"I like a man that grins while he fights."
-Winston Churchill
"If all of those wishes I've made on Birthdays, dandelions, and shooting stars come true, I'll probably be married fifteen times, be a movie star, meet Harry Potter and Santa, and have a million dollars. I'm not sure if this would be weird or awesome."
-Maglet
"So you have Birdy-chan staying with you for a while? Wow, you're really responsible aren't you? I can't imagine myself looking after a six-year old. Hell, sometimes I can't even take care of myself." Ran asked as she and Ashlynn walked to Namimori Elementary from their High school to pick up Birdy from the Elementary.
Ashlynn switched her schoolbag to her other hand. "It's only for another few days. Dolly called me last night and said that she was going to be home earlier than she had planned. As for being responsible, well, hey at least I try to be."
"Ha-ha, yeah, you're right!" Ran laughed.
The two turned around the corner of the Elementary school to see Birdy waiting at the gates. The younger girl perked up when she saw them and rushed down the sidewalk to meet them. Ashlynn picked up Birdy and settled her on top of her shoulders.
Ran smiled. "Mah, did you have fun today at school?"
"Yep! This morning Nee-chan braided my hair." Birdy motioned to the two dark plaits that were pulled to rest on her shoulders. "It's not like how Ka-chan does it, but that's ok. We played Red rover Red rover during recess today."
Ran laughed happily. "Wow, Red rover huh? I remember when I used to play that game as a kid. I still do actually when I'm able to make it to a convention. Two teams full of cosplayers playing in the grassy area calling out the character names of the cosplay…well, until one time the sprinklers came on and everyone scattered then after a few minutes they went off so we continued our game. Then the sprinklers come on again! And the—Hmm?" Ran looked at her bag; a small tinkling sound was coming from one of the pockets. Ran's eyes widened as she pulled the straps open and reached for her cell phone. "Jeez, I left the sound on…I am so lucky that it didn't go off in class. I need to go home now, so I'll see you later ok? Ja ne!"
"See ya."
"Ja!" Birdy called after the older girl.
Ashlynn crossed the street over and began walking back to her apartment with Birdy happily chatting away about what else had happened during her class; the two crossed more streets and came up to pass by Namimori middle school gates. Ashlynn paused when she heard Tsuna's familiar shrieking. Birdy looked down at her with a curious look which was not noticed.
"…I thought you were going to introduce me to the person who would be Lambo's babysitter!"
Ashlynn smiled knowingly. "I know the person who just yelled. Let's go say hi and introduce him to you, okay?"
"Hai~."
Ashlynn entered the school gates towards the group in front of the school building. Yamamoto looked towards the two and waved with a smile, Gokudera nodded in acknowledgment, Tsuna was whispering to Reborn who was explaining to Tsuna about a possible babysitter.
"That is what I have done, Dame-Tsuna. Since you are going to be the boss, it is only natural to have a member of your family to look after any persons under your care and protection. Imagine what would happen if you had employed someone and they were a spy."
"I get that! But I'm not going to be the next boss! Besides why did you send for these guys!" Tsuna yelled.
Reborn ignored his student and looked up at the two females that had approached. "Ciaossu, Ashlynn and Birdy."
Tsuna whipped his head to see the girls; he hadn't noticed them come near. 'Birdy? That's one of the names that Ashlynn had mentioned before…This is Birdy?'
Yamamoto took Ashlynn and Birdy's bag and laid them on a nearby bench next to where he had left his own things. "Did the kid call you out too, Ashlynn?"
"No, I was just picking up Birdy-chan from the Elementary. I heard Tsuna when we were walking nearby and decided that I would introduce you. Guys, this little lady on my shoulders is Cross Suzume. She is the daughter of my landlady and likes to be called Birdy. Birdy-chan this is Yamamoto, Gokudera, Reborn, and Tsuna." Ashlynn pointed to each boy respectively. The boys greeted her and Birdy gave a shy little wave from her perch.
Yamamoto laughed and reached over to pat Birdy on the head before patting Ashlynn's hair as well (It seemed to be a habit he had with her, she noticed). With the combined height of Ashlynn and Birdy sitting on her shoulders, they barely towered over Yamamoto. "Ha-ha, you're really cute!"
Birdy hid her face behind Ashlynn's head before peeking back out; she moved her legs and asked to be let down. The group looked over when the window next closest to them was slammed open as the cow-printed child leaned over the edge. "Gyahahaha! Lambo-san boldly enters the fray!"
Gokudera scoffed. "Look at this annoyance. Someone who pissed his pants in public should stay out of sight. That way you don't embarrass anyone that knows you."
"Y-You're wrong! I only pretended to do that, Stupid-dera! You shouldn't be so easily fooled, Baka!" Lambo blushed a heavy red before regaining his composure and blew raspberry in Gokudera's face.
"You asshole~ Looks like you'll need to be punished before you learn anything." Gokudera seethed at the child. Ashlynn frowned, sure she wasn't exactly a saint and sometimes a curse would slip, but she made sure that she didn't do so in front of an impressionable child. She would be having a talk with the boy about this.
"Oh." Lambo pointed behind the group. "What's that over there?"
Gokudera was the only one that had looked towards where the child pointed. Lambo quickly reached over and punched at Gokudera's eye. "Only real idiots look!"
"Gya!" Gokudera kicked Lambo in the face making the little assassin fall off. "Go and die you little shit!" Yamamoto had to hold back the disgruntled boy so he wouldn't follow up on his attacks.
"Let's start the compatibility test with babysitting Lambo, then, shall we?" Reborn announced.
"Eh, a test, Reborn-san?" Gokudera asked.
Ashlynn walked over and picked up the crying Lambo and began swaying back and forth, Birdy looked up at the child in her Nee-chan's arms and reached to pat his foot. "My name is Suzume but I like to be called Birdy. You're name is Lambo, right? Do you go to the pre-school? I haven't seen you with the kindergarten kids or the other first years at the Elementary."
Lambo sniffled. "Lambo-san's name is Lambo of the Bovino family. Lambo doesn't go to school. Lambo-san is on a dangerous mission from his Boss to defeat Reborn. And when Lambo-san defeats Reborn Lambo-san will then take over the world and everyone will bow down to Lambo-san and Lambo-san will be the greatest and eats grapes and sweets whenever he wants."
Reborn smacked the back of Tsuna's legs causing the boy to screech. "You just saw how Gokudera and Ashlynn interacted with Lambo. And Yamamoto seems to like all children. Now we shall consult the very stars above…"
Reborn suddenly was dressed as a fortune teller, with dark blue robes and a long white beard. He was seated at a small table with a crystal ball and a stack of what looked to be Tarot cards. Tsuna gaped while Ashlynn and Birdy watched on curiously. Lambo had calmed down and rested in his Aneue's arms. Yamamoto and Gokudera believed that now in Reborn's place was a new child.
"I am SEANÁN, the great teller of the constellations. Come forth and I shall reveal to you your fortune!"
"Haha! How cool! I'd like my fortune!" Yamamoto requested.
Seanan/Reborn hovered his childlike hands over the glowing crystal globe in front of him. "Yamamoto, Ashlynn and Lambo are under the Taurus star sign, your element is that of the Earth and your ruling planet is Venus. Your horoscope is: You can tackle an overdue issue head on this week, but be assertive, not aggressive in your approach as you go about making your changes. Do not sit back and wait for someone else to make the first move."
Yamamoto gave a thoughtful look at the fortune while Ashlynn found that it was pretty accurate to her current anime situation. Perhaps this was a sign that she shouldn't stay on the sidelines anymore.
"What about me Great Seanan?" Gokudera pushed forward.
"Gokudera…You who were born under the sign of Virgo, your element is that of the Earth and your ruling planet is Mercury...Your Horoscope is this: It is important to push through to what you want to achieve in life and not be dictated by other people. But beware; for there is always someone with an attitude who can think up every possible negative reason why you cannot succeed."
Gokudera's eyes quickly flashed towards Yamamoto's direction. "Baseball idiot! I knew that you would try to prevent me from my goal! You better not even think of trying to make me believe I can't become the Juudaime's right hand man!"
"How is this going to help find someone who would look after Lambo?"Tsuna wondered.
Seanan/Reborn looked up at him. "It doesn't."
Tsuna gaped. "You mean all that was pointless! Then why did you bother!"
"I am sorry Juudaime, but I cannot be his babysitter, so I'm going to pass on this. I really can't stand the brat." Gokudera apologized.
"Ha-ha, what kind of game are we going to be playing now?" Yamamoto asked.
Reborn was back in his normal attire; he shook his head. "Right now it is really between Ashlynn and Yamamoto. Both are great with young children and are responsible. I would like to point out now that the babysitter for Lambo will also become the Boss' right hand man."
"Geh! Right hand man? No way!"
Ashlynn looked over from where she was standing with Lambo and Birdy. Lambo had become bored with all the talking. He jumped out of Ashlynn's arms and pulled out a hand grenade from the void that was the child's afro.
"Die, Reborn!' Lambo threw the projectile at the other assassin. Reborn smacked it back and the explosion blew up at Lambo. After a few moments of shock he began to sniffle before outright wailing.
Reborn pointed at the crying child. "Whoever can make him laugh first will win this contest."
Tsuna laughed. "Reborn, there is now way that they will compete to…"
Gokudera looked seriously at Yamamoto. "I will not allow myself to lose against the likes of you. Today is the day that I will clear things up and become the Juudaime's right hand man as I rightfully should be."
"Right on. Then I will also compete to win if we're doing this."
Ashlynn and Birdy watched as the boys fired themselves up for their competition. Birdy looked up to the Ashlynn beside her. "What are they doing?"
Ashlynn patted the girls head. "They are going to see who can make Lambo laugh. Whoever can do so will get to be Tsuna's right hand man." She watched as Gokudera slowly approached Lambo and reaches a hand down to the child.
"Oh…What does a right hand man do?"
It was Reborn who answered. "The right hand man is the Consigliere and is the legal face of the family and sometimes acts as the family's lawyer. He, or she, acts on the behalf of the Boss and the family. The right hand man is the only person allowed to argue with the Don if he believes that the Boss' decision could potentially destroy the family. Right now Tsuna is what is called the Capo Bastone/ Sotto Capo, which is the Underboss. He will inherit the Don title if the current Don is…unavailable…Also since the Vongola family is the most powerful, Tsuna will become The Capo di tutti Capi, the Godfather of the family's allies."
Gokudera offered his hand for Lambo take. "I am very sorry about earlier. Let's make up and be friends, okay?"
Lambo reached over and placed an active grenade without a pin in Gokudera's hand. The boy quickly threw the explosive away from him and reached forward with his hands to choke the smaller boy making him foam at the mouth. Ashlynn rushed forward and pried his hands off and smacked him across the back of his head.
"Gokudera! Enough!" She angrily boxed the boy's ears. "That is no way for you to treat a child! Can't you see how much bigger you are than him, that alone should stay your hand." She turned and placed herself in front of Lambo and stared down the boy in front of her challenging him to argue with her.
"Hmm, definitely not Gokudera. Yamamoto, you're up next." Reborn ordered. Yamamoto nodded and slowly approached Lambo who was hiding fearfully behind Ashlynn's legs.
"Yamamoto seems to be the one that children like. How he integrates with Lambo will be worth seeing."
Tsuna sighed. At least Gokudera hadn't really hurt Lambo, but Ashlynn still looked really mad at him and that hit really looked like it hurt, Gokudera was still rubbing the back of his head and his ears. He watched as Yamamoto grabbed his school bag and brought out a baseball and a glove. He showed the items to Lambo, who looked up interested. Ashlynn looked wary but had returned to where Birdy and Reborn were standing. Gokudera took a place by Tsuna well away from Ashlynn.
"Have you ever played catch before?" Yamamoto asked, he gave the glove to Lambo and explained. "Here, you use this to catch the ball when tossed to you. Then you throw it back to me, okay?"
Tsuna began to relax. 'Yamamoto is really clever… he's going to teach Lambo how to catch and Lambo is showing interest too.'
Yamamoto went a little ways away from Lambo then called out. "Get ready!"
"Okay!" Lambo placed the glove in front of him. The thing was almost as big as his head.
Yamamoto had a gleam in his eyes as he tensed then pitched the ball hard to the Bovino. The fast ball slammed into the glove that Lambo had in front of his face, it hit his face and fell away from the boy. Lambo dropped the glove before falling to the ground in tears.
"What!" Tsuna screamed. 'W-what happened!'Ashlynn grimaced and even Gokudera had cringed. Birdy looked at Yamamoto in awe with a little blush on her cheeks.
Yamamoto ran forward apologizing. "Wah! I'm so sorry! Once I get into that position I forget to restrain myself!"
"T-to think that even Yamamoto has a terrifying side to himself…" Tsuna gaped.
Gokudera crossed his arms with a smirk. "Heh, this is the first time that he's done a job so well."
"What on Earth do you think you're doing!" They all watched as Haru entered through Namimori Middle's school gates. She was pointing at them in rage and shock.
"Hiiiieek! Haru! What are you doing here at Namimori? Are you transferring to our school?" Tsuna asked.
"No! I came here for the inter-school gymnastics competition. And just when I finally saw Tsuna-san, his subordinates are making little Lambo-chan cry!" At this Haru pointed at Ashlynn. "Look! She even brought another child to be bullied! Subordinate-san, how could you be so cruel! Tsuna-san you must fire her immediately!"
Birdy tilted her head in confusion as the girl she didn't know was yelling and pointing at Nee-chan. Birdy began to frown, this girl wanted Ashlynn to be fired? If Ashlynn was fired then she wouldn't be able to pay rent for her apartment then she would have to leave and then she would never be able to see her Nee-chan ever again!
Ashlynn sighed tiredly. Why did Haru need to make everything more difficult then it needed to be? And she was still calling her 'Subordinate-san'. If the girl didn't stop soon then the name was going to stick.
Haru knelt next to Lambo and picked him up and squeezed. "Lambo-chan, are you alright? Is that evil, mean girl picking on you?"
Tsuna whispered to Gokudera" Haru…In the gymnastics team…?"
Gokudera gave a thoughtful frown. "I don't think it's possible to imagine…She seems really clumsy."
Haru stood up with Lambo squirming in her arms and she loudly announced. "You bad person! Making an innocent child cry!"
Yamamoto interrupted trying to explain. "Actually…It was me…"
Haru ignored him and continued. "Haru will never forgive anyone who bullies Lambo-chan!"
"She seems quite fit to be cow's babysitter…" Reborn remarked nonchalantly.
"I agree." Tsuna nodded.
"What? Then she gets to be Juudaime's right hand?" Gokudera whispered.
Lambo began to cry again as he desperately tried to escape from Haru. He grabbed the purple ten year bazooka and fired at his face.
"Hahi!" Haru screamed as she and Lambo were enveloped in smoke. When it cleared she was carrying a fifteen year old Lambo in the air by his waist. Haru's eyes widened as she slammed him on her knee before quickly retreating to hide behind Tsuna. "W-who are you!"
Lambo groaned in pain on the ground. "Why is it always so painful when I come back ten years in time?"
Tsuna stared, why was Haru so shocked…"Oh, that's right…Haru hasn't met the Lambo from the future…"
Birdy looked at the male that was on the ground. First Reborn had changed and the others except Ashlynn and Tsuna hadn't recognized him. Now Lambo had shot himself with a bazooka and this older boy appeared in his place. And the girl who had declared that she wouldn't stand for anyone hurting Lambo but she had hurt this Lambo.
The older Lambo got up and approached Haru who was beside Tsuna. "It's been a long while, dear younger Haru-san…"
Haru looked at the boy in front of her. He had his shirt open showing off his chest. She screamed as she slapped him across the face. "Hahi! Ero! You hentai! If you don't button up your shirt, I am going to report you for public obscenity! This whole thing is perverted!"
Lambo looked shocked as he touched the mark on his face and said weakly. 'But…it's for fashion…you know...I …I think it would be best if I left…" Lambo began to walk towards the gates of the school.
Yamamoto picked up one of the horns that had adorned Lambo's head. 'Hey! You dropped a horn!" He called out to the retreating boy.
Lambo waved his hand, tired. "Oh, thanks. Just toss it here, will you?"
"Here you go!" Yamamoto pitched the horn making it smack into his face. "Wah! I'm sorry! I did it again!"
"Lambo!" Tsuna cried.
Lambo dropped to his knees into a cross-legged position and began to cry. Ashlynn walked forward with Birdy following after her. She brought the older Lambo into a hug soon followed by an embrace from Birdy as well.
Lambo sniffled. "Thank you Aneue. Hmm? This is the younger Birdy-chan… Thank you." Birdy nodded; she was right then, it was still Lambo.
"You know, it would probably be best if Tsuna looked after Lambo." Reborn remarked.
"Hiiiie! That was your plan from the start wasn't it!" Tsuna yelled.
Smoke surrounded Lambo again as he switched back places with the younger Bovino member. He found himself being hugged by his Aneue and Birdy-chan. Birdy looked thoughtful before reaching into her uniform pocket and pulled out a small candy and gave it to Lambo.
"Gyahahaha! Candy! Candy!" Lambo gobbled up the sweet.
Ashlynn smiled. "What do you say Lambo?"
"Eh? Thank you, Birdy-chan!"
"Fnnn. Well it looks like Birdy was able to make the cow laugh. So she wins the competition and gets to be the next right hand for the boss." Reborn pointed out.
Gokudera dropped the cigarette that he was about to light. "What!"
"Reborn! I don't want her involved in the mafia! She's just a kid!" Tsuna argued.
He was ignored, Reborn faced Birdy. "Would you like to join Tsuna's family, Birdy?"
Birdy looked at the baby that shouldn't be a baby and smiled. "Tsuna-san will be my new big brother? I can call him Tsuna-nii now?"
At Reborn's nod she gave a yes and a hug for Tsuna who sputtering and trying to refuse.
"What are you Herbivores doing on campus?"
The group watched, most in fear as the Hibari walked over. He looked over the pack seeing the baby and the Omnivore that he wanted to fight, the herbivores that attended his school and a female from another school. He brandished a tonfa in Ashlynn's direction.
"Omnivore, consider your favor to me fulfilled. We shall have our fight today." He declared before advancing to strike. Ashlynn jumped back as she reached for her chakram bracelets as the rings were still in her bag, and parried the first strike with one of her own.
Haru frowned at the display of violence in front of the small children present, so she herded the to the small playground that she had seen previously on the side of the building. The little girl had protested until Tsuna (Who Reborn said was the Boss so she had to listen to him) had said it was alright, and then she reluctantly left with the girl who wanted Nee-chan fired and Lambo.
"Reborn-san, I noticed that the bastard calls her Omnivore, but he calls us herbivores…Why is that?" Gokudera asked they watched the two trade blows with each other. Ashlynn was lasting a lot longer than he had when he had gone against Hibari when they went to take the reception room. It hurt his pride a little that Ashlynn was keeping up with an opponent that he had troubles with.
"It was when Ashlynn had walked home from Tsuna's home after I was first instructing her how to use her chakrams. She had been ganged up on by some thugs on the way home. She was aided by Hibari and she had earned a bit of respect from him by keeping her composure in battle."
"Hiiiie! She was able to fight after one lesson?" Tsuna exclaimed.
Reborn nodded. "Yes, better than what you have shown thus far, Dame-Tsuna. But then again, Ashlynn has had training before she met me."
Ashlynn swiped her leg low trying to trip Hibari only to be unsuccessful. She was really starting to hurt from the boy's attacks. Sure she had been training rather diligently with her weapons; but she wasn't anywhere remotely near to Hibari's level with his tonfas. But so far she hadn't had any bones broken and she was still conscious, so that had to count for something. Ashlynn spinned a chakram around her wrist and bounced it onto the ground and back up between her and Hibari making the prefect to retreat a few steps back. She deftly caught the handle of her weapon before looking at Hibari. It worked! Yes! She had been working on that little trick for a while now.
"Wao."
Ashlynn smiled, before trying to block another hit from the prefect. Their fight had caused some members of the disciplinary committee to stand to one side, not in a group to watch of course. There were also some various club members that had come out to see what the commotion was all about. Many watched in shock as some recognized Ashlynn from before and how she was fighting with Hibari and how well she was surviving despite the many bruises and marks on her.
It was when a scream pierced the air that Ashlynn's guard had dropped. That was Birdy who was screaming. Hibari's tonfa smacked across her face and another hit to the stomach that knocked her off her feet.
"Sorry Hibari. We're going to have to finish this later." Ashlynn called out as she retracted the blades, ignoring her bloody nose and ran toward the side of the school building where Haru had taken Lambo and Birdy, she was followed by Hibari rushing after her, he didn't want to end the fight there. He was followed by Tsuna, Reborn, Yamamoto and Gokudera.
Ashlynn found Haru panicking over Birdy trying to find out what was wrong. She moved the girl out of the way and took Birdy into her arms. "Birdy-chan, what's wrong?"
Birdy gasped crying and pointed her forearm. "A...a bee stung me, Nee-chan! A bee!"
Haru shook her head. "Is that all? That's not a big deal. You'll be fine Birdy-chan, we'll just take the little sting out."
Ashlynn glared at the younger girl, she pinched the little stinger with her thumb and forefinger and removed it from Birdy's arm before hoisting the girl into her arms. "It's a very big deal because she's allergic to bees!"
Haru and many of the others had paled at the information and parted ways for Ashlynn to pass them by as she ran to get to the gates and down the street towards the direction of the hospital clinic. After a few blocks of running she heard an engine roar and found Hibari on his bike riding next her. Running closer to the where he was driving she grabbed onto the seat behind Hibari and jumped onto the bike with Birdy in her arms. Ashlynn held on tighter to Birdy as Hibari sped them through the streets of Namimori.
Hibari parked the bike on the sidewalk next to the building and led the way through the double doors and straight to the receptionist that immediately stood when she spotted the prefect. "Hibari-san!"
"This child has an allergic reaction to bees. She was stung earlier; you will have the doctor look at her immediately." Hibari ordered the woman.
" R-Right away, Hibari-san!" The receptionist picked up a pager and called for one of the doctors on hand to inform that Hibari was in the hospital. Within moments a male doctor asked them to follow him, asking for information. In one of the rooms he had Ashlynn set Birdy down on the bed and had the two leave the room.
They were shown to a waiting room where they found Reborn, Tsuna, Gokudera and Yamamoto waiting for them. Yamamoto walked forward and handed her Birdy's and her school bag. "You kind of forget them when you left. Haru left to take Lambo back to Tsuna's mom."
Ashlynn nodded in thanks and pulled out her cell phone and dialed Dolly's number.
"What do you want?" Dolly's voice came on the other line.
'Dolly, it's me. I…" Ashlynn was cut off by the voice mail message from Doll's phone instead of Dolly herself. She sighed, she had forgotten about the little message that Dolly had put on. It always tricked Ashlynn into thinking that it was actually Dolly speaking and not the voice mail.
"If it is important please leave your message after the beep….Beep."
"Dolly, its Ashlynn. In the hospital right now, Birdy got stung by a bee. Call me back when you get this, okay?" Ashlynn hung up the phone with a sigh before turning to Hibari who was at the door. "Hibari-san. Thank you."
He nodded stiffly before leaving the room. Ashlynn took a seat in one of chairs and looked at the boys who were still there. "Thank you guys, but you don't need to stay if you don't want to."
Reborn jumped up and sat on Tsuna's head. "You are a part of Tsuna's family and as of today, so is Birdy. You will not be left alone while either of you are vulnerable."Ashlynn nodded with a small smile when the other three nodded, agreeing with Reborn.
It was another hour and a half before Dolly called and she had explained what had happened, then another thirty minutes before the doctor had come to the waiting room with Birdy in his arms "You got her here fast enough that she doesn't need to stay the night here. Just make sure that she drinks plenty of water and that she doesn't strain herself for the next few days." He handed Birdy who was starting to nod off into Ashlynn's arms. "And this," He gave Ashlynn a small bottle of medicine. "Have her take one of these twice a day for the next week. It's a just in case precaution."
"Thank you."
The doctor nodded before leaving to go back to work. Ashlynn settled Birdy and went to pick up her bag before Yamamoto reached out and took their bags instead. He shook his head. "I'll walk you two home today."
From the hospital to her apartment wasn't as far as it was from Namimori to the hospital, so the three made it to her home without any trouble. With a thank you to Yamamoto for walking them he left, she managed to get Birdy to eat a little bit before she put the girl to bed. Ashlynn sighed as she called Dolly again to tell her that she and Birdy were home and that tomorrow she would excuse Birdy from school for the next couple days. She was restless for the rest of the night.
Ashlynn barely managed to get a few hours of sleep before she had to get up in and all she wanted to do was skip school and lay in bed. The reason? She was badly injured from her fight with Hibari. With the adrenaline from the fight and getting Birdy medical care she had completely forgotten about the state of her own body.
Needless to say she hurt like a bitch.
She had seen the dark bruises forming on her arms and legs and what appeared to be a large dark red welt mark on her poor tummy. But that didn't nearly hurt has much as her face was. Ashlynn had crawled painfully out of bed careful not to jostle Birdy who was in bed with her still sleeping. A look in the mirror made her make a slight grimace. Even facial expressions were proving to be very painful. With a couple pain relief pills for the migraine and some salve for the bruises that she wrapped up rather clumsily and a few band-aids to rest on her face, she went to one of the neighbors, Takara to watch over Birdy while she was at school. She didn't bother to even try to attempt her workout. Which was alright, none of the boys had come to her home that morning.
School. Well that certainly had been a fun day for it. Ran had completely freaked out when she saw her at the gates and had immediately but gently interrogated her for details. Ashlynn not wanting Ran to pick a losing battle with Hibari told her of when she had been walking home and some guys ganged up on her and she had been helped by the prefect of Namimori. It wasn't a total lie since it actually had happened. Other than Ran no one else at the school had made a fuss over her. And this had included Tenma which she was glad for.
That night Dolly had come home and she had looked over Birdy before sending her off to bed. Then she had sat down Ashlynn in front of her and waited with a bland look…and Ashlynn decided cut her losses and began to tell the older woman about how she met Reborn and then Tsuna who was being trained albeit against his will to become a mafia boss for the Vongola family. How she had met Gokudera and Yamamoto, how she had competed with Yamamoto in the entrance test to the family, and that Reborn and the ninth boss had gifted her with chakrams and instruction on how to use them.
Dolly had been completely silent until Ashlynn had finished her story and that had worried her a bit until the older woman cuffed the top of her head before bringing her up into a hug. "You stupid, stupid girl. I know that you are not from this world and I can bet that none of those boys know about that. And yet you try to hide this from me? I am a grown woman Niamh; I am perfectly able to take care of myself and Birdy."
Then Dolly had demanded to meet Reborn, Tsuna and his family; mafia and otherwise. There seemed to be an instant spark of friendship between Dolly and Nana, and Bianchi too, though Dolly wasn't too impressed by Gokudera's behavior. Anyone older than then was an enemy? It took the combined efforts of Yamamoto laughingly holding the boy back, Ashlynn explaining that she trusted Dolly wholeheartedly and Tsuna pleading for him to stop. Obviously when Tsuna asked Gokudera to stop he did, albeit grudgingly.
Dolly seemed to accept the rest of the group; Kyoko was a sweet girl, her brother Ryohei was a bit loud but polite, she was amused with Yamamoto mostly because Birdy had developed a little crush on the boy. Haru, while she was eccentric, Dolly also did not appreciate how quickly she jumped to conclusions and hoped that she would grow out of the habit. Hibari…well he wasn't really officially apart of the family, and Ashlynn was relieved that Dolly hadn't pushed to meet the prefect. To Ashlynn's surprise, Dolly hadn't really reacted to Reborn's…stature in height...and age. Even more surprising was that Dolly had warned the hitman if anything happened to her (Ashlynn) or Birdy; she would be out for blood. With a smile at the statement, Reborn had invited her to join Tsuna's family with loud protests from the said boy.
"You have already recruited Ashlynn who is like another daughter to me and you have convinced Suzume to join you as well. You would be insane not to allow me to look after my own children." From then on Dolly was involved with Tsuna's mafia family.
During Ashlynn's work shifts, nothing really happened except Hibari had taken it upon himself to pay for his purchases at the cash register, biting people in the front of the shop to death, depending on how many were there and how that affected his mood. Then he would make his way to her work station to have shortbread and coconut juice while he watched her work. It was unnerving as hell. But he hadn't bothered her to finish that fight that had been interrupted and she hadn't said anything about it. Fukano-san thought it was charming of Hibari to come see her while she worked and Ashlynn had to explain very slowly and firmly that, No, they were not dating. However she didn't say anything to the other employees about that fact, she would let them continuing to think so.
So long as it made them leave her she would take advantage of the rumor but if she was confronted directly then she would deny any such relationship with the boy.
Summer vacation is only about a week in Japan. This was one of the most disappointing things that had ever happened while in Namimori. She was so used to having summer vacation after school ended not smack dab in the middle of it. Ashlynn was reminded why her brother Flaithri only came back for a week during those summer months while he was part of the student exchange program.
Still, it was hot as balls no matter how much she cranked the air conditioning, bought two ice cube trays to make more with her ice dispenser, and she went with Ran as much as possible to the pool.
At least she got to got to the summer festival with Ran (The two girls had been saving up extra cash to splurge). The other girl's Aunt let Ashlynn borrow one of her old yukata since Ran's wouldn't fit her since Ashlynn had a larger breast size than her friend. They had met at the shrine then Ashlynn and Ran wandered about the different stalls and spending money on whatever caught their fancy.
In one of the booths they found a vendor selling jewelry made from gemstones and many other pieces from sterling silver. Ran pointed to one of the ring designs on display. " Is this some kind of new design? There are hands holding a crowned heart."
"Oh? Scooch over." Ashlynn moved over to see what her friend had pointed out. "I recognize it. It's called a Claddagh. When its worn on the right ring finger with the heart pointing to the fingertip, the wearer is free from any attachment, when the heart is pointed towards the palm it means the wearer is romantically involved and when the ring is on the left hand wedding finger it means the person wearing the ring is engaged or married. Most of them are passed down from generation to generation like an heirloom."
"Huh? And you memorized all of that?" Ran smiled.
Ashlynn grinned sheepishly. Of course she would have it memorized. When Grandma Aine wanted you to memorize something you sure as Hell memorized it. "My Grandmother passed hers down to my mother and she still has it."
"Well then, I think I'll buy it. But let's look around here a little more."
Ashlynn grabbed the girls shoulder. "Then let me buy the Claddagh for you. It's bad luck to buy it for yourself."
"Really? Then I'll buy one for you if you'll buy mine."
Ashlynn agreed with the compromise and looked around some more before she settled on the bracelets much to Ran's amusement and she asked why Ashlynn never seemed to own any necklaces.
"There was an accident when I was little. I had a necklace that another girl wanted to have and she was always trying to steal it. One day she grabbed at it from behind me and tried to break the chain off. Well she she was definitely stronger than me but not enough to break the chain. She kept tugging at the other end nearly choking me to death in the process before the teacher noticed and grabbed her away from me. Ever since I have never had anything tied around my neck."
"...oh...sorry for bringing it up..."
Ashlynn shook her head as her eyes settled on a pair of gemstone chip bracelets behind a glass barrier. "It's alright. Excuse me Oji-san? May I see these two right here?"
The man in charge of the booth stepped forward to see what she was pointing at and asked if she wanted to try them on. She put on the beads of the black stone first and rubbed her finger lightly over the surface. She looked closer at the pieces and found that some of the beads had other colors mixed with it. In some there was brown, others had white specks and the last ones were either fully black or had little specks or tints of other colors. "Obsidian?"
"That's right. There are chips of of the different types. Pure obsidian, mahogany, rainbow, and snowflake."
Ashlynn tried on the other and smiled at the light pink, periwinkle blue and camouflage like green chips in recognition. "The three Angel stones. Magano calcite, Seraphinite, and Angelite."She looked up to the owner of the booth and asked to purchase both bracelets and a Claddagh ring. She assured the man that she wanted the bracelets even if they were a bit pricy since they were real stone chips.
Ran joked when they left the booth that Ashlynn probably knew the meaning of the new bracelets that Ashlynn had put on next to the chakram bracelets while they exchanged the Claddagh rings and placed them on to mean that they had no romantic attachment before they wandered again towards the smell of the nearby food booths.
They celebrated the short summer week without a care in the world.
There was a funny little saying Ashlynn remembered reading somewhere that was about school. During the summer break the student had said, "I miss my friends I want to go back to school." Then when school came right back around the same student said, "Screw my friends; I want to go home."
Only she was happy to see Ran more often. She was not happy however, that she would see Tenma as well. When she had asked Dolly who she had shot at had looked like, the description fit her stalker perfectly. It was unfortunate that Dolly had only shot the gun next to the boys feet and not actually hitting him.
Wow. All she wanted was the guy to leave her alone. Yes he was a complete asshole, but should she really wish physical harm on him. Did that make her a terrible person? She got her answer when she walked into the classroom with Ran. Tenma had brightened like like Christmas and his Birthday had happened on the same day when she walked through the door and walked to meet her at her seat.
Oh, yes she wished Hell on the guy. And while that harm was taking place, a nice kick to groin would save a very lucky girl from his contamination to the gene pool. So, she consoled herself with the thought and that she was not a bad person for thinking of such things on a fellow man.
Tenma smiled when she approached. "Hey Ashlynn, I was wondering if I could walk you home today?"
Ashlynn glared, after his jokes at her where she worked (she heard from Boss Lady that he had asked for her and one of the Senpai told him that she still worked at the shop. The guy had taken to calling for her from outside one of the windows looking out back.); did he honestly think that she was interested? And asking to walk her home? No doubt to get her alone with him! "Seriously? You are going to play that way? I have told you Tenma-san that I have not given you permission to address me that way. No, I don't want you to walk me home. No, I do not want to be anywhere remotely near you. Please. Leave. me. alone!" Ran nodded her agreement.
Tenma's smile faded a bit. What was with this girl and playing hard to get? Before now, girls would have swooned before him. He was irresistible to the female species and he knew that. She should consider herself lucky that he was spending so much time trying to get to know her.
"I'm not sure what game you are talking about babe or why you're trying for the hard-to-get act. I want to have a relationship with you. Do you want me to be nicer to Hiraoka? Fine. I'll be nice even though she's a lesbian."
Ashlynn took a deep breath to calm herself and give a reminder that she couldn't fight the guy. "Tenma-san there is a big difference between playing hard to get and actually being hard to get. I am not going to negotiate this matter. Now please leave."
Ashlynn turned her attention to a teacher that she hadn't seen before. Were they going to have a new homeroom? The woman was bland just like the others.
Hiroto returned to his seat. It would take a little more time with Ashlynn. She couldn't play hard to get forever. Eventually she'd give in to him, he could be patient, so for now he'd lay off, but before that he'd like to have a few pictures of the girl who was playing around. He'd have to do something about Hiraoka soon. It'd be best if he could somehow separate the two and make them hate each other
"Alright class, my name is Kansen Mai; you may call me Kansen-sensei. You're homeroom teacher won't be making it for the next week. So for now you'll be joining me with another few classes in the auditorium for cleanup, leave your bags here. We'll be having auditions for a play in two weeks time. Okay? Alright everyone let's move."
Ashlynn and Ran walked arm in arm to the auditorium they were assigned the job of sweeping up the front of the stage then take out all of the chairs from the orchestra pit out so that could be cleaned. Ran looked up from sweeping
"Are you going to try out for a part in the play? I think you'd be really good at acting."
Oh Ran had no idea. It was really difficult not to tell that she was really from another world where this one was an anime series. It was really, really hard not to tell Reborn everything she knew of what was to happen. She had to remember to let the characters she knew to introduce themselves so as not to make them suspicious of her and she had to watch what she said. So far, she hadn't let anything slip. And she really wished that that comment come back and bite her in the ass.
"I probably won't because practice or the performance could land on a day that I work or something. If I can I'll come to the production but I won't be a part of the actual performance." Ashlynn said sweeping trash into a dustpan. 'Like what if practice fell on a night where we'd have to fight Mukuro or fight in the ring battles.'
Ran looked around her a moment before yelling out. "Where's a garbage can?"
Ashlynn and Ran both jumped when a small trashcan was dropped from the ceiling a few moments after the question. Ran looked up to the ceiling in awe.
"Is god granting wishes? I would be forever thankful for a girlfriend that would love me and not care for sexual preferences. Preferably three inches shorter than me. Other than that I don't have any preferences that I can think of. Thanks."
"Ran, you make it like you're ordering from a takeout restaurant." Ashlynn smile before she too looked up to the scaffolding in the auditorium completely serious. "God, I'd like a boyfriend that I could be friends with and not be an utter douche bag that would only want me for a sexual relationship only to leave me when he finds someone who appears more attractive than I am (I know I'm kinda plain looking). Bonus points if he can make me laugh. I don't have any preference for looks."
Ashlynn and Ran looked at each other and laughed. Of course it wasn't God in the scaffolding, but someone from the group replacing and cleaning the stage lights above them. It didn't stop them for wishing for their 'order' for a relationship. After yelling thanks to the group above them they threw out the collected trash then began to take out the chairs from the pit. Luckily they hadn't been confronted by Hiroto the entire day. Ashlynn was sure that he hadn't given up yet but was biding time. Well, she wished he would give up but she needed to be prepared just in case he tried anything.
With summer months passing by into autumn Ashlynn found herself surprised when she looked at the calendar the afternoon of October thirteenth. Not surprised what the date was just the realization that she had been in anime Namimori for seven months.
So much time had passed it was crazy. She had spent the time with only one friend in high school (which had bee unusual), training and hanging out with Tsuna and boys, and working.
It was October thirteenth and Ashlynn crossed the date off the calendar on her fridge before she left for her bedroom to change into something nice for the evening. A nice purple blouse and a white frilly skirt with black flats and fixed up her hair, then placing two very important cakes from her fridge into their respective packaging and two little gift bags one in orange and the other yellow, before meeting Dolly and Birdy in front of the apartment complex where Dolly took one of the parcels as they made their way to Tsuna's.
When the three arrived it was Bianchi who let them inside, Birdy was allowed to go find Lambo and play while Ashlynn and Dolly followed Bianchi into the kitchen to put down the cakes. Bianchi had raised a brow at the extra packages but shrugged it off when Nana entered the kitchen and the three women began to chat amongst themselves for a few moments before everyone gathered by the front door to wait.
The door opened slowly to reveal Tsuna walking in and Reborn walking through the threshold. The welcoming committee cried out happily. "Happy Birthday!"
Poor Tsuna's face looked confused until the hitman unknowingly beside him spoke up. "Thank you—I appreciate that you have all gathered here, for me, on this special day. I am one year old now."
Tsuna sputtered. "You…you mean that the party that they were planning this entire time..?"
"That's right." Reborn replied. "It was for me."
"Eh? I thought it was for me…I feel like a fool…" Tsuna looked down dejectedly.
Nana clapped her hands together in realization. "Oh my! That's right! Tomorrow is Tsu-kun's birthday! I completely forgot! I'm so sorry, Tsu-kun!"
"Hahi! Really!" Haru cried. "Th-then shall we celebrate it together then?"
"It's a good thing you mentioned it Tsuna." Nana smiled.
Ashlynn grimaced from her seat on the bottom of the stairs. His own mother didn't remember his birthday. It wasn't as if Nana Sawada was a bad mother or anything, but she was…Ashlynn figured the word for now to describe her was clueless, or even simple-minded. She was glad that she had gotten Tsuna something and Dolly and Birdy had combined their gifts.
Tsuna sighed as the entire group then congregated to the living room. "I'm like a loser who's demanding to have his own birthday party…"
As they all sat around the extended table Nana uncovered some of the boxes. "We got sushi from Yamamoto-kun's place."
"Wow! Thank you Yamamoto!" Tsuna thanked the tall boy who gave a grin. "But wait." Tsuna looked around the room. "How come the atmosphere seems different though everyone seems to be here…Hiiiie? Gokudera-kun!"
Gokudera was holding onto his stomach in obvious pain from being so close to his sister. He looked up as Tsuna approached him. "I…I definitely...re-remembered your…birthday, Juudaime…B-but this seems to be..The final end of me." Gokudera said before he fell fully onto the floor.
"Hiiiie! Is this how you're going to end today!...You shouldn't push yourself so hard, Gokudera-kun." Tsuna screeched.
"He can't do that…It's a big disadvantage not to participate in a Vongolian Birthday Party." Reborn noted dryly. All eyes turned to the hitman for an explanation. "In our family, during the odd year birthdays, we are obligated and honored to hold the Vongolian Birthday party. The rules are simple:" Reborn explained as a scoreboard was rolled into view with numbers from zero at the bottom and one hundred at the top. "The person who is celebrating their birthday gives the score's to the participants 'Present' or 'Performance'. And then the participant with the highest score earns an elegant present of their own. But the participant with the lowest score will die a horrible death."
"No Way! What's up with that? Why would someone go to celebrate only to be killed! I can't agree to that!" Tsuna screamed.
Reborn shrugged. "Those are the rules. Everyone has been preparing for this day."
Yamamoto rested an arm on Tsuna's shoulder. "Come on Tsuna, its only child's play. So let's go along with it."
"Since Yamamoto brought sushi he earns eighty points." Reborn said as he slapped a magnet with Yamamoto's likeness next to the eighty mark on the score board as everyone began to eat.
"Hmmm, eighty points not too bad at all!" Yamamoto smiled. Tsuna sighed; did it really have to be a contest?
"Cheer up Tsuna-san! In order to become the wife of a mafia boss, Haru will get used to such events, okay?" Haru placed her hands on her blushing cheeks.
"Wife! Why are you saying things like that? And don't just say 'okay'!" Tsuna grumbled.
Haru reached into the gift bag that she had brought with her. "Haru made a present. Since Reborn-chan's suit has always been black, I've made a white one for him." Haru revealed the suit to the crowd. "Its target patterned because he is a hitman."
"He'll be targeted too easily!" Tsuna pointed out.
Haru's face quickly paled. "Hahi! Now that you mention it I-I hadn't thought of that!"
"Thank you Haru. I like these kind of thrilling clothes. Eight-five points for Haru. "Reborn placated the panicking girl. The magnet with Haru's likeness at the eighty-five mark.
"It's my turn." Bianchi announced as she raised from her seat with …dough in her hands. "I will celebrate Reborn's birthday with a genuine Italian pizza tossing."
Bianchi gave the dough a spin as she tossed it into the air before catching and repeating the motions. The group watched as Bianchi slowly started spinning and tossing faster and faster every time she tossed the dough into the air.
"Wooow." Tsuna was impressed, and then felt something on his check. When he pulled his hand back to see what it was, there was blood on his fingers. "It's cutting! It's cutting everything!"
Bianchi caught the dough deftly with her hands and bowed. "That is my newest technique for poison cooking."
"It was very well done, Bianchi. "Reborn complimented. "Ninety points."
"That was amazing, Bianchi-san!" Haru smiled.
Bianchi bowed again before leaving to the kitchen. "I am going to bake this now."
With a gentle push from her mother Birdy stood up with two small packages of her own and gave one to Reborn and the other to Tsuna before retreating back to Dolly's lap. Dolly gave a small grin. "These are from both Birdy and me, their dog tags with your names and the Vongola crest you showed me Reborn. The rest of you should get your own soon"
"Thank you to you both, and you even remembered Tsuna. Sixty points for you two. Now, is Tsuna next?" Reborn asked as he put Dolly and Birdy's magnet up.
"Huh? I have to do it too? I haven't even heard about this sort of event until today! Lambo probably didn't even prepare anything today either!" Tsuna pointed at the Bovino.
"That's not true!" Lambo cried as he held out a stick with string on the end. "Lambo-san made this yesterday! Gahahahaha! Behold! It's a Lambo stick!"
Birdy looked at the stick and yarn now in Tsuna's hands." So….what is it or what exactly does it do?"
"Well, you put glue on your fingers first. Then do this to get the strings off. 'Lambo demonstrated the motion of twirling his glued finger in circles."Then you twirl the strings of glue around the chopstick then yarn around the glue to get a Lambo stick!"
"One point." Reborn slapped Lambo's magnet barely just above the zero marking.
"Gupyah!"
"I'll go next, just a moment." Ashlynn left the room and came back and placed a cake package and a little gift bag in front of Reborn and Tsuna and watched as both opened the cake parcels first. Ashlynn gave a pleased smile when the group oohed and ahhed at the creations.
Reborn's cake was a two layered espresso mixed with marble cake, carved and molded to resemble his fedora, with dark chocolate icing and orange milk chocolate icing for the band around the cake hat. And on the top she had placed a replica of Leon made from modeling chocolate.
Tsuna's cake was two layered chocolate cake the edges in the likeness of Tsuna's head making an anime smiling expression ( :D ) face, his hair was milk chocolate icing and his eyes were dark chocolate icing.
Reborn nodded and Tsuna just stared at the cake in front of him before a smack from Reborn, the two looked into the little gift baggy. Out came a crocheted bracelet; The strings on Reborn was a dark brown and braided into the crochet were pieces of dark green stones with what looked like blood splatters. Tsuna's had dark blue strands holding black stones that had white flowers on the pieces.
"Reborn those are bloodstones; also called Heliotrope, protects against the evil eye and is a symbol of justice. It is used for circulation of all energy in the body, helps remove energy blocks and used in the alignment of all the centers of the body." Ashlynn explained before facing Tsuna. "And yours has Chrysanthemum stones: Awakens true purpose in life and lends support and courage necessary to follow your dreams. It brings unexpected opportunities (luck) once one has stepped on a chosen path. The chrysanthemum stone contains an energy that forges through obstacles t joy, love and abundance in one's life. It also creates a sense of balance between physical and spiritual, and encourages love and joy."
Dolly whistled, impressed. 'She actually memorized that entire explanation?'
Haru frowned at the gifts, of course she thought that the cakes were crafted amazingly. She really didn't want to lose to the older girl. Especially since Ashlynn had actually known that it was Tsuna's birthday tomorrow.
"Thank you very much Ashlynn. "Reborn said to her while clipping the ends of the bracelet around his tiny wrist. "I like both of your gifts. Ninety points." Ashlynn's magnet took its place next to Bianchi's
Tsuna sent a smile her way as he clipped the bracelet on his own wrist. "Thank you, Ashlynn."
"It's your turn Tsuna." Reborn pointed a gun at him. "If you forfeit, you will die with zero points."
"Tsuna jumped up startled. "W-what!But I don't have anything!"
"Juudaime! Let us make a team together!"
"Gokudera-kun!" Tsuna went to help to Gokudera up from the floor. "A-are you okay? You looked to be in pain only moments ago."
Gokudera nodded. "It is peaceful so long as big sister isn't around. Reborn-san, don't Vongolian parties allow two-man teams?"
"Yes. It is allowed." Reborn gave permission.
"Gokudera, you don't mean to do…" Yamamoto tried to protest.
Gokudera cut off whatever Yamamoto was going to say next. "Shut up! You're no longer a part of it! I was originally going to team up with Yamamoto but he proved to be not at all useful! My performance…Is a magic show!"
Ashlynn hid a smirk behind her hand. 'Oh, this is gonna be good.'
Gokudera directed Tsuna into a box with straps on the sides and slits for something to be jammed through. "The box has not been tampered with and I am going to lock the Juudaime like so."
"Wow, this is pretty realistic…" Tsuna mumbled.
"Using this sharp blade I shall stab through to the other side of the box!" Gokudera then looked at Tsuna and whispered to him making Tsuna become panicked.
"Haha! I said it was impossible, so I refused to do it." Yamamoto explained happily.
"Hiiiie!" Tsuna started to struggle inside the box.
Gokudera brandished the sword in front of him and tried to comfort his boss. "Even though stupid Yamamoto couldn't do it, I have absolutely no doubt in my mind that the Juudaime will be most successful! If I close my right eye it will be on the right side okay, Juudaime?"
"No! That's not my problem! So stop! I'm going to end up dying either way!" Tsuna yelled.
"That's right. So die now." Reborn shot Tsuna in the forehead.
"Reborn! Magic Show As If I Were To Die! Give It To Me!" Tsuna's arms burst through the side of the box and grabbed the blade from a shocked Gokudera and stabbed it through to the other side of the box. "Stab! Stab! Stab!"
Haru screamed and held onto Lambo who was beside her. Birdy hid her face into Dolly's shirt and didn't dare to look back out as Tsuna kept grabbing swords and stabbed them through the box. After a few moments of silence the front of the box holding Tsuna inside crumbled into pieces revealing Tsuna's body contorted around the swords through the sides of the box.
Gokudera cheered. "Way to go, Juudaime! That was amazing!"
"Hahi! " Haru gasped at the sight.
"Haha! I wouldn't have been able to do that!" Yamamoto laughed.
'Congratulations, Tsuna. You've earned a perfect score." Reborn place Tsuna's magnet at the top of the score board.
The flame on Tsuna's brow died out as he became aware of his surroundings once again and realizing that his body was twisted in ways that they were not supposed to be twisted. "Ow, Ow, Ow, Ow! It Hurts! My body is going to snap! Help!" Tsuna cried out in pain.
Poor Tsuna ended up spending his actual birthday in the hospital.
The part about the phone call to Dolly while Birdy is in the hospital, my older brother has that very same voice message, it makes you believe that your actually talking to the person and then you stop when you hear a beep and the voice lady telling you to leave a message after the beep.
I fall for it every single time~
