"Poor, dear, silly Spring, preparing her annual surprise."

-Wallace Stevens

"The doctor is to be feared more than the disease."

-Latin Proverb


Around the time that Ashlynn had turned eleven she had long devoured anything written by Marion Zimmerman along with seeing the movie version of 'The Mists of Avalon', and basically anything else that had mentioned priestess and magics. So when her parents brought her and her siblings to Ireland to meet their Grandmother, Ashlynn had been under the impression that the elderly woman was some kind of priestess and that she had the gift of Sight. And when she brought the idea to her parents and the friendly old man that helped take care of the house she had not been corrected or scolded for believing such a thing. Grandma Aine had such a wise graceful air about her that was absolutely fascinating to Ashlynn the very moment that she met her.

The Meagher woman had happily welcomed them into her spacious home, lightly scolding her son and his wife for taking so long to come for a visit then had them lean forward so that she could get a good look at them and kissing them before she switched her attention to the children waiting in the foyer. Aine had smiled, Ashlynn remembered that she had a lovely smile, as she took a good look at her grandchildren.

To Flaithri, the eldest of the siblings she told him that he looked just like his father and his grandfather when they were boys and that he was every bit the 'Prince of Kings' that his name suggested. To little Norene who was shyly peeking at the woman from behind Flaithri she claimed that that the girl would become quite the woman when she grew up, having her mothers eyes and nose and possessing her fathers sturdy jaw and cheekbones and asked the child about the scarf that no one had known that she was trying to knit.

Ashlynn remembered that Grandma Aine had paused whens she laid her eyes on her. As if Aine was looking straight through her to the core of her soul and everything that made Ashlynn who she was. It had given her goosebumps despite the warm temperature of the house. Then the elderly matriarch gave a bright smile that didn't match the sadness that Ashlynn caught a glimpse of in the woman's eyes. She told her that she had a hidden strength locked within her that was waiting to be unlocked to used to its full potential but warned that there would be a price for the said strength. Aine then told her that she was proud of her that she would not become corrupted by the power and would become a protector, a Guardian, a Caomhnóir.

Ashlynn would stay an extra two weeks longer than the rest of her family. While they went back to the States for the rest of summer break, Ashlynn stayed in Ireland with her priestess-like Grandmother where she would learn Gaelic and protective rituals, meaning of gemstones, how to make her own Celtic knot, amongst other things that the woman sought to teach her. During the times that Ashlynn stayed with her Aine had tried to fit so many things in the spans of a single day and took as many pictures of them together.

Thinking back on it while doing a load of laundry, Ashlynn took that the strength that Grandma Aine had spoken of was the flame of resolution. And the price was that she had been pulled from her rightful world and dropped into an anime universe.

Ashlynn shut and locked the sliding glass door and went for her school bag and unzipped a pocket that she had sewn in herself and took out a rosy quartz crystal pendant and held the stone to her lips. 'Seanmháthair,' She silently called out with her thoughts focused on her grandmother. 'I am as safe as I can be. You were right about the strength you talked about...I will become a Caomhnóir just like you said I would...I love you Seanmháthair and if you can really hear me please tell the others that I love them and I miss them.'


Ashlynn's first impression of Miura Haru from reading the manga and watching the anime was that the girl was a rather cute character that genuinely cared for the people around her and tried to be of help despite the circumstances and mostly lack of information of said circumstances. The only thing that Ashlynn could really fault her for was that she always jumped to crazy conclusions headfirst with not a bit of forethought. That and she thought it was really annoying that Haru practically spammed English words adding 'u' after each one. Ex: 'Dangerousu', or something along those lines.

Actually meeting Haru in person didn't change Ashlynn's viewpoint of her whatsoever. And Ashlynn found the meeting to be the most ridiculous situation that she had yet to be in.

Ashlynn was walking to school with Tsuna that morning, hers was another five to ten leisurely walk away from the Junior high.

Tsuna had got int the habit of bringing his uniform and school bag to her house every morning and then after they trained they would change then walk together from her apartment.

This made Gokudera flip out when he found out, not that Ashlynn, Reborn and Tsuna had tried to make it a secret or anything. Gokudera had expressed concern that Ashlynn was 'Taking advantage of the Juudaime's purity'. Ashlynn had to firmly explain to the smoker that Reborn was having her give Tsuna conditioning training and that he and Yamamoto were welcome to join if they wanted but she would have to bring them up to speed with Tsuna's conditioning. They would need weights so they would be joining them when they acquired their respective equipment. Yamamoto wouldn't be too much of a problem but a glance at Gokudera's skinny form told her that he may take just a bit longer than the baseball player. She would also have to try to glean the boy off of his cigarettes. Perhaps a certain amount of laps for every one he tried to smoke during training then in the future add on laps whenever he pulled one out period.

They both agreed, Yamamoto because he said it would be nice to hang out more as a full group and Gokudera because he was Tsuna's right hand man. Ashlynn immediately turned on him and in blunt terms told him that she did not appreciate what he was implying about her and would take no nonsense from him about taking 'advantage' of anybody. She followed that statement with the question on why Gokudera would know anything (or have any concerns for that matter) about Tsuna's love life. All three teenage boys went red.

Gokudera called her a stupid broad.

She called him an idiotic Boyo.

Then she left the group as they entered the Junior high campus and she kept walking ahead to the high school smirking childishly because he was steaming in anger and she had the final say in the conversation.

That had been two days ago and the boys would be joining her and Tsuna tomorrow morning for training. Ashlynn found herself with an unholy glee to be training Gokudera. Perhaps this is what Reborn feels when he trains Tsuna.

Ashlynn blinked as she remembered herself and nodded to Tsuna and told him that if he was having any trouble with schoolwork then she would help him. Since she was in high school then Junior high work wouldn't be a problem to help with. As she asked what subjects he was having trouble with (almost all of them apparently) they walked onto a bridge and came across a person wearing a kendo uniform, holding a motorcycle helmet in one hand while wielding a hockey stick in the other while two tennis rackets were strapped to her back.

Miura Haru had made her appearance and she was sweating profusely in the near summer heat and humidity. It was far too hot for what she was wearing and who knows how long she had been standing there at the bridge waiting.

"Good morning. I am Haru, who could not sleep at all last night preparing for this moment." Haru declared to the two wiping the clothed part of her armored arm across her sweating brow.

"Hiiiie! You wear such things when you can't sleep at night!" Tsuna back-pedaled a few steps. Ashlynn frowned but decided that a chakram wouldn't be need in this scuffle. The girl in front of them looked too tired to put up as much of a fight she would have if she had been well rested. There were dark bags under her eyes. Add that to the armor she was wearing in this kind of heat.

Haru scoffed and wiped the back of her neck. "Of course not! That would make me a complete idiot! If Reborn-chan is really a hitman , then I believe that you, Tsuna-san, who Reborn-chan claims will become a mafia boss, will be very strong. And this. This must be one of your subordinates who must also be very formidable.

Haru huffed pulling on the motorcycle helmet and brandished the pink hockey stick in front of her, "If you are strong, then I shall believe Reborn-chan, and I won't complain about anything in his life! Now we shall duel! Prepare yourself Tsuna-san! Subordinate-san!"

The girl rushed at them and swung the hockey stick in a horizontal slash. Ashlynn stepped easily out of the way of the stick and Tsuna clamored clumsily to the left and held onto the railing of the bridge for support. Haru directed her next attack at the boy with another downward strike towards Tsuna's head but was stopped when Ashlynn darted forward and reached out and pulled on the piece of sports equipment that nearly came inches away from bashing into Tsuna's skull. The boy shrieked and caught the attention of a person walking on the other side of the bridge.

"Juudaime!" The cigarette fell from his mouth, on the bridge was Tsuna leaning against the railing, and Ashlynn was keeping the attacker from dealing the final strike. Gokudera rushed in the fray with dynamite being fused as he ran. 'What the fuck is that! A disposable hitman from a rival family come to assassinate the Juudaime! I was wrong about you Ashlynn. Hang on! I will bring you support!"

Ashlynn easily forced the hockey stick out of the younger girl's hands and pitched it behind her. Haru growled swiftly backing up and reached behind her for the tennis rackets, only being able to unstrap one of them. "You are quite an opponent, Subordinate-san! Being able to disarm me once already! But see! I still have a weapon to attack with!" Haru pointed the racket at Ashlynn.

"I'll never be a mafia boss!" Tsuna screamed trying to stop the attacking female, 'And she's not my subordinate!"

Haru gasped, "Then you are toying with Reborn-chan after all!" The now enraged girl barreled toward Tsuna erratically swing the racket.

"No! It's not like that at all!" Tsuna scooted barely out of the weapons reach.

"Juudaime! Ashlynn! I'll be your reinforcement! Die!" Gokudera stepped in to shield Tsuna with his body and attacked Haru with explosives.

"HAHIEEK!" The blast threw Haru off her feet and over the railing into the waters of the canal. She splashed, struggling to keep from being pulled down by the heavy weight of the armor she was wearing. "He-cough, help me!"

"You're safe now Juudaime!" Gokudera happily informed his Boss who was currently panicking over the girl he had just sent to the water under the bridge. Gokudera turned to Ashlynn with an apologetic expression and patted her shoulder. " Thank you. For protecting the Boss in my absence. It was wrong of me to think that you were trying to take advantage of him before. I see now that you are nothing but devoted to his safety. I hope that this will not get in the way of working together for the sake of the Juudaime."

Ashlynn had her first experience of having an anime sweat drop. " Of course, Gokudera. I am glad that we are able to get past this misunderstanding."

"Oh no! She fell in!" Tsuna leaned over the railing in a full blown panic. "W-what do we do! We have to help her otherwise she'll drown!"

"Then save her with your dying will."

"Hiiiiie! Reborn! When did you get here!" Tsuna shrieked at the sudden appearance of the hitman.

Haru started at the appearance and called out alarmed for the child's safety though she was in the greatest danger. "No! No Reborn-chan!Cough, this...this isn't...something you can swim in! It's way too dangerous! H-ha hi!" Haru nearly stopped trying to keep herself afloat when Reborn, precious, innocent child Reborn, point a gun at Tsuna. '..What! Reborn-chan what are you doing...?'

"Save her Dame-Tsuna." Reborn shot the dying will bullet from the Leon gun sending the boy over the railing. As his limp body dropped towards the surface of the water, he emerged out of his own skin clad only in his boxers and a bright orange flame glowing on the crown of his head.

"REBORN! Save Haru as if I were to die!"

Reborn shot another two consecutive shots, hitting Tsuna's heels, "Hitting the heel on the body, makes it the leg screw bullet."

Tsuna propelled himself in Haru's direction and grabbed the girl in a bridal fashion, "HOLD ONTO ME!"


"Thank you." Haru said holding her knees in her arms, resting her head on them. A towel covering her head and her shoulders.

Gokudera scoffed at the now quiet girl. "What a bother. Did you even think about your actions? If you try anything else against the Juudaime your existence in this world will come to an end. Are we clear girl?"

Ashlynn twitched at the statement.

"Pu…'Save Haru as if I were to die! Hold onto me! Swim to the other bank!" Haru smiled happily, "I thought only cheesy lines like those would only be said on TV!"

"Hey! S-stop that! It's embarrassing!" Tsuna cried, 'She's not reflecting on her actions at all! She's making fun of me!'

"It was very…very wonderful. That you jumped in the place of Reborn-chan, Juudaime. My heart is pounding! I can now confidently say that Haru has fallen in love with Tsuna-san." Haru brought her hands to her blushing cheeks. Reborn smirked at Tsuna's slack-jawed expression.

"This means!" Haru suddenly pointed at Ashlynn. "That we are rivals, Subordinate-san! You who are a female and being oh so very close to Tsuna-san! I will defeat you to have Tsuna-san's love for myself!"

Ashlynn sighed, "Can you not call me that? My name is Ashlynn, Not 'Subordinate-san.' And I say no thanks; I have no interest in fighting to be involved with Tsuna in that way."

"Are you so confident that you wouldn't have to put up a fight for his love! Does that mean that you have such a good person like Tsuna-san under your spell? Well! Haru will not back down! Haru will save Tsuna-san from your evil spell or potion that has poor Tsuna-san under your wretched control!"

"...That's not what I meant..."

"From this day forth we a rivals." Haru cried indignant and ignoring Ashlynn's attempt to salvage the situation. "I will defeat you in any and every way possible so that Tsuna-san will realize your true colors!"

"My true colors? By Brighid how did you come to that conclusion...?"

Gokudera spurned the though. He now knew that Ashlynn had no romantic interest in the Juudaime. No, it was this little harpy that was trying to force herself on the Boss. And that was completely unacceptable. There would be no way that he would ever allow this slip of a girl to control the Juudaime and slander the reputation of one of his loyal subordinates.

Ashlynn sighed again. Right when Gokudera was convinced she was going to do anything underhanded and stopped harping on her case Haru started it back up again. And she was much more excitable and quicker to point the finger.

How Fan-flipping-tastic.


"Fukano-san~! I'm here!" Ashlynn knocked on the door of her employer's office door that was swiftly opened and Ashlynn was pulled in and enveloped into a booby filled embrace.

"Hello darling~ You're a little early today." Fukano-san sing-songed happily.

"Just letting you know I'm here before working." Ashlynn's voice was muffled by the older woman's breasts in her face and Fukano-san only pressed her in more in happiness. " I think your boobs got bigger Boss Lady... I seem to be losing air a lot faster than last time."

"Of course Hun, you go right on ahead." Fukano-san released her and waved her to the front of the store.

Ashlynn would be taking care of taking orders instead of her usual job in the back of the shop. She had no donuts that the switch in her position had everything to do with the fact that she had got away unscathed from the prefect. And it was all thanks to a bitchy employee and the rest of the workers following her lead like sheep. Stupid Senioritis and pulling Seniority.

"Omnivore."

Well shit. Said prefect came by again...

Ashlynn proceeded to prepare the prefects order. She had been informed that Hibari always, always, always gave the same order. Coconut juice and shortbread. Heaven forbid if they would ever run out stock of either of the two, because even though they say to never kill the messenger, Hibari had no qualms about rules except the ones he made himself. She handed the items over on the counter in exchange for the money for the purchase.

"When your studies in combat have advanced, we shall fight Omnivore."

"O-of course Hibari-san." Ashlynn waited again until the prefect was out of sight before sighing in relief. Hibari was still as frightening as ever in person. Though she felt a little proud that she had gained a small inkling of respect if calling 'Omnivore' instead of 'Herbivore' like he did to everyone else beneath him.

Ashlynn looked over with a deadpan at the door leading to the back. Fukano-san along with the other workers were all whispering and trying to see into the front through the partly opened door where they had been watching the entire exchange between her and Hibari. Fukano-san had her hands pressed giddily to her cheeks and had hearts in her eyes while the rest were awestruck before exploding in commentary and surrounded her on all sides with their questions.

"He called you Omnivore!"

"Why? He always calls everyone a herbivore!"

"She really didn't get bitten to death. I thought that senpai was pulling our legs..."

"It seems he favors her."

"Man, that's really not fair."

"Ooh! That was so very cute!" Everyone suddenly stopped and looked at their boss who was starting to gush and sway. Ashlynn sighed again. Why must people take things the wrong way?

"Alright, alright, let's not crowd her," Fukano-san announced clapping her hands, "Yes we are all interested, but alas this matter of love is not our business unless Ashlynn decides it is our business. Back to work everybody. Chop chop!" She sent the other employees back to their stations then looked at Ashlynn with hopeful eyes. She shook her head in a negative fashion.

"We are not dating, Fukano-san. You are making this into a big misunderstanding that will most likely come back to bite me in the ass. Pardon my language."

"Right now you're not dating."

"Fukano-san please?" Ashlynn groaned, did she really need to explain this like she was speaking to a five-year old? She reached for a towelette to wipe the counter tops "We are not dating. Hibari-san just helped me out when a couple of guys ganged up on me the other night. And no, I do not have a boyfriend..."

The front door of the bakery opened and three males walked in, the leader of the trio looked up and gave a pleased smile when he saw who was in uniform behind the counter. Finally he knew where she worked and she was alone without the Lesbian tagging along after her like a disgusting diseased little puppy."Ashlynn-chan, sweetheart, Utsukushii, I didn't know that you worked here. I would have come visit you a lot sooner."

"…I have a creepy stalker guy, Fukano-san. And that's him behind me. And there is also a girl who is convinced that I am holding the guy she now likes hostage." Ashlynn ripped the disposable rag into two. After taking so much care to not run into Hiroto after school just went to waste. Hiroto could now come to harass her anytime he felt like it. For a moment she entertained the idea of asking Dolly if she could use her shotgun.

"Creepy stalker guy?" Fukano-san mumbled. She frowned but was quickly replaced with a blinding smile. "Well, I'll leave you to your job Ashlynn-chan!" The woman waved and skipped back to her office.

Ashlynn gasped. 'No! Fukano-san! Don't abandon me now! Please don't leave me alone with this guy and his friends!' No luck, her boss kept skipping away. Ashlynn sighed again, she was doing that a lot lately, "How may I help you?" She grumbled. 'Come on Ashlynn, if you can get away unharmed physically with speaking to Hibari then you can deal with this guy verbally. You can do it!'

"Well, Sekushī na , I'd like you to get me a doughnut and a banana." Hiroto leaned against the counter, the two behind him began to snigger at the obvious innuendo. She wasn't going to make it through this.

'Don't punch the customer in the face. Don't punch the customer in the face. Don't punch the customer in the face. Don't punch the customer in the face." Ashlynn silently chanted. Asking to borrow Dolly's shotgun sounded like a wonderful idea right about now.

"Any preference for doughnuts?" She asked strained.

"One with icing please." Came the answer and Hiroto's companions laughed again.

"Anything else?" Ashlynn glanced at the other two boys, they both shook their heads with wide grins. 'Please let that be it.'

"Nope, that's all I want. For now." Hiroto smiled cheekily at her. Ashlynn went to gather the items and placed them in a carry out bag and brought it to the counter.

"That will be five hundred yen." Ashlynn told him. 'Almost done. Nearly there.'

Hiroto placed the amount in her hand, which she put in the cash register. Hiroto grabbed his purchase and nodded to his followers and lead them to the closest table to the counter and the three sat down. Ashlynn looked at them with shock. Really? They were going to stay?

Oh Hell to the no.

'Please don't do what I think you're about to do.' Ashlynn begged. Of course she knew perfectly well what the double meaning in getting a doughnut and a banana was. She wasn't stupid. Hiroto brought out his purchase balanced the doughnut upright. He looked up and waved at Ashlynn with a stupid grin on his face that was mirrored by the other two. With supposed grandeur and a drum roll from his friends, Hiroto picked up the banana.

Ashlynn groaned. Yep he did it.

All three boys began to laugh hysterically. Ashlynn took deep breaths in and out. She needed to be calm. She couldn't blow up at them because right now they were customers and though she was pretty sure it couldn't happen because Fukano-san really like her. But they could make a complaint and she could potentially lose her job.

"Ashlynn-chan~~"

"Y-yes Boss Lady?" Ashlynn looked up hopefully.

"Come here for a moment." Fukano-san called from the doorway to the baking area. Ashlynn briskly walked over to her boss. Anything for a slight reprieve from the obnoxious assholes in the sitting area. Jeez, out loud she didn't curse, but in her mind she had quite the sailor's mouth.

"Make sure to clean and restock the display cases, mmkay?"

"Oh…o-okay." Ashlynn was really hoping that since Hibari had already come for his shortbread and juice, then someone would switch with her. No such luck.

It wasn't for another half hour of listening to Hiroto and his friends laugh, no doubt at her expense before they all left. They didn't buy anything else, just screwed around with the doughnut and the banana and making lewd comments. Before leaving, Hiroto blew a kiss to her which she thoroughly ignored in favor of cleaning the empty display cases before replacing the dirty trays with new ones with fresh pastries.

It was another hour before two of the other employees decided they were tired of baking and wanted to switch places with her. At that point she was too tired to even complain that they had been hired for specific parts in the bakery and they couldn't just switch whenever they damn felt. She had grumbled but did go in the back. She liked baking, so it wasn't too much trouble since she was learning to make new things thanks to the recipes that that the shop had, but she would have to make sure that she didn't allow them to walk all over her. She would be having a talk with the boss later. She lost herself in filling cream puffs and cannoli's for the rest of her working shift.

"Boss Lady."

"Yes, what is it sweetie?" Fukano-san looked up from the papers on her desk.

"I'd like to have it made very clear to the other employees that they can't decide that they want to switch with me whenever they feel like. I was hired to do baking and I like doing that. I really don't want them to think that they can walk all over me Fukano-san." Ashlynn spoke steadily concealing the fact that she was in fact very upset about this.

"Of course Honey bunch, I'll see to it." Fukano gave thumbs up.

"Thanks, have a nice day, Boss Lady." Ashlynn waved before she left the establishment.

"How did she do?"

Fukano turned to the baby hitman on the window sill and smiled, she had worked with Reborn and Bianchi a few times in the past."Very well, she was able to handle being near Hibari-san without being beaten for crowding the boy. And right after that she was accosted by a boy she called a 'creepy stalker guy' and his friends making very sexual comments at her expense. She looked very uncomfortable ever since they came in the shop and when I called her from the side she looked so helpless I really wanted to hug her really tight!"

"'Creepy stalker guy?'" Reborn asked. Why hadn't he known about that? He knew that the boy had been a bit forward with his advances, but if he was harassing the girl then there was going to be a problem. He would get to the end of it.

"Yes. You don't think she meant that literally?"

"I'll look into it. It was good to see you again Keiko. If anything happens let me know."

"Of course, Reborn-kun."

Ashlynn kept looking over her shoulder when she walked home. It was bad enough that Hiroto knew where she worked. She really didn't need him finding out where she lived too. She shivered, what if he somehow got into her apartment. She was glad that she kept the chakrams that Reborn had given to her on hand at all times. It had already saved her life the other night.

Finally getting to her apartment she pulled out the lanyard that held her house key and the mail box key, she reminded herself that only Dolly had a copy of her set of keys and she always made sure that the sliding glass door that led to the balcony was always locked whenever she wasn't using the washer or dryer. The only window that was accessible and large enough to climb through was in the kitchen and that was always locked as well. If someone wanted in she would know if the screen or the glass had been tampered with.

She'd take a shower then she would see how Tsuna was doing.


It was pretty hard to keep track of her; she kept looking behind her shoulder to see if anyone was following. Which he was, actually. He had gone home to change his clothes and he put on an old baseball hat that he found in his closet. She hadn't recognized him at all. Hiroto felt like he was on a winning streak, he found out where Ashlynn worked and now he was going to find out where she lived. Today was a very happy and good day. He waited until Ashlynn entered her apartment before beginning to skulk up the stairs.

Well, that was before he heard a gun being cocked.

"Put your hands up and slowly come down the stairs."

What the hell? Was there a cop here? Hiroto slowly raised his arms above his head and started slowly back down the steps. "Is there a problem? I know someone that lives upstairs."

"I sure you do, since you stalked her all the way here from the bakery, boy. Turn around so I can get a good look at you, so I know who to shoot if you ever come back here again."

Hiroto turned around and saw a tall, dark brown haired woman with a shotgun pointed at his chest. That wasn't supposed to happen. He was going to see Ashlynn at her place, and then things would go on from there.

"Leave now, and don't you come back. I'll be making sure to have you served with a restraining order."

"What? But I haven't done anyth—Aaaahhhhh!"

The woman actually shot at him though it didn't hit him. She couldn't do that! He'd just come at another time when this crazy lady wasn't around. Hiroto turned tail and ran the hell out of the apartment complex and back to his house.

Ashlynn had just finished getting dressed when she heard a gunshot in front of her apartment. She quietly opened the front door and looked over the railing. Dolly was by the stairs reloading her prized shotgun.

"Dolly? Is everything okay?" She called down. Dolly looked up to her and frowned.

"I was walking home from the grocery store and this guy was following you from the bakery. I just told him I'm going to get a restraining order against his ass on your behalf."

"H-he followed me?" Ashlynn paled when Dolly nodded again. She shook her head, well; maybe she wouldn't go to Tsuna's tonight. Not unless one of the boys would come and escort her there and back, sure she had a lethal weapon on her person but it would make her feel a lot better if she had someone with her.

Dolly went back to her apartment and Ashlynn went back into her own as well. Tomorrow she would go and invest with a electric coded lock and she would see if she could have her windows and her back door reinforced.

Today had not been a very good day for her.


Ashlynn walked over to the Sawada household after work with a cake box Saturday afternoon in a bit of a sour mood. One of the things she wished she could go without in Japan was the extra day of school every week. She explicitly missed only having schooling five days a week over the six days in Japan. Her poor weekend had been cruelly cut to one measly day!

The morning had been tiring but well productive as it had been the first day that Yamamoto and Gokudera joined Ashlynn and Tsuna's training in the mornings. At first it had been quiet like it normally was when Ashlynn and Tsuna trained since it was really early and Yamamoto and Gokudera were still too sleepy for their regular banter.

Yamamoto was able to keep with all of the exercises that she showed the two newcomers and had known the majority of them already and what muscles they worked out. It wasn't until Ashlynn tried to ease Gokudera into a splits stretch that he fully woke up and basically flipped out from the strain on the thighs. From then on the boys were more lively and focuses, not to mention that Yamamoto was laughing every now and then to himself which pissed off the smoker (though not as much as when she told him that he who be running extra laps for every cigarette he pulled out) because he thought that the baseball fanatic was laughing at him.

Ashlynn certainly was but she managed to conceal her mirth when she was within line of sight.

The rest of the training regime was spent with a lot of running and stretching and Gokudera trying to pick a fight with Yamamoto. All in all there was progress and they would see about racing each other later on without weights to see how much a boost of speed the gained. They split up after that and Ashlynn left to go to take a shower before work and found a note from Dolly along with her old world phone and was happy to find that it was now working. Another piece of news was that Dolly had succeeded in placing a restraining order on Tenma but it couldn't really do anything while they were in school. Basically he was not allowed near the apartment complex.

During work, as promised, Fukano-san had a talk with the other employees that her job was in the back baking, and they had their own jobs to do. If they wanted a change then they should come to her and they would talk it out. But Fukano-san did warn her that there had been another employee that Hibari would order from without biting them to death. It was an elderly woman who had moved away years ago. Hibari had forgotten a few times that old woman didn't work there anymore and had gone through the shop looking for her, biting anyone who got in his way to death.

…Well then, that wasn't really a problem for her, so long as it wasn't Tenma that didn't come in trying to look for her. Best case scenario, he'd think she had quit or had been fired and all she would really need to worry about is that she had classes with him and he knew where she lived. Now, in case that Hibari decided to look for her at work, there would be shortbread and coconut juice within sight and reach.

"Gyahahaha! If you want, you can become the Great Lambo's subordinate!"

Ashlynn looked over to see Lambo walking with Irie Shoichi who was holding a crate. Hmmm. Well it was certain now that she was in the manga time line and not the anime time line. Because in the manga, younger Shoichi was introduced before Ryohei, Hibari and Dino. This was a good thing because she was much more familiar with the manga.

"I think I'll pass." The red head boy replied and shifted the crates weight in his arms. Lambo frowned but was appeased when he saw Ashlynn waiting for the two. He climbed up unto the boy's shoulder and began wildly waving his hand towards her.

"Aneue! Aneue! Look! Look I have a new subordinate!"

"I said I didn't want to be a subordinate. I just want to drop this crate off and go back home. Are you his sister? Could you take him from me?" Shoichi whined.

"I'm not related to Lambo in any way. This is the first time that he has called me that. But if you're going to the Sawada's then I'll walk with you. My name is Ashlynn, what's yours?" Ashlynn said to the boy. It was mostly true, of course. It was the first time that the five year old Lambo had called her his older sister. It was sweet.

"E-eh? Oh, I'm Irie Shoichi. Nice..to meet you." He mumbled.

Ashlynn went right through the gates in front of Tsuna's house, Lambo had barreled right through to go find Nana. Noticing that Shoichi wasn't walking beside her, she turned to see him peering over the corner, shocked eyes at Bianchi. In a bikini on a lawn chair, Reborn was sitting in a chair next her sipping from a juice box. Shoichi took out a cell phone. "Hello, Mom! There's a lady in a bathing suit sleeping in the yard!"

Ashlynn shook her head amused. "Reborn, this is Irie Shoichi. He brought Lambo back home and wanted to return the crate that someone had dropped off at his place. A note said that it was from the Bovino family."

"Eh? You're Reborn?" Shoichi asked. 'He looks nothing like I had imagined him to be. H-he's a little baby.'

"Ciaossu. The Bovino family sent it to your residence, so you keep it. Maman is just letting him stay here." Reborn hopped up to Ashlynn's shoulder."Besides, it's from the lower standard Bovino family. I certainly don't want it." He continued.

"Oh, o-okay then. I'll let my mom know that." Shoichi dialed his home number again. When he got a hold of his mother he explained the situation and then left the property. Ashlynn smiled, she had saved the boy the trauma of being shot at by Bianchi trying to kill the older Lambo. With Reborn on her shoulder she went into the house and presented the cake to Nana before leaving herself back home.


Ashlynn waved as Ran left the school's campus to meet her Aunt for a shopping trip and was about to leave for home herself before she stopped herself at the sight of the little green chameleon sunbathing on the wall next to the school gates. Ashlynn slowly reached her hand out a lightly gave Leon's head a little rub.

"Hello Leon, Where is Reborn?" She asked the chameleon. Of course, she had a good idea where he was but had asked anyway. The chameleon blinked its eyes at her before scurrying down the side of the wall and a few paces down the side walk. It appeared that he wanted her to follow. What a smart little reptile. Ashlynn smiled, Leon was so cute!

"Okay, Leon. I'm following."

After every few feet or so Leon would look back to her; at least she thought that he was looking at her. And she followed until she was at the gates of Namimori middle school where she saw Gokudera, Yamamoto and Kyoko walking towards one of the outside classrooms. Leon climbed up to perch himself at the top of her hair as she jogged forward to catch up with the three underclassmen that were going to go watch Tsuna's sparring match with Ryohei.

She didn't notice the person stare with curiosity from the school's upper story windows. Nor did she see the person peering around the school gates with a camera.

"Hey Ashlynn. Have you come to watch the Juudaime's match as well?" Gokudera threw out the stub of his finished cigarette. Yamamoto waved to her with a smile and Kyoko looked curious at her appearance no doubt.

"Is that what's going on?" Ashlynn asked. "Leon here picked me up from school, he's such a nice guy." She motioned to the chameleon who was settled in her hair.

Kyoko cooed at the reptile. "He is very cute. My name is Sasagawa Kyoko; it's nice to meet you Ashlynn-san. I hope we get along well." Ashlynn nodded and the four entered the club room where they saw a baby with an elephant hat who claimed he was the esteemed Mater Pao Pao. It seemed that only Ashlynn and Tsuna knew that it was Reborn in disguise. He just told Tsuna to have a sparring match with Ryohei and that Tsuna should be a little stronger.

"Juudaime! You can do it! I believe in you!" Gokudera cheered.

"Ha ha! Don't lose, Tsuna!" Yamamoto laughed happily.

"Good luck Tsuna-kun!" Kyoko smiled, she was happy her brother was happy.

"Eh! They're all here!" Tsuna cried.

"Come on Sawada Tsuna! There is no need to hold back your strength! Let us fight honorably to the EXTREME!" Ryohei yelled happily with a smile. Both he and Tsuna were wearing shorts and head gear. When the bell rang he immediately went forward with a punch that knocked Tsuna off of his feet.

"Come on! Don't be careless Sawada!" Ryohei yelled down at Tsuna.

Ashlynn felt Leon scurry of her head and towards Reborn where he transformed into a revolver, ready to fire the dying will bullet at Tsuna. Tsuna noticed as well and immediately covered his forehead. If he got shot he would be reborn and beat up Kyoko's brother and hate him for it!

"Fnn. Fine, then how about this?" Instead of firing at Tsuna, Reborn shot the dying will bullet at Ryohei's forehead.

"Hieeek! Why did you shoot at him!" Tsuna screamed alarmed.

"Because it would be fair if both of you were shot." Reborn, or Master Pao Pao, answered.

Ryohei stood up, a flame blazing on his forehead. He looked down at Tsuna. "What's wrong Sawada? Can you get up? If you can stand up then we shall fight some more to the EXTREME!"

"Huh? N-nothing happened?' Tsuna wondered. 'But if nothing changed when he was shot with the dying will bullet then…!.. If you shoot the dying will bullet at someone who is already willing to die it doesn't work!'

"Sasagawa Ryohei. Is an impressive one." Reborn remarked. Ashlynn nodded, even she had been reborn when she was shot.

"Next up is you Dame-Tsuna." Reborn quickly shot the bullet at Tsuna's brow.

At that point Tsuna had regretted, not making a scene at the sparring match, but his inability to reject Kyoko's older brother's invitation to join the boxing club…"Reborn! As if I were to die, I will reject the offer to enter the boxing club!"

"Oh? I won't ask the details why…Since I believe that true men can speak with their fists! Enter the boxing club, To the EXTREME!" Ryohei began his attack.

"No!" Tsuna dodged out of the way of the fist at his head.

"Able to dodge my "EXTREME straight punch"! I like you even more and all the more reason to have you join Sawada!" Ryohei called and rushed at the other boy.

"No! Must! Refuse!"

The spar had brought awed looks from the rest of the boxing team surrounding the boxing ring.

"Whoa! He is dodging all of Sasagawa-senpai's 'Extreme Rush'!"

"Just who is that guy?"

"Sugoi!"

Yamamoto grinned. "It's amazing that Tsuna can dodge all of that, but that kind of rush isn't something an ordinary person could ever pull off. It's like the skill of an assassin."

"I REFUSE!" Tsuna threw a punch and knocked Ryohei out of the ring and out through the wall of the building. Ashlynn ducked just in time to be taken out with the boy. Oh No! I beat up Kyoko's brother! Now she'll never want to speak to me ever again!

"That was amazing Sawada! I like you even more now! You're boxing skills are like Platinum to the Extreme! I'll definitely welcome you into the club!" Ryohei announced dropping down on one knee. He was smiling widely. Kyoko knelt down next to him.

"Oh, Onii-chan, you look so happy!" She smiled.

'What? I'm liked even more?' Tsuna looked shocked.

"I like you too, Sasagawa Ryohei." Reborn declared confidently. "Instead of Tsuna entering the boxing club, do you want to join his family, Pao~n?"

"Hieeek! Don't do a random scouting here!" Tsuna yelled.

"Haha that was a good fight Tsuna!" Yamamoto congratulated.

"Of course it was a good fight you baseball idiot! It was the Juudaime showing that punk his place and that you can't force the Juudaime into anything he doesn't like!" Gokudera scoffed at Yamamoto.

Tsuna sweat dropped. If only then, if he didn't have to be forced by Reborn to train to be a mob boss. He really didn't want to become a part of the mafia.

Ashlynn placed a hand on Tsuna's shoulders. "It was very impressive Tsuna. You're more quick on your feet now. Looks like those runs are beginning to show fruition, huh?"

"Y-yeah."

"Sawada! I shall see you tomorrow to the extreme!" Ryohei called out then turned to face Reborn who was still dressed as Master Pao Pao. "Thank you Master for coming all the way from Thailand to witness our spar. And yes, if Tsuna will not join my club, then I shall join his family to the EXTREME! Thank you for your invitation!"

"What! No! And I didn't invite you!" Tsuna cried.

"We'll see you tomorrow Tsuna-san! And thank you for making Onii-chan very happy." Kyoko said before the two left for home. Tsuna sighed in defeat; at least Kyoko-chan wasn't upset with him at all.

"Fnn you did well Dame-Tsuna. Today the four of you are excused from running tonight." Reborn who was now dressed back in his suit and fedora with Leon resting on the top. Yamamoto smiled, Tsuna and Gokudera sighed in relief, Tsuna because he could actually catch a break and Gokudera really didn't want to be forced to do another split. Ashlynn frowned; she didn't want to go off course from her schedule. Reborn gave a small smile. "It is important to rest every once in a while, so your muscles can heal before training them up again."

"Alright." Ashlynn nodded her ascent to the baby hitman.

"You three should start walking her home when it gets dark." Reborn said to the boys but he was looking towards the window out of the corner of his eye.

"Eh? Why?" Tsuna asked.

Yamamoto gave a smile in understanding. He had seen the guy as well. "Because you shouldn't let a pretty girl walk home all by herself when it starts to get dark out. You never know what could happen, Haha." Gokudera nodded in agreement.

"That's really not something you should laugh about, Yamamoto." Tsuna cried, his mind was already in overdrive about what could possibly go wrong. He didn't want that to happen to his friend.

"That's right; you need to take care of your family, all of you." Reborn nodded before leaving the clubroom and the school grounds. Right now, the boy wasn't being too much trouble but was making the female Vongola member very uncomfortable and stressed. But she was handling the situation rather well and also had thought of her safety. He had seen her buy new locks for her windows and door and he had made sure that they were of the top line and that she didn't know that she had got them greatly discounted.

"Thanks guys, really." Ashlynn said to them when they were walking out of the school gates. She was very very glad that Reborn had told them to walk her home, she felt a lot safer in a group. She blushed a bit; Reborn and Yamamoto had called her pretty again.

"Is there someone bothering you Ashlynn?" Tsuna asked.

"The guy/fucker that followed her here with a camera." Yamamoto and Gokudera said at the same time. Tsuna looked at her shocked.

Ashlynn shivered. "He had a camera? What a creeper!"

Yamamoto patted her hair. "You don't have to worry anymore! I'll give you my phone number that way you can call anytime you need someone to walk with you."

Ashlynn smiled and she had got all three of the boy's numbers and the very stern instruction from Gokudera that she had better call if something was wrong (he didn't want to have Tsuna be bothered or so he said).When she waved goodbye from the safety of the apartment complex Ashlynn smiled. It was heart-warming to have them do this for her. She didn't have her real family anymore, but now she had them. She had Dolly and her daughter, Birdy and she had the new generation of the Vongola as her family.


The last few days had been...Surprisingly peaceful, to say the least. Ashlynn spent her time training with the boys in the morning before walking with them to their school before she would meet with Ran at the high school gates. Fortunately they had not been bothered at all by Hiroto, which was nice, but very suspicious. Especially since the other day he had followed her and he had a camera.

After school she would either go to Ran's place where they'd do homework and play two player fighting game or she would go to work. She wasn't having any problems working at the bakery, but that senior female worker did glare at her a few times and Ashlynn was sure that the other girl had called her a bitch in passing because she wasn't allowed to switch duties with anyone anymore. Then after work she would drop by Tsuna's house with some kind of snack. When it would start getting dark outside one of the boys would walk with her and make sure that she got home safely.

Today was a no work day and Ran was helping her Aunt around the house, so Ashlynn wanting something to do other than lazing around on the couch went straight to Tsuna's after school. Nana had told he, Yamamoto and Gokudera they could let themselves in and didn't need to knock on the door every time. When Ashlynn entered through the front door and shut it behind her, she moved a few steps to the side when she saw a man standing in the middle of the stairs be smacked with a purple poisoned cake to the face and fall backwards down the steps.

Had she said it had been peaceful earlier?

Ashlynn looked to the figure at the top of the steps. "Hey Bianchi. Nice shot."

Tsuna rushed out of his room with Reborn perched on top of his head. "What's going on! Who's that being the victim of poison cooking?"

Bianchi flipped her hair over her shoulder as she stepped down from the stairs. "It's been a long while since I had last killed for the betterment of this world."

'Really,huh? I've got another few people in mind that it would be the betterment of the universe if killed.' Ashlynn thought with a wistful smile.

"You! Bianchi, please don't kill anyone in the house!" Tsuna screamed.

Reborn smirked not missing a beat. "So if she brought him outside then it would be okay?"

"Hiieek! No! The neighbors might see!"

"Such a tomboy as ever," The man pinched the corner of the wrapping and pulled the mess off of his face. "That's how a woman should be. It proves that she has no problem in taking care of herself. And it makes me love you even more!" He jumped up and planted a kiss on Bianchi's cheek before she pulled off a spiral kick on hi m and he catapulted across the room and slammed against the flooring. Ashlynn whistled impressed. and wondered if Bianchi could teach that to her.

Tsuna's jaw dropped. "W-who is that person trespassing? I don't know him, is he a burglar?"

"That is the doctor I was talking about earlier. I called him all the way from Italy. He is Dr. Shamal." Reborn explained.

"Whaaaaa? That's him?" Tsuna cried.

Shamal flipped back onto his feet and reached for Bianchi again. 'Now, now, there's no reason for you to be so shy my sweet Bianchi. Come on, how about a real nice kiss on the lips? Chuuu."

"You're such an asshole!" Bianchi slammed another dish of poison cooking into his face.

Reborn pointed at the fallen man on the ground." That's him alright. As you can see, he really likes women and he's a kissing freak."

"Reborn, can a guy like him really cure an incurable disease? I mean, is he really a doctor? He doesn't really seem like one to me." Tsuna covered the side of his mouth and whispered to the hitman.

"Of course, he has taken very good care of me as well."

"Eh? You had an incurable disease and he healed you?"

"I'm not so weak as to get a disease so easily but he was the man who took me from my mother's womb."

"Hieeek! What? He delivered you?" Tsuna screeched. "Well, I guess I could see that happening. How old are you anyway?" Reborn ignored him.

Ashlynn shook her head. 'I call bullshit, Arcobaleno.'

Reborn jumped off of Tsuna's head and caught the man's attention. "Shamal, this is Tsuna who has the skull disease and needs your help to cure it."

"Hmm? Oh, yeah, that's the reason you called me out here." Shamal said as he approached Ashlynn. "I'm very sorry; I seem to be oblivious to my surroundings. Excuse me, I shall now examine you right away."

"That's alright, but I'm not Tsu-" Ashlynn took a step back and tried to explain but it was already too late. Shamal placed his hands on her breasts and squeezed. Ashlynn's eyes widened in shock before she narrowing dangerously. She grasped his forearm and twisted both of her hands in opposite directions about the man's arm. Shamal gave a startled yelp of pain and released he chest and tried to pry her hands off of his to stop the massive Indian burn he was receiving. It wasn't until he had dropped onto his knees and begging her for mercy did she finally let him go. Ashlynn glared at the perverted doctor in front of her. Of course she knew his character and his quirks but she had hoped that he wouldn't feel up an underage girl, which she was. She scoffed and crossed her arms as she went to stand by Bianchi.

"Ouch, you know how to give a really good Indian burn, sweetheart, it's still burning quite painfully. But I gotta say it was worth it. You've got a wonderful pair of breasts on you, but there doesn't seem to be anything wrong, you don't have the skull disease." Shamal winced and tenderly rubbed the reddening skin on his arm.

"That's because she isn't Tsuna. This is Ashlynn and that, 'Reborn pointed to Tsuna. 'Is Tsuna, which is short for 'Tsunayoshi'. He is the young heir to the Vongola family." Well he really hadn't meant for that to happen, since Ashlynn already had a problem with a male being too forward with her.

"Eh, but I thought 'Tsuna' was a girl's name. Reborn, you know that I don't examine boys." Shamal whined.

"Whaaaaaaaaaaat!" Tsuna wailed.

"Whatever, I'm out of here. See ya." Shamal turned to exit the house.

Tsuna scrambled after him. "What? You do that to Ashlynn and now you're going to leave me to die for a reason like that?"

The older man scoffed. "What do you mean by a 'reason like that'? There is a really big difference, kid."

Tsuna looked down at his arms, the skull disease had spread onto his arms with more embarrassing secrets. He jumped and pulled Shamal around the stomach to stop him from leaving. "No Shamal-san! please! Help me! I don't want to die yet and especially not in this sad state too!"

"Hey!" Shamal yelled at Tsuna. "Guys aren't allowed to give me hugs! That really creeps me out! Stop it! I've examined a million patients from all around the world. And not a single one of them were male. No exceptions were made either, not now, not then, and most definitely not ever. Give it up kid, you're gonna die."

"Poor you. Ha-ha. " Bianchi laughed at him.

"You're enjoying this aren't you Bianchi?"

"Bianchi-chuuuun!" Shamal puckered his lips and pranced towards Bianchi who only kicked him away again.

There was a knock on the door and it opened to reveal Kyoko with an armful of books in her arms. "Hello, are you busy, Tsuna-kun?"

"K-Kyoko-chan?"

"My brother doesn't want to give up on having you join his boxing club. So, he told me to come over and bring some boxing books to look through." Kyoko lifted the books up to eye level. The girl looked at Tsuna and saw the markings on his arms. "Tsuna-kun, do you do body painting? May I see them?

"Oh?" Shamal looked over to Tsuna and Kyoko. He quickly appeared by Kyoko's side and wrapped an arm around the girls shoulder. " Hey, you are very cute. Lemme give a nice kiss."

Tsuna stepped in between Shamal and Kyoko with arms spread. "What are you some kind of animal? First Ashlynn and Bianchi and now Kyoko-chan? Don't you go any closer to them!"

"Huh? Why does it matter to you , kid? It has nothing to do with you and you're going to die real soon anyway. You have about five minutes to live." Shamal pointed at him blandly.

"Ha-ha, he keeps saying funny thing, what an amusing man, neh, Tsuna-kun?" Kyoko giggled. Ashlynn brought a hand to rub her temples, why was that girl so painfully oblivious?

Shamal puckered his lips. 'See? she likes me and I will get to kiss her soon."

Ashlynn waved Kyoko over by her and Bianchi. "He's not funny at all Kyoko, he's a pervert. Best to stay as far away from him as possible."

"Eh?"

Tsuna grabbed at his hair. 'No! If I die now then Kyoko-chan, Ashlynn and Bianchi will be victims of Shamal's perverse practices! No! That...I can't ever let that happen! Not to them!...If I knew this were going to happen, I should have...I would have defended them as if I were to die...'

"It looks like Tsuna...is planning to go into the dying will mode through sheer will. This is interesting...and about time too. "Reborn murmured.

"ROARR! Protect the girls from the pervert as if I were to die!" Tsuna roared, his shirt flew off of him.

"Ha-ha! Now Tsuna-kun is saying funny things...Wow, a lot of things are written-" Kyoko said completely oblivious to what was going on around her.

"Going into dying will mode and having all my secrets exposed, that's equally embarrassing!' Tsuna dropped down and hugged his knees.

"Geez, Tsuna, You are a loser with no guts. You couldn't pull off being in full dying will state by yourself." Reborn criticized.

"I know! I'm the loser king of all losers! I am going to die as Loser Tsuna! Just leave me alone-!" He cried.

"Alright, alright, fine. I'll cure you. There isn't much time left so put your shirt back on, kid. 'Shamal sighed. He led Tsuna back upstairs with Reborn and Bianchi following them leaving Ashlynn and Kyoko in the front room.

Ashlynn sighed heavily and slid down the wall and began to run her fingers through the strands of her ponytail.

Kyoko tilted her head slightly to the side in confusion. "Hmm? Is there something wrong Ashlynn-chan?"

Ashlynn shook her head before lifting herself form the floor. She wondered for a moment if she should explain what was happening with Tsuna and his involvement in the mafia, and that it wasn't all just a game."Just leave the books here for Tsuna and I'll walk with you home Kyoko. This has been a very long half hour." That was a total understatement; still, she was a bit proud of herself for handling the situation rather well, in her opinion. And she was glad that Flaithri had taught her how to make the effects of an Indian burn hurt faster and a lot longer.

"Oh, okay then." Kyoko smiled sweetly. "You haven't been by before so why don't you stay awhile?


"Alright, Birdy gets out of school at three o'clock and she knows that she is supposed to wait for you to pick her up. You do know where Namimori Elementary is, right?'

'Yes Dolly, I know where it is, Everything is going to be fine. I have your cell number and I know all of the emergency numbers."Ashlynn said, she was sitting on the trunk of Dolly's car, she was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a yellow baby-doll t-shirt with a black rose printed on the front and she was wearing a bunch of bracelets on both of her wrists. It had been a half day at school and Dolly was about to leave town to go to court and was going through everything she thought that Ashlynn needed to know.

Dolly picked up her blue duffel bag and tossed into the back seat. 'I'll be gone-"

"For the next week and will be back next Thursday evening. After school, Birdy is to do her homework and her bedtime is at eight thirty." Ashlynn recited from memory with a smile.

Dolly threw a small towel in Ashlynn's face. "Smart-ass. There is one more thing to remember Niamh. Birdy has an allergic reaction to bees that could potentially kill her. So, if she gets stung you need to get her immediately to the hospital. And if that happens I want you to call me. I don't care what time it is or if you think that I'm busy. I want to be updated, got that?"

Ashlynn nodded seriously, then threw the towel back at Dolly. 'I got it."

"Alright, I'm heading out now. Be good, stay out of trouble and no parties. Keep your phone charged too."

Ashlynn slid off of the trunk and gave the older woman a mock salute. "Aye aye Capi-tan."

Dolly rolled her eyes. "You're still a smart ass"

Dolly got into the drivers seat and pulled out of the parking lot and rove away. Ashlynn waved until she could no loner see the vehicle. She turned to go back to her apartment. She'd probably do a load of laundry then laze around for the rest of the day.

"Ciaossu Ashlynn."

Or maybe not.

Ashlynn turned back around to see Reborn standing behind her. "Ah? Hello Reborn."

"We are going to set up a hideout for the family. Will you come with me to Namimori middle?" Reborn asked.

'Time to meet Hibari.' Ashlynn nodded and picked the hitman up into her arms and made her way to Namimori middle in silence. But when they arrived at the schools gates, Reborn jumped out of her arms and disappeared from view. Well, that was just great, now what was she supposed to do? She had no idea where the reception room was. She wasn't a part of the original casting, nor did she have a script that she could read off of.

"Omnivore."

Never mind she found a cue she could work with.

Ashlynn turned her head to face the approaching prefect. "Hibari-san, good afternoon."

"Have you come for a fight Omnivore? I will bite you to death." Hibari raised a tonfa in her direction.

"If you wish to then that's fine with me But the reason I cam here is because Reborn plans to use the Namimori Junior reception room as a mafia headquarters for Tsuna's family." Ashlynn replied evenly. 'At my current level, I wouldn't be able to have a match with Hibari and get away without having my ass seriously kicked.'

"The Herbivore and his pack? How foolish." Hibari lowered his weapon, turned his heel and briskly walked towards the school's building. Ashlynn immediately followed after him. It was lunch time at Namimori Middle and she got a lot of stares as she walked slightly behind Hibari. one) she was walking with Hibari, and two) she wasn't in a uniform. The students quickly parted out of the prefects way and whispered conversations started up the moment they had ascended the stairs.

Hibari stopped at the at the reception room and looked in before entering. "It seems that the watchdogs were of no use."

Ashlynn slowly crept forward and peered through the open door. Inside was a group of the Namimori Junior Disciplinary lying beat up on the floor., Gokudera and Yamamoto were with Reborn drinking coffee. She could also see a pair of feet popped on one of the couch's armrests. 'That must be Tsuna right there.'

Gokudera had his attention on Hibari. he inhaled the smoke from his lit cigarette. "Who the hell are you supposed to be?"

"Wait, Gokudera..." Yamamoto warned the smoker. 'That guy. I know who he is. He is the leader of the Disciplinary committee: Hibari Kyoya. I he has someone he doesn't like, no matter who they are. He'll beat them up with his Tonfa.'

"Smoking on campus is against Namimori Junior's school code of conduct. You will put it out." Hibari swung a tonfa and it cut the cigarette in Gokudera's mouth in half.

"You bastard!" Gokudera yelled as he whipped out dynamite from his shirt. "This is now the headquarters for the Vongola family. Take this chance and get lost!"

"Family huh? What sort of foolish crowding is that?" Hibari raised his tonfas. "Explosives are not allowed on campus. What other rules have you been breaking? I will bite you to death for each one."

Ashlynn was still standing by the door to the room. She had yet to be noticed by either party and she didn't see what good announcing her presence would do. So far the best option for her to take was to go sit by Reborn who was watching the boy's confrontation. She decided that was the best.

"Bastard, I'll kill you!" Gokudera shot forward. Hibari darted out of the way of Gokudera's strike and swiftly slammed the tonfa across the boy's face.

"That's one." Hibari counted as Gokudera crumpled to the ground. Hibari then ran forward to attack Yamamoto who dodged out of the way. "Are you injured? You seem to be protecting your right hand." Yamamoto stiffened at the remark.

"Oh, You are in the baseball club? Bingo.' Hibari kicked at Yamamoto's right side and arm sending him flying against the wall. 'That's two."

The commotion seemed to finally wake Tsuna up because he sat up from his spot on the couch his attention quickly grabbed by the prone figures of his friends. "G-Gokudera-kun! Yamamoto!"

Hibari set his eyes on the boy and stalked forward. "They won't wake up. I made sure to hit them so they wouldn't."

Tsuna's face paled. 'He beat both of them up...and I'm next!'

Leon transformed into a gun and Reborn shot a bullet at Tsuna. "Die."

"Roooarr! I'll beat you up as if I were to die!" Tsuna jumped to punch at Hibari.

"Oh? What's that? A gag?' Hibari asked as he uppercut Tsuna with a Tonfa. "Did I crush you chin, Herbivore? I'll have to beat the other two up more so they can use an ambulance. Hrm?"

Tsuna raised himself from the floor and punched Hibari across the face then smashed his fist on top of the other boys head.." I wasn't finished yet!"

Hibari wobbled a moment before looking up. "Hey...Can I kill you?"

Reborn sat up from his seat. "You are strong after all, Hibari. But that is enough for now, it's not polite to fight in front of a lady."

Hibari stared at the baby hitman. "I don't know who you are, but I am very much irritated right now. Would you sit back down and wait for me?" Hibari raised a tonfa and striked at Reborn who parried with a blade that Leon transformed into.

"Wao. You're amazing."

Reborn smirked and held up an explosive. "It's time to leave now, Ashlynn."The explosive blew up the room. Leon transformed into a hot air balloon with Ashlynn and Reborn in the basket, the boys were clinging to the ropes hanging from the basket above them. Reborn lowered the transformed Leon into the pool area.

"That went pretty well, you might be able to call Hibari on as an ally or a member of your family now, Tsuna." Reborn announced.

"Wha? You intentionally made us meet him?"

"Ashlynn has previously met him before and she has earned a bit of respect from him. But you three, it was a dangerous bet and you're lucky that you got to leave with only bruises and scratches." Reborn explained.

"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Tsuna asked totally confused.

"It was also a real-battle training so that you won't be to used to peace. Actually engaging in a battle is the best way to hone your skills." Reborn jumped back into Ashlynn's arms.

"What? What are you talking about? I mean, what are we going to do now? I'm sure that guy is going to have his eyes on us now!" Tsuna grabbed the sides of his head in despair.

"Don't worry Juudaime! I'll send that creep flying next time!"

"Hibari will surely be a useful ally in the coming future." Reborn murmured, Ashlynn nodded her ascent.

Ashlynn checked the time on her phone and found that she would have to leave to go pick up Birdy from school. She waved goodbye to the boys and left with Reborn who decided to accompany her.


It was the weekend and Birdy was at one of the other neighbors that Dolly trusted to take care of her daughter, while Ashlynn went to work, she had decided to wear a light blue short sleeved sundress that went to her knees, since it was nice enough out to actually wear the thing and she put on all the bracelets she was becoming known to wearing.

There was a very large order for crumb cake. So she was left with another employee to bake cakes then crumble them onto batter to cook again. She worked in silence except for the small radio that someone had brought for the bakers use. She didn't know the stations well enough so she let the guy working with her choose what channel to listen to.

This went on until she was about more than half way done with her quota. Both she and the male worker with her paused when they heard a plate crash in the next room. Then a scream followed by more screams of the employees in the front of the bakery. The male employee left to go see what was happening in the other room. Ashlynn's eyes widened in realization and she quickly brought out a pan that was keeping warm in one of the spare ovens and she opened up the fridge and brought out a pack of beverages and put both of the items on the table closest to the door and rushed back to her station and back to work.

She was just in time when the door opened.

"You were not in the front, Omnivore."

Ashlynn took out the finished pans of crumb bread from the oven and placed them on a cooling rack then inserted more pans to be baked. "That's because when I originally applied for this job, I was to work baking, not selling. One of the senior workers tried to control my schedule."

Hibari took a piece of the shortbread that had been laid out on the table and took a few bites. It was silent for the following minutes. Until the prefect's phone went off.

"Midori Tanabiku, Namimori no~~"

Ashlynn gave a small smile at the boys ring tone and continued working.

"Very well, you will owe me another favor, baby. Omnivore we are leaving." Hibari announced before walking down the hallway to Fukano-san's office. Ashlynn shrugged and hurriedly cleaned up and wrote a note that the next batch of crumb cake was supposed to be pulled out in another twenty minutes. She took off her apron and hung it on the rack

from the door to the middle of the room, her fellow employees were lying on the ground, beat up and groaning. Hibari walked past her and through the entrance with Ashlynn following him to the motorcycle that was parked on the side of the road.

Ashlynn instantly regretted not wearing shorts under her dress as she settled on the bike behind Hibari and he sped off into the streets.. That and she hadn't asked where the hell they were going. But he had said something about a favor and baby so...Reborn? It seemed she guessed right when they were driving down the street where Tsuna parked the bike next to the gate on got off the bike. He stepped onto the brick wall surrounding the Sawada property and grabbed on to the gutter and pulled himself onto the roof. Looked like he was going to enter through Tsuna's bedroom window. She looked down at her dress then back to the prefect staring at her from the roof.

"Yeah, you're funny." She laughed a bit sarcastically then she went to go through the front door of the house and quickly went up the steps, she gave a smile to Nana and Lambo on the way. She entered Tsuna's bedroom the same time Hibari opened the window.

"Yo."

"Hieeek! It's Hibari-san! Please don't enter the house by the window, use the door!" Tsuna cried. He was still in his pajamas. Yamamoto, Gokudera and Haru stared at the prefect that had jumped in from the window sill and the unmoving body on the carpet. Reborn nodded to her in greeting.

"I didn't come here to play with you guys today. I cam here so that the baby owes me another favor. A deal of sorts." Hibari announced as he looked at the body.

"We were waiting for you, Hibari, Ashlynn." Reborn chided.

"Eh? Ashlynn is here too? " Gokudera asked and the other three looked behind them to see Ashlynn leaning against the wall by the door. Haru frowned and quickly clung to Tsuna's arm and stuck her tongue at Ashlynn who rolled her eyes at the gesture. She went to stand by Gokudera and Yamamoto

Hibari kicked the body so that it was now laying on his back. "Hmm. Good job, you got the heart in one shot. Ok" Hibari looked to Tsuna. " I'll have the corpse disposed of for you."

"Whaaaaat! What are you saying?" Tsuna wailed.

"It means that he will get rid of the body so it can never be found again. That way this murder never happened." Reborn explained.

"That's wrong in so many different ways!" Tsuna yelled.

Hibari leaned against the window sill. 'I will send someone from the disciplinary committee later."

"You are going to use the committee to cover up a murder?" Tsuna slumped to the floor.

The door to the bedroom opened to reveal Shamal. "Geez, what's with all your yelling? You know that that's not going to make want to look at the guy. He's a guy, he's dead and..." Shamal's face lit up as he pranced forward. "Ashurin-chuuun!" He pulled Ashlynn backwards into a hug with his hands fondling her breasts once again.

"Shamal you will let go of me or do you want another Indian burn?"Ashlynn threatened as she moved her hands once again over Shamal's forearm. The man squealed and back pedaled away.

"Ashurin-chan, you don't need to be embarrassed because I'm hugging you in front of your friends. But then again your so cute!" Shamal reached over and pinched her bottom.

Ashlynn whipped around and grabbed the man's arm and twisted the skin. "You better stop that Shamal. And why are you butchering my name? And another thing, If you so against treating male patients then why don't you have a partner who could take care of the patients that you scorn?"

Shamal fell to the ground in agony. "Ow! B-but it's so worth it, and Ashurin sounds really cute. Ow, ow, ow, ow! I normally work by myself...Oh!...Ashurin I know what you're really asking. Do you want to be my nurse? You can wear a really cute uniform~ aaraghh! Owwwww! Ok, I give I give! Please! Please let go! I'm sorry!"

"Heh, you deserve it for being a pervert Shamal." Gokudera scoffed at the doctor. Haru nodded from her spot by Tsuna, Hibari looked on in approval as the man grunted and begged for her to gave another nice, for her, twist on Shamal's arm making the already hurting man squeal a little more before she released him. Of course, to herself,Ashurin did sound a little cute and that was how some people in Japan sounded out her name. But there was no way that she would actually want to be called something that he decided was cute to call her. Shamal pouted then retreated out of the bedroom.

"Hrm, a member of the committee will be here son. see ya, Herbivores, baby, Omnivore." Hibari stepped around the group and went towards the door.

Tsuna looked up alarmed."No, Hey please wait! Hibari-san!"

"Juudaime! Please move aside! I cannot be at peace, until I take this bastard down and get revenge for the other day. Perish!' Gokudera yelled as he threw dynamite at Hibari, disregarding the fact that it wasn't a very big room, and there were many people inside.

"You shouldn't be so eager to live Herbivore." Hibari smacked the dynamite away from him and also away from Ashlynn who was also by the door with a tonfa. He grabbed Ashlynn's arm and pushed her out of the room as he left the room and shut the door, leaving the rest to the blast.

"Thank you Hibari-san." Ashlynn thanked the prefect.

He nodded before going down the stairs. "You owe me a favor now, Omnivore Ashlynn."

Ashlynn nodded and opened the door to Tsuna's room and peered inside. Looked like no one was seriously hurt in the blast. The supposed dead man was standing on the opposite side of the room as everyone else.

"Are you ok, Juudaime?" Gokudera fussed.

"Hahi! The body is gone!" Haru pointed to the place that the 'dead' man had laid.

"Man, I thought I was really going to die right there." the 'dead' man spoke.

"Hieeeeeeek! He's revived!" Tsuna screamed.

Ashlynn shook her head. "No, he's just turned into a zombie."

"It's nice to meet you, Juudaime. "The man greeted with blood dripping from his mouth. Tsuna and Haru backed away from the man.

"This is Moretti, he is a professional in being assassinated. He can use a technique called 'Addio' to stop his heart at will and can achieve a state of apparent death. Moretti is a specialist loyal to the Vongola family." Reborn introduced.

"Eh? S-so you weren't really dead? O-or a zombie?" Tsuna asked.

"Nope, he was playing dead. It's like a special technique of his. "Reborn explained.

Tsuna turned his head towards the hitman. "But... I...I heard the gunshot..."

"That was a blank I fired. I put the gun in your hands after that." Reborn smirked.

Moretti smiled. 'Of course the blood was fake as well, and earlier I was pretending to be a thief to make the situation more realistic. It's not every day I get to visit Japan, so I thought that this was a perfect opportunity to perform 'Addio' for the Juudaime. I'm glad that I did it! It was a lot of fun!"

"There are other ways of showing that to me, you know! ...But, I'm glad." Tsuna cried then sat down heavily and Haru followed suit. "I can't take much more of this . I'm so tired."

Yamamoto smiled happily. "Man, this guy is Hilarious! Hahaha!"

Tsuna didn't even have the strength to be angry.


The young teenage girl glanced up from over the top of the book she was reading and directed her gaze towards the kitchen area where she could see that her Grandmother had stopped shuffling around with her pans. The young woman raised an eyebrow at her elder's actions as she took a hold of a quartz necklace tied to a leather strip around her neck then as if shocked the older woman reached into one of the many cabinets and pulled out some items that the girl couldn't see.

Deciding not to bother with any questions she returned to her book and began to read again. It was best not to stop her Grandmother when she was in a mood like she was now. She probably had some sort of vision and was responding to its contents in a way she knew best. Also if she was to know about the vision than Grandmother would tell her and if she didn't then she had no involvement to whatever the woman saw so there was no need to but her nose in.

After another fifteen minutes of preparation the elderly woman left the confines of the kitchen and its hearth and made a beeline towards the small shrine they had constructed over the fireplace, dedicated to the Triple Goddess: The Maid, The Mother an The Crone.

The girl tilted her head curiously and shut her book and laid it on the coffee table and watched the other woman go into another cabinet and brought out the most potent incense they owned and brought it to the shrine and lit three for each Goddess, she also removed her quartz necklace and placed it in front of the incense

"Seanmháthair?" She called.

The older woman carefully kneeled and clasped her hands together in front of her heart. "Your sister sends her love, child. She has paid the price and become what I had seen so many years ago. A Caomhnóir."

She gasped and jumped to kneel with the woman in front of the shrine. She couldn't help the tears that sprang from her eyes but didn't bother to wipe them away. "Ashlynn."


Utsukushii and Sekushī na = basically, it's beautiful and sexy in Japanese