Hello! How is everyone doing? Fantastic, I hope!

I'm sorry for the sudden hiatus recently - I've been in and out of the hospital/doctor's office over the past month, as my health has begun to take a bit of a turn for the worse (it's nothing life threatening, but definitely quite a nuisance). As a result, I haven't had much free time to write, and could only do so in little spurts. Hopefully that hasn't made this chapter too disjointed.

Let me put in a little warning/side note here: There will be slightly mature themes mentioned in this chapter, but I'm keeping the T rating for now, as I don't go into anything explicitly. It's limited to implied illegal sex work and shouldn't be very offensive, but if that is something you might be sensitive to, please take caution.

That aside, I hope this chapter is enjoyable after the long wait!

Tsuna had been surprised when Arlo hadn't so much as tried to throw a suit on him that morning, but instead ushered him directly to the Ninth's office without much explanation. His surprise only grew when he found not only the Ninth within, but Gokudera as well.

"Tenth!" The bomber greeted, looking confused but pleased to see him. "Good morning!"

"Ah, G-good morning," Tsuna tilted his head, still blinking the sleep out of his eyes. "What's going on?"

"I'm sorry to have awoken you early, Tsunayoshi-kun, but I felt that this was important to discuss." The Ninth answered while Gokudera shrugged. "Please have a seat."

"Is something wrong?" Tsuna couldn't keep his brow from wrinkling with worry.

"I looked into your guide's file last night, as promised, and made some…unsettling discoveries."

"Is she an assassin?" Gokudera immediately spat the accusation out as he sat forward, his face contorting in anger. "I swear, if she's here to hurt the Tenth, I'll-"

"Calm down." The Ninth cut him off quickly before the boy could get any more worked up. "You're…correct in a way."

"Wha-?!"

"Let me finish, please. This is a bit complex, and it will be easiest if you would just allow me to explain without interruption." Though he still looked furious, Gokudera reluctantly shut his mouth and sat back in his chair, crossing his arms tensely. "Thank you." The bomber gave a small defiant huff while Tsuna leaned forward.

"What do you mean he's right…?" He asked fearfully. "Is Riko really here to hurt me?"

"No. At least, there doesn't seem to be any evidence to support such a claim. It seems she hasn't been entirely forthcoming with the truth, though. Do you know how old she is?"

"Eh?" Tsuna glanced up, trying to remember if she had ever mentioned anything. "N-no. If I were to guess, eighteen or nineteen maybe?"

"Actually, she's only about a year older than yourself."

"E-eh? She's only sixteen?" Tsuna found it difficult to believe. Sure, some girls bloomed early, but it was usually easy to tell if someone was still a teen. "Are you sure?"

"Unless someone thought altering such trivial information in our records was worth the risk, I'm positive. Her age is precisely what makes these next bits so disconcerting…" The Ninth took a moment to flip through the file silently as he rested his face against his palm, his fingers tapping rhythmically against his cheek. "She's an established hitman."

"What?!" Gokudera couldn't contain the small outburst, but stopped short once again as Tsuna laid a hand on his shoulder. "Tenth…?"

"It's alright," He soothed with a small smile. "I'm safe, don't worry." After a beat, the bomber nodded, allowing his trust in his boss to take over and ease his mind. Satisfied, Tsuna turned his attention back to the Ninth. "What do you mean? Did someone hire her?"

"Yes, but don't worry – your life is not in danger. She's affiliated with the Vongola, by default, as she only works for one individual quite a bit further down the command chain."

"I…see…" Several memories were suddenly resurfacing in Tsuna's mind, framed by an entirely different context. The way she fought, and how easily she ran through the city as though she had done so hundreds of times before; the way her eyes were constantly scanning her surroundings when they were out, and the way she always stayed near an exit when they were indoors. The way she rarely smiled and always looked worn out.

She was just sixteen, and he found himself wondering how many lives she had taken. It should have been a terrifying thought, but it just made him a bit sad. He remembered how she had been bending over to pick something up once, and the hem of her shirt had lifted just enough to give him a glimpse of a gun hilt peeking out of her shorts.

"This is the mafia. Self-defense is mandatory," She had explained curtly when he panicked and asked her about it, but there was something her face that had kept him from pushing the subject. Was it sadness? Regret? Remorse, even? He couldn't say. Despite the fact that there was currently no evidence to support it, though, Tsuna felt certain that Riko was not freely choosing to…kill people. She was cold, but she wasn't a heartless murderer. She just…she couldn't be.

"…Tsunayoshi-kun." As the Ninth called his name, Tsuna's head snapped up, pulling himself out of the storm inside his head. "There's more."

"More…?" A sinking feeling enveloped his stomach as a cold claw of panic tore through his chest.

"I'm only choosing to share this because you seem to care about her. As her friend, I assume you should know this." The old man let out a heavy sigh, suddenly looking several years older as his face took on a disappointed expression. "The girl is currently…earning her keep at a brothel in the city."

"A b-br-?!" Tsuna couldn't even get the word out as he stood abruptly, his chair tilting back and crashing against the ground behind him. "Ah…I-I, um," He scrambled around it, pulling it back upright as he tried to sort through his thoughts. A brothel? She couldn't be working at a brothel, she was sixteen, how could that even be legal, what was she thinking? "I…I need to go… I need to talk to her…this has to be a mistake, so…I'll just talk to her, yeah…" He muttered as he paced around the chair a few more times. "I-I have to go."

"Tenth!" Gokudera called as he rose to follow him out.

"I'm not quite finished." The Ninth said, stopping them in their tracks.

"Not…finished…?" Tsuna turned back to face him slowly, his eyes consumed with horror. "What more can there be…?" The situation was already so disgustingly surreal, Tsuna was afraid to even ask.

"Just a small fact – it seems she hasn't disclosed her full name to you."

"It's…not Riko?"

"Not quite. It's Yuriko." Tsuna opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again when he heard Gokudera let out a small noise, as if the name had stirred a memory. The bomber's brow furrowed as he gave the Ninth a curious look. "…So you do recognize it."

In less than a second, the Storm Guardian went from looking confused to looking shocked.

"Wh-what?" He growled, the shocked expression fluidly melting into one of anger.

"I'm…confused." Tsuna admitted, glancing back and forth between the two of them.

"There's only a small note which mentions your father's name here, Gokudera-kun, but I figured it was enough of a reason to call you in as well."

"E-eh? Gokudera? Do you know Ri…er, I mean…Yuriko?" The bomber's eyes had gone dark.

"…No…" He growled under his breath. Before Tsuna could say anything more, he turned and slammed the doors open, storming out of the office.

"G-gokudera?!" Alarm and confusion were clear in Tsuna's voice as he followed his guardian out. "What's the matter?"

"Aneki!" His raucous voice tore through the halls, ignoring Tsuna's questions. "ANEKI!"

Tsuna stopped, staring at the other boy's back in shock. Gokudera was furious. It was almost as if hearing that name had set him off like a stick of dynamite, catapulting him into a mindless rage. He clearly knew Riko, but Tsuna couldn't begin to guess why she made him so angry.

"What in the world is it, Hayato?" Bianchi walked out of the kitchen just as they passed by, cutting off the bomber's next yell. Her goggles were crooked and she had a smear of mysterious purple sludge on her cheek, her expression clearly exasperated. "I have things on the stove." The thought immediately added a green tinge to the boys' faces, but Gokudera continued forward, pushing his face right into hers. The invasion of personal space didn't seem to help her irritation.

"Would you care to explain why Yuri is a hitman now? Or why she's living in a brothel?" Bianchi's eyes widened as her brother spit the last word out, as though it were venom spattering across her face.

"What?" Shock was evident on her face, but she didn't seem surprised.

"Why the hell isn't she with you?" Gokudera nearly screamed, growing more and more angry as his questions went unanswered. "Isn't she your responsibility?" Bianchi's eyes lifted over Gokudera's face to find Tsuna, standing several feet behind them with confusion and worry written all over his features.

"Calm down, Hayato." She said, attempting to pacify her brother, but doing so verbally was a lost cause. As he began to shout again, she swiftly pulled her goggles off, sending him to the ground in an instant. "Now, let's talk. Grab him, will you?" She told Tsuna as she strode back into the kitchen. Obediently, he rushed to the bomber's side and helped him into the kitchen. "You two sit down. You, take over breakfast." The head chef looked ready to cry tears of joy as she gave him permission to cook a normal meal in place of…whatever it was she had been concocting back there.

"Bianchi, I don't understand. How do you know Riko? I mean…Yuri?" It felt incredibly unnatural to suddenly change the name he used to identify someone.

"I'll explain in a moment," She replied while pulling her goggles back over her face. "First, tell me what Hayato meant just now. How do you know Yuri?"

"She's been my guide…" Tsuna grimaced a bit as recognition spread across her face. This was turning into a train wreck, and he had far more questions than answers at the moment.

"Is that right? I thought there was something familiar about her…"

"The Ninth called us both into his office this morning after looking at her file," Tsuna began to explain in a rush. He had to start clearing something up, and this was the only thing he could offer. "He told us that she's a hitman for a lower member in the family, and that she's earning her keep at a brothel."

"That child is…?" Bianchi looked down in thought. "I wasn't expecting that."

"Why isn't she with you?" Gokudera reiterated as he struggled to lift his face off of the table's surface. "You don't even look surprised."

"Hayato, she's been gone for years. She disappeared around the same time you left us."

"What?" Judging by his expression, this was not the reply he had been expecting.

"She just vanished. She didn't come back one day, and she hasn't been seen since. I don't know what else to tell you."

"And you didn't look for her?"

"Of course I looked," Bianchi snapped. "But I can only do so much on my own, especially when I'm left to pick up the pieces you left behind."

Now it was Gokudera's turn to take offense.

"What do you mean on your own? And just what did I leave behind? All anyone ever expected of me was to study and become some sort of prodigal pianist, like some kind of whipped-"

"Enough." Bianchi slammed her hand down onto the table, causing both boys to flinch. "You left, Hayato. I'm not saying I don't understand your reasons, or that I don't respect and support your decision, but you just left. You never gave an explanation or a reason. I understand your feelings, but you are still your father's son. You were the one everyone expected to take over the family, but I was expected to take your place when you left. Honestly, with you suddenly running away, do you think he would waste any resources trying to find a servant? Of course I had to search for her all by myself!"

"I…" For once, Gokudera looked speechless as he struggled to hold on to his anger, but only succeeded in stifling a look of shame.

"With all the commotion in the house, I could only assume she had used the situation as a chance to run away. Does it occur to you that maybe she prefers this to living with our mess of a family? Maybe your disappearing was just the last straw, after everything she dealt with?"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Gokudera's voice was barely more than a vicious growl, dangerous and threatening. The tension in the room was becoming unbearable.

"Would you two stop fighting?!" Tsuna yelled loudly, his tone slicing through the charged atmosphere. "Someone please explain this to me, I don't care who!"

"T-tenth…" He was still tense with anger and adrenalin, but Gokudera looked more like a kicked puppy now. Taking a deep breath, Bianchi rested her chin on her fingers, exhaling slowly.

"Why are we even talking about this?" She asked, causing Tsuna's eyes to widen in surprise. "It's surprising that she's a hitman, yes, but that's considered a prestigious title around here, especially for someone of her status. It demands fear and respect. This lifestyle you mentioned…it may just be what she wants for herself-"

"It's not." Tsuna cut in firmly. "I can't say how, but I just know that it isn't. We're talking about this because she's my friend, whether her name is Riko or Yuri, whether I've known her for a month or a year, I don't care. She's treated me well and I know she's not a bad person, and if what we've learned is true…anyone deserves better than what she's living with right now. You two have clearly known her for longer, but she's my friend too. You don't have the right to just cut me out of this conversation." His face was serious and his voice confident, but his hands were trembling in his lap. He wasn't the type to put his foot down and make demands of other people, but there was a limit to even his patience and tolerance.

"Tenth…" Gokudera stared at him in shock for a moment before turning to bow deeply. "I'm sorry! You're right. I wasn't taking you into consideration at all. Please forgive me!" Again and again, he bowed with such fervor that Tsuna began to worry he might get whiplash.

"Hmm…" Bianchi hummed, and Tsuna hesitantly turned to face her, expecting her to be angry. To his surprise, she was actually smiling. "I suppose that is why you've been chosen as the heir. Your flame's really showing."

"Eh? What? It is?" As Tsuna began to frantically pat at his forehead in alarm, she chuckled.

"I mean metaphorically. You remember what the role of a sky boss is, right?"

"Er…"

"Rain, Storm, Cloud, Sun, Mist, and Lightning," Gokudera recited easily. "He influences all of them. He understands and accepts all of them. I see…as expected of the tenth!"

"You're already doing your job as the boss," Bianchi explained as Tsuna's confusion persisted. "You've only known Yuri for a month, and from what little I've heard, she's been difficult to get along with. But you understand her. You accept her. She's a member of the Vongola, a member of the family that you're to inherit, and you're willing to do what's necessary to make sure she's safe…right?"

"Of course…" Tsuna murmured, looking down. "But…"

"That's all a family can ask of its boss. Of course you're not expected to take responsibility for the entire city, and you won't be for some time…but you seem to have what it takes to do so."

"Of course he does!" Gokudera snapped. "I knew that all along! The Tenth is amazing!"

"In any case, I apologize as well. You deserve to be included." She continued, ignoring her brother. "It will take a little bit of explaining for you to understand our relationship with her."

"Our…?" Gokudera asked with narrowed eyes.

"Yes," She replied without looking at him. "Ours. Now, Tsuna, you understand that there are multiple mafia families, both large and small, right?"

"Ah, yes," He nodded.

"When we were younger, one of our father's closest friends was the boss of a very small mafia family, the Consiglio. They were small, but still wealthy, and their mansion was well staffed. One of their servants was a young woman, an immigrant from Japan – this was Yuri's mother. Unfortunately, a fire broke out in the mansion – whether it was an assassination attempt on the boss or just an accident, we still don't know. Either way, the fire successfully claimed the life of the Consiglio family's boss, as well as several other servants', Yuri's mother included."

"What about her father?" Tsuna asked.

"She never knew him," Bianchi said with a shrug.

"So she was orphaned?"

"Yes. She probably would have ended up homeless…but the Consiglio Boss's will left the majority of his property to our father, including the help that had been under his employment. Though she hadn't technically been employed, Yuri ended up with us anyways. She was only a child, so of course she stood out to me when we were presented with the new lineup. I was interested in her, and couldn't see her handling the standard level of housework that would be required. So I asked my father to assign her as my own personal servant. When I learned that she had lost her mother, I felt inclined to fill the role."

"So you took care of her?"

"As well as I could. I was still young at the time as well, of course. I made some…" She glanced away, looking slightly bashful. "Immature decisions. She probably saw me as more of an older sister, actually. She was a sweet child, though. Her social skills were lacking, incredibly shy around anyone that she didn't know, but always very kind. She couldn't hold a grudge to save her life, or even get angry for that matter. She was eager to please, bright, inquisitive-"

"She was annoying." Gokudera cut in.

"Eh?" Tsuna was already stunned by Bianchi's description of the girl, but the wild discrepancy between the siblings only served to confuse him further. With another sigh, Bianchi continued her explanation.

"Hayato was always running off and causing trouble when he was younger. I was constantly worried, but I couldn't always keep an eye on him. So I would usually ask Yuri to, and she grew to be very good at the job."

"Goody-two-shoes tattletale…" Gokudera grumbled. "She would follow me around looking like a pathetic dog and then snitch on me whenever I tried to do anything. Annoying pain in the-"

"That's enough, Hayato." Bianchi chastised sternly. "Is that really what you thought of her all that time? Most of that was out of a misplaced sense of loyalty to me. Half the time, her 'tattling' kept you from hurting yourself. She kept you company when you were being tutored, and waited outside the door for your piano lessons-"

"I didn't ask her to do any of that." Gokudera continued to glower, crossing his arms defensively.

"You didn't have to. Honestly, Hayato, are you really so clueless? She was trying to be your friend."

"Why would she want to do that?"

"You were literally the only other child she had ever seen that was her own age. You had the freedom to go out and play, to get whatever toys you wanted; she only knew what it felt like to stay inside all day, be it as a servant or a servant's daughter. You probably looked like the most fun she had ever seen, and she genuinely wanted to be friends. Had that thought ever occurred to you?"

"…" The bomber glared at her, but only tightened his jaw as he averted his eyes. Tsuna cleared his throat hesitantly in an attempt to break the tension. He had the feeling that very little of this was actually about Yuri, but their entire history before Tsuna had even met the storm guardian, and he didn't feel comfortable invading such an intimate exchange.

"So what…happened to her?" This seemed to pull the bomber out of his anger, as he lifted his eyes back to them in interest. This was technically the question he had been trying to get answered all along.

"I can't say," Bianchi looked disturbed at this point. "There was a time when Hayato decided he wanted to join the mafia. As usual, I sent Yuri to look after him when I couldn't. She just…never came back." Tsuna's face paled as she spoke, quietly piecing things together in his head. The girl goes missing while following Gokudera into the mafia and shows up years later as a hitman? The connection between the two was obvious, which only left the question of why she was living in a brothel.

With a quick glance at the grandfather clock sitting at the end of the room, Tsuna pushed his chair out and stood.

"The only thing to do is ask her directly, then. She should be getting here soon, so…" The thought made him nervous. This wouldn't be an easy subject to broach, but his mind was made.

"I'll…I'll go with you," Gokudera said, moving to stand as well, but Tsuna held up a hand.

"I think it might be better if it's just me for now, Gokudera." The bomber looked hesitant, but sat back down with a nod.

"I understand, Tenth."

"Tsuna," Lifting his face, Tsuna turned to look at Bianchi. "Would you at least see if she might be willing to come in? I'd…like to see her."

"I'll do my best." He was skeptical, but figured it would be worth a shot.

"Thank you." With a nod, he waved goodbye and left them to make his way towards the foyer. As he exited the mansion and jogged down the front steps, he was surprised to see two figures standing out by the gate. His eyes widened as he got closer, able to make out their facial features.

"Oi, Sawada! You missed an extreme run!" The boxer was standing tall and proud, looking alive and rejuvenated. By his side, however, Riko…er, Yuri…was bent over at the waist with a hand against the wall, still struggling to catch her breath. Lifting her head just enough to glance up at him, she was only able to raise her other hand in a feeble wave, wincing as her side cramped up.

"I'm, uh…sure I did." Stepping in closer, he spoke in a low voice so that only the sun guardian could hear him. "Listen, there's something I need to discuss with her right now, and it's probably best done in private." Ryohei gave him a questioning look, but nodded.

"Understood! Riko! I'll see you tomorrow!" He yelled as he starting running backwards up the path. Again, she only lifted a hand weakly as her method of response, sliding down against the wall to sit. As the boxer turned around and left them, Tsuna approached her with a worried look.

"You actually went on a run with him?"

"I…said I would…didn't I?" She answered between breaths.

"Yes, but…" Tsuna was incredulous, reaching out to support her as she got back onto her legs shakily. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine," She panted, though she looked pale and dehydrated. "I just need to walk it off."

"If you're sure…" Turning around, she began to pace slowly along the outer length of the wall. "Um…Riko? Can I ask you something?" Glancing over her shoulder, she motioned for him to walk alongside her.

"Go ahead."

"I, um...you never told me you were a hitman." The moment the word left his mouth, she came to a stop, panting lightly. Tsuna's heart hammered away in his chest as he waited for her reaction, but she just started walking again. She didn't even look surprised.

"You never asked." She replied simply. "I am curious about how you found out, though."

"Oh, um…" It probably wasn't a good idea to tell her that they were snooping into her file because they had suspected her of being an assassin sent to kill him. "The Ninth told me."

"I see." There was a moment of silence. She kept her eyes forward, refusing to look at him, and he could tell she was being especially careful not to reveal any emotions. He had noticed over time that whenever she wanted to hide, the muscles around her eyes would tighten. It was a subtle shift, but incredibly obvious when he knew what to look for.

"…" He opened his mouth and took a breath, planning to rush through the next question as quickly as he could, but found himself unable to get the words out.

"…what is it?" She asked hesitantly. Tsuna glanced down, clenching his hands into fists as he steeled himself once more.

"Why didn't you tell me you were living in a brothel?" He saw her feet suddenly come to a stop and lifted his face to look at her, suppressing a flinch as he did. He was able to see the whites of her eyes with how wide they were, teeth clenched so tightly that the muscles of her jaw were rippling. She looked horrified…no – terrified.

"…I…" Her lips were moving in an attempt to form words, but she had literally frozen in place. "How…?"

"The Ninth has a file on you." Tsuna said in an attempt to explain, unsure of how he should be handling her reaction. He had never seen her look so…volatile.

"No…that shouldn't…"

"I-it's alright…" Worried, he didn't even think through what he was saying. "Yuri?"

The entire situation fell apart too quickly for him to comprehend as soon as her real name had left his mouth.

First, she flinched backwards, as if he had sent a jolt of electricity through her when he touched her shoulder, before the mixture of emotions that had been battling across her face settled into one single expression:

Rage.

With a strangled scream, she lunged at him, wrapping her fingers around his throat and slamming him against the wall. He let out a low grunt as he collided with the bricks behind him, instinctively reaching up to clutch and yank at her wrists, but her grip was too firm.

"Why do you know that name?" She hissed, her eyes wild. "What do you know? What do you know about me?"

Adrenalin was surging through his veins and he felt the urge to strike out at her, but Tsuna forced himself to remain calm. Her thumbs were digging into his throat, but she wasn't applying nearly enough pressure to pose any danger – it was uncomfortable, but he could breathe just fine. Her goal here wasn't to kill him, or even to hurt him. It was a defense mechanism, the way an animal would lash out just enough to cause damage but not death in order to escape. She was feeling threatened.

"I know that your full name is Yuriko." He forced out, still able to talk, though the sound was slightly wheezy. "I know that two members of my family were your family at one point too. I know that whatever you're doing right now…working as a hitman or a brothel worker…isn't your choice. And I know that it isn't your fault. I know that I want to help you."

Her fingers were slowly loosening, making it easier for him to speak calmly, soothingly. She still looked panicked, but not angry. Her face was close enough that he could feel her ragged breath on his cheek and see the saltwater resting along her lower eyelid. Slowly, her fingers loosened and her hands fell from his throat, tangling into her hair instead as she took deep, steadying breaths.

"…what's your name?" He finally asked, hesitant. The question seemed silly after she had just tried to strangle him, but it felt like the most important one to ask at the moment. She squeezed her eyes shut, making fists in her hair.

"…Yuri," She whispered, like it was a treasured secret. "It's always been Yuri."

"Why did you change it?" Tsuna kept his voice low to match hers. He didn't want to risk setting her off again.

"There are bad people in the world, Tenth," Opening her eyes, she gave him a pitifully pleading look, begging him to understand. "Corrupt, dirty…and I'm one of them. My name is the only thing left of me that's clean...unstained."

"…What happened to you?" She shook her head, lips pressed into a thin line, making it clear that she wouldn't answer the question. Tsuna decided to switch back to another line of questioning rather than pushing her. "Why didn't you tell me any of this? Why lie?"

"If this was the person that you were," She spoke slowly, gesturing down at herself. "Would you tell people? Would you be able to look someone in the eye and say, 'I am stuck in this place, forced to do these things, because I'm too weak to make a difference'?" She turned around so that Tsuna could barely hear her next words. "Have you ever felt ashamed to exist?"

He had no answer to that. But he wasn't about to leave her in this state.

"I think there's a lot that we need to talk about," He suggested gently, resting his fingers on her elbows to guide her forward. "Would you be willing to come inside and sit down?" He paused, thinking of Bianchi's request. "Bianchi and Gokudera would like to see you."

She flinched at the sound of their names.

"I don't…" She looked panicked, but unsure. It suddenly occurred to him that she had been hoping to see them all this time. Her reaction to his dinner invite when he had first arrived to Italy suddenly made much more sense.

"Please? They've been worried."

"Have they?" Her tone was skeptical, and the look she was giving him suggested blatant incredulity. It wasn't hard to tell what she was hinting at.

"Well…Bianchi has been worried."

"That sounds a little more believable." She scoffed, sounding more like her usual self as she quietly recovered from her outburst. Tsuna had to wonder just how normal that self was, though. "They know about me, then?"

"Yes." She was trying hard to keep her mask on, but Tsuna could see that she was afraid. "They just want to know that you're alright. Won't you at least do that much?"

"If I do," She glanced away. "It might not go the way you're expecting it to. Things have changed. I'm not…I'm not the same. What if they don't…?" She had to swallow, unable to speak her mind any further.

"I think you need to give them more credit than that."

"…" He took her silence to mean compliance and started leading the way back to the HQ. A few seconds later, he could hear her footsteps following after him.

"Tenth," One of the men stationed out front gave him a questioning look. "Is something the matter?"

"We're just having a small change of plans today. Is it alright if she comes in with me?"

"We're not permitted to-"

"Can you, um…make an exception? We need a bit of privacy to talk, and she's not a threat." The guard looked unsure. "She's a member of the Vongola," Tsuna suddenly remembered. "The Ninth confirmed it with me this morning. She's cleared." He didn't sound nearly as confident as he had been hoping to, but it seemed to be enough.

"Of course, Tenth," Stepping aside, the large man allowed them access to the entrance. Tsuna turned around and waved Yuri in, who climbed the steps timidly. She cast the guard a cautious glance as they passed by the guard, physically bending over sideways just to put more space in between them.

Slowly, Tsuna led her into the mansion as he searched for his friends. They had since left the kitchen and they weren't in the foyer, so he had to look into the other individual rooms. It didn't take long to hear Gokudera's angry voice drifting down the hall, leaving Tsuna thankful of the boy's short temper for once. As they got closer, he could hear that the siblings were arguing again, though their words were too difficult to make out through the thick door. They stopped as soon as his knuckles made contact with the wood, and he opened the door slowly.

"A-am I interrupting something…?" He asked tentatively as he stuck his head in.

"Of course not, Tenth!" Gokudera answered immediately, jumping to his feet.

"No, it's fine," Bianchi agreed simultaneously from where she was seated. "What do you need?"

Tsuna stepped back out to look at Yuri, whose worry was showing much more clearly now. She glanced back the way she had come, as if considering running away. Reaching out, Tsuna offered her his hand, trying to look as reassuring as he could. She stared at it for a moment before lifting her own hand. Wrapping her fingers around his palm, she squeezed so tightly that he could feel the muscles in her arm trembling with stress. He didn't try to push or pull her – he simply stood and allowed her to hang on to him, like a drowning person would cling to a life ring. When she finally let go, she looked calm and grounded, and he gave a satisfied nod before stepping into the room.

"I've brought someone," He said with a nervous smile, and turned to wave her in. Slowly, she stepped around behind him, keeping her eyes on the ground. As she came into view, Bianchi stood abruptly, scattering a pile of papers across the floor. "Um…m-meet Yuri…again," He introduced lamely. Beside him, she glanced up hesitantly and took a deep breath, trying to square her shoulders.

"It's…" Her voice was little more than a whisper. "Been awhile."

"Too long." Bianchi said, smiling affectionately. "It's good to finally see you again." Carelessly kicking aside the papers she had dropped, she sat back down on the couch, leaving more than enough room for another person. She gave the spot next to her a few inviting little pats when Yuri didn't move, but with another encouraging nudge from Tsuna, the girl stepped forward.

She was staring at the siblings warily, as if they might bite her if she got too close. The way the room was arranged, she had to pass by Gokudera in order to reach the couch, and he hadn't spoken a word since she appeared. She tried to give herself a wide berth, but he cleared his throat as she passed, making her pause.

Though she seemed intent on keeping her eyes forward, she allowed them to flick to the side, towards him. As soon as he saw her glance at him, he diverted his gaze and crossed his arms, unsure of what to say.

"…young master Hayato." She broke the silence, dipping her head in greeting. The title seemed to startle him. A small sound escaped his throat as he took a small step back, giving her a strange look, but she had already started moving again. Even Tsuna was surprised to hear her address him that way, although it was in line with the story Bianchi had told him earlier that morning. After seeing her consistently disregard formalities around him, Tsuna hadn't expected to ever hear her speak those words.

"Are you alright?" The moment she sat down, Bianchi had Yuri's face in her hands. "When Tsuna told me what you've been doing…"

"Please," Grabbing Bianchi's wrists, she pulled away gently. "Don't."

"…So," Gokudera broke the silence before it had the chance to stagnate around them. "You're an official hitman now? That's…impressive." Tsuna felt the urge to cringe as the Bomber struggled to make conversation, forcing the words through his teeth. "How did that happen?"

"By chance, mostly," Yuri stared at her hands as she spoke, watching herself pick at her nails. "It's really more of a…part-time thing." Something in her voice suggested that even she wasn't entirely convinced by those words.

"How did you end up working for the Tenth?"

"I was hired. The requirement called for a guide that was bi-lingual, fluent in both Italian and Japanese. There aren't many that fit that description within the mafia – they aren't exactly fond of 'oriental half-breeds'," Glancing up, she shot him a knowing look. "A fact I'm sure you're intimately familiar with." It didn't take much to offend the boy, but a quick look from Tsuna had him restraining himself from lashing out at her.

"But you got into the Vongola," He said, voice quivering with forced calm.

"Right," Bianchi spoke up. "I'm amazed we never realized that you were a member of the family." For the first time, Yuri smiled, but it was wry and dark.

"'Member'," She repeated, making quotes with her fingers as she scoffed. "You say that like I'm one of you, but I'm not. All of you…you're mafia members. You joined this family of your own volition. Me…I'm nothing more than property. I'm owned by the Vongola."

"Wha-" Tsuna leaned forward, unsure of what to make of that. "What do you mean?"

"You see these clothes I'm wearing? Have you ever seen me wear anything else?" She looked down at herself, mouth twisting into a frown. "Red shirt, black shorts…that's the uniform."

"Uniform?"

"Of the brothel." The word slid out from between her teeth like a hiss, silencing the three of them. "When I go outside, this is what I have to wear. I can barely get away with wearing a coat most of the time." Shifting, she sat so that the dark tattoo on her thigh was well displayed, tracing the outline lightly with her fingers. "This is a brand. All the workers are marked this way. It shows that we belong to the business. When we're out, we display this, and anyone that sees it will know where to find us if we've…sparked an interest. It's 'good for business'," Her fingers moved to the top of the tattoo, ending just under her hip. "This little add-on here is unique to me. A Vongola's branding. I have to show it when I'm doing work related to the mafia – escorting the heir through the city, for instance. It's like my own personal 'Busy – try again later' sign." She let out a bitter laugh. "I'm just property, a piece of meat to be owned and used as needed. That's all I've ever been. The only thing that changes is the family name."

Once again, she had driven the room into complete silence. Tsuna could hear his pulse pounding in his ears as he stared at her in shock. Another memory had resurfaced as she was talking, of the first day she had met him and taken him to the café – the eerie man at the back of the room staring at them with an intense gaze, the way she had seemed desperate for a longer pair of pants…the sudden realization of what he had witnessed that day made his skin crawl.

"Yuri," Bianchi had a pained look on her face as she laid her hand gingerly atop the girl's. "Just…tell me…did you choose to leave us? Were you running away when you disappeared?" It didn't take hyper-intuition to see that the look of horror on Yuri's face was genuine.

"Of course not," She whispered, as if the thought alone was taboo. "I would never…why would you even think that?" This seemed to put Bianchi at ease, and she exhaled as though she had been holding her breath.

"That's all I needed to know. Boys," She turned to the two of them. "I'd like to have some time alone with her. Would you mind giving us the room?"

"O-of course," Tsuna said as he stood a bit too eagerly, Gokudera doing the same. Honestly, he wouldn't know what to say and was glad to have an excuse to escape. "Take your time. I-I'll see you later," He told Yuri with an encouraging smile.

She failed to return it, just giving him a tired nod. As Gokudera stepped out behind him, Tsuna allowed the door to shut, although it remained open just a crack.

"Are you alright?" He turned to ask the bomber with genuine concern.

"A-ah," Gokudera responded brightly, although his smile was forced. "I'm fine, Tenth! I'm just…confused," The smile slowly slid from his face as he leaned up against the wall. "How did she end up like…that?"

"I don't know," Tsuna replied, shaking his head as he rested against the wall beside his friend. "She doesn't seem eager to share the story." Pushing his fingers into his hair, he let out a heavy sigh. "She's clearly not choosing this, though."

He couldn't just sit by and watch this happen…but if she wasn't going to tell them anything, how could he help her? The only thing he could think of…there was a file that held nearly all of her information, and it was just sitting on the Ninth's desk. Suddenly, that little manila folder held far more importance than it had that morning. Of course, he couldn't just ask the Ninth to set everything aside for him to play sleuth…but he could at least ask for a copy of the file.

Pushing off from the wall, he moved to close the door properly, peeking in as he did so. He could tell Bianchi was doing most of the talking, while Yuri just stared at the ground and wrung her hands, blinking frequently. After a moment, Bianchi opened her arms, pulling the younger girl into a tight embrace. It barely took any time for Yuri to wrap her arms around Bianchi's torso, fingers twisting into the cloth of her shirt. There was a certain desperation to the hug, hands trembling as she buried her face in the other's shoulder, clinging like this was the last hug she would ever receive – or maybe the first one she'd had in far too long.

Not wanting to intrude, Tsuna hastily shut the door the rest of the way. He was gripping the handle of the door so tightly that his knuckles were white. Yes, there was nothing that said he couldn't take the file and look through it himself. This was his own decision, a problem that he was making his own, and he didn't have to rely on the Ninth. He would take the situation into his own hands. After all, wasn't that what a boss was supposed to do?

A/N: And there we have it, a good chunk of the mystery revealed!

Let me just say this very quickly: I don't intend for this to be angsty, and I'm sorry if it's coming across that way. As a character, I honestly don't want Yuri to be defined by a sob story (which is why I'm trying to cram as much of it as I can into one chapter). I mean for this to be a story of growth and development, mainly Tsuna's, but as a general theme. Through Yuri, Tsuna will be able to take the first step towards becoming and accepting his role as the Vongola boss. As for how, you'll just have to wait and see ;) But for those of you rolling your eyes and going "Oh boy, it's one of those"...I assure you the story won't stay this way.

With that said, thank you all for reading and following along, as always! I really appreciate the support, especially since my various health issues have been getting me kind of down lately. I'm excited to be able to post another chapter, and hopefully hear from a lot of you! Until next time, stay happy, healthy, and safe!