Chapter 3: A Plethora of Assholes

If there was one thing she had learned, it was to never bow out of a fight. So she got off the the ground. She spit her blood and bared her teeth. She will be going down a savage. She will be going down fighting.


Maya was angry. She felt the familiar burning sensation makes its way into her chest. Ever since she was young, Maya had always been taught the importance of peace and upholding it. Coming from a family of soldiers, she was taught to always handle her affairs with diplomacy. She was taught to think things through, to not let her emotions get the best of her, to think of the consequences of her actions. But she was also taught not to be a pushover. She was taught that sometimes to protect the things she loves, a fight is inevitable, and a compromise is non-negotiable.

It seems that today was one of those days.

Standing atop of a hill was another mafia asshole. The lowest of the low, if one were to ask Maya. The guy with the six umbrellas hanging down his back and an earring on his mouth was looking at them with distaste. He wore a completely black outfit. Maya assumes that his soul is just as dark. The guy paid no attention to her or to the others. He was completely fixated with the child she was carrying in her arms. Lambo, the boy with the silly song and even sillier personality, was shaking like a leaf underneath her hug. She can hear him trying to sniffle a cry.

Maya clenched her jaw and glared at the man. He was ready to attack a child, Maya thought with fury. He was going to murder a child just for a stupid ring, she realized. And wasn't that just pathetic? Pathetic and weak, she thought. So she made her thoughts known.

The man looked at her, "What was that?" He growled.

"I said," Maya made her voice louder, "you're pathetic and weak."

From her right, Tsuna shrieked. On his side, he had Ipin and Basil. Both of them looked scared. Looking at the man again, Maya glared at him. "Attacking a child just for a ring," she stated, giving Lambo to Tsuna, " just how desperate are you?"


It has been three days since Maya arrived in Japan. And it had took three days for her to be a constant fixture in the Sawada Household. And she was confused. To be honest, it had all been Reborn's fault. For a baby, he sure was cunning.

Sitting on the floor of Sawada Tsunayoshi's room was not part of her plan. Though to be honest, Maya didn't have a plan. Still, if she did have a plan, it wouldn't consist of this. They were studying right now. Yamamoto, Gokudera, and Sawada were going to fight for their lives in a few days and they were studying. It was all Reborn's fault. The baby was from outer space, Maya was sure of it.

However, what confused her was the fact that she was here.

"Dame-Tsuna, ask Maya for help if you don't understand it." Reborn said.

Maya blinked. Wasn't Reborn Tsuna's tutor? She sighed.

Tsuna looked uncomforatble, what with Gokudera telling him that he didn't need Maya's help. He can teach Tsuna all on his own. She felt pity for Tsuna. She had heard how Gokudera teach. All complicated terms and monotone voice.

She felt a finger tap her shoulder. Looking to her right, she saw a smiling Yamamoto. "Can you help me, Maya-chan?" he asked with a smile.

"Sure," she agreed. "But you're going to have to read the question out loud, Yamamoto-san," she reminded him of her learning disability

Yamamoto eagerly nodded. Maya turned to her notebook and visualized what Yamamoto was saying. Maya draws a man and labels him with h height. She gave him a sword just for fun. To his right, there's a lamp post, Maya gives the lamp post a smiley-face. She draws a building next, as per Yamamoto's narration.

Yamamoto said that the man was 167.68 cm tall, he was walking towards an 8m lamp at a rate of 91.46 cm/sec. The problem wanted to know the rate the man's shadow was lengthening and the rate at which the tip of his shadow is moving.

She moves closer towards Yamamoto. "This seems easy enough," she commented.

"So the first thing you have to do is convert the units," she explained. Yamamoto was nodding seriously. In front of her, Tsunayoshi was also listening. Maya draws a line connecting the lamppost and the shadow, making a triangle. "This problem is really easy," Maya said. "You just have to simplify the context-"

She was interrupted by a bunch of children entering the room. A boy with a perm and a girl with a pigtail came running into Tsunayoshi.

"Come on, Lambo, Ipin, we're trying to study here," Tsuna complained.

The boy with the perm stopped to look at her, pointing, "I know you." He shouts. "You're the ice lady."

Maya smiles at the term. Even though she hates the attention, it's still nice to be recognized from time to time. Her nicknames from ice skating ranged from Ice Queen to Snow White. It seems that she will have to add Ice Lady to the list now as well.

"Lambo, it's not nice to point," the girl with the pigtail said.

She smiles at the cow-clad child fondly, "I'm Maya," she introduced. "And what's your name?"

"I am the great Lambo-sama," the cow child proclaimed. "And you're the ice lady. You're very pretty."

Maya chuckled. "Thank you, Lambo-chan." Her cheeks were a little red.

Lambo turns to look at the problem they were solving earlier, "You should equate this first, Maya."

Maya blinked. "I was getting to that but you barged in, Lambo-chan." She placed the small child on her lap. "Can you tell me more?" She was amazed, this was a middle school problem that involved derivation after all.

Lambo hummed. "Will you give Lambo-san candy?" he asked mischievously.

Maya chuckled. "Sure, why not?" She always wanted a little brother.


The last time Maya fought, she was fourteen, it was with her sister. The fight had lasted a whole day. And Maya couldn't leave the hospital for two straight weeks. Both of her ankles were sprained, and her shoulder was dislocated. To be fair, Maya managed to deal some damage to her sister as well. She knew how to fight dirty. If worse comes to worse, her sister made sure that she could protect herself.

But as she watched the man with the six umbrella charge towards her, Maya realized that she didn't need to fight seriously. She was right, he was weak.

She dodged his fist with ease. She smirked. Grabbing him at the back of his neck, Maya pushed him down as she knees him in the stomach. "Weak," she whispered into his ear. The man growled. He grabs her by the arm. Maya kicks him in the stomach, propelling herself upward. Maya closes her eyes, gravity is her friend. Momentum is her playmate. She fights just as she dances. With spins and twirls. With elegance and grace. Just like her sister taught her.

Moving her feet as if she was dancing to a tune, Maya dodge his attacks one after another. Tauntingly, she moved her finger in a come hither motion. The man in question went red in his rage. Rage was consuming. It consumes any rational thoughts. Rage was bad to have in a fight.

Maya smirks. The man never stood a chance.


Maya was fiddling with her thimble necklace again. Her head was hurting due to the noise around her. It seemed that chaos and destruction was also a constant in the Sawada Household. But then again, a baby hitman, a bomber, a happy-go-lucky middle school student, a child assassin, and a child mafioso was just a ticking time bomb.

She looked at Tsuna who was so close to crying. "There there," she patted him on the back. "if it helps, you can cry if you want. I won't judge."

"I just wanted a smoothie, Maya-chan." He responded. "How could they even start a fight just because of a smoothie?"

"Smoothies are the bringer of chaos," Maya joked. "At least you don't have to do your assignment anymore."

"Because they blew it away," Tsuna shouted with exasperation.

"Do you think your parents' insurance can cover this," Maya asked, pointing at the large gaping hole in Tsuna's room.

The young mafia boss just groaned. "I wanna be a rock in my next life."

Maya smiled at him fondly. She decides that they're not so bad after all. Maybe.

She pats him on the shoulder.


She was about to throw another punch when a loud VOI pierced through the air. Again, standing at the top of the hill was more assholes.

Maya blinked. There was a familiar asshole thrown in to the mix. "Belphegor?" She blinked. Confused.

"Maya?" he said in return.

Their exchange received a flurry of reaction from the people on her side. "M-maya-chan," Yamamoto started, "do you know each other?"

Maya nodded. She points at the blond, "he's one of my sponsors."

And then there was chaos.

Questions were being thrown at her left and right. Gokudera was shouting in outrage while Yamamoto was trying to calm him down. Tsuna was clutching his head, no doubt panicking at the situation.

However, the noise soon faded away when Xanxus raised his hand and a bright light started coming out of his hands.

Dying will flames, Maya thought. He was going to hit them with dying will flames. Maya's heart thumped wildly, she had no idea how to stop that sort of attack. She covered her eyes with her hand as the light turned brighter and brighter.

Her last though was shit before another asshole showed up.

Iemitsu, Tsuna's father, gave a flashy entrance. Basil and other people Maya didn't recognize following closely behind. Maya would have appreciated it if he showed up before Xanxus, the king of assholes, Maya decided, tried to kill them.

Tsuna looks surprised to see him. An external advisor, Iemitsu explained. She felt sorry for Tsuna. From Dino's explanation, it had been almost two months now since Tsuna's life drastically changed. The poor boy took on one challenge after another. He could never seem to catch a break. And now, after training and training for the fight of his life, Tsuna learns that his own father, the one he hasn't seen for the last two years, was the one who pushed him to this hellhole.

Maya looked at Tsuna in worry as the skirmish unfolds itself further. At the end of it, battle was never going to be avoided. In fact, a Battle Royale was going to take place. She observed their faces. The friends she had managed to make all had varying looks of worry and fear. Maya felt like she was going to throw up. She glared at Iemetsu. They were going to send children into battle. They weren't allowed to drive or vote but he was going to send them into a life or death battle. She felt sick to the stomach.

For all sorts of pretenses, Maya rationalizes as she takes a deep breath, this is war. And her grandfather always told her that there are special exceptions in war. A desperate situation brings about a desperate reaction. Still, the more naive and idealistic part of Maya was nagging her, after all, they were sending children to war. They are more than desperate, Maya realizes.

However, as if the situation couldn't get any worse, two more assholes showed up. Female assholes this time. They introduced themselves as the Cervello, a shadow organization that works directly under the Ninth. Apparently, as per the Ninth's orders, they were going to oversee the whole Battle Royale.

Which will be held in Namimori Middle School.

And that was the point Maya Akiyama could no longer put up with this bullshit. These assholes will not be thrashing Namimori Middle School. They will not be spitting all over her grandfather's legacy.

Maya raises her hand. "I have an objection."

"You are not part of this skirmish," one of the women stated. "You have no say here."

"Look, Lady," Maya stated, getting very annoyed by the minute, "I don't care about the Vongola or the Mafia, You can kill yourselves for all I care." Maya fixed her glare to them "But the minute, you start involving Namimori Middle School into this petty fight of yours, then you're mistaken if you think I'm just going to stand here while you thrash my school."

They were at a stand-off. "Take your petty fight somewhere else."

"I believe I've said it before, but your words weigh nothing."

Maya felt Reborn's weight on his shoulder. "I believe it does," the hitman said. "Her grandfather was one of the founders of the school, after all."

Maya felt grateful for the support. Regardless, that didn't mean anything to her. Not while these assholes still have their heads far up their asses. "I will not be trifled with," she growled.

"We serve directly under the Ninth-" Maya looked at her, steely and resolute. "And I don't care. By destroying that building, you are spitting on my grandfather's legacy. And I will not stand for it."

The Cervello opened her mouth to answer her but Maya have had enough bullshit for today, "Maybe you can't hear me because your head is far too stuck up your ass but I have had it. You say one more word to me and the next time you open your eyes will be to a hospital ceiling. Don't test my patience, Cervello."

"I'd listen to her if I were you, Cervello," Reborn warned. "She's the granddaughter of Nakamura Keisuke." Reborn smirked at the look of surprise and fear his statement garnered from the Cervello, "Are you really going to hurt the granddaughter of COMSUBIN's founder?"

Maya felt the ground sway under her feet. It was just one bullshit after another. After this, she was going to have a long talk with her grandfather. She didn't appreciate secrets.

"If Vongola promises to pay for all the damage, will you finally relent, Akiyama-san?" Iemitsu asked.

The ice skater rubbed her forehead. "No harm will come to the building or to Namimori's students." She looked at Varia, "You will not harm any of your opponent before or after your fight. After this scuffle is over, whatever the result, you will go back to Italy. And you will not bother Namimori or her citizens."

Her head hurt. Angrily, Maya looked at the baby with he black hood, "And you will stop this infernal attempt in trying to put an illusion over me. You are way out of your league," Maya taunted.

Unexpectedly, Xanxus laughed. "You are an interesting trash. Fine, we will adhere to your conditions."

Maya smirked. "The only trash I see here is you."

And then they were gone.

Maya looked at Reborn, perched comfortably on her shoulder, "You and I are going to have a lengthy talk."

Overcome by her emotions, she turns her back to them and charges towards Iemitsu. She hits him square in the jaw. "And you deserve that."

With that she left with Reborn.


The two of them were walking. To where? Maya didn't know. All she knew was that she had to get away from all of that shithole.

"Did you think it was right for you to punch Vongola's second- in-command?" Reborn asked breaking the silence. The baby hitman was next to her, walking along the fence.

Maya hummed in return. "He deserved it," she answered offhandedly. When Reborn offered no response, she turned to look at him. "Am I wrong?" she challenged.

Reborn only chuckled in response. "Are you sure you don't want to join the family, Maya?"

"I came from a strong Military background. There would be a conflict of interest, Reborn." Maya looked at him again, "And don't change the subject. I had a tough week. An explanation is the least you owe me."

Reborn looked at her with his steely orbs. "COMSUBIN or Commando Raggruppamento Subacquei Ed Incursori Teseo Tesei or in other words -"

"-Commands the Grouping of Divers, Raiders, and Navals." Maya said, rubbing her forehead.

"You know Italian?"

"My grandfather taught me." Maya answered. "He taught me a lot of things."

"The way you deflected Mammon's illusion earlier," Reborn whispered.

Maya only nodded. "When I was young, I got kidnapped a lot. So my grandfather kinda took it upon himself to teach me how to defend myself."

"And the Italian?"

"Funny enough, my kidnappers were always Italian," she answered, voice wry and tired but still held humour. "So the COMSUBIN?" Maya implored.

"Right," Reborn said, "The COMSUBIN is Italy's special forces. Before World War II it was called Decima Flottigilia Mezzi d'Assalto."

"So my grandfather didn't found it. He only re-shaped it," Maya realized.

Reborn nodded. "You don't seem surprised."

Maya smiled. Earlier she was flaming in rage but now, she was just tired. So very tired. "After the war, my grandfather was never the same. He was fifteen, the same age as Tsuna-san, when he enlisted. When the war stopped, he was twenty-one. He grew up in it, I suppose." She sighed, trying to keep her voice firm despite the tears that was threatening to fall, "He got used to it. So when the fighting was over, he didn't know what to do."

Reborn was silent. He jumped, perching himself again on her shoulder. "You should punch him as well," he joked.

Maya snorted at that. "If I can, I would. But he's a sprightly old man, you know."


As night fell, Maya found himself at the outside of the Sawada Household. Again, it had all been Reborn's fault. And maybe her own stomach's as well.

"I feel weird about this, Reborn. I just punched Iemitsu-san and now I'm going to have dinner with him." Maya fiddled with her thimble necklace.

"Don't be, I do it all the time."

Maya only sighed following Reborn inside. "You're a very weird baby, Reborn."

"You're weirder," Reborn said.

Needless to say, dinner was a very awkward affair.

After dinner, Maya found Iemitsu sitting on the veranda. She cleared her throat to make her presence known. She bowed when Iemitsu turned to look at her, "I am very sorry for my actions earlier. I had been under a lot of stressed. But that isn't an excuse for punching you. Please accept my apology."

Iemitsu only laughed. "I thought I deserved it."

Maya smiled. "Oh, you did. But I shouldn't have been the one to punch you. I'm apologizing because I took justice on my own hands. It was a very presumptuous thing for me to do."

He looked at her in confusion. "So who should have punched me instead?"

"Tsuna-san, of course."

He laughed again, "Are you sure you don't want to join Tsuna's family?"

"I already told Reborn no. Plus, it would be a conflict of interest." Maya bowed once again, "Now if you'll excuse me, I promised to help with the dishes."


The air was very awkward. Tsuna was washing the dishes while Maya dried them. However, Tsuna held the plates too tightly that Maya was afraid he would break them.

"Tsuna-san," Maya said, breaking the silence. It made Maya even more guilty when Tsuna flinched. "I'm very sorry for my actions earlier. It seems that I may have worried you more."

Tsuna looked surprise at her apology. "That's-that's not it, Maya-san," Tsuna replied with quiet voice. "It wasn't-It wasn't your fault. You actually made things a little bit better," he stuttered.

Maya smiled at him. "Well then, I'm happy I could help."

After washing the dishes, Tsuna grabbed the end of Maya's shirt to get her attention, "How could you do that?" he asks. "How could you stand there and fight and demand things from them?"

Maya regarded Tsuna sadly. She touched his shoulder and guided him the table, "Let's sit first, shall we?"

Maya sat in front of Tsuna, looking to see if anything was wrong. His head was hung low, his shoulders were tense. Tsuna looked so small. Who was she kidding? Everything was wrong.

The ice skater took hold of Tsuna's hand, just as she would to Kyoya. "You know," she started, running her thumb over Tsuna's clenched knuckles, "it's alright for you to be scared, Tsuna-san."

Tsuna flinched but she continued nonetheless. "You're only fifteen. I don't expect you to lay down your life for an organization you barely know. Whatever it is you're feeling, it's completely normal. If you want to back down, I won't judge you."

Maya can see the hesitation and surprise in his eyes. This must have been the first time someone said that to him. "That's-that's not it, Maya-san," he stuttered.

"Why do you hesitate, Tsuna-san?"

"If I don't do this, my friends will be in danger," he explained. "But I don't wanna die," Tsuna whispered, scared and afraid.

Maya licked her lips. She was never good with this kind of stuff. "Wanting to live and prioritizing yourself is not selfish, you know."

Tsuna's head was still hung low, his hair covering half his face.

"Have I ever told you about my name, Tsuna-san?" Maya asked, completely changing the subject.

At Tsuna's confused looked, Maya smiled and continued. "A lot of people think I was named after a bird, but actually I was named after a warship. MAYA was a takao-class warship. My grandfather piloted it during the war. He was able to save four people when the Americans bombed it," she said proudly with a small smile.

Maya fidgeted in her seat. "Growing up, my grandfather groomed me to be a good woman. I was the granddaughter of a war hero so I had big shoes to fill. Then I realized, I didn't want to be a soldier," Maya said, taking her hands off Tsuna's, "I realized that I wanted to be a figure skater. I wanted to be the best."

Looking at Tsuna, Maya saw a lot of herself in him, "When I told that to my grandfather, he said he had one question for me. I thought it would be 'how fast can you get your bags out of here?' or 'where did I go wrong with you?' but he threw a curve ball at me, he asked 'Are you still the same woman I raised you to be?'"

Maya smiled fondly at Tsuna, "My grandfather has fixed morals and principles but he changed that for me. My grandfather is a good man." She took his hands again. "Tsuna-san, you are also a good man. But right now, you're in war. And it's hard to be a good man in a war. But I've learned that a lot of important things are often hard."

"I can't tell you what to do," Maya said. "But know that whatever it is you decide, I'll be by your side, supporting you wholeheartedly."

Tsuna sniffed, his hands coming up to his face to stop the tears that were threatening to fall. "Thank you, Maya-san."

He was crying, sure. But his shoulders weren't as tight as it was before and he had a small smile. All in all, Maya called it a success.

"Anytime, Tsuna-san. Anytime."


Maya was walking home when she felt someone following her. Sighing, she called out to her stalker, "Come out, Bel-san."

Belphegor came out of the darkness, laughing Despite herself, Maya smiled at the familiar sound of his creepy laugh. Belphegor had been one of the first to support her. As a rookie, Maya didn't have a lot of sponsors. All she knew was that she had to win a lot of medals to keep herself in the ice. It was Belphegor who gave her funds for her dresses and skates. He had been one of the first to bet on her. To trust her and what she can do on the ice.

At that time, of course, Maya didn't know that he was an assassin.

"Bel-san, it's not nice to stalk people," she admonishes.

"You know, Elsa, you were always such a surprise for me," he said, walking towards her with a smile. "Levi, the guy you thrashed, is angry with you, by the way."

Maya snorted, "I can take him."

"Always a pleasure talking to you, Elsa." He said, coupled with his creepy laughter. "I didn't know you could fight."

"I was raised by soldiers, you knew that," Maya offered as an explanation. "Is there a reason for the visit, Bel-san?" Maya coughed.

The blond prince shrugged. "I just wanted to make sure that there's no hard feelings."

"None whatsoever from my part," Maya said. "But if you thrash my school," she said threateningly.

Belphegor only laugh. "The prince shall make sure not to destroy it too much."

Maya smiled. That was good enough, she guesses. She'll take what she can get."You shouldn't underestimate them, you know.' She smiles at her sponsor's confused look. "They're more than just children."

She smiles one last time. Then she turns her back to leave.


Later than night, she receives a call from her coach. Gulping, she accepts the call, ignoring the feeling of fear creeping slowly into her heart.

"Maya Akiyama," her coach said. "What do you think you're doing?"

Even now, her voice never failed to bring Maya fear and dread. She takes a deep breath, " Coach, please let me explain," she begged. "I have a very reasonable explanation for all of this." She did not.

"And I don't care!" Her coach shouted. Maya flinches at her coach's rising voice. "What the hell is more important than this, Maya!? What the hell is more important than you career?!"

Maya bites her lower lip, trying not to cry.

"Maya, this is not a game. Figure skating is not just some plaything you can leave once you get bored. What? You think that just because you have a world record and a few gold medals under your belt you can start gallivanting around like some child?" Her coach was fuming. "Your competitors are training," she reminded Maya, "they are training to beat you. And if you don't take this seriously, you'll lose everything you ever worked for."

Maya knew that. She knew that and yet she couldn't find the voice to answer her coach. Because she doesn't want to leave. Not with the trouble that's looming around the corner.

She hears her coach sigh. "I'll be there in four days. In the mean time, I want you to continue your usual practice. Nationals is coming up, so start choreographing your routine. We have a lot to do." Then she end the call.

Maya sighs, rubbing her forehead. Her coach was a scary and formidable woman. After all, she was Hibari Kyoya's mother. Like mother, like son, she supposes.

Maya groans when she hears the door open. "Was that your coach?"

"You can call her your mother, you know?" Maya bites out sarcastically.

"She's your coach first. We've talked about this." Kyoya walks towards her bed and sits down. "What's wrong?"

Maya covers her face and plops down the bed. "She's scary, that's what she is," Maya whispers.

"Hn," Kyoya smirks at her. "But she's right as well." He pokes her on her side.

"Hey!" she protested. However, any protest died down from her throat when she saw the serious look Kyoya was giving her.

"I heard about what happened earlier," Kyoya said.

"They deserve it." Maya retorts rather childishly.

"Hn."

Maya looks at Kyoya with annoyance. "Am I wrong?" she challenged. "They were going to thrash Namimori for their petty fight, I couldn't help myslelf."

Kyoya smirks at her. "A lot of people think that I'm the violent one," he starts, "they just haven't met you yet."

Maya smiles at him. This time, the smile reached her eyes. Kyoya decides that it was enough for now.

TO BE CONTINUED


Sneak Peek for Chapter 4:

Ah, he was worried. How cute, Maya thought. The ice skater giggled, "You know, Dino-san, contrary to popular belief, my life doesn't revolve around Kyoya."

Dino's blush turned wilder and waved his arm animatedly, "That's not what I meant, Maya-san. You've got it wrong. I just thought that you know," Dino drawled out

Maya's smile turned into a grin. "That what? Dino-san?"

"I just thought that since you and Kyoya are dating, you'd be there to support him," Dino replied shyly.

Maya blinked. Then she laughed, "I-I'm so sorry, D-dino-san,-" she snorted in laughter. She sighed, finally calming down, "Kyoya and I aren't dating," she finally explained.

Dino tilted his head in confusion. "Eh."

"I grew up with him, Dino-san," she explained with a smile. "I was with him ever since we were in diapers. Kyoya is my brother in all but blood."

"S-so you're not dating anyone?" Dino asked shyly.

Oh, Maya blushed in realization. She smiled. "No, Dino-san, I'm not dating anyone. Why do you ask?"

Dino coughed. "No reason."

Maya bit her lips and huffed out a laugh. "If you say so."


I'm testing out Maya's relationship with others. As of now, I don't really know who to pair her with. So I'm going to experiment for a while. Tell me what you think!

Btw, this fic, in no way, is confined in a heteronormative narrative. The sky's the limit, I guess. After all, there are a lot of people Maya finds cute and attractive ;)