Heli: Hello! It's been awhile since I've posted anything and I'm sorry :( Thankfully, I was going through my old Reborn notes and came across this little short I wrote before I had finished Unbroken. It isn't much and it isn't the best but please enjoy Jack and Taka's first meeting. Also, cause I'm tired of the confusing spacing, I've tried separating them with hopes that it'll make a difference. Sorry if it looks weird.

Taka couldn't keep the frown from her face as she watched Hibari circling the blond man with the stupid smile. He moved cautiously, his attacks more calculated than his usual overpowering barrage and the fact that he was wary of the man did nothing to ease the roiling in her gut. Who was he to come to their school with his shady people and make her Hibari change? A soft growl escaped her as she crossed her arms. She hadn't believed the story Hibari had told her the night before in the park about him being part of a Mafia family. He'd sneered at the words, but she could sense that it was more for show. That's when he'd asked her to join him on the roof of Namimori. Though it was disguised as an offer, Taka could see the tense way he held his shoulders even in the dimness. He didn't want to admit that he needed her there and that was more than enough to convince her to come.

She glanced at the tall woman who'd come with the man, her deep green eyes intent on the fight. She feigned calmness as she leaned her lithe body against the railing, but Taka could see how her muscles were poised to move if she was called to. Taka stilled when the woman's gaze shifted from the fighters to her face.

Jack smiled politely at the young girl when their eyes met. Knowing next to nothing about the Japanese language, that was all she could really do since she doubted the girl spoke Italian. The girl's eyes narrowed before she said something in rapid Japanese making Jack wince while shaking her head.

"I don't speak Japanese."

Taka frowned. The woman couldn't speak Japanese but that idiotic blond man could? She watched the woman hesitate for a moment before clearing her throat.

"Ah...do you speak English?" Taka's brow rose. Her speech was accented but understandable.

"I do."

A smile broke across Jack's face She'd gotten lucky! Eager, she straightened.

"What's your name?" The girl took a moment to translate.

"Taka. You?"

"Jack. It's nice to meet you." She held out her hand and they shook awkwardly before a silence fell between them.

"The blond man." Taka said slowly, tasting each word, "Who is he?"

"Uh..." Jack looked over at the two fighters who'd started moving faster. How much could she tell this girl?

"Is he in the Mafia?" Well that answered her question.

"Yes. He's doing a favor and training..." She gestured to Hibari.

"Hibari." The girl said and Jack took note of the possessive gleam in her eyes. She smiled knowingly.

"He's yours?"

Taka flushed, but nodded which only widened Jack's smile.

"Then it looks like we'll both have some wounds to bandage soon." Her eyebrow ticked up.

"The blond is yours?" Jack nodded, her cheeks pinking. Unable to help herself, Taka flashed a devilish grin.

"Hibari will win." Jack snorted.

"You forget who the teacher is." Taka's hand delved into her pocket then pulled out a crumpled Yen note.

"Bet?" Jack pulled out a colorful bill of her own and slapped it in the girl's palm.

"Bet."

An hour later, the battle concluded and the two stared at the money then at each other.

"Who won?" Jack asked. Taka's lips pursed.

"Tie?" She asked grudgingly.

"Sure," Jack plucked the Yen note from Taka's hand, "We'll switch so it's fair."

Hibari and Dino watched as the girls exchanged something then stared curiously at whatever it was.

"I am not sure why, but those two becoming friends worries me." Romario said as he pushed away from the shaded wall of the shack.

"Why? I think it's nice that they have some company. Right, Hibari?" Dino reached out to ruffle Hibari's hair only for his hand to get slapped away.

"Shut up, herbivore. I could care less about what they do." His words were cold, but the edges of his mouth lifted when Taka smiled and laughed at something Jack said.