Settling down

Mai stared nervously at the Healer Goblin when he was done.

'I'll announce the verdict, hime-sama.' said the goblin. 'Using psychometry on your body, you have six years' worth of severe malnutrition that your immunity system is horribly compromised with your stomach lining and urinary systems self-healing countless times. Horribly dehydrated too. However, when you made your wish never to be found, your whole magic rearranged your body as you already know, fixed the damages done by malnutrition out of self-preservation for its host but healing an extensive damage caused great strain on your magical core. The kicker that caused you to become a Squib is the Horcrux Curse on your forehead where your famous scar used to be that your magic did all it could to kick it out and heal the cut after.'

'Horcrux...what's that?' Tsuna asked him as the Goblin looked dark.

'Its a very vile curse, tennosora-sama.' said the goblin darkly while placing a hand on Mai for more psychometry. 'I will not say how its done but it involves the murder of an innocent as a sacrifice, a spell and a vessel. The spell is for tearing out pieces of your own soul-' Tsuna let out a weak, low 'Hiiiie!' in squeaky shock. Mai gawked, Shamal looked horrified and Reborn looked ill. '-and then having that soul piece possess the vessel. But in hime-sama's case, its an accident because the culprit already has a very unstable soul. Its fortunate that its an accident, otherwise hime-sama would have died from her wish, as a properly-created Horcrux vessel requires destruction of the vessel or death of a living vessel.'

Mai looked ill by now.

'This curse is six years old.' the Goblin continued. 'We can guess hime-sama obtained the curse from her parents' killer, Voldemort. And he must have made so many Horcruxes that his soul is very unstable.'

'Erm, Healer-san, if your soul is in pieces, what will happen if the afterlife, heaven or hell existed?' Tsuna gulped out.

'Well, only Voldemort would know that if he dies.' the Healer shrugged. 'Its a horrible price he would pay nonetheless and its well-deserved. Souls are sacred. The flame of life which is why our bodies live. We cannot live or be born again without a soul or missing chunks of it. Only true-blue dark magic practitioners do this regardless of consequence.'

'I...see...'

'We will now take our leave hime-sama, tennosora-sama.' the goblins curtsied and vanished.

Silence...

'...I think I want a bath.' Mai choked out.

'Oy oy, this is a school infirmary, there's no bathrooms here!' Shamal snorted. 'Wait until we go home at six!' he reasoned.

'Well Tsuna, training you as a Sky will begin immediately.' said Reborn. 'Mai, what's it like for you when you discovered your powers?'

'Eh? Well in my personal experience, it was like I automatically learned how. Nobody taught me. I guess my magic taught me before I turned into a Squib.' Mai told him. 'I would focus on my energy, visualize my power and what it can do, then materialize by combining both my imagination and power, then project.' she said, making a lightning ball in her right hand. 'These four steps are completed in a split-second if you master it but for beginners...yeah, long while.' she said, shrugging in a 'what-can-you-do?' 'I don't know how you mafia guys do it but because I'm formerly a witch, those methods are ingrained in me.'

'I see...we mafia indeed, do it differently but I'll see which is easier. Ours or yours.' Mai nodded as the two left.

'So that's how you do it huh?' Shamal whistled. 'Well, no wonder this case is Omerta. Its a big secret.' he said as he sank in his chair.

'I wouldn't tell anyone this either or it'll be witch hunts for sure.' said Mai wryly. 'Ah, this sucks!' she grumbled. 'I usually heal quick but with my magic gone, my healing is so slow!' she complained.

Shamal gave her a deadpan glare.

'That's normal for normal people you know! And you got normal-lized when you became a Squib!' Shamal snarked. 'If there's a Sun flame present, that'd be a different story and I'm a Mist.'

'...dammit.' Mai sulked petulantly.

xxx

A month later, Mai is well enough to recover from her injuries and no longer feels pain.

She went back to her apartment(Hibari reluctantly helped with the rent, given the circumstances and she paid him back) and cleaned it up before taking a shower and flew to Tsuna's house in a flash that not a thing saw her in a blink, its close to teleportation. Then she slowly floated down till her feet were back on the ground before walking up to Tsuna's room.

'Eeek! Mai-san!' Tsuna got startled as Mai practically climbed into his room. 'What is it?'

'Will you come with me to the bank?' she asked him. 'The goblins know you so its OK.'

'I guess so...' Tsuna blinked before looking at Reborn.

'Why not? This could be a fun experience.' said Reborn. 'And seeing your guardian's true world is also part of understanding and accepting them Tsuna.' he too, would like to see what the magical community is like.

xxx

Fushigimori...

It was like, stepping into Edo Period.

People dressed in kimonos.

Stores are just as interesting.

And Gringotts looks like a temple/pagoda. Apparently, anyone involved with the supernatural can come and go, and Flames count.

'Hello, I would like to inquire about the Potter Family Account?' Mai asked in her formal manner. 'I have guests with me as well.' she told the teller who began tinkering with his computer.

'Ah, Nogami Mai-sama is it?' said the goblin, using computers linked to magic stones. 'Please go to International Foreign Office on the second floor. I will notify Oniwakamaru-sama of your arrival.'

'Arigatogozaimasu.' and they took the stairs to the second floor.

'...the goblins here are nicer and more relaxed.' said Tsuna, noting the goblin's relaxed feature. 'Dad said the goblins at Britain are a tad stiff.'

'Well, being treated rudely can do that to anybody.' said Reborn. 'The goblins protect their money and family treasures yet they're horribly treated. Of course the goblins will respond in kind.' he told him. 'The asians are polite. Its in their culture so goblins can breathe easier and being treated with respect helps.'

And so, at the office...

'Konnichiwa, Oniwakamaru-sama.' Mai greeted. 'I'm Nogami Mai and these are my guests, Sawada Tsunayoshi-sama and Reborn-sama.'

'Flame Masters and an Arcobaleno eh? Never thought I'd see your kind again.' the elderly goblin offered them a seat. 'So you wish to inquire about your finances?'

'Hai. I'm an orphan with no guardian and a Squib at that.' said Mai. 'However, I'm now a member of Vongola Famiglia so I guess I'm under their authority...but as a Guardian, I'm classified an adult in mafia law so I was wondering how it will affect my authority level in accessing my family's money.'

'Hai. We talked about that with Ragnok-sama, the President of the British Branch.' said Oniwakamaru. 'Those CEDEF muggles practically bulldozed through many arrangements laid out for you and exploited every loophole possible to the delight of the goblins.'

'W-what arrangements? I didn't know that!' Mai gasped out, wide-eyed.

'Yes...first arrangement, stipend for your care in the hands of the Dursleys of 5000 pounds monthly. But since not a cent was spent on you, the goblins have authority to drain the Dursleys dry. Not to mention they mistreated the scion of an ancient house at that and abandonment in a foreign country so penalty is even worser. So you will get back 360000 pounds. Second arrangement, you have to go to Hogwarts as your parents signed you up for seven years, tuition paid. But since you're now a Squib, those tuitions are refunded.'

'How much is the tuition per year?' Reborn asked him.

'Well, its 5000 galleons and that would be 3.270.300.' Tsuna and Mai became white granite.

'That's highway robbery!' Tsuna cried, wide-eyed, scandalized. 'Human school doesn't cost THAT much! How is that price justified?!'

'Indeed its highway robbery.' Oniwakamaru agreed. 'But back a hundred years ago, that price is justified as Hogwarts is once, full of students with all classrooms filled thus the money is to pay for security and maintenance. But given two wars, only a few rooms are used now, and who knows where the rest of the money goes...and we're suspecting it goes to other pockets.' he drawled as the humans looked unhappy. 'But that isn't our problem.' he said airily. 'Only our customer's Gringotts issues are our problem. So the British Branch withdrew all seven years of your tuition off Hogwarts Coffers and your squibhood is kept a secret. Otherwise it'll be a huge political and public pandemonium so its best that you just went MIA and ahem, 'the tuition will only be returned if you were found'.'

'Third arrangement...you're engaged to Neville Longbottom, with the Longbottom Family being a friend of your late parents.' Oniwakamaru continued. 'But that engagement is now invalid now that you're a squib...with Lady Dowager Augusta Longbottom informed as to why. She's the only one to know the truth about you.'

'Er...how did she take it?' Mai gulped out.

'She went to Gringotts to talk about it...and she agreed on dissolving the engagement between you and her grandson now that you're a Squib. Due to the war, only few people know of it. Your parents, Neville's parents who are currently vegetables in St. Mungo's, and Lady Dowager herself. She sent us a letter hoping it will reach you.' he said, giving Mai the letter. 'Its not cursed, don't worry but she is still furious with how things became this way. But she blames Dumbledore, not you. If he never left you with the Dursleys, you would never have...changed so much and lost so much.'

'But I gained much in return.' said Mai. 'I know how to survive and be strong. I know how the world works. I can be fine with myself and I have a home just the way I want it...and I was accepted for who and what I am. I couldn't ask for more other than livelihood issues.'

'Understandable.' Oniwakamaru nodded. 'As you are the last of the Potter Family but your appearance is heavily influenced by your Black Family Blood as the Potters are closely related to them, it won't change a thing.' he reassured her. 'In your Trust Vault with enough money to last you ten years at least theoretically...you have about 90 million yen in there.' Tsuna's jaws hit the floor. Mai's eyes bulged. 'That was your father's wish as he wanted you to live comfortably if anything were to happen to your parents. And the Main Family Vault? You're an old money family. You're wealthy enough to pay muggle Japan's National Debt 10 times before hitting poverty line. Not only that, money continues pouring in as your family owns stocks and we goblins manage those stocks and our salary depends on how good we are in our jobs.'

Tsuna's soul left his mouth, while in the position of 'the scream'.

Reborn's black eyes widened.

Japan's National Debt is in TRILLIONS of Dollars. Equivalent of that is Quadrillions in Yen.

'Well...with that said, I do hope you quit being a burglar, Potter-hime-sama.' said Oniwakamaru wryly. 'There's no longer any need of you to.'

'Uh...I...I see...' Mai squeaked feebly. Indeed, she no longer needed to rob anymore. She's financially secure for life! 'So uhm, how do I withdraw incase my current funds are out? I did rob some houses before Hibari-san totalled me...'

xxx

After dealing with the bank, Reborn has many things to process over.

Mai is so rich that she out-riches plenty of mafia famiglias worldwide by herself alone. What more about other old-bloods?!

Right now, she wanted to buy Tsuna magical candies and sweets...and even hair products to make his stiff 'broom-head' hair soft and silky...permanently(the price is incredible too)! Due to the price, only the wealthy can afford it. Mai even bought some for herself, as well as skin cares and dental cares. Reborn can only imagine what Tsuna would look like with soft silky hair and pearly-white, straight teeth free of any dental issues once he uses the items at home.

That was while she paid the goblins to have a house built for her. Just a simple house since its just her in it. Luxury can wait when she marries and has children of her own. In fact, being rich is an alien concept to her having been financially-challenged that she has to rob.

xxx

At home...

Reborn could NOT wait to see the results out of mischievous interest. In the bathroom...Tsuna kept the mouthwash in his mouth for half an hour...the time he took a bath. Then he spat it out of the sink and looked at his teeth. Damn...they're good to look at...what more if if his teeth are straight tomorrow morning when he drinks that potion?

He was also forbidden to blow-dry his hair after using the shampoo according to instructions. It should dry au naturale after towel-drying. Sometime later...well...wow.

'Well, I'll be damned...' Reborn smirked. 'That looks good on a mafia boss.' he said, seeing the finished product.

'Yeah...I wonder how school will take it tomorrow? I didn't use the one for shiny hair or I'll never hear the end of gay jokes.' Tsuna shuddered. 'Soft silky hair is enough with me!'

In Reborn's opinion, Mai just made Tsuna look like a damn uke and the tutor won't be surprised if in the future, two genders have the hots for him. Oh well, even the other one has fanBOYS...

xxx

Summer...

Mai is at the beach, and attracting quite a horde with her figure, pale skin, hair color and black swimsuit with silver trim.

'So what is Tsuna-sama and company doing selling Choco Bananas when summer should be spend in sun, sand and surf?' Mai asked them after buying one of their wares.

'Well, it started with last week.' Tsuna said gloomily, telling her about the swimming lesson that went wrong.

'Nanda, you should have just asked me!'

'No way am I making you pay!' Tsuna sputtered out. 'That's wrong!'

'I don't see anything wrong with that, its Tokyo's money not my money.' Mai said nonchalantly, blatantly telling the boys she would pay Tsuna's debt with her stolen money. 'If it was I'd give you a discount!'

'That's not the point...' Tsuna sweatdropped weakly.

'Why not Juudaime? I'm not entirely happy that WE'RE forced to pay for that stupid cow! He's the one who blew up the slide, not us!' Gokudera griped irritably. 'Besides, he's from a rich family too, his family SHOULD pay not us! Talk about shameless!'

'Oh my, you can't control a kid? Maybe you didn't discipline him enough.' Mai pointed out. 'If kids are allowed to do what they want to do most of the time, it gets worse until next thing you know, they're wild and beyond control. Better stop while young or if he becomes a teenager with that attitude...let's just say you have bigger problems than a broken slide.' she said wryly. 'That fat ass pig back in the west is a good example. I'll be at the gaming stalls if you consider my offer, Tsuna-sama~!' and she skipped away.

'...fat ass pig in the west?' Yamamoto blinked.

'...her cousin from her horrible family.' Tsuna sighed. 'Spoiled silly and a neighborhood bully but his parents think he's their angel who can't hurt a fly.' he said sarcastically. 'The neighborhood says otherwise and so does Mai herself who had to put up with him.'

'Oh...'

In the end, Tsuna paid 75% of the debt back but VERY RELUCTANTLY asked Mai for help because its soon second semester and they wouldn't have time for part-times.