News: Caomhnoir now has its own Deviant Art group~! A link has been provided on my profile page, and to make sure there is no confusion my pen name here: SilverMononoke, is the same on Deviant Art.

I've also updated my profile: it has a new feature! called the 'Credit corner' where I tell what I don't own in this story~

In other news I just finished reading all the way to the most recently added chapter of the Katekyo Hitman Reborn Manga~ It is amazing, a real shame that the anime is on a permanent hiatus for an undetermined amount of time. Right now I'm waiting for more chapters to be released so I can learn more about the Arcobaleno so I don't do what a lot people have done and just say that Verde had magically found a way to revert all of them back into their adult forms without explaining the process How, and How he knew that it would work. Seriously

Some of your reactions to this story's reappearance is greatly amusing :D. I especially like when you leave me squees, nya's, kyaa's, and smiley faces~~ You know who you are~.

I believe that is all the announcements for this particular week~~


"Action and reaction, ebb and flow, trial and error, change—this is the rhythm of living. Out of our over-confidence, fear; out of fear, clearer vision, fresh hope. And out of hope, Progress."

-Bruce Barton


After a quick shower and a change into uniform Ashlynn was on her way one morning to Namimori High. After only a few days in attendance she found her new school to be rather lacking in the sports department. She had no problems academically but it was a big disappointment as a person being physically active. And things she would have been interested in under normal circumstances were dismissed in favor of what she would soon be doing when she wasn't at work or hanging out with Ran.

Kendo: One of the very popular sports in school was for males. It had never occurred to anyone that a girl could join since not a single one had ever joined the ranks before. While it wasn't a real problem there was just a feeling when she stayed to watch some of their practice. She would bet that the moment that she joined she would be immediately be carted off to be the equipment manager or something else mundane.

Baseball: She was an American, of course she liked baseball but when she asked the team manager if they had female players that actually played on the boys team or if there was a fast pitch softball for the girls of the school. The poor boy had stared at her in confused silence. Not to mention the many glares from the baseball teams many fangirls when she took the manager aside to ask her questions. Once again it has never occurred to have a co-ed team or a separate team for softball. Ashlynn decided to cut her loss with this one and contented herself with the fact that she could still play when it came around in gym.

Boxing: She didn't have too much interest beyond that it was a fighting style. She supposed she wouldn't mind learning a few moves but other than that it wasn't something that she wanted to spend too much time on.

Volleyball: There was a girls team along with a male one for this sport but they already had all positions and alternates filled and they had a camp session that she had missed out on.

Wrestling: She was a bit surprised when she heard about this one but it was for the males of the school and she didn't want to be the first of her sex to join it. Too much testosterone for her taste.

There weren't any others that were worth mentioning that she'd want to join and the ones that she found herself interested in ,well, it was hard to find something would be okay with her missing meetings because she worked most days after school. Once she stopped to really think about it; Ashlynn realized that whatever time she had after school was taken over by work, spending time with Birdy and Dolly, Ran, and with Tsuna and his growing family. She had no doubts that the time with Tsuna and the boys would be gradually become more and more of a commitment.

"It's a good thing then that I didn't really go in and join any clubs..It would have been a shame to join and then have to quit because I can't manage my time. And I know that I really don't have all that much...Was it a full year when Tsuna fights Mukuro...?' Ashlynn sighed. It was the right decision considering her circumstances. But she did need to train but working a team up from scratch at the same time would tire her out when she could be focusing more on her own progress. The only way a team would benefit her was if they were already at a manageable level and could be brought up to speed fast enough.

She knew that Reborn was going to have Tsuna join her in the mornings and she really would enjoy the company. She would eventually invite the other boys when the were more comfortable with her being around. She wondered if Reborn would give any advice of what kind of weapon she should use and maybe give her some instruction on how to use it properly.

Ashlynn opened the sliding door of her homeroom class and paused at the irritable atmosphere and quietly shut the door behind her and made a beeline fore her and Ran's desks. She quickly and easily found Ran waiting for her hopping on the soles of her feet and when the other girl noticed her Ran motioned happily to a high sugar and energy drink in her hand as if she was advertising for a commercial.

"I'm so hyper this morning!" Ran cried ecstatically with a goofy grin.

Ashlynn set down her bag and stared at her only friend in high school for a moment before glancing at the energy drink and then back to her friend with a growing smile. "But it's not even opened yet, sweetie. Did you have one before this one?" She pointed out for the girl who immediately looked down with wide eyes and found that, yes, the drink hadn't been opened yet.

"Whoa~ Am I like, hyper off of some kind of atmosphere...? I didn't have one earlier this morning...Well, bottom's up!" Ran wondered before shrugging and opened the can and chugged down its contents, much to the class's chagrin. If she was hyper and hyper before she opened the damn thing then Ran plus lots of sugar was going to be doubly annoying.

"So what did you do when you got home yesterday? I ended up cleaning out the dark recesses of the abyss which just so happens to be my closet. Auntie has been nagging for awhile for me to finally get around to doing it". Ran asked tossing the now empty can in the nearest trash can.

Ashlynn huffed. "I had to literally force my paper from Birdy's (My Landlady's daughter, Ran. Not an actual bird. Birdy is her nickname.) She kept reading over my shoulder when I was working on it and was criticizing my 'lack of creative ability and focus'. And whenever I left the room I would come back and find her erasing parts and adding new pieces in. It's kinda sad that a first year in primary is more concerned over the quality of writing than I am."

"Oh no~ I forgot that was due today!" Ran whined just remembering the particular assignment. She slumped into her seat. "Hey Ashlynn? Did you finish it? please say that you didn't? Tell me that the little bird took it while you weren't looking and decided to make more revisions and you can't turn it in today~."

Ashlynn shook her head. "Nope, I finished mine and I do have it with me. Sorry Ran, maybe someone else in class decided to be lazy and not do it. All you really had to do was write ten pages worth of anything you felt like. The Teach hardly cares for homework assignments and you'll get a passing grade so long as you have something written down. You might have just enough time to scribble something down before his class starts."

Ashlynn snickered as Ran's eyes widened comically before grabbing for her notebook and start writing whatever first came to mind. It was true though, Ashlynn mused; their literature teacher only really cared to check notes, quizzes/tests, and exams. Anything else could have all answers wrong and he'd still give the person a passing grade on the assignment.

"I guess," Ran pulled a loose hair behind her ear. "I could make a quick one shot story...and my handwriting isn't really tiny like some people."

"My handwriting isn't small."

Ran smirked. "Yes it is Ashlynn. You need a magnifying glass to be able to read your writing."

"Get to work on your paper, Ran."

"Fine, fine. What are you doing after school? If you have time we could go to my place again. I want to challenge you to another round of Tekken tournament."

Ashlynn closed her eyes mentally checking through her schedule of her work days and hours. "Not today. I'm working after school until eleven. I have a break at seven so if you want we could go on a food run before I have to get back to work."

"Or instead of going with her; you could allow me to take you out." A boy behind them placed an arm on Ashlynn's shoulder which she shrugged off before looking to the person who had touched her. A tall, lanky male with the standard Japanese complexion with short dark hair and black eyes.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Ashlynn asked. Ran crossed her arms over her chest and looked away; Ran didn't get along very well with anyone else in their class. Or any of the other classes for that matter. Something was off around here. She didn't like it.

"My apologies." The boy said bowing his head, "My name is Hiroto Tenma and obviously I'm in your class."

"I see…"Ashlynn trailed off, this guy was invading her personal space bubble.

"So will you go out with me tonight? I'll pick you up after your shift is done at…sorry, where is it that you work?"

'What?' Ashlynn sat down in her seat before answering, "Thank you, but I'd rather not. I don't know you very well and I think that it would be pretty awkward."

"Ha-ha are you just saying that because of your friend here? Then how about another time so we can get to know each other? We could play some games at my place if you'd like? From your earlier conversation, you seem to like those. I know a few that you may like to play." Tenma asked leaning his face forward a little too close to hers.

Ashlynn opened her mouth to decline again before the school bells rang and the teacher walked into the classroom.

'Thank goodness, saved by the bells. Thank you~' Ashlynn sighed thankful. Tenma frowned but returned to his desk, two rows right behind her and Ran.

"Alright everyone to your seats please." The man announced rummaging through his desk in the front.

The class sat down before the class captain rose and said aloud, "Rise!" The students all rose from their seats. "Salute!" The students bowed before returning to their seats.

"Alright class I know that there has been a lot of talk lately on the news about Giant red jellyfish. This is not the time for such talk, now we are…" The Sensei droned on in a monotone voice. Ashlynn was sitting up listening to the lecture when a wad of paper landed on her desk. Ran looked over for a moment before she sighed and began to doodle on her notes.

Ashlynn looked up, the teacher wasn't really paying attention, if anything this guy liked to hear himself talk out loud. She looked down and unfolded the paper.

'I'm not really sure, but have I seen you somewhere before?' It said. Ashlynn frowned before glancing behind her shoulder. And lo and behold, Tenma was smiling at her, and gave a little wave. Ashlynn looked back to the note in her hand before smiling and writing down a reply. Ran looked over again to see what was written and smiled too when she read the response.

'I just moved here, but perhaps you have. That's why I don't go there anymore.' Ashlynn looked back up to the teacher in the front who looked to still be reciting a monologue. She tossed the folded paper behind her back.

A few minutes later it was passed back to her desk.

'What sign were you born under?' Ashlynn sighed. This was really cheesy, not to mention cliche. And really creepy. He probably thought that she was just being witty and not serious about turning him down.

'I'm not interested. Please stop.' Ashlynn re-folded the page and tossed it over her shoulder once again.

And the note came flying right back to her.

'Are you taking applications for a boyfriend?' Okay this was going beyond uncomfortable now. She wasn't even going to reply to this one. If she didn't respond then maybe he'd get the hint and back off. Ashlynn looked up and found that the homeroom was about over and the teacher had just finished his speech.

"Alright, the rest of this hour is yours, Have a nice day." He announced before exiting the room.

'Nooooo! Sensei! Please come back! Don't end the class too early!' Ashlynn silently begged. She buried her head in her arms. She could practically sense Tenma coming back towards her seat. The creeper was probably smiling too.

"So are you?" He asked.

"Am I what?" Ashlynn picked her head up.

"Accepting applications?"

"No. I'm not looking for that kind of relationship at the moment. Sorry, but I would appreciate it if you would stop your advances. "Ashlynn sighed.

"Well, I would still like to become friends with you, how about we hang out sometime while you're not working? Tomorrow is Saturday and there is no more cram school I could—"

"Hey," Ran interrupted, "she said no Tenma. So leave me and Ashlynn alone."

"I don't believe I was speaking to you Hiraoka-san. Besides does she even know about you? You aren't making passes yourself are you? Because you are female you could actually get away with most of it. Even now you are addressing her with great familiarity." Hiroto remarked coldly.

Ran stood up quickly, her chair knocked over onto the ground. She picked up her things shoved them into her schoolbag and rushed out of the classroom. Ashlynn watched a little shocked by the display. The whole classroom had been silent before; watching the exchange now erupted into whispers. Ashlynn placed her things in her bag as well before standing up. Hiroto stepped in her way before she could get out of the row of desks she was in.

"So, where was the place you work at?" He smiled good-naturedly.

Ashlynn huffed trying to get past him but the boy wouldn't budge to let her pass by him to go after Ran. Well if this asshole wasn't going to move it. She stepped on her chair and jumped over her and Ran's desks and rushed out the door and down the hallway. She needed to find Ran and Find out what the hell was going on. At first, she was pretty sure that the other teens didn't like Ran because she was obviously an Otaku and Japan as a whole don't take to kindly at all to the sub-culture of nerds and geeks.


"Hey…I...Found you." Ashlynn steadied her breathing; with her hands on her knees trying to regain her breath. After checking the roof, the library and all of the club rooms and bathrooms, the janitor's closets... Ashlynn had even looked in the nurses' office, the auditorium, the gym and locker rooms. It wasn't until she spotted the bushes next to the gym's shed and decided 'What the hell, it's worth a try'. She made her way into the jungle-like vegetation growth staying close to the wall, where she found Ran lying on the ground with her bag being used as a pillow. When she approached Ran looked up in surprise before looking down at her hands in shame.

"I'm sorry I rushed out like that." She said twiddling her fingers her voice very small. A really big difference from the bouncing energy she had earlier.

"Is this the reason why the school hardly tolerates you?" Ashlynn dropped her bag and leaned against the brick wall of the school shed. Ran picked herself up from the ground and turned away from Ashlynn.

"So you noticed...yeah, it's the main reason really. They barely tolerate me because well …I…I'm.. a lesbian, Ashlynn. I'm not into guys at all, and they shun me for that. The other reason is because I'm too proud of liking anime and manga. And that, to them is unacceptable…" Ran turned around to face her, "You know your way around the school very well now, so, you really don't need me. So if you don't want to be friends with me anymore I'd totally understand that and~~"

Ashlynn darted forward and brought the other girl into a hug. Ran tensed for a moment not really sure what to do, but was immensely glad that her friendship wasn't being rejected. She couldn't help herself as tears began to gather in her eyes, Ran latched onto the other girls embrace and started to shake, tears started to stream down her face.

Ashlynn brought a hand up and began to stroke the crying girls' hair. Ran clung tighter in fear that she would push her away.

"Your sexuality does not bother me Ran. I may not like the same sex in that manner, but you are my first and best friend here in Namimori, In all of Japan. And I'm not going to leave you because of that nor am I going to shun you for what you like. It doesn't matter to me what anybody else thinks." Ashlynn said soothingly and lowered the two of them to sit on the ground. Her back was leaning on the wall behind her again.

"Thank you!" Ran sobbed into Ashlynn's shirt, "Ashlynn...Thank you…"


It took a while but Ashlynn managed to get Ran to calm down as the smaller girl lay in Ashlynn's arms as Ashlynn leaned against the wall of the shed. By that time the bell had rang for lunch break, since neither of the two wanted to go back to return to their class so they decided to eat their lunches where they sat. Afterward both snuck out of the campus (too easily) and headed for Ashlynn's apartment where Ran ended falling asleep on Ashlynn's bed when they had worked on the other assignments they had due later in the week.

Ashlynn allowed Ran to sleep as she went to clean up and start a load of laundry on the balcony. It was around three when Ran woke up yawning and apologizing for taking up the bed. A few hugs later and promises that they were still friends; Ran left the apartment complex towards home to go and explain to her Aunt why she had ditched more than half of the school day.

A few hours after that Ashlynn locked her door on her way out to work; her shift at Fukano's was to start in fifteen minutes. She felt nothing out of the ordinary but she could not shake off the feeling of being watched from afar. And after today with Tenma she was a little bit concerned. Had he followed her when she went to find Ran and followed them to her apartment?

'No...I'm probably thinking too much about it...who knows it could be Reborn or someone mafia related...'

She found that she would rather deal with someone from the mafia even with her meager skills as they were instead of facing a possible creep like Tenma Hiroto.

"Hey Ashlynn! Wait a minute!"

Ashlynn sighed in relief when she realized it had only been Yamamoto. Thank goodness, if it had been Tenma she wasn't sure what her instincts would have her do. Fight or flight? Or perhaps a bit of both: Hit the guy where it hurts then run the hell away going in zig zags to through off any pursuer before making it to her actual destination.

But this was Yamamoto right now.

...Was he blushing...?

"Don't get to see you very often Ashlynn. I was just talking to the kid (Reborn), and he saw you walk by over here and he told me that a pretty young lady shouldn't walk all by herself...so...ha ha, where are you going?" The boy asked.

Ashlynn figured, since she wasn't nearly stupid enough to think that the red over the boys' cheeks were from a fever (though it really wouldn't stop her from feigning ignorance and teasing...perhaps another time...), that the reason he was probably blushing because he was not yet used to calling her name without a suffix attached to it...it was either that or he probably either agreed when Reborn called her pretty or he actually thought of calling that himself...

She would think about it later as it was not relevant to the current conversation. Reborn sent the baseball player to walk with her. Ashlynn found that she wasn't too surprised at the thought that Reborn may have known what had happened at school today. Since he had little hideaways at Namimori Jr, then no doubt he had some at Namimori high as well.

'Good to know that he watches over sometimes. It's a very comforting thought.' Ashlynn gave a small smile for the boy next to her and they began walking. "I work at Fukano's bakery in town during most of the week after school, or really whenever Boss Lady needs me to come in to help."

"Ha-ha, is that right? I didn't know that you were working! That's very cool! And at a bakery too, I bet you get to bring sweet things home a lot." He laughed happily and reached over to ruffle her hair playfully. Ashlynn laughed at the gesture, it was kind of like what Flaithri would be with her.

Flaithri…Norene...Mom, Dad.

Ashlynn frowned, what was her family doing? Were they okay? If they died would they be brought to this world as well? She wouldn't wish for it, which would mean that they would die first. And with her experience coming here it had been rather painful. She wouldn't wish that for anyone.

"Something wrong?" Yamamoto patted her shoulder.

"No, I'm fine, just some memories, that's all. Nothing to be concerned about." Ashlynn replied. She could remember them, she had pictures and videos of them. She would be fine. She had another chance of life while it had ended in another world. She would become stronger. She was going to need to now she was involved in the mafia.

"Alright, if you say so. I'll be there if you want to talk about it."

"Thanks, Yamamoto. Really." Ashlynn knew that she had to be strong. There was no place in the mafia for any weaknesses because they'd be used against her and the people she cared about. There was just so much to work on.


Tsuna lay slumped next to the supports of his bed in exhaustion. Reborn had upped his game when Tsuna came home with another low score on his latest math test. Tsuna hadn't even mentioned his score to anyone and had hid the page at the bottom of his bag. So how exactly did his so called tutor know about his failure?

The evil baby had set up hideouts in all of the classrooms that's how. And for some reason he was the only one (save for Gokudera who sometimes managed to find one or two when he was actively looking for the hitman for advice for being a good right hand man) that knew what he was doing. He was so very lucky that the prefect did not know (or showed that he cared. It was hard to tell) of these little hideaways that Reborn set up on the tonfa wielding boys' territory.

They would be bitten to death without remorse!

"Ts u-kun?" Nana poked her head through the bedroom door. "Can you go pick some things up from the store for me?"

Tsuna groaned and lifted his head from the flooring and noticed that once again the damages to his room had been repaired before Maman had came up to check on him. He was so tired for the latest torture that Reborn came up with. He didn't want to move from his spot let alone leave the house.

Tsuna began to whine. "Ah? Mo~m, I don'-"

And found himself facing the floor again when Reborn jumped onto his head and smiled (though Tsuna couldn't see it)sweetly for the woman. "Of course. Tsuna would absolutely love to go to the store for you Maman."

"Thank you. I have money and a list on the counter, Ts u-kun." Maman smiled happily before she went back downstairs.

Reborn adjusted the fedora on his head as he stepped off of his students' skull. "You should have Ashlynn accompany you on your errand. You don't see her very often because she's in high school and she works most days after school. As the Boss you should know what your subordinates are doing with their time."

"She's not my subordinate! And that is the same for Yamamoto and Gokudera-kun! They shouldn't have to even worry about the mafia! I don't want to be in the mafia let alone the Boss for a family involved in the mafia!" Tsuna yelled at the baby.

"Then you will take away any hopes that Ashlynn could have for a family? The dreams that Gokudera has of being accepted by a family? Of Yamamoto having real friends that care about him instead of only his ability to play baseball?"

"E-eh...? What do you mean, Reborn?"

"Yamamoto has great potential waiting to be worked with and with his rather happy disposition it would make things easier in making alliances with families or negotiations where he might be able to resolve conflict without inflicting any bloodshed.

Gokudera was born into a family with connections to the mafia (it has always been a part of his life from the moment he was born) and has gone years with many families refusing him into their ranks. You were the first to accept him, Tsuna. You were the first to give him something to truly fight for.

And Ashlynn...when I told her to join your family she had a rather hopeful look on face. She's an orphan; she lives and fends for herself. Her records say that she as Fugue: Ashlynn experienced some kind of trauma and her mind adapted a new identity to fit a new environment. So either she's never known a family before or something happened to them; I believe it to be the latter; remember when she shot herself with the dying will bullet and she told Maman to think of what she says in case that is the last thing she'd ever say to you? Perhaps she got into an argument with her family and regrets it. She seems to want a chance to make up for it with another family."

Tsuna looked down at his hands silently. He didn't know that. Actually he didn't really know anything about Ashlynn other than that she was a high school first year, could run very fast, and was really nice to him. It would be nice to get to know her and be better friends, with her along with Gokudera-kun and Yamamoto; But he wanted that friendship away from the whole crazy mafia business that came with Reborn. It wasn't fair to them. They were being pulled into this mess because of him and though Tsuna knew he couldn't do anything about Gokudera-kun's involvement, they were all in more danger because of him. Because he was chosen to be the next Boss. Something he didn't want to be.

Tsuna did not like the thought of his new friends in danger.

"Fnn, it's reassuring to know that you think of their safety but you have to take their own stories and decisions into account, Tsuna. You should have a little more faith that they can make decisions by themselves. Gokudera is a given, but Yamamoto and Ashlynn could have refused to go through with the entrance test. Not all factions in the mafia are that cruel to force recruitment." Reborn gave his foolish student a pointed stare before he left the room.

'Though your training had only started recently, there are some subtle differences from the person you were before. You have the makings of a great Boss and I will push you as hard as it takes for you to become it. Though it has yet to be seen if it is a good thing that you're not even the littlest bit ambitious. We'll have to see where your training takes you in the future...Fnnn, maybe I should bring out the land mines for the next 'tutoring' session or perhaps using a paintball gun...being hit with those without armor should be great motivation to get the loser to work harder...'

Unaware of the hitman's thoughts Tsuna sighed but did end up taking the list, money, and another piece of paper that had an address written on it. It wasn't too far out of the way so it wouldn't really hurt to ask and maybe he could ask what she thought of the mafia...


"Ah, so that's how it happened." Ashlynn remarked softly as she and Tsuna were walking back to the Sawada household with a canvas bag each holding the food stuffs that Nana had written on the list Tsuna had brought along with him. He had finished his little tale of what happened when he first met Reborn.

It had been a bit of a surprise to see him knocking on the other side of the front door (she had no doubts that Reborn had told him where she lived). And then he had asked her to go shopping with him. Ashlynn had given him a once over and teasingly asked if he needed knew clothes and wanted a female perspective that wasn't his mother's. Funnily enough the boy turned red in embarrassment and managed to explain that his mother had sent him on an errand and Reborn said to see what she was up to.

Ashlynn appreciated that Reborn had thought of her. It was true even with the entrance test she hardly got to see Tsuna or Yamamoto and Gokudera because she was at a higher school level and she had a job. So even though Tsuna was on an errand for his mother Ashlynn was more than happy to spend time with him.

"Yeah, I'm sorry if I'm bothering you Ashlynn-san. You really didn't have to go with me though; you were probably busy when I came by." Tsuna said switching the bag from one hand to the other.

"It was no problem. And I remember telling you that you can drop the suffix from my name. Is it alright if I just call you Tsuna without the suffix? Or is that too forward of me? In the U.S. we don't use them at the end of people's names." Ashlynn said with a smile

"Eh? O-oh, that's fine... Jeez it's really humid today. I'm starting to get a bit thirsty." Tsuna wiped his forehead with the back of his hand.

"You're right, though it hasn't rained in a while to make it this humid." Ashlynn said smiling at the change of subject. She looked down the road and saw a person riding on a bike coming in their direction. Ashlynn and Tsuna stopped when the person stopped beside them.

'Eh? A mommy bike…with goggles? She has a tattoo as well.' Tsuna openly stared as the woman took of her helmet, her long pink locks cascaded down her back. 'Wow, she's really pretty. Is she half-Japanese or something...?'

'Well, well, freelance assassin: Bianchi Gokudera. Fancy seeing you here today.' Ashlynn tilted her head to the side staring at the very familiar scorpion tattoo on the other woman's arm.

The woman tossed a soda with a blue logo to Ashlynn and a purple one to Tsuna, "Here, please have these. It's very hot out, wouldn't want you to become dehydrated." The woman smiled at the two before placing the helmet in the basket of her bike then rode away. Ashlynn looked at the can in her hands. Nothing seemed to be wrong with hers. Maybe Bianchi didn't know that Tsuna was starting to, although unwillingly, gather guardians to his side. So perhaps Bianchi thought that she was an innocent bystander with no mafia connection.

Unlike Ashlynn, Tsuna completely missed catching the soda; and the can crashed into his face before dropping to the ground open and fizzing everywhere.

'Man, I looked like a total loser right there in front that lady and Ashlynn.' Tsuna bent down and reached for the can before shrieking and pulling his hand back to his chest. Purple fumes were rising from the now melted through can. Above them a crow squawked, breathing in the fumes before crashing to its death at the teens' feet.

"GAH! What is this?" Tsuna cried backing away from the bird's corpse on the ground.

"Hmm, looks to be poison or acid from that soda. Though mine hasn't done anything yet." Ashlynn shook the soda can before spraying it into a nearby garbage can. She shook her head, nothing had happened. Well that was a waste. So maybe she had been right about Bianchi not knowing of her involvement. That or Bianchi had learned the time-delay poison cooking technique.

"C-come on! We need to tell Reborn!" Tsuna cried running down the road to his home with Ashlynn following closely behind.


Tsuna burst into his bedroom.

"Reborn! We've got trouble-! Outside! Just right now! There was a soda! A-and the bird! And Ashlynn was there and this lady—NGYAAA!"

"Hmm?" Reborn turned to face Tsuna who was standing next to him and Ashlynn who just came in through the door. He had beetles crawling all over his face. The beetles scattered away from Tsuna's loudness and out of the bedroom window.

"Do you have any idea how creepy that is! (Do you emit tree sap or something?)" Tsuna yelled.

"Fool, these are my summer minions. They collect information and then they report it directly to me. Tsuna grab the box from that top shelf." Reborn pointed to the shelf on the other side of the room.

"Eh, does that mean that you can speak bug?" Tsuna asked still a bit freaked out but still went to pick up the said box. He wondered where it came from since he never noticed it in his room before. Strange.

"I know many languages, and amongst those is the language of insects. Thanks to them I was able to grab hold of some very important information: Bianchi is in town." Reborn sat down at the low table in the room. Tsuna placed the box in front of the baby hitman and sat down.

"Bianchi? Who's that?"

"A former fellow hitman that I have worked with. Another piece of information that I have gathered is that last week, May eleventh was your birthday, Ashlynn and we missed it. This is for you." Reborn motioned to the box on the table. Tsuna turned his head too fast that his neck made an audible crack.

"Hiiiie! I didn't know it was your birthday recently! Why didn't you say anything?" Tsuna asked the Ashlynn who brought the box closer to her. It would have been nice if he had known. Some friend he was; not knowing the other person's birthday. Come to think of it...He didn't even know when Gokudera-kun and Yamamoto's birthday was. Man he was such a loser.

"Well, a lot of things have happened in the past month. I needed to make sure I had everything settled before I even thought about celebrating. Though I did spend time with Dolly and Birdy, and a friend from school came over as well." Ashlynn said as she carefully undid the wrapping. The paper was a pretty light blue and had a silver ribbon on top.

"You didn't get her anything weird, did you?" Tsuna covered his mouth whispering to the baby hitman. He wondered what was with the weird names that Ashlynn had mentioned. Dolly and Birdy? Were those nicknames?

"Fnn, of course not. I had it commissioned from the Vongola family's weapon armory. The Ninth thought it was a good idea and he was happy that you were able to acquire a female perspective in your family. So he helped design these." Reborn looked to Ashlynn to gauge her expression and smirked when her face lit up into a big smile. It seemed that he had been right in his choosing according to the many bracelets that Ashlynn already wore on her wrists whenever she was in and out of school. And it wasn't all there was to the jewelry in the girls hands..

"Hiiiie! It's mafia related again!" Tsuna foisted his hands in his lap.

"Thank you very much Reborn. And will you send my thanks to this 'Ninth'?"

Tsuna peered over and sighed in relief when Ashlynn didn't pull out some kind of bomb or weapon but two transparent green beaded bracelets with lighter piece in the middle along with another four rings to fit around the girl's wrists. There was also a small note that Ashlynn quickly read before setting down on the table.

Ashlynn smiled at the new bracelets that would soon join the many that adorned her wrists. She easily recognized the beads to be jade since her mother had adored the gem and the lightest piece was Fluorite which she recognized from her Grandma Aine who made sure that Ashlynn knew the meanings and their protections of many gemstones.

Jade for peace, good luck, prosperity, deep wisdom, and a symbol of calm and serenity, to name a few of the gem's meanings. It is a stone of balance and healing, protection from fear-based feelings, and assists in clear reasoning. She knew from Grandma Aine that if a person could put a piece of jade underneath their pillow at night to release negative feelings during dreaming.

It took a few moments for her to remember some of the meanings for Fluorite: The increase in one's concentration and heightening of intuition, can help maintain an unbiased viewpoint when decisions need to be made. Good for accessing universal energies that activate all that is good for one's body, fosters objectivity, truth, aura cleansing, and consciousness while negating disorganization, disruptive behavior, desperation, and depression.

What was surprising to her was the transparency of the little gem beads. Ashlynn knew for a fact that jade with this kind of transparency was rarely ever seen and was considered rather rare. It was solid but it looked as if the gems glowed with their own life. A good amount of money had to have been invested into them. She looked towards Reborn and with a nod to go ahead, Ashlynn stood like the note instructed and held the bracelets by the piece of fluorite and raised her arms so that they level with her head then brought them down in a fast swinging motion back to her sides.

Tsuna squealed in surprise as the bracelets had glowed a dark green and had transformed into two sharp circular blades and the lighter bead had turned into a handle with white wrappings that held the blades.

Ashlynn adjusted to the new weight and lifted up one of the blades to inspect how the light reflected off of the metal. Shiny. It reminded her of the video game that was based of the Chinese tale: The Romance of the Three Kingdoms; Dynasty Warriors (namely the fourth one since by the sixth installment the creators gave her a fairy look and switched her weapon for a bow and quiver) where one of the characters; the tomboy warrior princess Sun Shang Xiang wielded twin chakrams in battle. Ashlynn's new weapons looked like the first level that the character was equipped with.

Ashlynn remembered that Yamamoto would be getting a weapon that would 'magically' transform into a katana when he swung it over a specific speed. Of course she knew that it had everything to do with the flame attributes that this world used,

She grinned again, these felt right in her hands as if they were meant to be in her possession. "This is amazing! How did they engineer it between the two modes? ha ha, it's like magic!"

"Eh! She actually likes it!" Tsuna fell backwards in shock. Weren't girls supposed to like girly things, like clothes, makeup and shopping for stuff like that?

"I'll be teaching you how to properly use them starting this coming Monday." Reborn told the girl. It was good that she liked the weapons gifted to her. It wasn't common that someone would use chakrams in battle (The last one to do so was one of the Eighth Boss' guardians) so it would give the family an edge against other families during conflict.

Ashlynn thanked the hitman and found after thinking of how to return the blades back to the bracelets like before the chakrams did so of its own accord to her will. Very handy. She slipped them on and the beads settled snugly against her wrists.

Tsuna sighed. "...I can't believe that you actually like something like that. Reborn! Couldn't you have gotten her something normal? Like a-"

He was cut off by the doorbell ringing and he poked his head the door to call for Mama but after no answer he went downstairs to see who it was with Ashlynn following after him down the steps towards the door.

"Ding Dong!...Italian pizza delivery!" The doorbell rang a few times.

Tsuna left the room and started downstairs, Ashlynn frowned, pressed the buttons and the metal retracted back into the handles. She followed Tsuna down the steps.

"Pizza? Mom are you home?" He called out, no answer. He opened the door to tell the delivery person they got the wrong house. On the other side was the woman from earlier, now wearing a visor and holding a pizza box with a scorpion printed on the top.

"Thanks for waiting, a delivery from Vongola pizza." She said before placing a gas mask over her face. She opened the pizza box and fumes began to leak from the opening. Ashlynn charged the rest of the way down the stairs and pulled Tsuna back into a hallway.

The box was knocked out of the woman's hands by a bullet from Reborn. The corpses of three birds fell from the sky from breathing in the toxic smoke and landed on top of the fuming box of toxins.

'Well,' Ashlynn thought dryly. 'That really isn't going to be very good for the ozone layer.'

"Ciaossu, Bianchi." The hitman greeted.

"Reborn…" Bianchi removed the mask from her face and dropped on her knees next to Reborn. "I have come to take you back Reborn, let's do another big mission together."

Tsuna was gagging trying to breathe in clear air, 'That girl is Bianchi? And why am I on the verge of being murdered? If Ashlynn hadn't pulled me out of the way I would have died right there. And she knows Reborn? What is going here?'

"A peaceful place does not suit you Reborn," Bianchi continued," The place where you belong is the dark world where it is the most dangerous and thrilling. You belong by my side as my partner, my comrade."

"I have told you, Bianchi. I already have a job here. To train and raise Tsuna to become the next Vongola family boss and Godfather. So I can't go with you." Reborn told Bianchi.

"…Poor…Poor sweet Reborn…Unless the Tenth heir dies due to an accident or something, Reborn is stuck here and can't be free from duty. How tragic for you to be forced into this my love." Bianchi wiped the tears streaming from her eyes. "I'll go home for now when the Tenth is mur...When the Tenth is dead, I shall come to bring you back with again. Until then sweet Reborn." Bianchi turned and walked out of the doorway.

"What the heck are you saying! Is that why you were trying to kill me? The way you think is totally weird, lady! Reborn! What's up with that woman?" Tsuna cried.

Reborn ascended the stairs back to Tsuna's room as he explained, "She is Bianchi, a freelance hitman called the Poison Scorpion. Her special skill is to feed people her poison cooking."

"Augh! Another weird one! What is wrong with your world? There are crazy people everywhere! And they're all targeting me!" Tsuna slapped a hand to his forehead. He then pointed a finger at Reborn, "..But it seems that she favors you a lot. Can't you convince her to leave me alone?"

"Fnn, because Bianchi is in love with me. We went out at some point too."

"W…went out? So she was... your girlfriend…? But...you..you're...and she...What?" Tsuna asked.

"I'm very popular with women. Bianchi was my lover. My fourth one to be exact." Reborn held up four little fingers. Ashlynn giggled, of course Reborn was popular with women, before and after he became an Arcobaleno.

"Do you even know the meaning of the words you've just said?" Tsuna yelled," Any way! Do something about her! She is targeting my life! I could be killed!"

"Tsuna…Nothing lasts forever, and humans are creatures that will die one day." Reborn philosophized sipping from a teacup.

"Don't be enlightened all of a sudden!" Tsuna blurted out and deflated when Ashlynn laughed again. "Ashlynn that's not funny!"

"By the way Tsuna, starting tomorrow morning you will be joining Ashlynn's runs in the mornings." Reborn announced before taking another sip.

"What? But Reborn!"


"Good morning Tsuna, Reborn." Ashlynn nodded to the two males at her door the next morning. It was five thirty in the morning, she and Reborn were fully awake but Tsuna was still drowsy and wiping the little boogers from his eyes. Ashlynn allowed them into her home to let Tsuna drop off his school bag and his uniform he had yet to change into on the low table in her newly furnished living room.

"Ciaossu Ashlynn." Reborn said.

"Because today is your first morning we won't go the entire circuit. We are going to start with stretching here in the courtyard, and then we are going to sprint to the canals. When we get there we'll stretch some more to cool down, then we'll be jogging up and down the stairs to the canals until your legs feel like jello." Ashlynn said with a sugary smile as she led them to the little courtyard between the two apartment buildings.

"That much! And you do this every day!" Tsuna exclaimed.

"Hush, Tsuna. People are still asleep here you know. Use your inside voice (yes, even though we are outside. People sleep at this time. No Tsuna, you can't go back to sleep otherwise you'll be late for school later). Yes I do this every morning and I do this before dinner as well when I can. But usually after using the stairs at the canal I follow that up with yoga before sprinting back here and stretching again and doing strength exercises.

I am going to warn you now, Tsuna. The first few days are going to be rough and you are going to want to give up (I can tell you are ready to give up now and we haven't even started yet) but you need to persevere. I promise you that you will not regret this Tsuna; though you may not see it at first there will be progress. Any questions or comments before we begin?"

"I'm Doooomed." The boy whined, 'First it's Reborn and his strange mafia world. And he convinced Ashlynn to join. Please don't let her be a Spartan like Reborn!' Tsuna silently begged.

The first thirty minutes were spent stretching out muscles that he didn't even know existed. He found that Ashlynn was pretty knowledgeable on the subject as she explained what each was for. Reborn would suggest others that she didn't cover as he sat on a nearby bench watching amused as Tsuna was eased into different stretches. He even chuckled when Ashlynn pushed him down into a splits. (It was so very painful!).

During this he learned that Ashlynn had been doing this for at least four years; she had been given permission to run with the track and field team where she had been like an honorary member back home. She had wanted to continue on another team but since Namimori high didn't have a team and Ashlynn just didn't have the time ( Ashlynn also explained that she probably didn't have the patience to train up a large group to her level. Many things could go wrong and she could be held back by the others that weren't in the same league as she was). But even without a team Ashlynn still continued and improved on her own regime.

Once Ashlynn was satisfied with their stretching (and a note to Tsuna for him to try them late on his own time), Ashlynn led the way sprinting towards the canals two miles away from the apartment complex that the older girl lived in. Reborn had hitched a ride again by tying a rope to Tsuna's waist while he (Reborn) stood on roller skates. Once they arrived Ashlynn handed him one of the water bottle she had brought along and instructed him to drink slowly with Reborn smacking him across the back of his head when he discarded the piece of advice.

They then cooled down again with more stretching and a few yoga poses to help his posture and settle his breathing. They weren't even halfway done and he was already beyond exhaustion! And he was supposed to do this almost twice a day? He doubted that he was going to make it.

Tsuna took a glance over at the set of stairs beside the one he was currently attempting to jog up and down. While he had finished ten rounds of running the stairs, tripping down and up them more than a few times, Ashlynn had already finished thirty with weights and Reborn riding atop of her head. Ashlynn looked up as she was starting another rep.

"Come on Tsuna!" She called, "Another ten before we do cool down stretches and some more yoga poses. Then we'll go back to my place to change then I'll walk with you to your school!"

Tsuna groaned in displeasure. All he wanted to do now was crawl home, eat, and then sleep the rest of the day away. He began once again up the steep steps on the side of the hill overlooking the canal.

"I'm not really sure that this is going to work with me!" He cried, slipping on another step on the way up.

"With that sort of attitude, of course you're not. Don't worry Tsuna," Ashlynn smiled, "It's only the first morning, and we'll see progress with you yet. I promise you that….Now back down those steps you have nine more rounds to finish!" That got another response of groaning from the male teen and a smirk from the baby on top of her head.


"Good morning Tsuna-kun."

"Ah? K-Kyoko-chan! Good morning" Tsuna greeted, he didn't realize that Kyoko lived in his neighborhood. He was happy from the fact that his crush was actually walking and speaking to him!

"Hmm? Is something wrong Tsuna-kun? You look very tense." Kyoko asked a bit concerned.

"No, just a little sore, I've been running a bit over the weekend, ha-ha." Tsuna rubbed the back of his head. Oh, he was a lot more than a little sore. Reborn had decided on the second day that they should do the full routine with twenty five pound weights to both arms and legs. Ashlynn had been a little reluctant because Tsuna had just started to do the regime, it had taken her almost two weeks to get used to it in the beginning. But then Reborn had convinced her over to his side of the argument that Tsuna needed to become stronger and he was not to be babied (Ashlynn had been younger than Tsuna when she started). Tsuna wasn't sure that Reborn understood the irony of his words.

"Today is the day the home economics class is going to make rice balls. I'm really excited!" Kyoko smiled sweetly.

'Bring Bring…'

Tsuna looked behind the two of them and saw the freelancer hitman Bianchi from the other day. She was riding her mommy bike straight towards them with a very frightening aura. Tsuna started to sweat a bit. This woman wanted to kill him to free Reborn from having to tutor him. Well, he didn't want Reborn to be his home teacher in the first place! How come no one understood that he didn't want to be a part of the mafia world?

"Those who interfere with another person's love life. Should die covered in poison." Bianchi tossed two cans of soda to the teens before riding off. Tsuna quickly batted the projectiles away with his schoolbag.

"Did you know her Tsuna-kun?" Kyoko asked.

"No, I have no idea who that lady is." Tsuna waved the question off with a nervous laugh. He wondered why he had an unsettling sensation in his stomach.