Katekyo Hitman Reborn

My Fate is Certainly Uncertain

Chapter 16: Almost

Overall Warnings: Violence, swearing, blood and Oc-ness.

[Written to: Summertime - My Chemical Romance]

~o0o~

I had no flipping idea what the hell I was thinking yesterday or what I had imagined what I was getting myself into.

Could you imagine Reborn's reaction if he found out that I like a guy that possibly like me back? I couldn't imagine what would go down between them. Until I figured out the state of my mind, I refused to think of the matter around him.

No, I'm just overreacting.

I'm glad to say that I actually did get some sleep last night but whenever I closed my eyes, I kept seeing his face. His smile and his laugh made me blush twice fold, wanting to scream into my pillow out of embarrassment.

Yes, definitely overreacting.

God damn it mind! I thought we had gotten past this hormonal stage! Didn't we have an agreement that I'd stick to my mission?!

For today, I had gone grocery hunting in the shopping district with little fuss to carry around. Nana was housecleaning today and made the children come with me. It would have been a bigger hassle, if the little tyke of a cow was conscious.

Kid slept more than a sloth.

So on my way back, I did a check up for Nana on him. Still asleep, not surprising at all. I called her up and told her that. She replied that she had finished her housework and wanted to come over. So I decided to wait there until she arrived.

But as I waited, I became more agitated and ever so nervous to the point where I constantly checked the airways for any incoming messages on my phone.

It had been over twenty four hours since the boss had called last.

I was getting concerned.

Did something happen?

"There he is~" Al mewed, hanging off of my shoulder, donned in a blue bow that I'd brought him as a present. It was tied in a bow around his neck. "Confused as usual~"

I looked up to see Tsuna slide open the door, surprised that I was sitting here. "Phillipa!"

He was relatively happy to see me, but I wasn't the person he was looking for. That person was sitting upstairs with an injured Squalo.

The little bugger skipped school again.

"Morning Starfish~" I called, waving back at him.

He didn't like his nickname unfortunately. "Please stop calling me that!"

I snorted. "No way!"

"W-Why not?! You're just teasing me!"

"Nicknames are a term of endearment dear, I thought you already knew that after the Hayato incident." I got up from my seat and picked up my bag just as he was about to leave the room. "Besides, I'm not calling you that out of spite, 'because I'd never do that."

To anybody I like, that is….

I shrugged. "Doesn't matter. It suits you Starfish." I smiled down at him, as he blushed furiously, wishing he had more courage to say what he really wanted. Out of kindness, I didn't hassle him any further, but instead changed the subject to his intended goal. "You're looking for Dino right?"

He was about to ask me how I knew, but he ended up shaking his head. "I don't want to even know how you knew that before I asked…...Yes, I'm looking for Big Brother….I was hoping to ask him about Hibari for tonight…..If he loses, the whole thing is lost."

"Come on then." I patted his back. "Let's go look for your prince charming, aye?"

"W-what?!"

"Trying to deflect Dino's attention off of yourself Phillipa? Sneaky sneaky."

The only reason I'm not trying to talk to him is that I know he'll try and bring whatever he wanted to talk about with me.

But honestly, I don't know what to do if that happened.

For the first time in a while, I'm unsure about how to go around this.

It's irritating.

I suggested to my small fluffy Starfish that his Prince Charming would be on the top floor, where most of the rich and important patients are placed. Plus, that was also the ICU floor (Intensive Care Unit.) meaning that it was oh so more than likely that Squalo would be up there.

And where there's Squalo, there's Dino for some reason.

Maybe he was going to bring Squalo back for the final fight? But why would he do that? He's certainly not in a movable condition as of now. Add that to the I don't think this is a good idea list along with the point that it may not even get that far in the way of fighting.

I mean, there might be the teeny tiniest chance that Hibari might fail.

MIGHT fail.

"He's probably on this floor." I muttered, looking around.

"Are you kidding me, I can hear him from here!"

"Then you point him out if you're so smart!" I growled, yelling at Al. Tsuna squeaked. "Sorry, sorry. I was yelling at Al, not you Starfish."

"Oh…"

"Three doors down."

I sniffed. "The fleaball says to keep walking."

I strolled in front of Tsuna till we reached the third door on the right.

What a particularly loud voice he had this morning.

"How is he, Romario?"

"There's been no change. However, there's nothing more…."

"I KNOW!"

Tsuna flinched as Dino's voice rumbled through the closed door. He really was genuinely upset about Squalo, but I still had no connections to him and the shark. Maybe, they had been friends once? Nah.

"We'll have him ready to be moved within a day."

"Now he's being loud. Too early for such shit like that. Doesn't have a flick of respect for the people in the other rooms next door."

"Leave off him." I hushed, as Tsuna reached for the door handle.

Neither of the two men expected to have any visitors, so when Tsuna opened the door, Dino became quite defensive. Granted, he should've knocked first.

He got up out of his chair and barked at the door with clenched fists. "Who's there?!"

"Hold your hormones there you she-woman." I muttered as his face became softer, when Tsuna explained that we were here. His face paled at my name, but he quickly composed himself and forced Tsuna out of the room, closing the door behind him. That was not so discrete and it wasn't so hard to guess that he didn't want to worry Tsuna any further than he was already.

He really did care for his little brother.

"What are you guys doing here?" He asked and Al sneezed, smelling Dino's shampoo.

"Well, I couldn't get any sleep and…..uh…" He smiled softly, thinking that Dino had returned to his usual, aloof self.

"I'm guessing you came to ask about Hibari?" He asked, bending over to look into Tsuna's eyes. His eyes flickered up to mine and I giggled quietly. Their faces were quite close. "What about you Phillipa?"

"I was shopping for Nana." I gestured to the pack on my back. "But now that I'm here, I'm going to ask you something."

His back straightened, mind going blank. "W-What?!"

But I immediately felt heavy and I knew what he had been thinking.

Meaning that Al had been right.

Oh god.

What do I do?!

I raised my hand and gulped, it being the only other thing I could concentrate on, since it kept sending me painful messages through my nerve system every time I decided to move even one of my fingers. It hurt just as much when I lifted it up to show Dino, so I winced, my left eye closing as I tried to cope

"W-Why is my wrist and hand bandaged? I-I can't remember much after…..uh," I caught myself before I blurted out what had happened in front of Tsuna.

"O-Oh…" He breathed out a sigh of relief, closing his eyes, whispering. "I thought you were going to ask something else…"

"I fucking knew it! You ain't touching a hair on my human's head, you oaf!"

Reborn's squeaky voice made itself present and the three of us jumped out of our socks.

"He dropped you on the concrete."

"Hieeee!"

I did a double take. "He WHAT?!"

"True story. I saw him do it."

"Hey, it w-was an accident!" He said quickly, stuttering. Even though he felt nervous he waved his arms, trying to explain what had happened. "You kicked me!"

"That's because you brought my daughter home unconscious, after I found a note from her saying that you had asked for a favor."

I caught his drift and blushed, just as Dino did. "H-Hey, come on you two, no fighting in the hospital! This ain't the place for that sort of thing! What are you doing here anyway Reborn in that get-up?" I looked him over, identifying his ninja costume with Leon transformed as a head protector. The little cameleon still disliked Al and I. Mostly Al. Couldn't possibly see why.

"I need Tsuna for training."

"What! Tonight's battle will decide everything!" Tsuna wasn't sure what Reborn was thinking, but I knew he thought the exact thing that I was. "Is there any reason for me to?!"

Prepare for armageddon, go for peace.

"It's because this is the last match. Let them do all the cheering." He said calmly, referring to Tsuna's guardians, who were sleeping away in the next room.

"Why?"

"What are you going to do if the worst happens?" Reborn asked honestly, being blunt.

"Huh, the worst?"

"Poor Starfish….he so squishy and innocent, totally like a Starfish love. Good naming skills Phillipa. You've been blessed."

I sniffed. "Just go with him Tsuna. Can hurt to prepare for the worst, right?"

He sighed sadly and nodded, making up his mind firmly. "Alright! Goodbye Phillipa! Brother!"

I waved and poked Dino. He did the same after some encouragement. Reborn jumped onto Tsuna's back and I watched as her ran to the stairs, hoping he wouldn't fall down them.

I spun on the ball of my foot, facing Dino, feeling how Romario was leaning on the wall closest to the door, listening in.

"I'm going to go, okay?" I waved. "Bye bye!"

"Wait….please."

"No. Go a-way."

I stopped, feeling my gut drop along with my face heat up. No way was I going to turn around now, what, with my face as red as a tomato!

God I wish Al would shut up. Please, just this once.

I paused and looked over at him, part of my face covered by my hair, that was free hanging. There was a slight breeze floating through the window, making my hair lift up a little, dancing. "Yes?"

"I w-"

"Gagi jeone doraseogi jeone naegero dorawayo baby girl, Neul barkji anhado joha ,Nal chatji anhado joha."

Well, there goes my phone. Yet again. At least it was a text message this time.

I frowned and checked the caller I.D, as Dino frowned visibly, getting himself worked up. I felt bad. Like, honestly bad. I knew he wasn't going to say what he was going to with Reborn around. (After all, that's a death wish with a gift tag placed nicely on it.)

But my feelings were put behind me as the mechanical, devious side of my consciousness started to take the reigns, reacting to the text.

The message was from Lal.

That never happens.

She prefers to tell someone something in person rather than on a phone. But if she has to, she'd call, not text.

What the hell is going on?

I flipped the phone open and read the four numbered message.

0010 0110 1011 1011 0000 0001

It was a X-10 protocol code, used in binary sources.

Call me?

Then, another one.

342.

What!

"I'm so sorry Dino, but I really need to take this!" I yelled, running away. Just as I grabbed the wall to turn the corner, the other hand pressing the green phone button; I ran down the stairs.

"This is Cuckoo." I said, landing at the bottom of the second floor stairway. One more floor, then I'll blitz it all the way home. "Status?!"

"Code 323. Iemitsu's gone missing and we've entered the Vongola estate, assuming that something treaturous will happen. Return to your post until further notice."

Well, shit.

"Urgh, this day is so frustrating!" I yelled, breaking out into a full sprint once I got onto the main road.

"I know, right. Y-"

"Al! Shut it!"

Today was just the start of something far worse.

~o0o~

Thank goodness Nana was at home, being the oblivious, loving mother that she always was; I burst into the house, puffing. She looked up from her dusting.

"Ara~ Phillipa dear, did you get what I needed?" Nana asked politely, smiling. "I'm definitely making some stuff to take to the hospital tonight!"

I sighed massively, thanking god, that they weren't hurt. Or even aware of the things going on.

Sometimes I wished I was like that.

"Yes, I'll put them on the bench and head up to my room, okay?"

"Okay hun!"

It was just too easy to fool her.

And there I went again, feeling sorry for others, thinking on an endless train of thought; not knowing, not caring, not believing what I saw, only hearing what I heard.

And the next thing I heard from Oregano was quite disturbing.

"We suspect that the Varia's been sent a weapon. A very powerful one."

My lips were dry and I remember watching Al roll around, hearing his tail hit the ground in a soft thump.

"A weapon?" I repeated, asking for confirmation.

"Yes, a weapon. Right now, you and Basil are the only CEDEF agents in Japan at the moment, so I need both of you to keep an eye out. We're not sure what's going to happen next, but I'm sure it-"

"-will be like a box of chocolates? I get it. I'll relay the info to him. Any further actions?"

"Just keep with the family. We haven't found the boss yet so until then, your mission still stands."

"Understood. I await Lal's next decision."

I hung up and talked to Al.

"Al, I need a favour."

He rolled onto his stomach, his head facing me. "You know the conditions. A tummy rub and a can of tuna."

"It'll be here when you're done."

"Fine, what is it?"

"Boss has gone missing and I need some eyes at the battle tonight, since it's gotten past the point where it's likely that Xanxus is plotting something. Can you do a round of the town and then stay at the school till the thing ends and then report back to me? It'll take two to three hours, so I'll double the conditions."

"Sounds good as pie, m'dear. I'll go now."

I nodded and said goodbye to him, immediately calling up Basil.

"Basil?"

The voice on the other end wasn't Basil.

"No, this is Reborn. He's training with Baka-Tsuna."

Again with the name calling. See Tsuna, mine isn't so bad compared to Reborn.

"I'm just relaying something."

"Go ahead."

"The situation in Italy's changed. We're on high security now."

His breathing hitched. "And you have your orders?"

"Yes, so you better hurry up with what training he has and get to the trial. You and I both know that this wasn't going to end well right from the start."

"I know. Stay safe kiddo."

"You always say that."

"That's because I mean it."

"I know."

~o0o~

Within the space of a couple of days, I was beginning to become familiar with the hospital's layout. Later that night, after I had made my rounds and checked on the Vongola's non-fighting friends, I made my way there and met up with Nana, who had a basket on her arm. I-pin and Fuuta carried paper cards and cranes to Lambo's room, spending all day making them. I told her that I was going to the bathroom, when really, I made a quick check on Squalo.

I wouldn't have come in if Dino was here. I wasn't ready to see him again after this morning.

Squalo wasn't fully unconscious as he was when I fished him out of the water last but now, he was regaining some pink pigments in his cheeks and his snoring had gotten louder. Just like the boisterous shark he was, Squalo was coming along swimmingly.

But as soon as I sat, he opened his eyes.

And I was being at my quietest.

"Voi, it's you."

Oh boy, here we go with our excellent vocabulary skills…

"How are you doing?" I asked, crossing my legs, feeling the breeze behind me push on my back, where fabric separated itself from tanned, scarred flesh. The day had been mild, the subtle rays of the sun barely pushing through the clouds. The afternoon had been slightly better, but my mind told me that just because it was alright in the day meant that it wouldn't be the same at night. "Bitten anybody yet? No wait, that's Cloud guardian's thing. The Vongolas, not yours. Yours gives me the creeps because I can't read 'im."

"What do you want woman!" He yelled, struggling to sit up. Eventually, he settled for resting on one elbow. "Are you here to rub it in my face?! Because if you are, you better fuck off!"

"No, I am actually here to see how you're doing, believe it or not. I am the one who pulled you from death, you know."

"Well what do you want, a fucking medal, fuck off!"

I snorted, knowing that I wasn't wanted. However, I wasn't troubled by it. "One day will come where I'll need help, I assume. Don't forget to say thank you to Dino as well. If I didn't know he was so useless around women, I would have assumed that you two were together."

"We're not!" He squawked.

"So, you're not together together?"

"No!"

My seat felt a lot bigger, suddenly. "So….how do you know each other then?"

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because….." I shrugged. "Dino's my friend and he's been caring about you too much for me not to notice." I cupped my mouth and whispered, even though we were the only two people in the room. "He respects you a lot."

Air snorted out of Squalo's nose, his thoughts becoming more settled. Unusually, he spoke with me in a manner that I hadn't expected. He was a well spoken fellow, if a lot brash and what not. How can't you be, with the crowd he hangs out with.

"We spent primary school together."

So they did have school together.

"He was the quiet kid at the back of the room, I was the loudest, always breaking everything in sight. We ate lunch together. That's it."

I smiled at the thought of two bite sized versions of Squalo and Dino munching into lettuce and cheese sandwiches.

"That's adorable."

"Shut up!"

I looked at my watch and gasped. "Oh shoot! I better get going!"

"Eh? Why?"

I shrugged. "I don't want to be here when Dino's here."

"Why, I thought you two were chumps."

"We're not."

He grinned. "Oh, I see how it is."

"What you see and what I see are do different things buddy. We're just on bad terms. Laters."

Squalo snorted as I left for Lambo's room.

Snorted.

Mother - flipping - snorted.

I thought I was the one reading mind here!

Where the hell is my asshole side telling me to get over a guy, that it's stupid to! That no good will come from it!

I needed to work on my acting skills.

"Phillipa, what are you doing here?"

Dino stood in front of me, stunned, amazingly without Romario or any of his men by his side to shadow his every step. I froze in place, not knowing what else to do. My mind had been so overwhelmed with other peoples feelings that was becoming hard to distinguish from my own.

Why the hell was I acting like this?!

"N…..uh…."

I hate not knowing what to do!

Dino smiled, a light going off in his head. "Oh! You came to see Squalo!"

How is it that I kept getting read like a library book?

I mused over my thought, and when I didn't reply, Dino's expression changed. "Hey, what's the matter?" He paused and breathed in, frowning." Did he say something to upset you?"

I had to get myself away from everybody.

I wasn't in control of myself whenever Dino's around.

"I have to go."

"What, but-"

I didn't let him finish . He almost grabbed my hand again, but I dodged it and jumped out the window, down onto the street; with my head a mess, I couldn't think of staying here so I gunned it.

"Phillipa, come back!"

How stupid of me.

I'm supposed to be looking after the family! Dumb dumb! You suck at your job!

My phone rung for the third time today, just as I slowed down my pace. I was pretty far away from Dino and the hospital, more so in the suburban district, towards Sawada's house and the school. From here, I could hear massive explosions and a vivid red alighting the sky.

"This is Cuckoo!"

"Phillipa, we've been had!" Iemitsu's voice was jagged and I could hear his heavy panting distort the phone connection. "There's a fake Ninth here, the real one is somewhere else! I order you to head over to the grounds, now! I give you permission to do as you see fit!"

"Yes sir!" I yelled, snapping the phone shut, running at my fastest I could go, dodging over car roofs as they drove by.

How they couldn't see everything a-balizin' is a mystery to me.

But I bet it was Mammons doing.

Or something pretty close to it.

But what I found was what looked like a simulation battle, but instead, it looked like the trials had gone extremely wrong. Barbed wire was fenced around the arena, guns smoking from overuse, still shooting as Tsuna's guardians moved around the area, dodging them wildly.

But as I climbed over the fence, I felt Tsuna's bright flames glowing, fighting aggressively in a way I had not yet seen from the brown haired boy.

"You there!"

People in black had followed me, but it seemed I had out ran them enough that I could climb the fence without one of them grabbing onto me.

"Forget it!" I yelled, as Al scuttled over to me, barely dodging a rocket that fired erratically, squiggling in circles before hitting an artillery gun.

"Ph-iiiiiiiiiiilliiiiiiiiipaaaaaaaaaaaaaa! My love, you've come back for me!"

"You're okay!" I exclaimed, hugging him. "I was so worried!"

"Don't worry about me! Do what you have to do!"

I nodded at his hurried, enthusiastic encouragement that was completely antithesis of him. It took extremely light footwork to doge giant holes in the ground, flying rockets sent by the Mosca, now known as that artillery vesle that the Varia had sent to them and the landmines that blew up in every direction possible.

I jumped in front of Tsuna and the inside of the Mosca looked like a pumpkin in carving season; the middle was gutted out and hollow and big enough to fit a human inside. Like the one that was lying on the ground with his hands bound.

Wait. Was that the Ninth!?

Tsuna dropped to his knees, attempting to take grasp of the situation and Reborn jumped over, checking the Ninth's status.

"You attacked the Ninth." Xanxus stated brutally and in his eyes, I could feel his controlling hatred. To tie up an old man and use him as a portable battery source was delectably deplorable.

Disgusting.

"You horrible horrible human!"

"Your statement will be retracted." I stated, in the firmist voice I could manage, my mirage flames embedding themselves outwards from myself. If he was going to attack, then I'd fight back on my own terms with my own weapons. "This trial is no longer valid and under the official guidance of the CEDEF, I'm ordering a re-trial! Since that cannot happen with your cloud candidate unusable, I give the Varia a penalisation."

"Shut up trash. Nobody asked you."

"Nobody had to, you jerk. Your fighting dirty and I can see right through you."

As I glared it out with Xanxus as the Ninth talked to Tsuna.

"Tsunayoshi…..I constantly hear about you from Reborn…..About the girl you like, about school, about your friends…..You are a child with a heart too ill-matched to that of a Mafia boss."

"Ninth!" Tsuna yelled.

"I know that you've never fought once happily….You always have wrinkles on your forehead."

Funny.

Momma would say that when I growled her for being late.

"...and you swing your fist as if you're praying…" He poked Tsuna's forehead with a quivering, flickering flame that barely kept alight. "That's why I chose you as the Vongola Tenth…"

Eh? He didn't chose Xanxus?

"I'm sorry…." The Ninth said, in a small, regretful tone." But I'm glad it's you…"

His eyelids drooped and the Ninth lost all consciousness as Tsuna grasped his wrist with padded hands, tears streaming down his cheeks. Visibly, he looked weak. And that's when I knew Xanxus would try and attack him again.

I was quite angry.

"How d-"

"Shut up Xanxus!" I yelled. "Nobody asked you!"

"Phillipa!" Reborn snapped. "Enough!"

He growled our way. "For the sake of my father and for the Vongola, I will destroy all of you."

Everyone stood in shock and my fists were clenched with anger. I wanted to punch him. I wanted to cheer on Tsuna.

Boy, my heart was everywhere today.

"What are you saying!" Gokudera yelled. "You captured the Ninth!"

"This is what you were after." Reborn said finally, after some quick thinking. I missed what he processed.

"Huh?"

"Even if he became the winner of the ring conflict and the next boss-to-be in waiting, the ones who know about the "crib" incident would object to his appointed role and resist him."

Vivid images from Squalo's head bore into mine, as he saw ice-scaled over Xanxus, enveloping him in a bound that he could not escape.

"But, if he avenges the Ninth after framing Tsuna, it would be different. If that were to happen, it wouldn't be an issue to deal with those who oppose him."

Basil gasped. "Then Xanxus did it to create a dictatorship!"

"Yeah, this was a trap. If Mosca were to go out of control and put Tsuna's friends in danger, he predicted that Tsuna would come and rescue them."

"He's just too nice." Al whispered, and I could feel his limbs shake. He clawed onto my shoulder and I resisted the urge to cringe.

Tsuna was upset, muttering away.

"Everyone, please refrain from conjecture. We are officially recording all statements."

Oh dear.

"They're…."

"I knew it! The Cervello are on Xanxus's side!"

I raised my arms, ready to fight. My flames bursted out like a bird flapping it's wings, coming back together like a full body shield. I breathed in slowly.

"Do what you want." Reborn said angrily and I knew he felt the same as me. He liked it when people were straight, and not messing with his students. He hated liars. "I've already snapped."

The Cervello gasped.

"But I'll keep my word to the Ninth and not raise a hand. Not in my student's fight. I however, cannot take responsibility for what my daughter will do. She's hotheaded and reckless."

Thanks Reborn, I didn't want to be painted that way.

"And, in saying that, I don't know what my student will do either."

"Xanxus."

Tsuna stood up and turned around, finding a new found reason to fight. It was true that he didn't like to fight, but for anybody with a purpose, anything can happen.

"I'll be taking that ring back. I won't let you succeed the Ninth!"

Xanxus smiled in a way that made me shudder and that darkness in his mind started playing up. I called out to Reborn and he nodded. "I'll carve you into the Vongola history books as the wimp that revolted against me."

"He's not alone!" Gokudera yelled, flipping out bombs that he held between each finger. "The Tenth's will is our will!"

"Personally." Hibari said, to clarify.

He totally wasn't helping us.

"You brats want a fight?" The lanky guy asked, pulling out an umbrella.

"Oh, so you're the one that's been causing trouble for Lambo and the Tenth's family!" I yelled, thinking of all the times I had to sit in the hospital next to a crying woman. "I'm gonna go ahead now and kick your ass!"

"Sounds fun" Bell giggled, whipping out knives. "Wonder how the Bucking Bronco will react when I send you back in pieces."

"You touch her and I'll cut you." Al hissed. "I'll cut you kid!"

"Eradicate the traitors!"

"Please wait a moment." The Cervello asked. "The fight to avenge the Ninth will be controlled by us."

"What!"

"We have a duty to watch over the Vongola Rings."

"What are you saying, Dogs of Xanxus!"

"Watch your mouth." One of them snapped, actually showing some emotion through her voice. "We have the Ninth's direct orders. We cannot allow the rings to change hands without our approval."

"How dare you!" Basil screeched. He was very loyal and it was rare to see him getting worked up. "You must have forced the Ninth to make that Dying Will Flame Seal!"

"As said, please refrain from conjecture. This battle, which will determine the next boss, will be the Sky match. How does that suit you Xanxus?"

"It's not bad." He said, never losing his gaze off of Tsuna.

"Then tomorrow, please gather everybody at Nami-Middle."

I raised a hand. "I will come in place of my Boss, Iemitsu, who's in Italy."

She nodded. "That is acceptable."

Bel grinned. "So you've given them a stay of execution!"

"What!"

"You…."

"This is good news for Tsuna." Reborn said, a shadow covering his face. "He's exhausted from his training today."

Xanxus raised his head in a patriarchal manner, smiling evilly, inflicted by the conflict in his soul. Al's claws dug into my shoulder and I comforted him by rubbing his ear.

"Tomorrow night will be the last night of this Comedy act! Struggle with all your might, you won't succeed." He flicked the Cloud ring over to Tsuna, who caught it with his gloved hands. Once he caught it, a ball of sky flame, lambently flickering in his palms, rotating into a sphere, growing larger and larger. I almost decided to set up a shield, but didn't when I realised that it was just for show.

They escaped without another word.

My shields didn't hold up long after that. My arms felt extremely heavy and I had no other choice other than to let them go.

I was overworking myself again.

"H-He disappeared." Ryohei exclaimed in surprise. "Those women too…."

"Starfish, you okay? I don't want you to overexert yourself right before obliterating Xanxus."

"O-Obliterating?!"

"It means she thinks high of you enough to succeed tomorrow." Reborn said, still not sure of what to do. Overall, between his anger and worry, he was working to calm himself down.

"Ninth!" Basil called, running over. I snapped out of a smile and bent down, checking over him while Basil worried dearly over him.

"Were we too late?"

While holding the Ninth's wrist and looking at my watch, regulating his pulse, I looked briefly up to see Dino and his men, arriving fashionably late.

Dino looked back at one of his men, to the one with a mohawk. "You, take the Ninth and any of the injured."

Yes, the Ninth was hurt but he wouldn't die tonight. My next decision came out of the unpredictability that the Varia posed against the family. No doubt Reborn would call Iemitsu about tonight and I will as well.

But my soul belongs next to Nana and the children for now.

"Basil, you're to go with the Ninth and call Iemitsu when you get to the hospital." I put the Ninth's wrist down and undid his holdings. "Report his state to him."

He nodded firmly, resolve burning in his eyes.

They secured the Ninth to a stretcher and carefully carried him out of the school ground, while the others checked around for undetonated mines.

Along with my arms, my chest and eyes began to feel heavy too from the trauma of the past couple of days. Iemitsu definitely owed me.

Dino looked over at Reborn. "Are you guys okay?"

"We received great damage in this round. "He said, choosing his words. "But, not physically."

I nodded and didn't realise until it was too late to back away, Dino caught me in a warm embrace; my eyes widened when I smelled the scent of the fur on his hug caused Al to jump off and prance next to Reborn. I could feel how his arms wrapped around my back and clutched onto the top of my arms, digging his face into my shoulder. His breath tickled gently and I stood in shock. Unable to move, I could only look over and see Al talking to Reborn.

"You idiot. You overworked yourself again." He whispered, moving his face to my neck. "You keep doing that and y-"

The panic side of my mind pushed him away flusteredly and he stumbled, still managing not to fall over, even though I pushed pretty hard.

I could feel his hurt.

"Phillipa, do you hate me?"

I can't believe I stuttered. "N-No, you….urgh! I don't know how to act around you and it makes me so…...it irritates me to my wits ends! I hate it, I hate it!"

He breathed out and I realised what I had said. Dino's frown disappeared. "I-Urk!"

Reborn had suddenly decided that he didn't want to watch this anymore and sent a flying kick into Dino's face, making him fall over. I got that Al would have intervened, but even he thought that Reborn's method was a bit over-the-top.

"Don't touch her so freely!"

"Reborn, stay out of this! I need to say something!"

"What did you say boy?!" He growled. "Bring it."

I quickly picked Reborn up and away from Dino. "C-Come on you two, stop fighting! And Reborn, don't hit him! We were talking!"

No, he said in his mind as Dino got up off the ground. He was trying to get into your pants.

My mouth hung open. "You repeat that out loud mister and I'll make sure all of the coffee in Namimori and the Kyoto region is destroyed!"

He kicked me in the chin and I fell back. They continued to fight while I sat up slowly, feeling a headache form in my head. Al wandered over to me and I patted his head.

I got up and pulled Tsuna's sleeve slightly, causing him to snap out of his dark thoughts.

"Neh, Starfish, let's head home. I hear Nana was making hamburgers tonight."

"Yeah!"

Hope isn't diminished yet, Reborn.

We can still make it.

~o0o~

The next day started like clockwork for everybody living under the Sawada house's roof.

There were no fires.

No assassins.

No deadly farts.

Nothing.

I actually had a peaceful night.

Until Al woke me up, but I had gotten over that earlier and that in itself had become my daily routine. All we needed now was a screaming five-year old and it would be complete.

It felt nice to sit around at the dinner table, munching on pieces of rice. But, Tsuna still seemed deep in his own thoughts, obviously upset about yesterday and what would happen tonight.

None of us knew.

"Thanks for the food!" We called, something which held the same bar as a prayer before eating food. I never did it in America, but it felt necessary here. Like a call of happiness before eating.

I totally was.

Reborn jumped on the table and nicked Tsuna's mini hot dog. My polite side told me to whack him for feet on the table, but since Bianchi was here and that she still to this day wants to call me her daughter, along with Nana, so I try to keep to myself whenever she's around.

"Don't take other people's food!"

I lifted my plate out of Reborn's reach as he waddled back across the table.

"It was your own fault for just sitting there."

"Big brother has a top rank in 'likeliness to have his entrees stolen."

"I'm not happy to have that kind of rating!"

Al looked up from his daily feed of tuna. "Someone's hormonal today."

"Fine then." Bianchi said, standing up, whipping out a random plate of ickiness that only god knows where it came from. "I can share some of mine."

"N-no…."

"Don't be picky Tsuna."

I noted the time of the clock. "Hurry up Tsu-naaaaah. You'll be late for school."

We all followed him out into the hallway to say goodbye as he got ready, slipping into his shoes, doing the laces up.

"Why do I have to go to school today?!''

"So you don't end up as a janitor."

"It's normal for a middle-schooler to go to school."

"Take care you two!" Nana called and everybody waved.

Tsuna turned around, just before stepping out into the light of the day and in Nana's mind, I saw a flash of Iemitsu in front of Tsuna's figure. She blushed, her mouth hanging open. I still saw how she saw him like a schoolgirl does to her crush.

"What's up Mama?" Bianchi asked.

"Isn't he starting to look like his father?" She mumbled, still blushing as her hand shot up to her face.

"Like Papa? How?" Basil spreaded his arms out wide. "They're not alike at all!"

"Rejected."

"Besides, aren't you still mad at him from leaving without telling you?"

"Don't listen to them Nana." I said, patting her back. "I see what you mean."

She smiled at my response. "Wow Phillipa! You're able to see the best in people!"

"But she's as blind as a bat when she hears things she doesn't want to hear it."

Bianchi took the crab stick out of her mouth. "Wow, she's turning red."

"Big sister is ranked 15th out of 367 mafia woman in Italy that doesn't know how to deal with guys!"

I whacked Fuuta on the head. "I don't need to hear that!"

"But you've gotten even more red," Bianchi whispered, grabbing my hand. "Mama, Phillipa and I are going to get our hair done today! We'll be back in time for lunch!"

"If you two are going out, we'll meet you at the hospital, okay!"

"Okay!"

Bianchi directed me out of the house before I had time to even say Eh?!

~o0o~

Bianchi then dragged me all the way through Namimori shopping complex, weaving through the daily crowds of people, students heading off to school, businessmen walking to work, mothers holding onto their screaming children's hands and the sun shone down of the concrete. It bore right down into the cracks, making the pavement hot, almost too hot to wear flip flops because they would certainly melt.

The hairdressers' wasn't packed like I thought it would be. It smelt of chemicals and the snipping of scissors and the blabber of people brought me back to the days where my mother did my own hair, in a time where money was a rare luxury and we lived in a caravan park.

Bianchi brought out from her back pocket, two coupons that I'd seen her cut out yesterday morning, just before breakfast was served. She gave them to the lady over the other side of the counter, whose hair was pinned back in a vipers grip, flat and shiny.

She smiled and pocketed the coupons; the lady next to her directed us to two vacant seats next to each other.

I felt uncomfortable sitting in one.

It felt like I was back in primary school.

"So, what would you like today?" The Lady with flat hair asked, playing with my hair as I looked at myself in the mirror, trying to decide.

"She wants to impress a guy." Bianchi said slyly, looking over at me. My mouth dropped open. "She wants a really good one!"

"A really good one, eh? I can do that, no sweat."

"W-Wait wait! I just want a normal haircut, please, just to the chin. And this has nothing to do with a guy Bianchi, you're imagining things again."

Bianchi put down the magazine she had and looked at me with sad, pittiful eyes that I didn't want. "How long are you going to keep denying yourself?"

"I'm not denying, I'm…"

Totally denying…

Darn it.

"I don't know what to do."

"Tell him then! Love can jump over obstacles, with no worries! He probably likes you too!"

"That's not the point!" I snapped.

That wasn't the point at all. I knew that in myself that Dino made my heart flutter. His smile, his laugh, the way he ate, even though messy, I liked all of his points. I didn't know how to act around him and he just smiles it off. It wasn't that.

Don't forget that I'm still looking for my mother's killers. I've never admitted this to anyone, spare Al, about it. Nobody deserved to get into my mess as much as I was. This was my mess and I didn't want anyone else to interfere. I didn't want anyone to get hurt because of my decisions towards that topic.

Especially not Dino.

"I just…...don't trust people easily."

Bianchi breathed out and smiled all of a sudden.

"I know. You're so reserved and cute sometimes that I can see why he fell for you. Just like Reborn." She squealed, her hands cupping her face.

"W-Wait a minute!" I yelled as the hairdresser started to hack at my hair. She stopped but I apologised and gestured for her to go on.

"Dude, you are not that stupid. What are you thinking? That fight last night between Reborn and Dino was totally over you! Couldn't you see it?"

I blushed at her words and hid behind the magazine closest to me.

Ew.

People skills.

Social skills.

Ew.

~o0o~

Today I had the day off so I thought I'd spend some of it on the story. The other part I spent working on my folio board for Design, which I was almost finished with, until my teacher suddenly decided that she didn't like some part of it so she wants me to re-do the entire part of it. And it's due on Friday. Boy oh boy am I going to have a wonderful last week.

Anywhosies, I send my usual thanks out. Thank you to those who begun reading and those who continue to give me support any way possible. I love you duckies to bits.

My AWESOME beta reader did an AWESOME fan art of Phillipa. (This has always been one of my dreams to have fan art about my story that wasn't my own! *squeals* renagal42 . deviantart art / Phillipa - 409190442

Replies:

Mystique-world-master: *Takes control of the alien ship that I borrowed from my very good friend, Alien Bob* I'll be taking that chainsaw, thank you. But you can attack anybody with this *Shoves Bianchi's cooking into your hands* Go nuts.

Alice-Italy-Haruhi: Ohoho, I do too. I already see tension between them. Reborn and Dino, not Dino and Phillipa. Well, maybe that too. Shutting up now.

Viper's Girl: Oh hella yes, that man has a sweet bod. You're very welcome. It's a way for me to relax from everything else .

Shanagi95: Because he likes her. That, or he might be alive, due to the heart pumping blood. I should hope so, because if he didn't, he'd be dead and I don't want that.

Recording Dreams: Dear lord, is that a marriage proposal to me? Thanks, but I don't think I will, since I don't actually know you. However, I will say Aloha and give you AMASSIVEHUGMYDUCKIEILOVEYOUTOOYOUAREADORABLEANDYES IAGREETHATTHEY'REMYFAVEOTP'STHAT'SWHYI'MWRITINGTHI SSTORY! So welcome~

Akayuki Sawada: I know *slow claps* and the reference is from 'The most popular girls in school'. Go watch episode one and then re-read the chapter. You'll find it from my sassiest character. (Loves)

chibianimefan18: NO WAY! TOTALLY GF! Yeah, I actually know a lot of guys that do.

I changed the photo cause I really liked it.

Peace out from the comfort of my armchair

-Verdigurl