The 'Average' Life
Now I know why the Ninth was so encouraging for me to go on the student exchange: it was to meet a Vongola Decimo candidate, Sawada Tsunayoshi. Sawada is called 'No-Good-Tsuna' and 'Tsuna'. Sawada Tsunayoshi/No Good Tsuna/Tsuna was the last person I would choose to be the boss of the Vongola.
"What do you think Karen? A good Vongola Boss?" the Ninth gave me a surprise phone call on my cell that woke me up at two in the morning, just when I got to sleep.
Are you senile already? If it wasn't for the fact you're the Vongola Nono I'd kill you for waking me up when I could be sleeping. In the Varia I'm lucky to get three hours of sleep. "Sure he's nice and everything, but I would go for Xanxus,"
Silence greeted me on the end of the phone. I wouldn't be surprised if he was going to have me repeat what I just said and record it or have a heart attack. It's no secret in the Vongola Xanxus and me to get along as well as sharks at a feeding frenzy and I'm the shark that gets bitten when I don't watch my back….Literally. Most of the time though I most often get glasses full of good quality wine chucked at my head, which I dodge and say "You know Xanxus, if you hate this wine this much you should try a new type" which prompts a chair or television coming my way. Also, I don't miss out on the chance to be a thorn in his side due to the fact he gives me shit; I know two wrongs don't make a right, but in math two negatives equal a positive by multiplying them. I also get punishment 'mistakenly' directed at me that is for Superbi. At the same time though, the bugger has grown on me so I have a degree of affection and a lot of respect for him that he doesn't appear to reciprocate.
"Sorry, I must be going deaf. Could you repeat that?" Yup he most definitely was going to record that and share it everyone else saying the impossible does happen, though he sounded a little hurt which made me feel guilty,
"In short, Xanxus was made for the underground. Tsuna isn't".
Everything taught in class I already knew inside and out so I've spent the better part of school sleeping and recovering from the nighttime ninjutsu training. According to my brother, I am that one in a million year genius but having a photographic memory doesn't make you a genius; I just use common sense and make use of the knowledge I have memorized. The only subjects I have extensive knowledge in are infiltration/spy work and the Italian mafia in general and specific but that's all practical and essential-for-survival knowledge.
I learned a couple of things about my classmates. Yamamoto Takeshi is the star baseball player of the school team who has a fan club of girls that he treats nicely but doesn't seem interested in. Yamamoto is the kind of guy a person can't hate; if you can't befriend him, you respect him. Yamamoto is always talking to me but I'm at a loss as to what to say to him. I know how to deal with 'men of honor' and the only way I survive is to give them the clear message of 'it's not worth messing with me' either by sharing their personal information that no one is suppose to know or kick their butts into next week.
Naturally, I had a dilemma about which school club to join. I thought about the kendo club but Mochida, the senior, is really stupid and I know I would only have to put in 0.1%, if even, effort to defeat him. The other downside is I would have to curb myself when I'm there and that is a no-no; if I get rusty it would be embarrassingly easy for another assassin to kill me. Even if I'm in Japan where nothing is going to happen, I have to keep my current level of skill up so I don't kick the bucket because of the rustiness when I return to Italy. Baseball seemed like the only available option so I end up going with that. I play on the girl's team obviously and…yeah. This feels real stupid. Yamamoto and I end up spending a lot of time training together. The only reason I can think of for this happening is we're the only ones who are equal to each other. I've never played baseball before and Takeshi said "Really? You seem like you've been playing it all your life". The only thing I've been doing all my life is learning self defense and developing my own sword but that is not something you drop on just anyone. Besides, saying your full time work is assassination is not a good a way to start making friends, even if they are oblivious like Takeshi. Somehow, being oblivious seems to be rather endearing trait of his.
Just out of curiosity, I tried traditional Japanese dance. The place I'm going to is taught by the geisha. The dance is very graceful and delicate, and it exercises a lot of self control and you have to be careful when you wear a kimono, especially since the teacher intends on using the geisha style. But I'm just going to do a term. The only reason I'm doing a term of it is to see if it's possible to integrate this dance style into my sword style; maybe I can knock a lot of people for a grave. I love to dance, but I prefer hip-hop, break dancing, the more energetic dance styles. I don't care for dresses and skirts and other feminine clothing, but I have no issues with a kimono. What's up with that?
I wonder if there is a person in England who practices Merlin magick because I found and have been accepted into a ninjutsu dojo, a school where ninja are trained. I'm not going to say much about this particular after school activity other than I'm working on refining my techniques and that includes acting. Training is either late at night or early in the morning.
After Tsuna convinced Takeshi to not commit suicide, Takeshi has been hanging around Tsuna and he also has dragged me into it. Since hanging out with Tsuna, a lot of weird people have shown up, and I don't mean Varia weird [Varia weird: guys who hate each other, but idolize Xanxus; have their own quirks like Lussuria (I hope I don't have to explain that one); general enjoyment of battle and killing; lack common sense etc].
Hibari Kyoya is the closest to being Varia weird but he isn't as he doesn't idolize Xanxus (thank God) or anyone for that matter. He's his own man. I'm pretty sure this guy, once he powers up some more, will be able to give Xanxus a run for his money. Hibari isn't that different from what I usually deal with in the Varia: battle drunken idiots, though Hibari uses his head more often the others do and is actually kind of intimidating but I don't care if you're intimidating or not since I have kicked all butts except for Xanxus who gets verbally assaulted by me. I can understand the obsession with combat to an extent, because I love the challenges that only life or death situations present, and knowing you're stronger than your opponent, but some of the extents the Varia has gone, are insane. Other than his love for battle, I don't have an issue with him. It's easy to keep out his way, and when I can't for some wacked up reason, I can easily defend myself if I'm in the mood for a fight or I can just disappear.
Miura Haru I'm going to kill someday along with Lambo unless they change; both of them are irritating and weird, well Lambo's just spoiled and only five years old so I just have to get used to him, which is easier than it sounds. I wonder what the Mr. and Mrs. Miura did to have such a wacked up daughter. Haru was crushing on Reborn, but when Tsuna saved her from drowning in a waist high creek or stream or river, she fell for him heads over heals faster than Xanxus gets pissed (which happens in milliseconds).
Sasagawa Kyoko is adorable, but oblivious; I can't believe she swallows the things her brother tells her. The other weirdo is Sasagawa Ryohei, Kyoko's older brother, and every other word out his mouth is 'extreme', boxing is his game (he and Takeshi are similar in their obsession about their respective sports) and he's just as vocal as my brother, which is a real accomplishment but Superbi is only vocal when he's furious and you can tell when Superbi is mad by the 'Voi' he shouts at the beginning of a sentence; the amazing quirks of the mafia.
I guess Doctor Shamal can count as a nutty Varia member, but he was just offered a job, which he turned down thank God, and is a pathetic womanizer. That's why I'm glad he turned down the offer because I'd have to put with him if he had joined as I am the only female human being in the entire damn organization. Let's not forget Bianchi either but she just lives in her own world, though I do worry about her being in love with an Arcobaleno who can easily be centuries older than her but hey, whatever works for her. I shouldn't criticize either because I've never even had a crush.
Gokudera Hayato, the Hurricane Bomb Hayato transferred here, to Nami-chuu. Doing what I do best, I just observed the happenings. Tucking myself into a corner during break I noticed Gokudera chucking dynamite left, right and center at Sawada. I'm amazed that everyone calls Sawada 'No-Good-Tsuna' because he's quite good at running away so long as he doesn't trip. In some ways it was amusing to watch Tsuna in Dying Will Mode extinguishing the dynamite but I started choking on my apple when Gokudera got down on hands and knees and turned into a golden retriever.
"Hey, Karen!" Takeshi popped out of nowhere, "Want to hang out?"
"Why not," I didn't really have anything better to do. Without any direction in mind we appeared in the park. We espied Gokudera with his cigarette talking to the pigeons that tapped their beaks at the sidewalk trying to catch ants. I don't know much about civilian life styles but I'm pretty sure they don't involve talking to pigeons unless they are especially bored. "Guess I'll go visit the Tenth," he grinned, stomping on his biri.
"That's an idea," Takeshi grinned. Once again I can't argue with that. It's easier being around Gokudera than Akane, the daughter of the family I'm staying with. When we finally reached Tsuna's house and went to his room we found a gong show. Tsuna is freaking out that he killed someone, and that someone happens to be…no way! Moretti! I almost died laughing; I was dying of laughter anyways because Gokudera was strangling Takeshi over commenting on Gokudera talking to pigeons. Reborn had called Shamal to confirm the 'death' of Moretti which he wasn't going to do; womanizing perverted jack ass. For the second time since coming to Japan, I hid behind Takeshi except this time it was to stay out Shamal's sight. It was priceless seeing everyone's expression when they confirmed the body on Tsuna's bed to be dead; even Takeshi was freaked.
I have reason to be jealous of Hibari Kyoya: he owns a motorcycle and drives it! I only have a dirt bike and that only gets used on vacations. I love motorcycle for a couple reasons which include they create a sense of freedom and they're hot. I don't give a damn if a person drives a Rolls Royce but if they're riding a BMW S1000RR than you have my attention but the attention is directed toward the bike. Hibari shows up and volunteers the service of body disposal. For a reason I missed, Gokudera got pissed off and chucked some dynamite at Hibari who returned fire. I was the only one not in the room when the dynamite blew. Swords are so much more safer and nowhere near as flashy as dynamite. Moretti had motored when the dynamite came through and revealed his ability: he can play a very convincing act of playing dead. Everyone but Tsuna and Haru were laughing.
"You knew about this Karen?" Takeshi was struggling to breath, "Why didn't you say anything?"
I was still laughing so that should be self explanatory.
It was a surprise to see Dino at Tsuna's house. I haven't seen Dino much since he became the boss of the Cavallone Family, and the absolute last time I saw him was when I started working for the Varia. He is the perfect guy to talk Tsuna into becoming the Vongola's boss. He's klutzy when away from his subordinates and freakin' amazing when he's around them which actually makes him an ideal brother for Tsuna (I wonder why the Creator, or whatever they are, didn't just save everyone some trouble and make Dino and Tsuna actual blood siblings). I can't believe I actually missed his goofy but caring and serious personality. I do notice how hot Dino is but I don't really care. He was pretty surprised to see me as well.
"So how's your brother?" he asked when we were alone
"The usual," I grinned,
"Loud and doing what a shark does best?"
"Somewhat", I ignored the pun on our family name (Squalo is Italian for shark). Leviathan has made a point of exhausting that route of hilarity; the only reason it's humorous anymore to anyone but him is because I deck him. Undeniably, some of my brother's attacks do resemble shark movements which are probably where he got the idea for them.
Both Tsuna and Dino complain Reborn is a Spartan, but if you want true Spartan training, go to the Varia. My brother's drilled me in defensive combat since I was five, and than when I was ten and training for the Varia he drilled the combat situations into me better than a military sergeant. Finally, you got Xanxus and the rest to deal with. You got to prove to everyone that you're not to be taken lightly, and that is like moving a mountain: you have to start with one stone at a time until you've moved the last one. I actually worked my way up to second place in the Varia hierarchy, which makes me equal to my brother.
Occasionally, it's just me and Takeshi. How that happens, I have no idea, but I enjoy that time. He's dense about lots of stuff, but he has one the biggest hearts I've ever met though that's not saying much what with the crowd I hang around with. I can't deny he's become my best friend in Japan. Except for mafia stuff, I can talk to him about anything with the obvious exception of girl stuff, but let's face it, I am a tomboy by personality and I was pretty much raised around all males, so I, for the most part, am a man. Most often we are around Tsuna and Gokudera Hayato. I have no idea how the four of us became friends; it just happened. Although Takeshi acts like he is oblivious to Gokudera's hostility, he actually isn't. He hopes Gokudera will back off eventually, but I think it's more likely Gokudera will be in his grave before that happened unless a cataclysmic event of some kind happened.
When it's just me and Takeshi, we usually end up playing baseball. Outside of baseball, Takeshi is goofier than a clown, but when playing a game, he makes Levi, who is the most serious, look like a crack up. Sometimes we just hang out, doing nothing but enjoying the weather and watching clouds go by. I actually got a part time job at Take-Sushi, courtesy of Takeshi, the sushi restaurant that Takeshi's father owns. I can't help but wonder if the name of the shop is how Takeshi got his name. So long as Takeshi doesn't have baseball practice, he and I work the same shifts. Tsuyoshi, Takeshi's father knows I'm a swordsman and only fellow swordsmen are aware of each other. He even quizzed me about it and I had a lot of sidestepping to do. Xanxus has never intimidated me but Tsuyoshi Yamamoto is scary, probably because I've seen him cut fish into perfect little sushi rolls with one slash from a knife but appears just as goofy and easy going as his son. He seems to be the kind of person anyone can get along with so long as you don't get on his bad side; when you do get there, it's not pretty.
I've found myself laughing a lot, and having fun. Since I was five, I haven't laughed much. Hmmm, Xanxus better not have any issues with me continuing school here in Japan otherwise Superbi will be getting a promotion…..As if I could take out Xanxus.