Me: Hi, guys! I know I said I'd update near the seventh of January, but my mom wouldn't let me near the computer since we had upcoming exams. Sorry about that! The good news, though, is that I really can update many twice or thrice a month, depending on projects but my minimum update goal is twice a month.

Thank you, too, for the added favorites, follows, and reviews! It means a lot.

Also, the 'mystery' surrounding Chrome's real name as Nagi, as some of the reviewers have mentioned, will be solved in the following chapter, so stay tuned!

I now present Chapter 10!

Replies to Reviews:

To GraceHeart27: Yeah, I know. Hopefully the next chapter clears things up for you.

To PaperWorld: You'll find out in the next chapter why she's named Chrome. And it's fine. I could tell you why she's kind of 'advanced' for a baby but I don't wanna spoil anything yet. Unless you want me to tell you through PM?

To Ana: Tsuna x Chrome? Haha! I'll think about it.

To RyuuenXKai: You'll see in chapter 11 (the next chapter! Woohoo!) why her name is Chrome. Thanks for loving the story, and here's the update you've been waiting for!

K $h1

Chapter 10: Change

Wars are ugly.

They result in an endless cycle of hatred and revenge. They bring about a lot of bloodshed, loss, sorrow, grief…

They change people. Perhaps, a hopeful twenty year old soldier would be excited to fight in the first war of his life to serve his nation, only to come back from the war broken, battered, and changed.

Wars are the solutions of the immature. There were more peaceful means to resolve a conflict – having a conference with each other being one of them.

People didn't have to kill. People didn't have to steal. People didn't have to burn settlements to the ground.

But that was what wars were.

And although wars bring victory and spoils to the victors…

I still hate them.

K $h1

(at a battlefield near Vienna)

"Charles, damn you!" Bianca shouted as she wielded her red flamed sword, panting as blood flowed out from the open wound on her leg.

She was blocked by Charles' bodyguard's dagger filled with Rain flames.

Bianca gritted her teeth as she threw poisoned needles at Charles, who managed to evade it despite being crippled.

She glanced at her best friend, who was also having trouble with another guard. She spied another goon coming up from behind Rosetta, and she knew a scream wouldn't alert her in time.

She ignored the pain as she hurried over to her best friend.

Rosetta, whose Cloud flames were slowly decreasing, aimed another kick to her attacker, who easily blocked it and pushed her aside. He stepped over her body and positioned to kill her with his axe.

Bianca saw red and charged at him.

She had to win this war. She had to defeat Charles and his Famiglia.

For her best friend who was lying on the ground.

For her Famiglia who needed to be safe from people like Charles.

For her daughter who was being targeted by Charles.

She had to win.

Please, Kami.

Please.

I have to win.

K $h1

Two days later…

Chrome was waiting at the spot her sensei had left her three days ago. She was hopping on one foot, her hand twitching. She wanted to get home soon. She wanted her room, she wanted Angelo, she wanted her grandparents – she wanted Bianca.

Don't get her wrong. She absolutely adored her time with Bel, who was due to leave the kingdom she had (secretly) stayed at in a while. It was good timing, as she was still allowed to sleep in his room free of charge.

The training had certainly improved her, giving her both physical and mental benefits. Not only did she actually get used to training (for once in her life – er, lives), but she was also learning to think fast. But, she believed that the most important thing she had achieved in these past few days – besides the sneaking skills she had developed from avoiding the palace guards, the king and queen, and Rasiel – was her being prepared for battle.

Reincarnation was something she had never expected to receive in life, much less in a fictional world. She supposed she was quite thankful for the opportunity, as it had given her many things that she had not received as Lily. She had a loving mother, sort-of-doting grandparents, a derpy older brother figure, a wonderful best friend, and even a fucked-up sensei that she sort of appreciated.

The good things outweighed the bad things by a lot.

"For a one year old, you think pretty deeply."

The casual way the comment was spoken made her tense up. Her sensei was in front of her, mask on and a blank look on the lower part of his face.

Chrome shrugged her shoulders, looking at him. "As a one year old, life is quite boring, so why not think?"

"You progress faster than the average one year old baby. Perhaps, you are hiding something?" he mused.

Chrome scoffed. "Definitely not."

"Let's go, then?" he told her, walking away with his hands in his pockets.

Chrome walked behind her sensei, eyebrows furrowed. Is something…

K $h1

…wrong with him?

I wonder why something feels kind of… off about sensei. I may not have known him for a long time, but there's just something about him that strikes me as odd.

I pinched my arm hard, my sharp fingernails drawing some blood. He was still in front of me, walking as if he had no care in the world, with his hands resting on the back of his head.

I suppose that rules out the possibility that he's an illusion. An imposter, perhaps?

"Hey, sensei. What was the first thing you ever said to me?" I wondered out loud.

He looked at me, and if he did not have a mask, he probably would have an eyebrow raised. "Why do you ask, brat?"

I shrugged. "Curiosity."

I knew he wouldn't indulge me, but surprisingly, he did.

"'Oi, you're gonna get fat, you know?'. That's what I said, brat," he replied with a scoff.

"Oi, you're gonna get fat, you know?"

I glanced at Angelo, who was to my left and said, "What of it? Babies are meant to be chubby and adorable."

"Isn't that quite narcissistic of you?"

"How do you even know what 'narcissistic' means?"

"Uh, I'm smart, duh."

"And you think I'm the narcissist."

So he wasn't an imposter. So why do I feel like there's something more?

K $h1

I received my answer once we returned home.

Passing through the doorway of the Cuore mansion felt a bit odd at first, with how little time I had spent here and how long I had left, but I felt excited to return home all the same.

I bounded up the steps the moment I could, only stopping when I almost collided with Elaina and Ricardo, who were grim-faced. "Oh, hi there, Nonno, Nonna."

Elaina suddenly enveloped me in a hug, making me wonder if today was some sort of important event for them.

Apparently, it was.

"Chrome?" Elaina called out to me, hiccupping slightly. My eyes widened at the tears trailing down her cheeks.

What was happening?

What happened?

Ricardo frowned as he patted my head, something he had never done before. "…"

He offered no words, and I couldn't turn to Elaina, who was a sobbing mess.

I glanced behind me – Sensei was still here, and he was tense, clenching his fists every now and then. Why?

Ricardo sighed, massaging his temple. "Chrome, er–"

"Bianca's dead, brat," Sensei's voice sounded hollow – broken.

"What are you talking about? This is bullshit." I snapped at him, refusing to believe it.

"I'm not—" he began to say.

"You're lying, sensei! This is the worst thing you've done about all the other stuff you've done or said to me!" I exclaimed. If this was a joke, it was a downright terrible one that I wouldn't ever dream of doing to anyone.

"Like I said –"

"You're wrong!"

I was so surprised by the tears that came out from the mask that I almost didn't hear the 'I'm sorry' that came out from his mouth.

Sensei was crying. Sensei was actually crying.

Why? What was his relationship to my mother? Was there something going on between them that I didn't know about?

Before I could say anything, Sensei clicked his tongue and walked out the door, slamming it behind him.

I didn't cry. Instead, I was more shocked than anything.

Was it because I only had a little more than a year with her? I loved her, didn't I? Or, was it just an obligation I felt as her daughter – an obligation I chose to fulfill since I had replaced what could have been a sweet, a more loved daughter?

I just felt…

…empty inside.

She was one of my precious people. To have her gone was like taking a piece of me away. Why did she die so early? Why? I was only a year old right?

Physically, I was tiny. I was small. I needed her support. She was the one that held me together. With her gone, I feel vulnerable.

I bowed my head, glaring at the carpet on the floor. Why? Why? Did the original Chrome go through this, too?

What effect did this have on the original Chrome? Perhaps, nothing, except for the fact that Chrome began to live with her father and stepmother. Canon Chrome was only a year old, as well, when this happened, but she didn't have the mentality I had. She couldn't have understood what was happening.

I clenched my fists and found myself shaking. Whether it was due to anger at the heavens or me trying not to break down, I didn't know. All I felt was the warmth of my grandmother, who held me as if I were a lifeline.

K $h1

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today…"

The priest had started talking, sheltered underneath the black umbrella that protected him from the heavy rainfall. In front of him stood many people, their faces clearly depicting their sorrow.

The person they were crying for looked so beautiful – so at peace – as she lay motionless in her coffin.

"Bianca Cuore was a loving mother, a dear friend…"

The priest continued on, as a few people wiped tears from their eyes. The immediate family of Bianca was situated closer to the coffin, face blank but eyes mourning. The Cuore patriarch stood there stiffly, an arm around his wife, who looked like she was trying to convince herself that she was dreaming. Beside them stood their granddaughter, Chrome, who looked like an emotionless doll – a face unfitting for a one year old. Holding her hand was Angelo Vittori, who teared up at the sight of his aunt and godmother. Rosetta Vittori stood behind the two, arms around them as she mourned for her best friend.

"Would anyone like to say a few words?" the priest had offered, and all eyes turned to the immediate family.

Elaina had stepped forward, supported by her husband.

"Bianca was a good daughter – the best we could have ever asked for. She was sweet, obedient, and gentle. She only fought in this war… to protect her Famiglia and daughter. Everything she did wasn't for herself, but for us. Why did she have to die?!" Elaina screeched at the end, collapsing into a heap of tears.

Ricardo flinched slightly as she did, pressing his lips together in a firm line. He had to remain strong – for his wife, for his granddaughter…

Rosetta stepped forward, as well.

"Bianca… she was the best friend I had always wished for. She was always there for me, helping me up whenever I fell down. I had only been friends with her for a few years, but those were the best years of life. Every day, she would make me smile, even in the toughest moments. She was someone I could rely on. Bianca, I'm sorry I wasn't of much help to you. I'm sorry I didn't have your back t-this time. Bianca, please forgive me," Rosetta wailed, and she was comforted by the warm hand of her son.

Why her best friend? It was all her fault for being too weak.

She was supposed to protect Bianca, and not the other way around.

Why did it have to be this way?

Chrome sucked in a breath as Rosetta gave way for her. She exhaled and her eyes were filled with determination.

"Mom, I'm sorry. I haven't really been a good daughter, have I? I dismissed your offers to go shopping for dresses. I snooped around your stuff. I didn't spend much time with you. And now, you're dead. It's only now that I realized just how important you are to me – just how much I need you in my life. But, I know I can't change the past, so I'll just promise you this. Mom, I swear, I will avenge your death, no matter what. I'm only a year old now, but I've been making progress with Sensei. Imagine how strong I'd be once I reach your age? I promise, Mom, your death won't be in vain," she had said firmly and clearly.

She received surprised looks from her grandparents, her Aunt Rosetta, and Angelo. But she knew that this was what she wanted – she wanted revenge, and she would kill Charles…

…even if she had to die, as well.

Wars don't always go the way you want.

It's not up to you to say that you would be the winners or that they would be the losers.

People expect good to always triumph over evil.

But sometimes, evil wins no matter how hard you try.

K $h1

Sneak Peek

Chapter 11: Japan

"Hey, there. Chrome, right?"

"…"

"Well, um, I'm your dad."

"…"

"Uh… help me out here, Yuzuki."

"Dear, I'm Himeji Yuzuki. I'm your… stepmother, and this is your father, Ryuzaki Yuzan. It's… nice to meet you."

"…"

"Since you're in Japan, I think we should give you a Japanese name, hmm? What would you like?"

"..i…"

"Sorry?"

"..gi.."

"Sorry, come again?"

"Nagi."

"Nagi… that's a wonderful name you chose, Chrome."

K $h1

Me: And there! I hope that little sneak peek clears everything up about Chrome's identity. And she meets her father and stepmother, too! What adventures await Chrome until canon starts? Eh, who knows.

Sorry again, for the late update. I'll post on my profile the dates as to when to expect me to update my stories.

Also, sooner or later, I might start editing the chapters and polishing them to make them better, but I won't delete the story.

So, yeah.

Review please! Oh, and the poll's still open if you want to vote? I'm making the deadline until February 22 (my brother's birthday!), so that's one more week and maybe a few days or hours.

See you next time!