraemon or something...and they're fighting every day with Mizuki always winning...and Hibari wanted to win so yeah...

When Gokudera transferred to school, he managed to effortlessly get her attention just by existing when he and other guys couldn't go near her...how?!

He wanted to be noticed by her.

He felt that if she did...would he finally have 'the light' that he wanted in his school life?

He absent-mindedly walked to the rooftop to find her there, tuning...a large koto and test-plucks if it was to her liking. 'Sawada-chan? I heard you went with your mom to a clinic this morning...how is she?'

'Mother's doing better now...' said Mizuki. 'Mother found this new TV series she liked but aired out years ago...so she bought it as tapes and began a marathon of tv watching that sleepless nights caught up eventually.' she said sheepishly. 'She got a lecture for that too and I was asked to ensure she sleeps on time for her fatigued body to recover.'

'W-wow...she liked an old series just now?' Yamamoto blinked as he found himself sitting with her as he can't believe he finally has a chance to talk to her.

'Yeah...she found it in her mother's old things and she got curious...turns out she and grandma have similar tastes.' Mizuki giggled. 'Well, its never too late to like old things after all. Classics are done in better taste than stuff of today.'

'Heee...so whose koto is that?'

'It's mine.'

'Yours?!'

'Yup...mother bought it for me for graduating Valedictorian last year...and as a kid I told her I wanted one.' said Mizuki. 'I was going to stay home with mom and play it but she needed sleep...so I'll play here.'

'Nee...why did you start wearing kimonos and playing the koto?' Yamamoto asked her.

'Well...I was disabled before...my balance was a mess, it was a problem in a part of my brain...I'd even trip on a smooth floor.' Mizuki shook her head. 'I could do nothing but cry because I get hurt and its not even my fault...so mother called some help. They introduced me to traditional arts to make me better while saving up to fix my issue...I was happy. They taught me traditional dancing, proper posture...one would think I'm a Maiko aiming for Geisha-hood. But all that in the end...was for my martial arts training disguised as Maiko Training in femininity and music.'

'Ah...for your strings?'

'Yup...martial arts and traditional arts fixed me. It saved me because children can be cruel to those they deem inferior to them.' said Mizuki softly. 'Had I come to school clumsy and disabled...they'll make fun of me at first...until eventually...it'll become bullying.' Yamamoto was taken aback in the midst of his trance in listening to her. 'I was saved before school started for me. I was never like other kids into video games and going to parks...I devoted my life to the beauty of the past and martial arts. It saved me from a nasty school and social life. Mother was just as happy since bullying and pressure...is the leading cause of suicides from students in schools, particularly in big cities. She did all she could to help me.'

Suicide.

Come to think of it he had been thinking about ending it all...

...if only to be free.

But Mizuki...managed to change with her mother's help. His dad helped him too when he got wind from the counselor how strangled he's feeling lately but he decided to die today and end it all?

He was so ashamed of himself. He lowered his head that it made a shadow over his eyes.

'Nee...'

'Hmm?'

'Can you play a song for me?' Yamamoto requested. 'I think...I'll quit baseball today.' he said. 'I'll try out new stuff when my arm stops hurting.'

'There must be a story behind that, but you should do what makes you happy.' Mizuki smiled at him. 'Nobody ever does what hurts them or what would upset them.'

She began playing a song for him on the rooftop.

Reborn knew it was Mission Success that she managed to change him. She imbued her song with flames.

Sky Flames have the Harmony, Synchronization and Assimilation aspects.

Three words can do many, many things.

In this case, she put harmony in her song to comfort the conflicted teenager without harmonizing with him.

"Mission success, Mizuki." Reborn smirked. And he knew Yamamoto will go for her soon, and then eventually...he would become her Guardian.

Mizuki wanted to take it slow and not rushed.

He'd let her.

xxx

Counseling Office...

'Sensei...' said Yamamoto. 'I decided to quit Baseball now.'

'Why is that?'

'I talked to someone who managed to change herself with the help of those who care...I thought I should do the same. I should change too. If I gave up, its as good as letting them down.' said Yamamoto. 'And do what makes me happy. I won't let anyone hold me down anymore and I think I'll hang around her for a while.'

'That's good to hear.' Matsuki-sensei smiled. 'You should take care of yourself, and be with friends who truly cares for your happiness, not because how useful you are to them. The former is healthy for you, the latter, toxic. Its just suffering. Be free, Yamamoto-kun when you finally gain friends worth your well-being as a person.'

'Yeah!'