Owl, Horse, Shark!

Disclaimer: I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Note: Italics are thoughts in 1st person, italics in square brackets are short flashbacks in first person.

Chapter 9: Enemies and Allies

Dino and Minerva sat in class, still not listening to Signor Fesso though. Instead, they waited for Squalo. It had been a few days since Minerva visited Dino and found out about his training with Reborn, the sun Arcobaleno and the 9th Vongola's most trusted assassin. Everyday that passed without Squalo was the same – quiet, too quiet.

All they knew that Squalo would get out of hospital one morning. They didn't say which one though. That's why they didn't both visiting him, he would come to school and they wouldn't have to have their hearts hurt any longer.

…

"Are you sure we shouldn't visit him? We haven't gone since the day after you got out…." Dino's voice echoed in the ballroom.

"You're gonna have to go without me…." Minerva sounded really sad.

"Huh, why?"

Minerva sighed, "When I visited you the day I got out of hospital when I went home, I had was given an earful from my Dad and his right hand man, Amico. They talked about how I can't talk to you outside of school because the Saggezza and Cavallone are enemies…."

"What about when you become Boss, us two can make an alliance?"

"That's years away, Dino," Minerva bluntly stated. "I'm talking about now. So far all I can do is lie and it won't be a matter of time until they realise what I'm doing…."

"Wait…what if you and Squalo lie, but you don't mention anything about me?" Dino suggested.

"That could work….."

…

"Superbi Squalo already left at midday, sorry about that," the doctor walked off into a hospital room. Dino looked at Minerva, "Do you think he'd be at his house? Why don't we go there?"

"I don't actually know where it is…."

"But aren't you two childhood friends?" Dino asked.

"We'll see him tomorrow at school…don't worry about it…" Minerva's hair shadowed her eyes, and she didn't even have a fringe. Dino gave her a concerned look, "Minerva are you ok? You're acting really weird today and you're…pale…" Minerva suddenly turned around and walked out of the hospital.

…

"Reborn, before we start, can I ask you something?" Dino sat at his desk looking down at one of his textbooks.

"What is it?" Reborn sat down on top of the pile of books and faced Dino.

"I'm really worried about Minerva…she's been acting really weird today…."

"It's probably got something to do with you," Reborn bluntly replied.

"Like what? What is there about me that would concern her so much?"

"Probably the fact that you're going to be the 10th Cavallone Boss soon. The Saggezza are your enemies, if they knew about you they would come after you and kill you. Then the Cavallone would be left without an heir," Reborn explained.

Minerva lay on top of her bed, holding on to the edge of the blanket as she buried her face into her arms. The royal purple blanket dulled into a darker purple with every tear drop that dripped on it. Only minutes before did she begin to cry about being fully plunged into a world of violence and darkness.

*FLASHBACK*

Minerva sat on the purple sofa listening to Amico mourn and grieve. She only looked down at her hands that were fisted into balls and sat on her thighs. "Oh how great of a man your father was…but now…he is dead…" His voice annoyed her to the core of her mind.

He's dead…whatever…I don't even care…

"The Vongola…the Cavallone, Beccio, Bovino, Giegue, the LeiLei Brothers, Difo, Nuevo, Trad 6 and countless other mafia families are our enemies…your enemies, Miner-"

"FOR GOD'S SAKE AMICO, SHUT UP!" she snapped and stood up from her seat and the whole of the Saggezza stared at her. "GET IT TOGETHER, DAD'S DEAD. THERE'S NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT! MOURN FOR A BIT, GET THE HELL UP AND MOVE ON!"

"You are truly our future boss…." Someone suddenly chuckled. Minerva turned around and saw a man with curly black hair and a cigar leaning on the door. Everyone stood up and then dropped to their knees, "We knew you were prepared, Boss."

Minerva stepped back, "No…I'm not…"

"Tomorrow we will drop you out of Pace Mafia School and we'll take you to the inheritance ceremony," the man at the door said.

"What?! Tomorrow?! But that….no…" Minerva couldn't believe it. What's going on?! I'm only 15…

"Ah, tomorrow is your 16th birthday isn't it? Becoming the 10th Saggezza Boss is a wonderful present, isn't it?" Amico looked up to the ceiling and laughed.

Minerva turned around and leaped over the sofa and ran straight towards her room. That's right, tomorrow is my 16th birthday but…this isn't how it's supposed to work! I'm supposed to go to school, see my two best friends, celebrate my birthday in the ballroom and in the classroom like a normal 16 year old. Being plunged into the Mafia World isn't a birthday present at all! That's like a direct sign saying that your life will change forever….

I won't be able to see them again…ever…Minerva raced up the stairs, Dino and Squalo…I want to be with them forever…she pushed down the doorknob, I want to be young…I can't take on something like that…the door swung open, I won't become the next Saggezza Boss…and then she shut the door with a loud bang.

*FLASHBACK END*

She only had about 15 hours left…15 hours of her normal life and it'd all be gone. She had to do something….an idea suddenly flashed in her mind:

["That's why I'm planning on running away," my reply seemed surprised everyone in the room.

"Then what?" Reborn wasn't the one bit surprised though.

"I'll do what I want. I dunno yet but when it comes down to it I'll think of something."

"Your father won't be too happy. Your current decision may just cause an all out war," Reborn warned me.

"It's not like he cares about me anyway. All he wants is an heir. He won't admit it, but I can tell. Everyone else respects him too much."

Reborn chuckled, "What is there about him to respect him for?"

"Exactly."]

If she was going to run away, that was the best time to do it. At midnight, she'd run away. But where would she go….?

Dino's place. It was her only choice.

AAAAAAAND HERE'S CHAPTER 9! School starts tomorrow….noooooo! My first period is double science! Aaaaaahhh! Noooo! AAAAND I discovered ANOTHER band today. It's called Acid Black Cherry – they're so awesome! The vocalist is so cool! And his hairstyle in Fuyu no Maboroshi looked like Mukuro's! He also had an eyepatch! He was like half Chrome half Mukuro! It was so cool though! Every single sentence in this message so far ended with an exclamation mark, including this one! LOL!

Please review! :D