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New chapter! Yaaaay!

Ying: I'm glad you like TakaxEnma! :D I already have a good idea of how things are going to go during the Shimon Arc – but it's so far away things are liable to change. xP

Animagirl: But… Takara doesn't think it's a game. She knows it's real. Owo

Anon: Whoop! :D

Guest: Thank you! :D Takara's terrible punning will never end. NEVER. And Hana has a sixth sense that tells her all about Takara's stupid thoughts at this point. :B

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Sender: Takara

Do you ever get the feeling you really belong somewhere, but you don't know why?

From: Enma

…Maybe. I'm not sure. I get the feeling you're not too excited about whatever this is though.

Sender: Takara

I mean, I don't know. It's just… new. When I get used to things I'm sure everything will pretty much be back to normal.

From: Enma

If you need to talk I'm here. I mean, I'm a good listener and that's what friends are for, right?

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I had contemplated long and hard about my decision to join the Vongola – especially once Reborn had made his appearance. It came down to the question of "Did I want to sit around knowing what was going on, and not be able to do anything?" And in the end that answer to that had been a resounding no.

The decision didn't feel wrong either. Somehow I felt as if I had made the right decision, but I wasn't sure whether that was because there would be less uncertainties with the story and I wouldn't be in the dark, or if it was because I really belonged as a Vongola Guardian. So, in short, I didn't know if I belonged.

"You feeling alright, Takara?" Tou-chan's hand landed heavily on my shoulder, "You've been quieter than usual."

"Sure am, tou-chan, no worries!"

He sent me an unimpressed, skeptical look, "Saying that just makes people worry, Takara. Don't think you can hide anything from your old man."

"I just made some new friends, tou-chan." Hiding things from him was insanely hard, considering I wasn't able to pull off complete obliviousness, "I just don't know where I stand yet."

At this he smiled before ruffling my hair, eliciting an indignant squawk from me (my hair was messy enough as is) –

"If they're real friends they'll come around. If they don't – well, that's their loss."

It was such a stereotypical parent thing to say, but that didn't mean it didn't make me feel better. I supposed that was just the power of a parent. Though the power of a parent wouldn't be stopping the woman I just saw ride by – only the power of love could do that.

Or Reborn manipulating her. But then again that was using her love to his advantage, so did that still count as the power of love?

I suppose it doesn't matter.

As long I don't have to eat any of her food.

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The first person I really ran into upon reaching Nami Middle was Gokudera, who really didn't seem too thrilled to see me. Even though I knew that I shouldn't take it personally, it didn't mean a small part of me didn't do just that.

"Your smile is so brilliant," my voice was bland, "that your face is practically on fire."

His scowl only deepened and one of his fingers started twitching against his crossed arms, "Oh, shut up. Since Reborn is the one that asked I can't really go against him. But let's get this straight, I'm –"

"Tsuna's right-hand man?" He twitched and I grinned, one of my eyebrows raised high, "You've said it several times. And I have no interest in the position; it's all yours."

Gokudera looked a little suspicious, his eyes somewhat squinted. I smiled in response, which only seemed to put him off a little more – though I was sure if I wasn't a member of Tsuna's famiglia he wouldn't be so suspicious that I was trying to take his place.

"Besides, I'm a girl. I can't be his right-hand man," I tapped my cheek with my index finger, "Though being his right-hand woman would work, neh?"

His face went through varying changes after that, all leading up to anger before switching over to enthusiastic when the door slid open to reveal Tsuna –

"Juudaime!"

"E-ehh, Gokudera-kun?! Yama –" Tsuna panicked momentarily at my stare down, "T-Takara-san… you're both here early…"

Before either of us could say anything, Hana and Kyoko had arrived with Hana all but demanding that Tsuna move out of the way. In her defense, he was standing in the doorway and Gokudera wasn't quite out of the way either.

"Oh, Tsuna," Kyoko's voice already had Tsuna blushing, "Is that you're little brother?"

It was as Tsuna freaked out because of Lambo that I got my first look at the kid – and he was kind of adorable, what with his big green eyes and the somewhat dopey look on his face. Though what I wanted to know was if he really did shove a bunch of stuff into his hair, and if it was super sticky from the food or not. So it was kind of saddening when they ran off to avoid death-by-Hibari before I could even attempt to find out. But… there was something that I wanted to see for myself, and since Hibari was out in the hallway there was rally only one viable exit.

"Oi, Hana-chama, Kyoko-chan," I was already half out of the window when they turned to me, "Keep this open, yeah?"

A cheery 'okay' from Kyoko followed me around the corner and I was positive that Hana was rolling her eyes. But it was worth it, because what I wanted to see happened the moment I turned the corner – that being Lambo jumping into the ten-year-bazooka.

Adult Lambo stepped out of the pink smoke with a sigh, "Oh man. It's nice to see you again, young Vongola Juudaime."

Though with his relaxed voice one probably couldn't tell whether that was true or not – though with Lambo I was absolutely sure it was. Tsuna and Gokudera didn't seem to care about that though, only that he looked familiar.

"You came out of that bazooka, right?" The group – aside from Reborn – jerked at my voice, "Is this the mafia rendition of pulling a bunny out of a hat?"

"Ah, Taka-nee," Adult Lambo sent me a bright, one-eyed smile, "It's nice to see you so young again."

I raised a brow, "So, you're saying the me you know looks old?"

"There are a few wrinkles," Tsuna looked offended for me as Lambo spoke, but I just grinned at his joking tone, "You've got more grey hairs, too."

"Oh, this is great," I all but cackled, because this was an absolutely fantastic development, "I'm such a great influence, neh?"

As I walked over to pat Adult Lambo on the arm, Reborn gave the ten-year-bazooka explanation with Lambo chiming in at the end. Tsuna seemed somewhat flummoxed at the information and Gokudera was contemplative. I was just thrilled, because it was looking like I would turn Lambo into a snarky little shit.

And he didn't even start shit with Reborn.

Though I was a bit disappointed with that, as that was a rather humorous moment, if I remembered correctly. Instead of getting upset at being ignored and running off crying, he just disappeared in a cloud of pink once his five minutes were up.

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After being prompted by Reborn earlier on, I ended up heading for the rooftop after excusing myself halfway through lunch with Kyoko and Hana. Kyoko seemed thrilled that I'd made more friends, Hana had been sarcastically surprised; she'd shut up when I threw the attention back on her using Ryohei.

And I was amused and somewhat relieved to find that I'd come in shortly after Bianchi – catching her introduction as I came up the stairs and peering through the door in time to see Gokudera face-plant into the concrete. Bianchi was unaffected by this, only concerned for 'her' Reborn –

"Unless the Vongola Juudaime meets an unfortunate fate, Reborn will never be free!"

"You seem hungry for action," I casually stepped onto the roof, my hands intertwined behind my back, "With a side of thirst for justice."

Tsuna looked about like he wanted to cry, "Takara-san, now isn't the time! How'd you even know anyways?!"

"Well," I pointed to his discarded, moving lunch, "There's that."

His only response was a look of disgust as he eyed the food again, the only one to respond verbally was Bianchi, who just declared she would be back for Reborn and all but ignored my presence. Gokudera was the one that caught everyone's attention when he groaned from his spot on the ground, pulling Tsuna out of his panic as the concern for his friend took over –

"Ahh… We should get him to the nurse's office."

"I'll help you. Wouldn't want you cramping up."

Tsuna groaned.

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Home economics wasn't really my favorite class, though that was mostly because they expected us to give food to the guys. Most of the girls seemed all for it too, even Hana, which seemed so strange to me.

"I don't see the problem with it," Hana drawled as she checked he dessert in the oven, "It's kind of like they're indebted to us after."

"If I make food," I pulled my own cake out of the oven, "I want to give it to people of my own accord, not be expected to. Besides, I'd kinda like to eat some of it myself."

Kyoko shook her finger at me, "Come on, Takara-chan. It's nice to share – you shouldn't be greedy."

"I never said I would be; I'd just rather share with friends, not just give it to classmates because they want me to."

Kyoko sighed and shook her head fondly while Hana rolled her eyes at me (a very common reaction from her, it seemed), but neither commented on it again. I still wasn't planning on giving mine out, and not just because of the expectations making me rebellious, but because I didn't want perfectly good cake being ruined by Bianchi. So while the rest of the girls left, I stayed where I was and began cutting my cake up.

By the time the girls came back – all significantly angry aside from Kyoko – I was just finishing up a piece of my cake.

"Run into a problem, ladies?"

A couple of girls spoke up at once, but the general consensus was as I had expected – Tsuna had eaten all the cake (influenced by his dying will, not that I was supposed to know that, as I hadn't been told yet).

"I have almost a whole cake left," I pointed my fork to the counter behind me, "Nothing like cake to soothe an angry soul, after all."

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From: Enma

Are you feeling more like yourself? Or do I need to send a care package?

I couldn't help but to snort in amusement.

Sender: Takara

No need for a care package. Why don't you ship yourself out here? You haven't visited Namimori yet, have you.

From: Enma

I don't have family out there like you do. But I wouldn't mind visiting.

Sender: Takara

It'd be great. I could hide you away in the dojo at night and feed you leftover sushi.

From: Enma

I'm not a cat, Takara.

Sender: Takara

Not even for me?

From: Enma

…goodnight, Takara.

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Bianchi ahooooooy.

Incoming? Haru.

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