A big thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far ~~~
I find it amusing that everyone is more interested in what Ran' job is this time through. Sorry to say it will be a long while till you find out exactly what she's been doing. Perhaps I shall make a better effort to give some small clues~~
Akira Ciello: Thank you Hun, your review made me smile. While I would like a lot reviews, even if it's only a 'good job' or whatnot (I especially like smiley faces and hearts) it's okay~ At least I'm not like some of the newbie writers that demand a certain number of reviews before uploading the next chapter. As for keeping good stories coming, I do have a few ideas in the works that are in the character profile and setting stage, though I won't be working on them solely until I feel I'm far enough in Caomhnóir (Perhaps when I get past the Future Arc...). But I will say that one of them is another Katekyo Hitman story and the other is my own creation~
Anon: Another reviewer that made me smile~ And thank you for the note and you're right; Ashlynn does seem rather blase about everything so I'll definitely keep it in mind as I continue. Cheers!~
"I think the very word stalking implies that you're not supposed to like it. Otherwise, it would be called 'fluffy harmless observation time'."
-Molly Harper
Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped itself about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart... filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.
- Bess Streeter Aldrich
Hiroto was more than aware of the fact that he might have been going a bit overboard with trying to get the American transfer student to go out with him. Already many of his friends had tried to persuade him to give up his chase. Not every girl he asked was going to go out with him. There were many many others that he could set his sights on. Like the pretty brunette in the class next to his or the raven haired girl in the grade above him.
Yet he found himself not particularly caring though he definitely would pursue them when he was finished with this current conquest in the making.
But he did realize that it was probably a bit too much that he had followed her to her apartment without her knowing what he was doing. Even though he knew this it didn't really stop him from doing so. He really couldn't help himself. She was pretty hot and he wanted her; it was as simple as that, really. He guessed it was a matter of pride; he was the most popular of his year mates and was rather well-known amongst the upperclassmen of the school and a couple of the schools in the surrounding towns. He was the founder and captain of the wrestling club, he was good-looking, in the top five of his class grade-wise, and he knew himself to be even charismatic; so why was she playing so fucking hard to get! It was ridiculous!...Was it that banana joke he made with his friends when they were at the bakery she worked at? Was that why she was giving him the cold shoulder and hanging out with the social pariah?
Nah, that couldn't possibly be the reason. She was probably playing hard to get because she either wanted a chase or she wanted to make sure he was worth her time which he was until he decided that she was no longer worth his time. Or it could be the Hiraoka girl warning Ashlynn against him. Yes, that definitely had to be it. And he would have to figure out just what he was going to do about getting the other girl out of the picture.
Anyway, it wasn't as if he spent every waking moment following after her. He was in charge of the wrestling club, he had his studies to keep at the top of the class and that took up a lot of his time along with other... activities he had going on that needed his explicit attention. Though he did try to make as much time as he could. He needed to find out all the possible reasons why she was shunning him and hung out with Hiraoka Ran. Sure Ashlynn had been assigned the seat next to the girl because the person that used to sit there was currently in the hospital for reasons he had no interest in. But since Ashlynn knew her way around the school's campus and how the class schedule worked there should have been no reason to stay with the girl let alone befriend her. Hiroto briefly entertained the thoughts of Ashlynn being friends with Hiraoka out of pity or that Ashlynn could also secretly be a lesbian and the two of them were now dating each other but those ideas were shot down. He wanted to date the girl and that wouldn't work out if she was into chicks. On the other hand if she was bisexual than it wouldn't have been too much of a problem because it would mean that she still liked guys and wouldn't say no to having a threesome. He certainly wouldn't say no to that.
So he started off lightly and slow; he followed her home to really scout the area and would have actually made it to her apartment if that crazy woman with the shotgun hadn't started firing at him and he ended up with a restraining order to stay away from the apartment complex. What was really bothering him about that was that when that lady shot at him none of the residents that lived there looked out to see what was happening. It was like they were all deaf or that woman fired off that gun often enough that it didn't bother any of them. Both reasons weren't all that comforting. But he didn't let the restraining order stop or slow him down, sure he wouldn't be able to get into her apartment by any legal means but he still had the same classes in school except for English and whenever the girls split from the boys and did their own thing for P.E., he used to see her at Fukano's bakery but after that time that he went there with his friends she either stopped working in the front or stopped working there altogether. He had seen her go to Namimori Middle a few times when she didn't leave school with Hiraoka and he saw her go to a house with the name Sawada on it. He also knew that she ran with a group of boys every morning down at the canal and then back to her apartment when they were finished with their races and stretches.
Hiroto still had hope of changing Ashlynn's mind. Once she told that woman with the shotgun that the two of them were dating he could get that pesky little restraining order off and rub it in shotgun lady's face as he had Ashlynn in her own home… before he decided to drop her in sight of something new. But to attain his goal he needed to gather information; the first thing he had looked at were her school transcripts. She was from Illinois, had great grades, was in track and field, had become an orphan over the past year and had been diagnosed with something called Fugue, whatever that was. Other than that he just couldn't find anything! Hell, she didn't even bother to have an account on any of the social networking sites online! Which meant that he'd have to compile info and pictures together from his own observations in school and when he followed her after school with his own personal camera. He had to admit some of them were pretty impressive shots with different perspectives and lighting. He even considered becoming a professional photographer later on in his life.
One thing that had been annoying him was the fact that she seemed to be friends with a bunch of boys from the middle school. Didn't she realize that if only she hadn't run off to be friends with Hiraoka she could have actual friends in high school instead of looking in the younger grades? Hiraoka was really the only thing that kept the majority of the freshman class away from the American transfer student. But no, she stays with Hiraoka and gets friends with middle school boys. And what was surprising was the little baby that dressed in a black suit and wore a fedora that followed the makeshift group either in Ashlynn's arms or on the short brown haired kids' head. But even more unnerving was the fact that the whenever Hiroto trailed after them with thoughts solely on the only girl in the group the baby always seemed to know what he was doing and every single time the baby glared in his direction. No, that couldn't be right. Babies can't glare, it must have been a trick of the light, he convinced himself and he brushed it off as a coincidence and continued on with his self-appointed quest.
If only he could get to her when she was alone! He got close a few times, like the one instance where she was with a taller pink-haired female (who was also really Hot!) were walking with bags to the Sawada house. Though he had missed a few chances because for some reason there were purple projectiles hitting and killing birds in the area and for some reason the dead animals dropped right on top of him. By the time he made it to the last corner to the Sawada home Ashlynn had just gone inside and the whole street in front of the house was filled with men and some women in suits and guns standing guard. He had asked who was so important to need so many guards and demanded that they move out of the way or to have them fetch Ashlynn for him.
The glares and smirks sent his way nearly made him soil himself.
Thankfully the leader of the guards outside ordered one man to inform a man named 'Reborn' of Hiroto's presence and that he wanted Ashlynn to come outside or he would come get her himself. 'Reborn's' answer? Hiroto was to be shot on sight if he dared to intrude on Sawada property and that Ashlynn didn't have to go out if she didn't want to. The guards then pointed their weapons at him in warning and he was forced to leave.
After he went to eat he decided to go back to the Sawada house to see if the guards had left and if Ashlynn would walk home where he imagined himself revealing himself a little less than halfway and offer to walk her the rest of the way home and when they'd get there she'd be grateful for his protection from any miscreants and she'd invite him inside then things would go on from there. All problems solved!
Luckily the guards were gone when he peeked over the corner of the wall and he appeared to be just in time to see a large group of people plus Ashlynn starting to leave the house with little hand held buckets and soap. They were going to go to the public baths! Lucky! Hiroto turned back and sprinted all the way back to his own apartment and gathered his bath things and his camera and rushed over to the communal baths. Predictably the girls and the children all went towards the women's private baths and the two older males (the short brown haired kid from the group of middle school boys and a blonde smiling man) went into the men's side of the baths. Hiroto himself chose the somewhat smaller co-ed bathing area where everyone appropriately covered themselves with towels to preserve their modestly, not that Hiroto really cared. He quickly made his way to the edge of the way facing the women's baths and slightly moved a loose plank that he had found a few years before and was able to snap a picture of his obsession without any clothes on! He decided that just one for that day was wise and quickly went about his business cleaning himself and making sure that his camera did not sustain any damage from the steam or water and was out of the baths before Ashlynn ever knew that he was there.
That had been such a good productive day...
There was one time that he had been successful in getting her alone though his friends had vehemently claimed that it didn't count seeing as she had been unconscious. He had heard that Ashlynn had been in an accident while on a small camping trip during the weekend and he decided to check in on her health. He had been in a rush when he heard so he hadn't had time to stop and buy her flowers to show that he cared for her well-being but he had a better get well gift in mind to present her. She had been asleep the entire time that he was visiting so she wouldn't know about the kiss he granted her unless someone other than him told her or if she ever got her hands on the security video. He wanted to be the one to tell her about it! And show her the picture of him kissing her! He also had a great idea to use this opportunity to separate her from Hiraoka; he just needed a little more time before he put the plan into action. Perhaps he would show off all the picture of Ashlynn he had collected over the past year? He had a whole scrapbook of all his conquests and as of yet the collection of Ashlynn was by far the greatest! And so far his favorites was the one when a shot of her while at the public baths where he got an amazing picture of her in the nude, one from the school cultural festival where she had been dressed as a French maid, and the last one was taken October thirty-first when he saw her wearing a black tube top, little black shorts, black gloves, shoes, kitty ears and a tail. Obviously the girl hadn't known that Japan doesn't quite celebrate Halloween the way that the United States does yet.
Some good times he had during the past year. But now, now he was putting his plans into motion and the first step was to get into the apartment complex where Ashlynn lived. He had some supplies that would knock her clean out and then he'd take her back to his apartment and while he was at school he would break the news to Hiraoka that Ashlynn was actually really disgusted with her and never wanted to see her face again. And then he'd go on that Ashlynn had only become friends with her in the first place was mostly pity and that Hiraoka tried so very hard to please her that Ashlynn could have turned her into her own personal slave if she wanted. But she didn't. He would tell the girl that Ashlynn was sick of seeing her ugly mug day in and day out and wanted it to stop. And when Hiroka would fall to the ground in tears he would inform the girl that Ashlynn had been dating him since day one and everything had been an act to fool Ran into thinking that Ashlynn was really her one and true friend. And since tomorrow was Christmas Eve she'd feel abandoned on the holiday and become so distraught that she'd transfer out of school and move to a different town far away! It was the perfect plan to get rid of Hiraoka! Hiroto smirked underneath the scarf wrapped around his face and neck to protect him from the oncoming cold as he waited until the black haired kid he recognized as the star pitcher from the Namimori Middle baseball team left the apartment complex so he could commence his top secret mission to retrieve his woman and sneak out with her unconscious in his arms. Hiroto adjusted the strap of the small backpack he carried with him and moved out of his stationed position right outside the complex and hefted himself over the wall surrounding the area and over to the grassy area on the other side. He mentally cheered in his head, stage one getting inside the area was a success and was ready to move onto the second stage where he'd use his amazing and superior stealth to make it to Ashlynn's front door without being detected by anyone in the complex.
He was sorely mistaken about how good his 'stealth skills' really were as he was slammed down right into the wall he just climbed over and about to walk away from and the barrel of a gun was pointed harshly to his forehead. He had been caught and he was just barely into the operation!
The first thing he saw other than the gun aimed at his head was a black fedora and a small green looking lizard staring eerily at him from its perch on the brim of the hat. Then he glanced at just who was wearing the hat and came face to face to the suit wearing baby. There was a shadow covering the smaller males face as he spoke lowly.
"This shall be your first and last warning Tenma Hiroto. If I ever find that you are trailing after Meagher Ashlynn again, you will have the Vongola Family and then some after your hide."
'V-Vongola Family...?' Hiroto sweated underneath the pressure of the barrel against his temple. He closed his eyes. How? How was a freaking baby able to sneak up on him? And be able to push him down so hard and where the hell did a baby learn how to properly handle a gun!...Hunh...?' He slowly opened eyes when the weight of the gun was no longer pressed onto him. '..He's...he's gone...?'
Hiroto stepped up from the grass beneath him and brushed off the little pieces he could see on his pants then looked around. Had that really happened? He shook his head. No! It couldn't have happened; it was a baby and no baby could have that sort of force, hell, a baby that age shouldn't know how to talk or use a gun! It must have been some sort of hallucination! He must have tripped himself when he came over the wall and hit his head a little bit to start seeing things. But now he was fine. There weren't any talking gun-wielding babies in the area. He was safe. And he had a mission to accomplish! With new found confidence he stepped towards the first building of the complex then jumped back to lean against the wall behind him as a shot just in front of where his foot was about to mark the ground. Hiroto's eyes widened as he fearfully raised his head up to the second floor in front of his target's front door where he should have made it to. There was the baby that had threatened him just moments before lounging on the railing. It hadn't been a hallucination at all! It had all been real! He gulped as a shadow covered the top part of his face and even from his distance Hiroto could see the kid's mouth forming into a smirk as he lazily reloaded and aimed his gun straight at him and shot three, four times in quick succession hitting the wall on both sides of Hiroto's arms. It didn't hit him but it was successful in scaring the shit out of the teenager and caused the boy to give up on trying to make it to the girl's home in favor of preserving his life by scrambling back over to the other side of the wall and running fearfully back to the safety of his own home.
As he leaned panting in exhaustion against the thoroughly locked door of his apartment he swore to himself that he'd never tell a soul about what happened. No one ever in a million years believe him if he said a baby had scared him away, even if said baby had shot at him with a real life gun with real life bullets that could have easily ended his life! No, no one must ever know about the experience so he'd tell closest friends that knew what his plan was about that he had been attacked by the crazy lady with the shotgun. It was much more believable than a fucking infant wearing a suit carrying a handgun, that's for sure. He'd be made into a joke if he ever made such a claim.
Once calmed down Hiroto chucked his small bag into a closet before making his way to his bedroom and froze in shock in the open doorway… his computer...
His top of the line laptop computer laid there on his bed in chunks and little broken pieces. All the school assignments that he had gone ahead and finished for the next few chapters in each class, important documents that he hadn't gotten around to saving to a usb, all the numbers, profiles and pictures he had for all the girlfriends he'd ever had, gone. All gone. Why? Why would someone break into his home just to break his laptop? Why didn't they just steal it instead (because he'd be able to track whoever took it down and reclaim his property)? If this was broken did that mean..? That some of his other belongings suffered the same fate...?
His eyes widened and he completely tore through his apartment and scoured for all important documents and technology and either found them broken into pieces or just downright missing. This was terrible; a complete nightmare! How was he supposed to explain all of this!
Hiroto ran a tired hand through his hair as he slumped onto the couch in the living room next to a bright fireplace and stared at the black empty screen of his television set. There was a fire flaring brightly in the pit of the fireplace...that he didn't...remember ever lighting!
"No! Not that too!" Hiroto stumbled off the couch to the front of the fireplace and poked at the objects being burned away with a log of wood; the remnants of the scrapbook binder that held together the many pictures he had gathered of many previous lovers and new possibilities and also broken electronics that he immediately recognized as his second phone and his really nice camera. He sat back in shock as the flames finished off the job of burning everything away. It was gone, all gone. And he had no idea who had done it all.
It turned out to be not as bad as Reborn had originally thought it was going to be but had decided that it was best to get this situation nipped in the bud before it got out of control and became messy to fix. Though Ashlynn had definitely learned from the experience; being more aware of her surroundings, how to find if someone was tailing you, how to make it seem she had no idea and how to lose the tail from. Ashlynn had taken to those lessons with enthusiasm and a good amount of gratitude to Bianchi for graciously imparting the knowledge.
Reborn smirked as he personally made sure that every picture in the scrapbook he found with the confines of Tenma Hiroto's upscale apartment. He even through in the actual book into the fireplace along with a few more questionable items and collections that he had dug up that joined in the blaze. And it wasn't all that hard to find everything of importance to the boy whether it was electronics, important papers and other items that the boy had stashed around the place. He had taken the initiative to completely destroy the boy's laptop computer with a Leon-transformed sledgehammer before chucking the pieces into a heap onto the boy's bed. The boy was in for a bit of disappointment when he came home for the night that was for sure and he wasn't even finished with the kid yet! Oh no, this wasn't all that he was going to do. Just destroying important possessions and burning the majority of those personal items just wasn't his style and Reborn knew that it would be exceedingly foolish if he just left things as they were now. There was a perfectly good reason why he was the most famous of all Hitmen and women. He knew exactly where, when, how hard to hurt a persona whether it be physically, mentally, financially, socially, or all at the same time or in quick succession. Tenma Hiroto would be getting the whole package and given Hell on Earth.
"I'm listening."
"I have a job for you."
"Oh really? And what does the great Reborn need my help with...?" The voice on the phone sounded amused. It wasn't very often nowadays that anyone called him up and it had been a good many years since someone of Reborn's level would ever contact him. Not since that one time when... "Ah, I understand. What are we hitting for? Or is that information classified, my friend?"
"A persistent male that has passed the line of sexual harassment and cannot take a hint. The female in question is a member of the next generation of the Vongola Famiglia. I want to make it perfectly clear that she is not to be bothered and that the Vongola is not going to stand for this type of behavior directed at one of its members."
"Vongola huh? Then why isn't she taking him out herself? Surely the girl is capable enough of taking out a suitor by herself?"
"She is an undercover agent at a high school close to where the Ninth's heir is attending the middle school. There has been information that there may be a mafia member who is not allied with us in her class so it is imperative that her cover is not blown. As for capability; she can hold her own against Poison Scorpion Bianchi in a fight. The girl is learning to cheat very well." Reborn poked at the fire and added a smaller log into the pit.
"High school you say? Well, Reborn my friend, I must say you've successfully caught my interest. Since there may be an enemy in the room I'm guessing you want some subtlety that the Vongola is doing something about this but not so much that the other mafia member will realize that there is any involvement from the underground. Hmmm, it's been awhile since we have used a police guise to do our work. I've heard that you've been sent to Japan. Perhaps a team disguised as riot police or a Special Assault Team..."
"Go with the Special Assault Team. The riot police are committed to using non-lethal force and we mafia don't play that way."
"Haha! Too right! Consider it done Reborn. When do you want this and do you have any requests other than trespassing onto school grounds, breaking down doors, and causing general mayhem?"
"Tomorrow. Remove him from the campus to safe house just outside of Namimori. I have some plans to put into play once the boy is taken into our custody." Reborn poked the fire again and added in a few more of the boy's possessions to the blaze."
The man on the other side of the line whistled. "You sure like popping up assignments for me out of the blue don't you? I hope this wasn't planned on purpose to make me scramble. You know that I don't like that."
Reborn smirked. "Keeps your forces from growing complacent in times of relative peace."
"Yes, yes. Very well we'll be there in the morning at the safe house before the operation begins. I'm sure there's more information that you can't tell me over the phone."
"I'll see you then, Algar."
"Till the morning my friend."
After a quick cursory check to make sure he didn't find anything that he could destroy (though he did screw with some of the furniture; the legs on all the chairs, tables, and the bed) Reborn calmly left the house with a nice fire going in the pit and left to check on Ashlynn before heading back home for dinner with Maman and torturing his loser student. Not surprisingly he found Tenma lurking at the walls of the complex and the kid moved to climb over the wall well after Yamamoto had left after walking Ashlynn home. Reborn smirked and decided that a little warning to the boy was in order.
Ashlynn woke the day of Christmas Eve with a funny feeling. It wasn't a good kind of funny or a bad kind of funny, nor a 'I'm not feeling so well' funny or even a ha-ha kind of funny. She knew that it was nothing like the dread that she felt the day she had been hit by a car and sent to an anime universe and it wasn't the feeling she knew when waking up and knowing that there's a Christmas Eve party (This year she was being taken with Fukano-san) and that Christmas is just another twenty-four hours away. She really couldn't find any other words to describe it other than it was a funny feeling. And it was distracting her; when training with the boys that morning she was quiet throughout the all the exercises which caused Ryohei to shake her and demand what was wrong and that he'd try to 'Help her to the EXTREME!'. She didn't see any reason to keep it from them so she told them about the funny feeling she was having. She was sure that something big was going to happen today but had no idea what.
"Reborn-san? Could this mean that Ashlynn has a small ability to know of the future? She may not see it with her eyes but can feel it with her very soul?"
"G-Gokudera-kun..."
Ashlynn nearly choked on water. 'Trust Gokudera to ask something like that. I bet he's read all sorts of legends and superstitions...he probably waits thirty minutes after eating before he swims too.'
"Perhaps." Reborn shrugged then asked her. "Has something like this happened before?"
She hummed then told them honestly. "Only a couple times; the last time it was a feeling of dread and by the end of that day I was run over by a car and sent to the hospital with a concussion. I seem to get those often."
"Hiiiiie! Are you serious!"
"Then it should be safe to say that Gokudera is right about his assumption of being able to know of the future." Reborn nodded and Gokudera eerily at her started jotting down notes on a pad a paper he didn't have a few seconds ago, now totally convinced that she was some sort of seer and he even asked if it was a trait of her family.
"Seanmháthair Aine, my grandmother, I'm sure she was able to actually see the image of whoever she looked at would become in the future and seemed to know some things that would happen soon but was never able to view her own image or see anything of her own future. She told me once when that she had once tried using her mirror's reflection to see if she was able to see anything for her own future. It didn't work."
"It would have been pretty cool if she was able to." Yamamoto smiled.
"I guess," Ashlynn shrugged.
"I EXTREMELY disagree! I believe that one has to live by fighting their way through life without any warning! Grapple with any opponent that stands in your way! Battle to be the best! Crash through expectations put on you! LIVE LIFE TO THE EXTREME!" Ryohei added in his opinion punching the air. "You agree with me, right Sawada!"
"Hiiiiie! Nii-san!"
"Oi Turf Top! You release the Juudaime this instant or I'll blast your face off!"
"Hahaha! Come on Gokudera it's just his opinion~ calm down." Yamamoto laughed.
Ashlynn smiled. "Yeah Gokudera, don't tell me you weren't even a little moved by that speech."
"S-shut up!"
Ryohei who still had an arm thrown around Tsuna's shoulder threw his other around Gokudera. "You agree with me then? You and Sawada should join my EXTREME boxing club so that we may always be able to fight with each other!"
"Nii-san! I told you I didn't want to join~"
"No way Turf Top!"
As they left to go change and leave her apartment with their schoolbags Ashlynn left for school motivated for the day. She met Ran at the campus gates and walked together (Ran skipping in a jolly mood) to homeroom. Seeing nothing unusual Ashlynn completely buried the funny feeling from earlier and listened to Ran explain with a sketch of a costume she was trying to make and what materials she still needed to get. Nothing out of the ordinary popped up when Sensei started class and asked for them to keep focus even though it was Christmas Eve. There was nothing wrong during any of the lectures. Just a normal school day.
Until only minutes before lunch break.
Sensei allowed them the final ten minutes of class while he started to grade to grade turned in assignments. Ran and Ashlynn were playing squares on the back of a piece of scratch paper while ignoring the noise around them. Ashlynn carefully peered at the page between the two them. Ran was still winning with fourteen squares with her initial, nine more than her measly six squares and there was still more than half the dots they had drawn on preceding the game. She drew a line between two dots away from the clump of lines and initialed squares and waited for Ran to decide if there was a square to finish that Ashlynn didn't see, add to the growing clump or to add onto the new line.
She thought nothing of the fact that the room became quiet as she continued on with the game though she was now able to here a few screams coming from the classroom on the other end of the hall, smiling when Ran unknowingly gave her seven squares. Her smile of triumph quickly transformed into a frown when someone pulled on her arm making her stumble to her feet, spun around, someone's face crashing into hers, a tongue licking at her mouth and the sound of a few cheers, whistles and catcalls from the class.
Tenma.
Ashlynn blinked owlishly as arms wrapped around her waist. She could see out of the corner of her eyes that Ran was shocked but that ended as tears swelled up in the other girls eyes then gathered her things and left the room and slamming the door shut. Tenma smirked at how well this was going out and Ashlynn was still a little dazed. He moved his hands down from her waist and squeezed her bottom with a charming smile.
"Since it's Christmas Eve I thought I'd go ahead and tell everyone that we are now officially going steady."
Ashlynn's eyes narrowed. "Steady?"
"Of course! Oh, you thought otherwise? Well then, tonight I'll make sure that you don't have any more lingering doubts about our relationship! That's a promise! So what would you like to do before tonight's festivities? We can do whatever you want."
"...Anything I want...?"
"That's right, babe, anything you want to do you can do it. You're my girlfriend so anything that I can possibly get you can and will be yours, all you have to do is say the word. So what would you like to do? Come on now; don't be shy because we in front of a crowd. Tell me~"
"Really? Okay." To the shock of everyone in the room Ashlynn reared her closed fist back and slammed it as hard as she could into Tenma's face, tripped him as he staggered back, then while he was down she 'accidentally' kicked him square in the nads a few times, then she grabbed him by the hair to make him look at her and gave him a sweet smile. "Thank you Tenma for giving me permission. You've got know idea how long I've wanted to hurt you for the harassment that you've given me. And by the way; I never agreed to go steady with you. Hell, I never agreed to go out with you in the first place! Merry Christmas douche bag and have a happy fucking New Year. Hope that your hand doesn't get tired of you over the break."
It was almost like the scene a few months ago when Ran punched Tenma in the face for bothering them only Ran had fled and Ashlynn wasn't staring at her fist in wonder. By the time that Sensei had regained his senses and moved to reprimand her for her crass behavior and send her down to the principal to expel her the doors of the classroom were completely ripped off its hinges and fell to the floor with a bang as men and women rushed through the opening! A few of the girls in the front row jumped and screamed in surprise but was quickly motioned to sit back and remain in their seats quietly as more members of the force entered and secure the room. One of the men stepped to the front of the room as an elderly man with silver hair entered the classroom at a leisurely pace as if he were only on a nice peaceful stroll. The younger man saluted him which he returned drawing attention to the fact that he was missing his pinkie and index finger on his right hand. The two men conversed in low whispered tones and Ashlynn noticed that a few glances were thrown not so discreetly in her direction. When the older man caught her eye he gave a small nod before whispering some more. The silver-haired man finally nodded after awhile then addressed Sensei who was visibly cowering when he set his gaze on him.
"I apologize for disrupting your class and for ruining the doors, sir." His eyes surveyed the room and caught Ashlynn's eyes before settling on something or someone behind her then asked a question to the class though it seemed to Ashlynn he already knew the answer. "Tell me. Which of you is Tenma Hiroto?"
"..."
"I will ask again; which of you is Tenma Hiroto? Speak up!" He barked.
Tenma sitting shakily in his seat slowly raised his hand into the air. "...I am, sir."
The man gave a feral grin. "Are you now? Sullivan!"
The man that saluted earlier stepped forward. "Sir?"
"Take him."
"Yes, sir."
"W-what!" Tenma yelled as two personnel grabbed him under the arms and lead him through the opening where the door had been and began to struggle against their grasp, even more so when his arms were forced behind his back and restrained by hand cuffs. "What are you doing! Hey!"
The silver haired man looked at Sensei again as he was about to leave the room. "Again, my apologies. Have a nice day, sir. You may continue on with your class at this time."
"Wait! Why did you forcefully take away one of my students! Why not just ask for him over the P.A. and have him sent to the Principal? And just what has he done to warrant this treatment?"
The man smiled. "To make sure he didn't try to escape. Don't worry too much about the boy. We'll take good care of him while he's in our custody."
When the man left the majority of the class leaped to their feet and crowded by the openings to see the other three classes doing the same thing, watching as the force of people walked through the hallway with Tenma Hiroto restrained and hollering at his captives.
"What is it! What did I do! Whatever it is I'm innocent! Innocent I tell you! I didn't do it! Let me go right now! You've got no right to treat me this way! I am innocent! Help! Someone help me!"
A woman beside him on his right sighed as she turned to look at him. "Kid, you should really stop struggling. You're only making this a lot harder on yourself."
"Fuck you bitch! Just let me go! I don't deserve any of this shit!"
She shook her head then fell back into line and ignored the profanities that spewed from the boy's mouth as he was herded out of the front doors through the courtyard and gates and pushed straight into an armored car. Tenma moved himself up to his knees and the last thing he saw before the doors closed and locked on him was the suit wearing baby staring right back at him with a smirk before walking away.
While the rest of her classmates leaned out the room as Tenma was escorted through the halls then immediately stampeding to get a good view from the windows as Tenma was thrown into the back of an armored car, each of them sharing theories of why their popular classmate was being carted away to some unknown location by a force of a tactical squad. Many of those theories involved Ashlynn herself but she ignored the looks and whispers, taking advantage that it was now lunch break she gathered her things into her bag and left the room before Sensei could regain himself again and send her to be expelled. She had better things to do than wait and listen while Sensei exaggerate and accuse her. No, she needed to find Ran and explain what happened. She needed to explain the situation and that she was not in anyway seeing the boy that had been taken away by police. Her friend needed to know that their friendship wasn't going to end. She wouldn't allow let it end this way.
Of course that was easier said than done.
She had absolutely no luck in finding Ran on school campus and since she wasn't behind the gym shed like she had been the first time that she had run off Ashlynn was left scouring the rest of the grounds while blatantly ignoring the P.A. system calling for her to return to class or to report to the principal's office. When it was clear that Ran was no longer on campus and still no answer from any of her calls or texts to both the girl's home and cell number Ashlynn decided to to leave the campus and go home.
"Something happen?"
The question was innocent enough, it was the speaker that made her think otherwise. Ashlynn gave a tired smile as she pressed the correct sequence of numbers on her coded lock and opened the door for her guest to enter before her. "I think you know very well what's happened today, Reborn."
"Fnn, humor me."
Ashlynn brought out a pitcher of lemonade and two cups and poured for the both of them before sitting at the island counter. "I guess this is what that funny feeling this morning was about...well, everything was normal until a few minutes until the bell sounded for lunch. Sensei gave us the remaining time of class while he graded papers. Well Tenma grabbed at me, tried to shove his tongue down my throat, then had the audacity to claim that we were going steady and said that if I had any doubts then he'd make sure to get rid of them by tonight's festivities. I'm sure he was alluding to us having sex. Then he asked me what I wanted to do before that and said it was my choice and I could do whatever I wanted to. So I chose to punch him in the face and kick him in the balls while he was down on the floor. I thanked him for giving me permission, called him a douche bag, told him to have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and hope that his hand doesn't get tired of him over the holiday."
Reborn motioned for her to continue.
"Then these men an women in uniform kicked down the sliding doors and surrounded us and their leader, a silver haired man that only had three fingers on his right hand came strolling in. He talked with one of them and they kept looking my way or Tenma's way 'cause he sits two rows behind me but he nodded to me when I caught his eye. He and the other man whispered some more before the man apologized to Sensei for interrupting the class and the ruin of the doors. Then he asked which was Tenma though it was like he already knew who he was but was asking anyway. He had to ask twice before Tenma answered. Then Sullivan (that's name the leader used for the other male) and another person dragged Tenma away. When Sensei asked why they didn't call for him on the P.A. system he said to make sure that Tenma didn't try to escape. While everyone else was watching the spectacle that Tenma was making of himself and then watching out the window I took my stuff and went to go find Ran (My friend). She had ran away from the room when Tenma was attempting to make-out with me..." Ashlynn ran her fingers through the strands of her ponytail. "Ran's my only friend in school. The rest of them shun her because she's a lesbian and she's too open about liking anime and manga. I couldn't find her on campus and she's not answering any of my calls and texts. So I came home and here we are~."
"The 'man with the silver hair' as you call him is an old friend of mine named Algar. I contacted him last night to care of your stalker."
Ashlynn blinked. "Thank you."
"Of course. You thought that we'd leave the situation as it was? It was best to nip this in the bud before it got worse. Now the Vongola's image will not be tarnished and your life will be relatively safer because we will not stand for such behavior to one of our own."
" 'Relatively'?" Ashlynn grinned.
"We're in the mafia."
"Right. Thank you Reborn for doing this even though it was probably more for the Vongola's image."
"Of course. We take good care of our women." Reborn placed his empty glass on the counter and jumped down from the counter. "I've heard that you're going to a party tonight so I'll leave you to get ready. Merry Christmas Ashlynn."
"Ah. Merry Christmas Reborn." Ashlynn called as the hitman let himself out of her apartment. Ashlynn looked at the clock on the microwave and decided that it was time that she'd take a shower and get ready for the night
After showering and blow drying her hair Ashlynn stood in front of the mirror and wondered if she should try to do something with her hair. Of course she liked the side ponytail that she had going on and it gave what she thought was an anime-like appeal to have the same hairstyle everyday. But tonight was a special occasion: Boss Lady had cornered her during her break and asked if she had any special plans during the holiday. Other than her plans to spend the day with Ran she couldn't think of really anything for her to do other than laze around and miss her family. So Ashlynn had been invited join as Boss lady's guest at the party she was invited to. And now she scrutinized her appearance in front of the mirror and thought to herself. 'what to do, what to do...'
She knew that Dolly and Birdy weren't going to do much other than a special dinner and watching Christmas movies in French tonight and tomorrow. Ashlynn was going to join them in the morning to open gifts and she knew from prior knowledge that there was going to be a Vongola styled New Year's celebration. She shook her head. 'Tonight, focus on tonight.'
The plan was that she would meet at Fukano-san's house where another friend of her Boss was going to meet them and the three of them would go together to the party hosted by a very important friend and client. Boss Lady had taken it upon herself to have a pretty dress and shoes delivered directly to Ashlynn's front door and another garment bag that was a gift and that Ashlynn was not allowed to open it until Christmas day. She ended up giving it to Dolly to hide for safekeeping so she wouldn't give into the temptation, take a peek at what was inside and ruin the surprise. But she was very curious because whatever was in that garment bag it was rather heavy.
Ashlynn glance at the time on her phone, she needed to leave within the next thirty minutes if she wanted to make it to Fukano's house on time. She didn't want for Fukano-san and her friend to be late because of her. She stared at her reflection again; the dress that Fukano-san had sent to her was a white strapless that fell silkily to her knees and it had a black ribbon that was tied into a bow just beneath her breasts. She was also wearing the pair of black heels that came along with the dress and she was happy that she had previously learned how to walk in heels and these pair gave her another inch or so of height. Thank goodness though it wasn't a spike heel otherwise she'd be breaking her ankles trying to walk in them. Dolly was letting her borrow her garnet stud earrings and Ashlynn decided on a single bracelet for the night; a thin sterling silver that Ran had given her for her birthday. She didn't bother with too much makeup other than a bit of mascara and her favorite raspberry flavored lip gloss. One last look in the mirror Ashlynn finally decided on a half up half down ponytail with a dark red bow that looked almost black in the light to match the borrowed earrings. Once satisfied and still in good time she pulled on a black coat swung the strap of a black purse over her shoulder and after locking up she left for her Boss' home.
Ashlynn walked up the little path in the front yard and rang the doorbell and was surprised when the door opened to Bianchi on the other side instead of her Boss. "Bianchi?"
Bianchi obviously amused by her confusion allowed her into the house. She was wearing a long, short-sleeved champagne colored qipao decorated with golden butterflies. Her long pinkish hair was pulled into two low ponytails with one pulled behind her shoulder. Bianchi lead her through the hall to the living room where Fukano-san was sitting in one of the couches with her hair left down and wearing a short deep purple spaghetti strapped cocktail dress with the cloth pulled elegantly to scrunch at the right side. She stood up with a happy smile when she saw Bianchi leading her into the room. Bianchi stepped to the side between the two of them and motioned to both.
"Keiko dear, this Meagher Ashlynn, a member of the Ninth Vongola's heir's Famiglia. Ashlynn, this is Fukano Keiko: she is an assassin and subordinate of the Ninth Boss of the Vongola; Don Timoteo."
"...You're a part of the mafia, Boss Lady? But you - your bakery-? How-?" Ashlynn asked her Boss incredulously.
The woman laughed heartily and patted Ashlynn's cheeks before kissing each side of the poor girl's confused face. "You are so cute my little honeybun! The bakery is my cover story here in Japan and a bit of a hobby of mine. And yes, I am a part of the mafia underground. Surprised you didn't we?"
"Yeah, yeah it's surprising. But-but Bianchi? Why did you introduce us when we already knew each other?" Ashlynn asked.
"Ja, we tell her about me really being part of the mafia and she asks why you introduced us~?" Fukano-san pouted.
"Because there is a rule amongst the many mafiosi that you do not introduce yourself to another mafia member whether they are a part of your family or not. If a relationship is to be made there absolutely must be a third and mutually known mafia member who can vouch that neither of the two is an imposter in disguise."
"Oh. Well I guess that kind of makes sense...but I remember when Yamamoto and your brother went after the Momokyo-kai when they thought that that gang (that was supposed to be fake according to Dino) had kidnapped me and Tsuna; Dino introduced himself to the other Boss when he tried to negotiate with them."
Bianchi shook her head. "That is because the Momokyo-kai is a mafia yakuza gang that is on the very lowest level of our standards. It wouldn't have made any difference if Dino chose to introduce himself or not because the Momokyo-kai would never have become strong enough to be even seen as a threat."
Fukano-san, now Keiko, clapped her hands. "Well, that's enough for rules for now. We need to get on going if we want to be a bit fashionably late. Ashlynn, darling, I'd like if you to call me Keiko from now on. I like your little nickname for me, but for tonight it wouldn't be appropriate for you to call me so, okay?"
Ashlynn nodded, "This is going to be some kind of mafia party, isn't it?"
Keiko smiled widely. "Oh, sugar, you're so smart! Yes, there will be some very important mafia members attending tonight."
Ashlynn and Bianchi followed her out of the house and into a stretch limo that pulled to the curb. A man dressed in a dark suit opened the door for them and shut it when they were all settled inside for the drive out of town. When they arrived they stopped in front of a bouncer in front of a beautiful mansion with Keiko leading their little trio. Once it was clear that they were who they claimed they were and weapons were stored (The man gave Ashlynn a curious stare over the chakram bracelets and had asked her to demonstrate how two pieces of jewelry was going to help her in a scuffle), and another man took their coats, they were allowed into the magnificent building. Ashlynn had to catch herself a few times to keep from openly ogling the place in wonder as they made their way to a ballroom that looked like it came from Disney's 'Beauty and the Beast.'
Once they stepped into the ballroom Keiko was immediately swept off of her feet and carried away onto the dance floor. Judging by her joyous squeals it must have been the boyfriend that she had mentioned a few times before. Bianchi linked their arms together and directed them towards one of the tables pushed to the side. An elderly man with grey hair stood up from his seat with his back to them, when some of the guests turned their gazes to her and Bianchi, the man turned around to face them.
Standing in front of them was the Godfather, the current and Ninth Boss of the Vongola: Don Timoteo.
Bianchi un-linked their arms and turned her face an offered her cheek to the older man. He granted her as smile and kissed the offered cheek. Bianchi stepped to the side and motioned for Ashlynn to step closer. "Vongola Nono, may I present to you Ashlynn Meagher, a member of your heir's Famiglia. Ashlynn this is the Godfather and the current Boss of the Vongola family, Don Timoteo."
Timoteo stepped forward and gently grasped both of her hands into his own and placed a lingering chaste kiss on her forehead. "My dear, it is a pleasure to finally meet you in person."
"A-ah, um, a pleasure to meet you as well...I-I'd like to thank you for your gift that you sent for my birthday..um, I'm sorry. I'm not sure how I should address you, sir." Ashlynn stumbled over her words to the Don then flushed in embarrassment when the men at the table laughed.
He chuckled and released her hands and patted one of her cheeks. "You are very welcome, Reborn has told me that you have taken quite the shining to them and I am very happy for that. As for how to address me, you may call me Seanathair."
Ashlynn perked at the Gaelic word. He would actually allow her to call him that?
"You know the old Irish I've heard, so I thought the word for 'Grandfather' would make you feel more comfortable in my company. We have some things discuss, my dear. Shall we dance as we talk?" He offered a hand for her to take. With a quick glance to Bianchi who was also being led to dance, she nodded and placed her own hand in the Dons and he led her to the far side of the dance floor.
Ashlynn couldn't help but to be more than a little nervous. The most dancing experience she had was dancing on top of her father's shoes when she was a child and when she was twelve for a father-daughter dance, she never really did attend any of the school dances. She told the elderly Don this. He chuckled again as he moved their arms into the right positions. "That's quite alright, just follow my lead and I will use this hand here," He tapped the middle of her back with two fingers. "To guide you in the right direction."
After a few moments of clumsy steps and many apologies for stepping on his feet she followed the Godfather's lead and she was able to fall into motion as her body started to remember some of the steps she had learned so long ago when she had danced with her father. It wasn't up to the tempo of the music playing in the air at first but she was happy she wasn't embarrassing herself or Timoteo in front of all these people gathered.
"The matter I wished to speak to you about is your...'appearance in Japan'."
"Oh?" Ashlynn directed her eyes from glancing at her feet to Timoteo's face. '...How did he know about that...? And I don't remember telling anyone that I know Gaelic except for the time when Bianchi knew the meaning of my name and earlier today when I mentioned my Grandmother.'
He smiled and twirled her around "A very good response. What I mean Miss Ashlynn, is that you did not come here by conventional means. You are not of this world."
"...How did you know?"
"I have been meeting with the head of the Bovino Famiglia, a family that is really not as low standard as everyone believes them to be. I am sure that you are familiar with one of their inventions that is in the hands of one of their children: the ten year bazooka? With that same concept but with many changes they have been experimenting with different dimensions to see if they could find people with strong flames."
"So there are others here besides me? Could I meet with them?"
"No. I'm afraid the first attempts like many first attempts were complete failures. The prototype bazookas would continually explode every time when tested. However they were successful one time and one time only."
"Me. I was their success."
"That's right." Timoteo spun her around again. A few of the other dances on the floor noticed the Godfather and his partner and began to disperse watching the two together and wonder who the girl was. Ashlynn had finally got the steps down and was able to keep her full attention on the old Don dancing with her as they talked and picked the speed to match the music's tempo.
"They believe that the reason that it had worked successfully for you was because you were dying in your world and the bazooka had been shot the very moment you were passing on. Your flames were very strong and they latched onto the effects of the bazooka and it pulled you into this world while destroying another bazooka. Though we are still a bit confused as to why you appeared in Japan when the experiments were held in Italy, half a world away.
Ashlynn was silent a few moments. It was a bit to take in. 'So Dolly was right...I really did die, and the reason I am here was because of my flame? I had been regretting while on that gurney… it was a literal dying will...' She looked up at Timoteo's face. He looked far older than he had been a few moments ago. She spoke up, at the very least she could tell him the truth.
"I think I may know why," Ashlynn paused. Timoteo nodded his head, motioning for her to continue. "I think that I ended up in Japan because Tsuna and his family were there. In my world there is a series that I had watched and read with my siblings. The title was 'Katekyo Hitman Reborn'. It is about Tsuna and how Reborn trains him to succeed you as the Boss of the Vongola family."
"You are not lying to me." It wasn't a question. Ashlynn shook her head, it had taken a lot of restraint to keep from telling anybody else. He hummed in thought. "How many have you told?"
"The doctor that took care of me in Namimori, Kentaro Ozumi-san and the lady who took me in, Dolly Cross. They know that I'm not from this world but I didn't get around to telling them that I had prior knowledge about this one."
The Don smiled. "I know Ozumi, I sent him to Japan about six years ago. He contacted me and informed me of your situation and I was able to tell that it was you and guess that you had died in your previous world. I am glad, I was afraid that you would become bitter once I told you."
"Dolly told me that there was a big chance that I had died and now I have another chance to live ...Seanathair, I know what is to happen-"
"Though I know it must have been difficult I must advise you to keep your counsel, my dear. This is a world of mafia after all and many would not hesitate to start a war to know what the future is to be. So for your safety and my peace of mind please do not share this conversation and what you know with anyone no matter how much I or anyone else asks, begs, or orders."
Ashlynn's face fell but nodded her consent and Timoteo turned her around once more as the music reached its end. He grasped her hands in his again and kissed her brow. As he stepped back Ashlynn smiled and dipped into a curtsey before the Ninth boss. Timoteo offered his arm for her to take and he led her back to the table that he previously sat at. The men stood up in respect as their boss approached with Ashlynn on his arm. A man stepped forward and spoke into the Ninth's ear in a hushed tone. Timoteo gave a small sigh but nodded, he motioned for Ashlynn to return to Bianchi who was walking in their direction. The two linked arms again as they went to the nearby buffet table and helped themselves to the rich food laid out before them before they sat down and watched couples dance on the floor.
"You were a little sloppy when you started but you upheld yourself wonderfully."
"Thank you Bianchi." Ashlynn scanned the crowds of bodies. "What happened to Bo- Keiko?"
"Taken away by her current boyfriend, you see, right over there?" Bianchi pointed towards one of the large double doors leading to one of the balconies. Keiko was sipping from a champagne glass talking to man with dark shaggy hair. Both were laughing with each other. Keiko looked over and saw them and gave an enthusiastic wave. Ashlynn smiled and gave a slight wave back.
"Miss Bianchi, May I have a dance?"
Ashlynn glanced over as Bianchi was led once again onto the floor to dance with a young male with dark brown hair. Ashlynn finished the small meal and sat enjoying the atmosphere of the party. She sat alone for only a few minutes when the chair next of her was pulled back and someone sat beside her. She looked over and saw the Varia member Lussuria in a fashionable black tux and dark sunglasses sit next to her before she looked at the crowd again
…
...Wait a second...
Lussuria?
Ashlynn looked at the man and sure enough it was the Varia sun guardian. He smiled widely and motioned at her. "Neh, Neh you're the cutie that danced with the Ninth~ Why are sitting here all by your lonesome? You'd think that you'd be fending off the boys with a stick~!"
"Ah, well, no one else asked for me to dance with them-"
"Then I, the Varia's virtuous Mama, Lussuria, shall dance with you all night long~"
The Varia member grasped her arm and dragged her back to the dance floor with a perpetual smile that Ashlynn couldn't help but feel giddy with laughter herself and ignored the fact that they had skipped over the rule of having to have a third mutually known person to introduce them. Lussuria was true to his word and Ashlynn nearly spent the entire night dancing with him. Keiko had for a moment interrupted the two and formally introduced them to each other and she and Lussuria vehemently agreed that Ashlynn was the cutest in the entire ballroom and began making little nicknames for her. Keiko was very fond of calling her sweet things and Lussuria liked how 'little star' sounded in Italian but they both did agree that apparently 'honey' suited her because of her hair color. As the two debated over what else they could call her Ashlynn's attention was caught by two people standing not too far off by one of the doorways to the balcony. It was Algar, the silver haired man that had appeared at school and next to him was the baby figure she recognized as Lal Mirch. Ashlynn smiled when she caught the man's eyes and gave a small wave to him before she was carried away by Lussuria and Keiko for dessert and even more dancing.
It wasn't until past two that Ashlynn was starting to get tired. After all of that dancing and many pictures taken with both hers and Lussuria's cell phone, she was really beat. Keiko and Bianchi took quick notice of this and they said their farewells to the other guests before leading a very sleepy Ashlynn out of the room. Lussuria hugged her tightly before they left and Timoteo had met them at the front of the mansion to see them off. He granted all of them a kiss on the forehead and wished them a safe ride home. They dropped off Ashlynn first and made sure the girl made it inside safely before re-locking her door and leaving the apartment complex. Ashlynn kicked off the heels off of her feet and gingerly pulled the dress off her body before she took out a t-shirt and gym shorts to sleep in. She fell asleep only a few moments after she laid down.
"Onee-chan! Onee-chan! Christmas! It's Christmas! Santa Claus~! Get up! Get up! Onee-chan~!"
Birdy was jumping on her bed yelling about presents and for her to hurry and get out of bed. Ashlynn peeked from under her covers and looked at the time on her alarm clock. She groaned in displeasure. It was seven in the freaking morning. She didn't have to run or go to work today so that should mean that she should get to sleep in. It took another few minutes of Birdy jumping on her bed for her to realize that yes, it was Christmas and she nearly shot out of bed in excitement completely surprising Birdy who was still bouncing on the bed. Ashlynn caught the girl and sat the girl on top of her shoulders and spun them around a few times making Birdy squeal in delight.
She slipped on some shoes before stepping outside, ignoring the chilly air she carefully made her way down the stairs to Dolly and Birdy's place. Dolly met them and settled into the living room next to their own piles of gifts with their names written on the packages. Once Dolly gave the go ahead Birdy immediately tore into the gifts surrounding her. Ashlynn followed but at a more sedate pace than the other girl. She started with unzipping the large garment bag from Boss Lady.
'A kimono. She got me a kimono...It's beautiful.' Ashlynn looked at the clothes in awe. The main kimono was long sleeved and a beautiful sky blue, with large pale white roses and small dark pink roses scattered across the cloth. There were three long pieces of cloth she assumed was for the obi. One was a pale green that would be put on first then a slightly thinner white obi with silver roses that would be tied over it with a thin sky blue rope to tie on top of that. There was another large piece of cloth that was the same white and silver rose pattern that was supposed to be the bow in the back. After gingerly placing the kimono over her knees, Ashlynn dug around in the garment bag and pulled out a simple white robe that would be worn underneath the kimono, a pair of white tabi socks and a pair of the same sky blue zori shoes.
Dolly looked over and whistled very impressed and ran a finger softly against the cloth. "That must have cost a large fortune. Kimono like this are very expensive. And it's made completely out of silk too. Way to set a standard, this completely beats my gift for you."
"Oh? What did you get me?" Ashlynn carefully put the kimono away into the garment bag. Dolly pointed to the medium sized box on the floor next to Ashlynn's feet. She sat back as Ashlynn ripped apart the wrapping paper to find a regular cardboard box with no logo. She shrugged and used the pocket knife Dolly handed to her to cut across the tape sealing the box shut. Inside was a kit to properly take care of bladed weapons. She smiled and thanked Dolly for her gift. She had been worried if she was properly taking care of her chakrams or not. Funnily enough, it was just about the same kind of gift that she sent to Hibari, she had no idea what to get the prefect so she decided it wouldn't hurt to send him a kit to take care of his tonfas along with two wires that had blades attached to the ends.
After ripping all the wrapping paper into pieces and spending time throwing them at each other they all picked up the trash and settled down with hot chocolate and watched 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'. Ashlynn and Birdy sang out the songs and recited their favorite lines from the film with Dolly rolling her eyes at their antics. It was a couple hours later that it was a while that Ashlynn had to get to work. They were selling a special limited Christmas cake today and would be open a few hours to sell it and a little while after that for any other purchases. Ashlynn was sure that she would see Haru at the bakery today.
Right as she was leaving she got a text message from the Boss Lady to bring to the kimono with her to work. Keiko wanted to see her wear it and wanted to show her off at the bakery. She sighed but did grab the garment bag on her way out of the apartment. She wanted to put it on right away but Dolly had warned that there was a certain way for everything to be tied and knotted and it was very very difficult to properly put on a kimono by oneself. The only time that Dolly wore traditional Japanese clothing was during the summer festival season and she and Birdy would wear yukata.
There was a woman talking to Keiko when she arrived at the back of the bakery, she wouldn't have been able to enter from the front without the people in line making a big fuss that she was 'cutting in line.' Boss Lady smiled and crushed her into a hug when she came into the office, mindful of the garment bag. She motioned towards the woman and told her that she was a professional dresser for people who wanted to put on kimono. The woman pulled out their respective kimono, whereas Ashlynn's was blue Keiko's kimono was a light pink with a cream colored obi and bow with a red corded rope to tie over the sash, and had the two of the strip to their underwear. They put on the white under robe made of cotton with a cotton strip to tie it closed and pulled on the tabi socks and zori shoes before they put on the main silk piece and had the silk obi, bow and cord tied specially around their waists. Ashlynn's hair was left to alone without any ponytails while Keiko had hers pulled into a messy bun. Both had a small dark pink rose clipped to their hair.
Keiko squealed in delight when they stood next to each other in front of a full length mirror. "Honey, darling, look at us! So cute! We should take some pictures when we're all done today. And I'll have Izuna-san come back on New Year's to help us into these again. I'll go check the front and see if we're ready to open up, I'll call for you when everything is in place and people start cramming in, okay?"
Ashlynn nodded and stared at her reflection, Keiko left the door open when she stepped into the hallway passed the door the baking area and through the door to the front of the bakery. She smiled, though she wouldn't be wearing it for too long the kimono was gorgeous. She perked when only a few minutes later Boss Lady called from down the hallway. She closed the office door behind her and walked slowly down the hallway, she could hear people asking for the limited Christmas cake. She opened the door the same time someone pulled harshly on it from the other side. Ashlynn came face to face with an irate Hibari.
Boss Lady cooed from behind the prefect. "Ooooh! Mistletoe! You both have to kiss! Kiss!"
Ashlynn looked up and sure enough they were standing under the mistletoe hanging in the middle of the doorway. She looked over to him and blushed; she hadn't meant for this to happen. Not at all. Keiko's chanting for a kiss caught the attention of the customers in the bakery and they looked on with horror as Keiko stepped forward, Ashlynn saw a glimpse of Haru staring at them with a cake box in her hands.
"Come on now, Kyouya-kun! You're both single and of the opposite sex. You have to kiss! Otherwise I won't allow the bakery to sell shortbread anymore and you'll have to find someplace else where they'll sell it to you without too much fear or crowding~~."
Hibari moved with his front facing the crowd as he glared at the older woman and brandished a tonfa in her direction. The crowd silently gasped among themselves, no one made a move in fear that that the disciplinary leader would bring his wrath onto them, some of them didn't even dare to breathe and were holding their breath in hope that it made them invisible. There was a large crowd in the bakery for those cakes and for some reason they had yet to be bitten to death. And they begged that they wouldn't be. It was an intense staring contest between Hibari and Fukano. Ashlynn shook her head, it was a tradition and she really would rather not have Hibari come over to her house whenever he wanted shortbread because Keiko decided not to keep it in stock anymore.
Ashlynn slowly placed her left hand on Hibari's right shoulder and used her right hand on his cheek to turn his face towards her, she leaned forward and brushed her lips softly against his for a few seconds before pulling away and stood on the tips of her toes and hopped to grab the mistletoe hung by tape then promptly threw the plant into the garbage then turned to go into the baking area. Hibari followed her after he slammed a tonfa against the wall where Keiko's head had been before she scurried out of the way in her pink kimono, Hibari attacked again and smashed against one of the display cases, crashing the glass into pieces and scattering the shards on six pumpkin pies.
It was deathly silent in the building. No one at the moment dared to breathe in case Hibari decided to come back out and bite them all to death for their crowding.
Keiko sighed and made a swooning gesture ignoring the destroyed display case and ruined pies. "That was the sweetest thing ever! Was he blushing? I couldn't tell..."
She was given many incredulous looks of horror for her comment. They came oh so very close to death.
Ashlynn found that Hibari had gone to her home first because of the special cake sale today and everyone was crowding. She wasn't there so he went to find where she was. Though it wasn't very comforting knowing that the boy had broken into her home but at least he had the decency to lock up when he left her apartment. She laid out a sheet of shortbread and juice in front of him and she had to take special care not to dirty the bottom of her new kimono on the floor. The employees in the room almost literally walked on eggshells in fear of the prefect. Ashlynn decided to keep his attention on her and asked if he like her gift for him.
"It has use Omnivore."
She decided to leave it at that.
On the day of the New Year Ashlynn was once again dressed into her new kimono before making her way, invitation in one hand and Birdy's hand in the other, to Tsuna's house and smiled when she saw the group gathered in front of the Sawada home where everyone was greeting each other and wishing a Happy New Year.
"Happy New Year's guys." She called with Birdy repeating her sentiments.
"Ciaossu, Ashlynn."
"Ashlynn-chan your kimono is very beautiful. And this is?" Kyoko complimented then motioned to Birdy.
"This is my Landlady's daughter. Her name is Suzume but she'd much rather to be called Birdy. Birdy this is Ryohei's little sister, Kyoko."
"Happy New Year." Birdy shyly greeted.
"Happy New Year to you too Birdy-chan. You look very cute in your kimono."
"Let's have an Extreme New Year Senpai! You too little Bird!"
"Hahi! Haru remembers now! Haru saw Subordinate-san kiss a boy at the bakery on Christmas day when Haru was buying the special limited cake from Fukano's Bakery! How dare you! Leading Tsuna-san on like you are! You're being a very bad role model to all of the children here!" Haru pointed angrily at her and puffed her cheeks in annoyance when Ashlynn ignored her and greeted Bianchi who turned around the street corner with Keiko, both were in kimono.
"Oh? To kiss underneath mistletoe is very romantic and the plant is very useful in my cooking." Bianchi commented lightly.
Keiko clapped her hands happily. "I was there when it happened! Kyouya-kun and Ashlynn opened the door at the same time and they stopped underneath the mistletoe. Though Kyouya-kun reacted rather violently, Honey reached over and kissed him! It was so sweet!"
Tsuna stared at the woman with Bianchi then alarmed at Ashlynn. "Kyouya...? Hiiiie! She means Hibari-san!"
"I think it was Kyoya-kun's first kiss too." Keiko linked her arms with Bianchi's.
"Ashlynn." Reborn called for their attention. "You don't seem too bothered about it, wasn't it your first kiss as well?"
Ashlynn shook her head. "I'm not and it wasn't my first kiss. I had mine at thirteen and it wasn't all that special really, granted it was during a game of spin the bottle at a birthday party. Besides, Keiko threatened to have the bakery stop selling shortbread; if she followed through with it then no doubt Hibari-san would expect me to make it for him all the time (which I do anyway but I'm actually paid to do that)."
"Anyway, today is the New Year' 'Family Versus' battle in Vongola style. I called everyone here for that reason." Reborn announced, dressed in haori and hakama. Leon transformed into a fan. "And your opponent has arrived as well."
"Eh? D-Dino-san!... And his men too!"
Dino smiled. "We came here to play the New Year's 'Family versus' battle Vongola style. It is my first time seeing some of you. Nice to meet you."
"Extremely nice to meet you!"
"Eh...Wait...Just what is this Vongola ceremony thing...?" Tsuna asked.
"Nn. New Year's 'Family versus' battle in Vongola style is a battle between allied families. It shows the family's enthusiasm for the year and is a tradition that begins the year."
"This is just like with the Vongola Birthday party again?"
"No, the New Year's battle is where representatives from each family participate in New Year themed competitions. The marks awarded will announce the winner of the contest. Also the winning family is rewarded a generous prize. In addition the losing family will have to pay a fine of one million yen."
"Hiiiie! That's crazy!"
"It can't be helped, Dame-Tsuna. It's a tradition and traditions must be followed no matter what it demands you to do. You'll do it with a smile and you'll like it."
"Geez Tsuna," Yamamoto smiled. "You always get angry at child games."
Kyoko and Haru had the same expressions on their faces. "One million yen is like a dream. This event feels very New-Year like. It seems like a lot of fun."
"Wait just a minute Reborn-san," Gokudera pointed a thumb over to Ryohei. "Why is a person who is not a part of the Juudaime's family participating in a 'Family versus battle'?"
"Compared to the Cavallone family, the members of the tenth generation Vongola family is much lower in numbers. Due to special circumstances, Tsuna's acquaintances will also be considered family for this event." Reborn explained.
Ryohei pointed his thumb at himself. "Meaning that I will also be a part of Sawada's Mongolia Family today!"
"Turf Top, it's Vongola! Not Mongolia!"
"Tsuna's room is too small so we'll hold the competition here." Reborn was sitting on a chair placed on a tower between the two families as they face each other next to the canal. "I will be judging this event."
"No grudges. Regardless who wins today okay Tsuna?" Dino grinned.
"H-How did it turn out this way~~?"
"The first round is fortune drawing." Reborn said from his chair.
Tsuna whipped his head in the hitman's direction. "Fortune drawing? How are you going to tally that to a score?"
"That's simple. Very lucky is two points, lucky is one point, normal is worth zero points, then unlucky is negative one point and very unlucky is negative two points. It won't matter who does the drawing." Reborn held out a box.
"Leave this to me! I don't believe in fortune telling. Because I choose my own Extreme destiny! And this is my Extreme...!" Ryohei jabbed his arm into the small box held by Reborn and pulled out a handful of fortunes. "Method!"
"What!" Dino's eyes widened.
Tsuna looked on in awe. "It can't be, he grabbed so many at the same time...is he even allowed to do that?"
Ryohei dropped the notes of fortune in front of Reborn with a smirk. "The aim is to get the most Extreme points. With this, we will take the lead within one shot!"
"Very unlucky, very unlucky, very unlucky, unlucky, very unlucky, very unlucky, very unlucky, unlucky, unlucky, very unlucky. The Vongola family ends their turn with negative seventeen points." Reborn announced their current score. Tsuna and Ryohei's face fell into despair. One of Dino's men stepped forward and pulled a single fortune note out of the box.
"I'm lucky."
"This is the end of the first round. The score is one to negative seventeen in the Cavallone Family's favor. The points will be tallied on this board." The current score was written down on the blackboard.
Ryohei slumped to the ground. "Kyoko...bring out the sweet sake..."
"Geez, Onii-chan..."
"The next round will be feather ball. The winner will receive twenty points for one win for their family." Reborn pointed to the court.
Tsuna cheered as Yamamoto stepped forward. "Invincible sportsman Yamamoto, we're counting on you!"
Both players were given a paddle. Yamamoto turned it around. "This is like bad mitten, right?"
Dino gave the paddle over to one of his men. "From our side, we'll go with Michael, a former pro tennis player."
The man smiled. "I will be playing seriously."
"Why is a former tennis pro in the mafia!" Tsuna cried.
Yamamoto tossed the small ball into the air and hit it with the paddle sending it over to the former tennis player. The man smirks. "Suddenly, a chance ball! Smash!"
"Heh, so what?" Yamamoto eyes gleamed when he held the paddle like a baseball bat and swung hard at the toss from the other man. The ball smacked against the bat and flew out into the sky. Kyoko, Haru and Ryohei cheered at the hit. It was Yamamoto's baseball form shown in front of him. Yamamoto scratched behind his neck.
"Out." Reborn called.
"Sorry guys."
"This concludes round two. The score is 21 to negative seventeen, still in the Cavallone family's favor. At this rate you will have to pay one million yen to the Cavallone, Tsuna."
Even after that the point gap between the two families only got wider. Lambo placed the puzzle pieces on his face instead of correctly completing the puzzle. Haru gave up within only minutes of a card game where you read one half of a poem and had to find the card that finished it because her legs got sore from sitting so long. I-pin was lifted up into the air when she tried to fly the kite during her turn. Gokudera could not follow the instruction on a backgammon like game played with dice and many players, he landed on a square that said to compliment a certain member of his family. The square he had landed on had a picture with Ryohei's likeness printed on the board.
Ashlynn was given a towel to cover over her kimono and a tie to pull back her sleeves and her hair. She and her opponent had a bowl in front of them filled with whipped cream and a single maraschino cherry, they had to find the cherry and eat it without using their hands which was a lot more difficult than it appeared. Her opponent found the cherry before her and many laughed at their faces covered with whipped cream. Ashlynn laughed and picked the cherry out and ate it and used the towel to wipe of the whipped cream.
Haru and Kyoko were paired together to play the Aura game against another pair from Dino's side. The partners stood face to face, arms extended with their palms touching each other and blindfolded, they were spun around and then they had to find their partner and place their palms back together. Again Dino's team won quickly, Kyoko opened her eyes when she found someone wearing a kimono and found that she was holding onto Ashlynn's hand and Haru had grabbed onto Bianchi. In the end the only person to gain a point for the Vongola side was Birdy and that was because her opponent thought she was so cute and gave the point up for her.
"Hiiiie! What am I going to do! At this rate I'll be a million yen in debt! It's going to be a hell of debt for the rest of my life!" Tsuna grabbed his hair.
Dino stepped forward. "Come to think of it, it does seem kind of unfair doesn't it? It's adults versus kids after all. I'll give them a handicap."
"Fnn." Leon fanned with the transformed Leon. "You have a point there. Let's just say that the points earned from earlier do not count. It's becoming too troublesome, so whoever wins this next round will be the winner and the loser will have to dish out one billion yen to the winning family."
"What! Reborn! Don't be absurd!"
"It's no use, Tsuna. Once Reborn has an idea and wants to do it there is no stopping him. We're going to have to let it go." Dino sighed.
"For the final round of the competition, every family member will participate in the making of a rice cake. Whoever gives me the most delicious red bean rice cake will be the winner." Reborn announced to the participants." There were cooking stations for both sides.
Gokudera placed a hand on Tsuna's shoulder. "Juudaime! Let's turn the tables and take the lead in this final round!"
"B-but~~"
"Um, hey Boss? Do you know what this hammer thing is supposed to be used for?" Tsuna looked over and saw Dino's men with arms crossed and looking at the strange Japanese tools that they were supposed to use. Dino leaned on the largest piece with his hand propping up his head.
"God knows. I have eaten rice cake before, but...making it is an entirely different matter... I don't even know the first place to start."
'Right' Tsuna thought. 'They grew up and lived in Italy so even if they can compete and beat us at fortune drawing and feather ball, if they don't know how to make rice cake then they can't make it.' Tsuna looked behind him and saw his friends correctly using the instruments.
"Us too, Haru-chan, Ashlynn-chan, Birdy-chan. " Kyoko said as Ashlynn helped the girl tie the sleeves of her kimono out of the way.
"We'll try our best to make the red bean paste!" Haru declared.
'E-everyone...At this rate we have a chance at winning this round!' Tsuna grinned
"Times up, put your cooking utensils down and stop working. I will compare the taste now, bring your rice cake forward. We'll start with the Cavallone team's red bean rice cake."
Dino sighed but opened the little box that held his teams rice cake and gave it to Reborn. "We tried to make it...But with our knowledge this is the best we could do..."
Reborn plopped the rice cake into his mouth and chewed. "It looks bad, tastes horrible, it's soggy and falling apart...Next up is the Vongola team rice cake."
Tsuna stepped forward and opened the box for his team's rice cake and gasped when a purple fume hit him in the face. "Hiiiiiie! Poison cooking! Bianchi!"
The rice cakes had turned a dark purple shade and was covered with dead and some living bugs crawling about the cakes. Bianchi strode forward as Keiko giggled. "I joined in the making of the cakes halfway through."
Yamamoto and Ashlynn were sitting over a fallen and foaming Gokudera after the boy looked directly at his older sister. Yamamoto gently shook the boys' shoulder. "Hey, Gokudera, are you okay?"
'I thought she went with that other woman to use the kotatsu at home! When did she get here?' Tsuna gasped in horror. "D-does that mean we're going to lose!"
"Bianchi grabbed the box with the rice cakes out of Tsuna's hands. "How could that happen? Cooking is all about the love that you put into it. If there is the right amount of love in your cooking then the poison will be completely neutralized. Here, Reborn, I will feed it to you."
"What! Really?" Tsuna exclaimed.
Dino's eyes widened in shock and a healthy amount of fear. "R-Reborn! You're not really going to eat that are you!"'
Reborn didn't answer and stared straight ahead of him when he and Leon suddenly had three bubbles blowing from their noses, Ashlynn smiled, she wouldn't want to eat it either especially if it had bugs crawling over the food. Tsuna gasped. 'He's sleeping now as if he hasn't slept in days!'
Bianchi smiled at Reborn's cute display and sighed dreamily. "Well, that can't be helped, you two may try it then." Bianchi offered the box of rice cakes to the two Bosses and chased after them when they ran away from her.
"No! That's okay, I'm not hungry. I really don't want it! Bianchi please stop chasing us!"
"Hiiiiie! Go away!"
Because the Boss of both families had ran away in fear from where the competition was being held, the winner could not be decided upon.
